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WOPR · Oct 2, 2005, 02:58 PM

My TiBook and it's original battery both work fine, but I've just been given a couple of new batteries that are both apparently dead. They won't charge and all the monitoring apps I've tried show them as present but not charging with 0 voltage in them. Is there anything I can do to try and get them going or should I dispose of them reponsibly (i.e. sell them as dead on ebay!).

Just to repeat, my TiBook and other battery are fine so it's definitely the 2 batteries at fault. Would resetting the PMU do anything to the battery or does that only affect the Mac itself?

Google hasn't come up with much so I thought I'd try here. Any help appreciated!

WOPR · Oct 4, 2005, 05:00 PM

/watches tumbleweed roll through thread/

Kvasir · Oct 4, 2005, 05:24 PM

How old are these batteries? LiOH batteries have a finite lifespan (truly - whether used or not - they start loosing capicity from the moment they are manufactured - oxidation and decay of the organic solvent used).

It sounds like they are just dead - no *deep-cycling* or such (that sometimes works with NiMH or other battery types) will do any good for a LiOH that has just gone it's course.

mrmister · Oct 4, 2005, 05:57 PM

Yeah, I think the answer is "a new battery".

paul w · Oct 4, 2005, 06:12 PM

I bought a new one. I am happy. I have a Newrtech one (4800mAh) and it's actually much better than my original one ever was, by about an hour.

NateEssex · Oct 4, 2005, 08:27 PM

Where did you buy your battery? You get a good deal?

hanxu · Oct 5, 2005, 03:19 AM

I can't remember where I read a article about dead batteries.

Dry it first, and put it into your freezer, then for 3-4 days, then take it out, leave it for 3-4 days, and your battery will be as new, I have never tried it, because I don't have any dead batteries.

Kvasir · Oct 5, 2005, 08:04 AM

Originally Posted by hanxu

I can't remember where I read a article about dead batteries.

Dry it first, and put it into your freezer, then for 3-4 days, then take it out, leave it for 3-4 days, and your battery will be as new, I have never tried it, because I don't have any dead batteries.

One thing with LiOH batteries is you never, ever want them to freeze. The Li electrolyte uses an organic solvent and freeze and thawing it will cause it to break down.

amazing · Oct 5, 2005, 09:50 AM

The only tip I heard was to put the dead battery in, and boot into Open Firmware by pressing Command-Option-O-F at startup and first typing "reset-nvram," pressing the Return key, and then "reset-all." The Mac restarts at that point. I think the idea is that it resets something in the battery.

Don't expect miracles from old batteries, but you might get 30 minutes?

paul w · Oct 5, 2005, 12:03 PM

Originally Posted by NateEssex

Where did you buy your battery? You get a good deal?

I got this:

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Newer...gy/BAPT4800LI/

Is it a good deal? I dunno. I've seen Apple batteries at around $100. I am pleased with this battery though. Works well, and I seem to get a good deal more life than than Apple's.

Another thing to consider is whether or not Apple even make the Titanium battery anymore, or whether they're just selling ones that are a couple years old.