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View Full Version : OMO: Cheap chinese ebay laptop batteries

-Ralph-
15-10-12, 04:44 PM
One for the desktop support bods and general tecchies out there please?

I do work in IT, so many expect me to know about these things (the same way they expect me to be an expert in MS Word despite the fact I'm not a secretary, or MS Excel despite not being an accountant), but chinese batteries didn't exist when I last fixed laptops for a living.

Are the chinese copies generally OK, or are they known to blow motherboards, etc? I don't want to save £20 on a battery, if it means spending £400 on a new laptop in a months time.

Toshiba OEM replacement part

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-Toshiba-Satellite-L500-L500-19X-Laptop-Battery-Original-/360415642239?pt=UK_Computing_LaptopsAccessories_La ptopBatteries&hash=item53ea72427f

Chinese pattern part

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/For-Toshiba-Satellite-L500-1D7-L500-1DT-L500-1QH-L500-1C7-L500-19X-Battery-UK-/271059156058?pt=UK_Computing_LaptopsAccessories_La ptopBatteries&hash=item3f1c627c5a

Thanks
DaveRushton
15-10-12, 04:47 PM
Its always a risk with any non oem item. Personally from using cheap fakes with phones pda's etc i will always now stick to the real thing, spend the extra and it will last and be a lot better!
-Ralph-
15-10-12, 04:52 PM
Quality Assurance: CE, FCC Approved,RoHS Compliant

Does that give any reassurance, or could it still be carp?
Dipper
15-10-12, 04:52 PM
I've bought a few, they've never done any harm however results are mixed so I now buy genuine.
-Ralph-
15-10-12, 04:54 PM
results are mixed so I now buy genuine.

By 'results are mixed' does that mean you've had ones that don't give much battery life?
Dipper
15-10-12, 04:59 PM
Yep, some have lasted a couple of years but I'd say 1 in 3 last no more than 6 months. Cheap Chinese cells can be a bit hit and miss and it only takes one in a pack to go down and the whole thing's no good. I've taken them apart before and replaced cells but its alot of faffing around and never looks tidy.
-Ralph-
15-10-12, 05:04 PM
OK, thanks guys, I'll just get the genuine one.
Bibio
15-10-12, 05:22 PM
think of it this way Ralph. what happens to the battery packs that don't quite meet the manufacturers specifications but are still ok to use?

answer on a postcard.
Fallout
15-10-12, 07:20 PM
As above, I've never had a problem with cheap chinese batteries, except for reduced life. But you could buy three of those for the price of the original. Maybe 3 that fail after 6 months is better than 1 that fails after a year?
Spank86
15-10-12, 07:24 PM
I think the question that springs to mind is:

Is "cheap Chinese" a synonym for "excellent quality control"?
widepants
15-10-12, 07:37 PM
I know this is a daft thing , but would you except a cheap French breast implant....oh wait!
-Ralph-
15-10-12, 09:30 PM
OK, thanks guys, I'll just get the genuine one.

Thanks everyone, I did this straight after this post. The genuine battery that's in the laptop now has lasted 3 years, so it does look like the chinese ones are a false economy. Genuine one bought and winging it's way to make my wife a happy lassie (and my ears happy chaps not having to listen to her moaning about the laptop).
yorkie_chris
16-10-12, 08:07 AM
As above, I've never had a problem with cheap chinese batteries, except for reduced life. But you could buy three of those for the price of the original. Maybe 3 that fail after 6 months is better than 1 that fails after a year?

A lot of the loose cells you can buy are absolute mince. I've bought 8 NiMHs before now and ended up with 2 useable cells out of that lot...
daveyrach
16-10-12, 09:39 AM
I have a couple, one is OK but the other the battery life is only about 40mins before it needs plugging in again. Its a risk, I'd say go genuine.