FS: Old Laptop, Working

[hwang21]

So I'm cleaning out my old electronics... I have an old VAIO Z from 2007, model number VGN-SZ18GP. Carbon Fiber host, everything looks good, EXCEPT: the left mouse button is worn, and *the screen is cracked*. Replacement screens are available on eBay, or you may use the laptop for parts. Normal wear and tear is also present. Here's some spec links: Sony VAIO SZ Series VGN-SZ18GP Specs (13.3" - Core Duo T2400 - Win XP Pro - 512 MB RAM - 80 GB HDD) - Laptops - CNET Reviews and http://www.sonystyle.com.hk/ss/vaio/product/vgn-sz18gp_c/vgn-sz18gp_c.pdf and VAIO I will throw in a 1GB or 2GB RAM upgrade if you want, I also have an excellent condition replacement battery for it in addition to the original battery, charger+HK to US adapter, full recovery CD's, etc. The laptop originally cost $2K...

Looking for around $50, but PM me an offer. Thanks!

EDIT: Photos added! Battery pictures are of the replacement battery, I can also take pictures of the original battery if you want

 

[Livinloud]

id research the original battery and possibly rip it open if i were you. if you send me the info on the old battery ill look into it but many times these have 4-6x 18650 in them

 

[hwang21]

Here's the original battery pack info: Sony Rechargeable Battery Pack VGP-BPS2C. 11.1 V at 5200mAh, Li-ion, Sony corporation, Made in Japan

 

[Livinloud]

from my quick search i believe it has 6x 18650s inside and most likely 2600mAh (two parallel groups of 3x 18650). if you are not going to use the battery again, or dont want to sell it, then id carefully rip it open if i were you and snag those batteries. beware though since they still have a charge and will start to spark and can cause some big problems if you are not careful

 

[IsaacT]

Yeah I was thinking about offering you some money for the battery pack. Definitely interested if the price is right.

 

[Livinloud]

new stock ACER battery packs at $18 shipped with 6x 2900mAh (panasonics i believe) batteries so you can base your price off that. i picked up 10x sanyo 2200mAh for $10 shipped last week and they just arrived today

that pack is $13 shipped on fleabay but that may be a crap shoot, this may be better if they are tested to hold a charge

EDIT: id go with this pack as long as hwang can verify it still holds a charge. a few people have got some really old batteries in these packs of fleabay so need to make sure they are recent or new stock

 

[bennett326]

guys you really don't want batteries that have been cycled probably daily for the past 5 years. at 300 cycles batteries might hold 80% of thier original capacity, and it keeps going down. do yourselves a favor and buy new high quality cells. here is more info for those interested Alternative Energy eMagazine - A Comparison of Lead Acid to Lithium-ion in Stationary Storage Applications | AltEnergyMag

 

[hwang21]

Hmm well I wouldn't get your hopes up... I'm not sure what is wrong with the battery pack, but plugging the original battery pack into the laptop makes no difference, the laptop doesn't recognize the battery pack as inserted into the slot...

I might just bundle the original battery pack into the laptop purchase, if anyone is interested

Oh and the replacement battery pack was (at least advertised) new stock, not from eBay. So if you just want the laptop for parts, you'd have two chances at some 18650's. Or, if you guys know how to take these battery packs apart, I might look into that if you guys can give some instructions

 

[Livinloud]

rip the cover off carefully and then pull the batteries out. twist the tabs off with pliers, dont pull them off or you will wreck your batteries (the top and bottom parts are very thin so they break easy). you will end up getting flat tops so idk if this matters to you

 

[csshih]

I honestly wouldn't bother. if the laptop isn't detecting the pack, the protection IC has disabled the pack as the voltages on the cells are too low.

 

[Livinloud]

it could be good practice in case you want to pull batteries down the road. wont harm anything if they end up being junk since you were going to toss it anyways

 

[hwang21]

Yeah I opened it up, turned out I needed to remove 4 torx screws D: but yeah, 4 hold no charge whatsoever, and 2 hold <1 V. They were labelled as SANYO UR18650FM 2.6AH, and they look similar to WL's Sanyo 18650's. I'll still throw them in the bundle for the laptop

 

[hwang21]

Ok I found another laptop, PCG-Z1VAP, that uses 11.1V at 4400mAh, I have 6 working 18650 cells now that hold a charge, I'm assuming they are 2200mAh. Ill bundle that laptop into the deal, although the rest of the laptop is pretty much crap that's been dissected. So two laptops for $50 anyone?

 

[Livinloud]

I dont think they are 2200mAh. To be 2200mAh they'd have to have two parallel groups at 5.6V. If there is any in there they will probably be three groups bringing it to 3.6V and 1400mAh.

Not all lapyop packa have 18650 so research needs to be done on each pack to find iut

 

[hwang21]

Ok here's the battery pack info for that one: Sony Li-ion, PCGA-BP2V, 11.1V at 4400mAh, Made in Japan. The batteries only say this:

SF US18650GR
T G6117LI27S

And while we are at this, do you have any idea what kind of 18650 batteries are in this battery: Lenovo ThinkPad 10.8V at 7.8AH Made in China? This one's a extended/big battery by the looks of it

 

[csshih]

Ok I found another laptop, PCG-Z1VAP, that uses 11.1V at 4400mAh, I have 6 working 18650 cells now that hold a charge, I'm assuming they are 2200mAh. Ill bundle that laptop into the deal, although the rest of the laptop is pretty much crap that's been dissected. So two laptops for $50 anyone?

If it does use 18650s, that'd be a 3s2p (3 series, 2 parallel) pack.