r/toughbook • u/80spizzarat • Aug 01 '25
Are counterfeit Panasonic batteries an issue?
I have a CF-31 used to run a couple of printers at a storage unit. Got it used so I don't know the age of the battery, but it would only hold a charge for about 15 minutes so I decided to replace it with an aftermarket battery about two months ago.
Today I unplugged the computer and it turned off instead of switching to battery power. I opened up the door to find the battery had swelled and was stuck. I had to open the case to get it out.
I still need a battery but this experience soured me on aftermarket so I checked on eBay for an OEM battery and there are a ton of new condition "genuine" Panasonic batteries in the $30-40 range from a bunch of different sellers. They say Panasonic on the label and I get that there's sometimes businesses or government agencies liquidating new old stock but I find it extremely sus that there are so many for such an old laptop.
How can I make sure I'm getting a real one?
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u/TuxedoSlayer 29d ago edited 29d ago
I have used counterfeit batteries in the past, they're ok but they definitely do not have the same quality as the real Panasonic batteries. They do not last as long, and they feel quite cheap. If you go counterfeits, make sure that the first thing you do is condition the battery using the toughbook's built in battery calibration tool. To be frank you should do this with any second hand Toughbook you first get your hands on, or with brand new batteries from Panasonic themselves. Me personally, I almost always go for true panasonic made batteries. They're more expensive but they're worth the money in terms of longevity and lifespan. Besides, they don't make counterfeits for some models, one example being the CF-33.
Yo get your hands on a real battery, call Panasonic directly. They have a phone line for the parts department, I currently do not have it otherwise I'd post it here, but if you want a surefire way of getting the real deal, talk directly to them, get a quote, and spend a couple bucks. Well worth the asking price.
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u/Howden824 29d ago
A real one isn't necessarily a good thing. Unless Panasonic themselves still officially sell this battery than it's definitely not being made anymore. Often the old stock batteries will be sold as new even though they may be quite degraded or completely broken by the time you get them. Lithium ion batteries wear out even when unused.
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u/ensigniamorituri 25d ago
they made a LOT of these computers, they have interchangeable parts and they were owned by fleets - that means lots of spare batteries available
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u/Born_in_67 Aug 01 '25
The CF-31 batteries fit other models (like the CF-30 and the CF-53). Between all the laptops I have purchased over the years I have 8 spare batteries lying around, all with Panasonic badging. I do not find it suspicious. Also, they sell regular model batteries and high performance batteries for the same computers.