Out of boredom, looking into battery recell project

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db130 · #1 Post by **db130** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 12:35 am

I have a spare battery lying around that was close to dead(gave me maybe 15 minutes of charge the last time I used it). I opened up the housing without breaking the housing:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/betterthan ... 8/sizes/l/

Hmmm I see six 18650 cells. These things are sold all over the place for as low as $1.50 each. I think if I am careful enough, I should be able to salvage the metal tabs that are spot-welded onto the old cells.

the $1.50 cells are 1600 mah Sony cells. ones that are 2400 mah are about $5 apiece. I'll try the cheap ones first. Wish me luck, guys!

Wentworth · #2 Post by **Wentworth** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 11:42 am

I wish you luck, you are probably is following the way of the compatible battery manufacturers whom recycle the old housing and put in new battery cells.

5p33d0 · #3 Post by **5p33d0** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 12:35 pm

this is interesting. i could use this too.

can you post instructions how to open the plastic casing.
and where you have seen the cells for sale

I want to do the same to a dead extended battery

sktn77a · #4 Post by **sktn77a** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 3:20 pm

The challenge is flash re-soldering the metal tabs back onto the cells without damaging them (the cells or, rather, their contents). But I think we'd all be interested how this turns out.

sparta.rising · #5 Post by **sparta.rising** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 3:46 pm

http://www.dealextreme.com/products.dx/category.400

They have the cells in different amperage

5p33d0 · #6 Post by **5p33d0** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 4:31 pm

http://www.batteryspace.com/index.asp?P ... ProdID=945

and

http://www.batteryspace.com/index.asp?P ... rodID=2763

and

http://www.onlybatteries.com/cat_featur ... sgodclbYeQ

have the option to be bought with Pre-Wired Tabs.

This can help the soldering. Correct?

db130 · #7 Post by **db130** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 7:44 am

5p33d0 wrote:this is interesting. i could use this too.

can you post instructions how to open the plastic casing.
and where you have seen the cells for sale

I want to do the same to a dead extended battery

On the yellow half of the battery case, there is a lip along the edge. I put my two thumbs paralell to the lip and just pried at the center of the yellow half until the glue came off. Perhaps I will take a "re-enactment" picture with my other battery. There is no easy way to do it. It just takes a little bit of patience.

I ended up going with (12) Sony 1600 maH cells from eBay for $25.xx shipped from a vendor in FL(wwwebcbattery is the vendor and they also have a website). I didn't want to spend the $ on the 2200+ mah because I wasn't sure if I could get this working(and plus I don't use the laptop on battery power very often).

sojourner · #8 Post by **sojourner** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 8:05 am

Very interesting topic. Was wondering if anyone knows whether the electronics sense there are new cells and 'reset' the battery history (e.g. date first used, cycles used, health etc). If not, is there a way for us to do that?

frankiepankie · #9 Post by **frankiepankie** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 10:42 am

I have done it a few times. The T4x battery isn't indeed hard to open. Just pry some plastic card or other thingy between the seam, and you can pop it open with a little bit force.

The cells are quit easy to replace if you are handy with a solder iron.

The electronics learn the new capacity automatically, only the cycles, and manufacture date are not reset.

It is possbile to reset the electronics, but it requires a 2nd computer, and some linux experience.

Here is a webpage about resetting the controller chip:

http://www.sweb.cz/Frantisek.Rysanek/battery.html

joester · #10 Post by **joester** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 11:53 am

Understand you guys need to be very cautious about soldering the cells... They can overheat and burst.
Make sure you know what is at risk and that you have a dry-chem extinguisher onhand.

Some information
More information
The second is an advertisement, but the video shows cells busting in flame. This can happen if cells are inadvertantly installed wrong.

Just be careful, and be sure to post your results if you decide to proceed.

I have a steel box that I work inside of. If something catastrophic happens, I can slam the lid to contain the flames. I've never need to test it, but it should save the house from catching fire.

Joe

5p33d0 · #11 Post by **5p33d0** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 10:40 pm

if these SONY cells are 1600 mah
what are the standard cells mah?

so the upgraded battery will have 9600 mah, how does this compare to standard battery?

sparta.rising · #12 Post by **sparta.rising** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 1:23 am

They're not all in series... 6-cell battery holds 4.4A and 10.8V by design. I'm not sure what the configuration is.

db130 · #13 Post by **db130** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 12:38 pm

I think the orginals are 2200 mah cells x 3.6V x 6 = 47.520 kwh
the sony 1600 mah cells x 3.7v x 6 = 35.520 kwh

i'd be giving up about 27% capacity, but the 2200 mah cells were more than double the cost of the 1600 mah cells.

Out of boredom, looking into battery recell project

Out of boredom, looking into battery recell project

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