Rubbish camera batteries

My proprietary camera batteries don't last long when new and as I'm not a photography enthusiast I find, when the camera does come out, the batteries have discharged to the point of not taking a charge.

My cunning plan is an external battery pack of standard (cheaper and higher capacity) NiMH. Trouble is I need a dummy battery of the correct shape and with contacts in the right place to wire my external battery pack to.

What do you reckon to me removing the guts of one of my dead Lithium Ion batteries? Am I going to die in terrible pain? Googling just tells me they are fine in normal use but I'm not sure about cutting the things up.

I do have a paint spraying respirator as well as an unused one left over from some asbestos removal at work. Rubber gloves and everything done on a big sheet of plastic to be disposed of afterwards?

Reply to
Periproct
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Cut a wooden dowel the same diameter as the battery to the right length. Stick two brass thumbtacks in the ends and solder wires to these from the battery pack.

Reply to
Homer J Simpson

Unfortunately the battery isn't a standard cylindrical shape.

Having had a further google I'm getting the impression that there is quite a risk of Lithium Ions exploding if you chop them up so maybe I should carve myself a wooden one.

Reply to
Periproct

The problems with lithium batteries appears to be thermal runaway when charging. Lithium is not particularly toxic (it might even stabilise your mood, if you injest some) so if the battery is near flat, I can see little problem with removing the guts.

I have a Sony Mavica, which came with a battery that lasted about 2 years (accepting a considerable loss of capacity). Li Ions die whether used or not, so I suspect that this was merely old stock. I bought a non-proprietary battery when the Sony became unusable, and it has been going strongly for six years. Probably needs a new battery now, and use this as a spare. I rarely charge the thing past where the charger light goes out, although you can stick an extra hour's worth in. Use them gently, and they last better, or is it that I just feel better?

ps Lithium metal is flammable and reacts violently with water giving off hydrogen. Lithium hydroxide thus formed is very caustic. Use a face shield as you should, doing most of the things I do without one. Luckily I now need glasses and no longer suffer from regular foreign bodies in the eyeball.

jack

Reply to
spamfree

Yes. Wood or plastic but don't saw these suckers.

Reply to
Homer J Simpson

That's only possible (unlikely) if charged. You don't have to saw it in two. Lever the plastic moulding apart with a screwdriver and just pluck out the Li-Ion cells. Remember (which I usually don't) where the screwdriver is going to end up if it slips off your target.

jack

Reply to
spamfree

I've bought three since I've had the camera and they are all dead. Having done some more googling it seems they like to be stored at 40% charge. Not sure how I'm going to organise that. A timer set to come on for an hour a day with a power strip plugged into it with everything that needs to be kept charged was suggested to me. Maybe not the best thing to do with Lithium Ion batteries tho'.

Reply to
Periproct

it

not

That's what I have. One of those motorised thingies with a ring of plastic indents. Set for 15 minutes per day and charging a heap of power tool and other rechargeables. Having used rechargeables for about 1000 years, my feeling is that if they aren't Lead acid then they will be trouble. (despite anything the makers and technologists say otherwise).

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Reply to
john jardine

Make & model?

Reply to
SparkyGuy

plastic

and

This kind of thing ...

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Can pick up a sackfull (everywhere!) for a few $ Chinese imports. Internall AC motor. 96 little plastic fingers that can set any on/off times in 15 minute multiples over 24 hour period.

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Reply to
john jardine

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