Breathing new life in laptop batteries - test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

7 May 1999

The method that I use to open up old NiCd's is with an old knife and a
propane torch.

The knife is an old snap-off utility knife (with a metal insert in the
plastic handle).  I turn on the torch, open the knife as far as it'll go
(about 2 1/2"), and heat it over the torch until it is red hot.  I then melt
through the seam of the battery pack (or the middle, if I can't find a
seam).  To fasten the pack back together, I just use a soldering iron and
"spot weld" it back together at the corners.  This makes it easier to take
apart the next time the cells need replaced.
--
         -Jason Willgruber
       (roblwill(a)usaor.net)
           ICQ#: 1730318
<http://members.tripod.com/general_1>

-----Original Message-----
From: Francois &lt;fauradon(a)mn.mediaone.net&gt;
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
&lt;classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu&gt;
Date: Friday, May 07, 1999 9:26 PM
Subject: Re: Breathing new life in laptop batteries

...
 Hi,
Thanks for all the info. Apparently there are no reliable way to bring their
...
 youth back, I would like to have a reliable laptop with
a battery that last
more than 30 min. I found a Zenith z-star 433 VLp (500 Mb hd, 12 M RAM and
color display and the Zenith J-Mouse!!!) that I'd like to use while away
from home. The batery I got seem to work for a while. Also it has four
contacts does this means that it provide mutiple voltages or is there some
kind of charge sense signal? I haven't brought the battery to the bench yet
(no room on or near the bench:).
Also the pack seems to be sealed pretty good, any elegant way to open it up
and reclose it without too much damage?
Thanks
Francois

PS: I actually got 3 of these laptops and built two from the set of parts
and two of the batteries are totally shot: they get very hot when I try to
charge them and of course no juice is coming out. I can practice on one of
the dead ones.

 > >This is the beast bet as cells fail with
internal shorts and the cap will
 > >dump enough energy to open them without
cooking the cell.
> >
> Yes, but many times in my experience another short appears shortly. I have

Unfortunately, that's right :-( I would never depend on a cell that I'd
repaired by this method. 