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Any experts on replacement rechargeable batteries?
I need a replacement for a rechargeable battery for a radio. It's about 85mmx50mmx15mm, has a pair of wires terminating in a small white plug, and has "GSP 085085 3500mAh 7.4v" printed on the blue plastic wrapper.
I've looked online and the only places I can find selling these are Chinese wholesalers. Am I doomed to sending the radio back to the manufacturers (it's not under guarantee so chargeable) or can anyone recommend a UK supplier?
I've looked online and the only places I can find selling these are Chinese wholesalers. Am I doomed to sending the radio back to the manufacturers (it's not under guarantee so chargeable) or can anyone recommend a UK supplier?
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What make is the radio? Don't they have a distributor in the UK who would be responsible for the spares and service arrangements?
I contacted them and they said the radio had to be returned to them (in the UK) for the battery to be replaced. As I've already taken the old battery out I hoped I could simply buy a new one instead of paying for the job to be done and for postage to the factory and back.
If this is the case then I think they've got you over a barrel on this one, assuming it's a decent radio and worth keeping. I'm afraid this sort of thing is becoming more common these days with manufacturers not being willing to supply spares.
I don't know how much ability you have practically but, of course, you could always look on battery manufacturers/suppliers websites and select a suitable battery in terms of battery type, voltage, ampere-hour rating and physical shape and size. If it didn't have the correct connector you could always cut the connector off the old battery pack and solder it onto the new one.
Sorry, I don't think there's very much more I can suggest.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-3200mAh-7-4V-25C-Rechargeable-LiPo-Battery-for-1-10-1-8-Rc-Cars-Trucks-buggy-/291187144094?pt=UK_ToysGames_RadioControlled_JN&hash=item43cc1b359e
As KennedyC mentioned your battery seems slim for that capacity. How much space is there ? There are other R/C batteries of lower capacity that will fit but obviously offer lower run time on battery.
There is just enough space to squeeze the battery back in. A bigger pack wouldn't fit.
Weird. I wonder how they decided on that battery. From those alibaba listings looks like a mass-produced component, but not one available to consumers (unless they want a lot of spares).
That's what I was thinking. It should be possible to take the old pack apart (it's knackered anyway) and see what cells are used to make it and then rebuild with new ones.
Jeeze, just had a flashback to watching my Dad do that about twenty years ago.
Those LiPo batteries can be a bit flame-y if you're not careful with them so I'd be real careful. If it's a lithium Ion style cell then, yeah, that'd be a possibility.
I am also guessing that if you use those in a device designed for Ni-cad or Ni-MH then the charger may not be able to control the charge correctly and potentially cause a fire ?
I don't think OP is using Lipo, Until the open up the pack probably won't know what technology its using.