Geekzone: technology news, blogs, forums
Guest
Welcome Guest.
You haven't logged in yet. If you don't have an account you can register now.


Rikkitic

Awrrr
19062 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 16302

Lifetime subscriber

#211676 6-Apr-2017 15:59
Send private message

I have an old Harmony One remote. The Volume down button has become intermittent. I thought I might be able to fix it by cleaning the contact but when I opened the unit, I discovered that the battery is badly swollen and bulging, though there is not (yet) any sign of leakage. The battery still works fine and shows no sign of losing its charge. The unit is normally kept on the charging cradle. 

 

The battery designation is Li-ion rechargeable, 950 mAh 3.7 volt. It is the original Logitech battery.

 

The condition of the battery, not to mention all the warnings on it about explosions, makes me wonder if it might actually be dangerous, and if so, how much? The charging cradle is normally never turned off so the battery is always receiving a trickle charge. With all the current publicity about Lithium batteries spontaneously catching on fire, I am naturally concerned. The nature of our house, and the location of the remote, is such that if it did ever catch on fire in the middle of the night, we would probably be goners before we even heard the smoke alarms.

 

So how bad is this? Apart from that, how difficult and expensive is it to find a replacement battery? Are they even still available? Any help would be much appreciated.

 

 

 

 





Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

 


 


View this topic in a long page with up to 500 replies per page Create new topic
 1 | 2
networkn
Networkn
32862 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 15453

ID Verified
Trusted
Lifetime subscriber

  #1757666 6-Apr-2017 16:02
Send private message

Yikes. Do not use that thing until you get a new battery for it. 

 

 

 

https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/SEVOEM8020/R-IG7-Battery-for-Logitech-Harmony-Remote-Control

 

 

 

Pretty sure that is the right one. 

 

 




ubergeeknz
3344 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1041

Trusted
Vocus

  #1757671 6-Apr-2017 16:04
Send private message

Agreed, get that battery out of harms way asap.  Certainly don't keep charging it / using it.  Preferably put it in a metal box or something.


timmmay
20858 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 5350

Trusted
Lifetime subscriber

  #1757673 6-Apr-2017 16:06
Send private message

You can probably find a replacement on ebay or aliexpress. If it's not there it probably doesn't exist. Oh, you could ask Logitech but it's old now. Mine still works, and battery is a normal shape.




PaulBags
809 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 184
Inactive user


  #1757677 6-Apr-2017 16:14
Send private message

Get that battery somewhere fire proof asap.

Rikkitic

Awrrr
19062 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 16302

Lifetime subscriber

  #1757685 6-Apr-2017 16:24
Send private message

Okay thanks all for the quick responses. I did put it in a jar which is the best fireproof container I have available unless the battery explodes with enough force to shatter it. I am not using it. I already replaced the unit with a backup (battery looks fine). 

 

 





Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

 


 


timmmay
20858 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 5350

Trusted
Lifetime subscriber

  #1757702 6-Apr-2017 16:51
Send private message

Put the jar outside.


 
 
 

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE. Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.
networkn
Networkn
32862 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 15453

ID Verified
Trusted
Lifetime subscriber

  #1757703 6-Apr-2017 16:54
Send private message

timmmay:

 

Put the jar outside.

 

 

Only once you've dug a 40 foot deep hole, filled it with wet concrete, then cover it in.

 

Put up signs warning of radiation threat.


richms
29098 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 10208

Trusted
Lifetime subscriber

  #1757722 6-Apr-2017 17:57
Send private message

 

Don't do that. No matter how tempting.





Richard rich.ms

sir1963
3428 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3756

Subscriber

  #1757923 7-Apr-2017 08:59
Send private message

Rikkitic:

 

I have an old Harmony One remote. The Volume down button has become intermittent. I thought I might be able to fix it by cleaning the contact but when I opened the unit, I discovered that the battery is badly swollen and bulging, though there is not (yet) any sign of leakage. The battery still works fine and shows no sign of losing its charge. The unit is normally kept on the charging cradle. 

 

The battery designation is Li-ion rechargeable, 950 mAh 3.7 volt. It is the original Logitech battery.

 

The condition of the battery, not to mention all the warnings on it about explosions, makes me wonder if it might actually be dangerous, and if so, how much? The charging cradle is normally never turned off so the battery is always receiving a trickle charge. With all the current publicity about Lithium batteries spontaneously catching on fire, I am naturally concerned. The nature of our house, and the location of the remote, is such that if it did ever catch on fire in the middle of the night, we would probably be goners before we even heard the smoke alarms.

 

So how bad is this? Apart from that, how difficult and expensive is it to find a replacement battery? Are they even still available? Any help would be much appreciated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your battery is not far from going "Samsung" on you, remove it, dispose of it and get a new one.

 

 

 

"Safe" always has a higher priority than "working".


Rikkitic

Awrrr
19062 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 16302

Lifetime subscriber

  #1757925 7-Apr-2017 09:04
Send private message

How the devil do you dispose of such a thing in this country? 

 

 





Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

 


 


maoriboy
1034 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 562

Trusted

  #1757926 7-Apr-2017 09:05
Send private message

This is gonna sound very "Darwin Awardsy" but I'm now kinda curious to try out what they did in that video....with appropriate safety measures in place of course cool






 
 
 

Want to support Geekzone and browse the site without the ads? Subscribe to Geekzone now (monthly, annual and lifetime options).
Rikkitic

Awrrr
19062 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 16302

Lifetime subscriber

  #1757937 7-Apr-2017 09:19
Send private message

Don't forget to look down the barrel of your rifle and pull the trigger to make sure the chamber is empty.

 

 





Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

 


 


maoriboy
1034 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 562

Trusted

linw
2893 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1205


  #1758131 7-Apr-2017 13:40
Send private message

The way to dispose of old Li batteries is to discharge them fully then you can put them in the trash. But do it outside!

 

My Harmony battery puffed as well. It also lives on the charging cradle.

 

I have replaced it and the replacement has also puffed a bit. They seem to be serial offenders. Maybe the charger is overcharging them?

 

 

 

 


FineWine
3111 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2440

Trusted
Nurse (R)
Lifetime subscriber

  #1758138 7-Apr-2017 13:51
Send private message

Yea mine puffed up 4 years ago when living in Sydney. Replaced it and the new one is still going strong. Just pull apart the remote and remove the circuit board and rubberised button contact sheet and clean both surfaces with isopropyl alcohol & a cotton bud or similar product obtained from any good DIY electronics store. I have used acetone in the past but be careful not to get it on the printed circuits.





Whilst the difficult we can do immediately, the impossible takes a bit longer. However, miracles you will have to wait for.


 1 | 2
View this topic in a long page with up to 500 replies per page Create new topic








Geekzone Live »

Try automatic live updates from Geekzone directly in your browser, without refreshing the page, with Geekzone Live now.



Are you subscribed to our RSS feed? You can download the latest headlines and summaries from our stories directly to your computer or smartphone by using a feed reader.