Batboard

Hey all;

I have a high-capacity XTS battery that just refuses to hold a charge for more than 15 minutes. It's a farily old battery that went through quite abit of abuse from it's previous owner.

Anyway, I want to rip it open and convert it into a cigarette lighter adapter for the XTS. So, my question...is it easy to open up?

Failing that - how much $$ am I lookin at to just get the thing rebuilt?

-Mike

It would be easier and not much more $$$ to get a battery off Ebay rather than rebuild it.

The output voltage of the battery is 7.5 volts so you would need to build a voltage regulator into the shell of the old battery. Don't forget heat dissapation for the regulator!

George

I've already got all the circuitry I'd need - I have an old Motorola bag phone that takes 7.5 in and it gives off 1.5 amps, so we're golden there.

-Mike

If it's a Motorola battery then it's fairly difficult to open without detroying the case. Other manufacturers' batteries, such as Axtech and W&W, are easier.

Look at the side of the battery that faces the radio. You can see that there is a seam running completely around the case that follows the long rectangular shape of the battery. Use a hammer and a fine-tipped chisel to open that seam and then pry the two halves apart (front and back).

You can then remove the cells which are typically held in place with silicone. There is also a flex circuit board that connects the two sets of external contacts and the batteries. You want to leave the contacts that face the radio in place, the rest can be removed to leave convenient holes that wires can be run through to a cigarette lighter adapter.

The entire procedure is not as hard as it sounds above as long as you can persuade the seam to open up. Motorola batteries tend to be sealed the entire length of the seam which makes it very tricky to do without damaging the case.

Good luck!