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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Carbondale
    Posts
    698

    Therm-ic boot heater battery replacement

    So my boot heater batteries have been slowing down recently and last week died completely. I figured Dec highs in the 40's can't last and I needed to fix the situation. A quick google search revealed you can buy replacement battery packs for $75, each! Now I knew they were just NiMH batteries so this can't be too hard. The packs at first glance appear to be completely sealed but a little prying with a big flat screwdriver revealed they are really only glued/welded at the corners. It's pretty easy to just pop them open with little damage. Start at the lugs that hold the metal clip. Unsolder the two wires that connect the pack and off to the web for replacements. I used all-battery.com to order 8 AA NiMH flat top with tab batteries. Solder the tabs together to make a new pack of four, insulate with some tape, and use some double stick foam to secure in the pack as the factory did. Voila! As a side bonus the chemistry of these cells has been improving so my old 1700mAh batteries are now 2000mAh ones. All this for the princely sum of about $12 plus shipping.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Ventura Highway in the Sunshine
    Posts
    22,431
    Wow, a day late for me. I just ordered replacement Li ion batteries for my wife's heaters...$80 each. I though about trying to find a similar battery elsewhere, but was on a dead-line for this weekend. Since the life time of these batteries are too short,I will be doing what you did the next time.

    I agree it is a constitutional right for Americans to be assholes...its just too bad that so many take the opportunity...
    iscariot

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Carbondale
    Posts
    698
    Looks like all-battery has Li rechargables too, though the selection is small for flat top tab and more expensive than NiMH. Still less than $160.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Revelstoke
    Posts
    431
    Quote Originally Posted by stevesmith7 View Post
    So my boot heater batteries have been slowing down recently and last week died completely. I figured Dec highs in the 40's can't last and I needed to fix the situation. A quick google search revealed you can buy replacement battery packs for $75, each! Now I knew they were just NiMH batteries so this can't be too hard. The packs at first glance appear to be completely sealed but a little prying with a big flat screwdriver revealed they are really only glued/welded at the corners. It's pretty easy to just pop them open with little damage. Start at the lugs that hold the metal clip. Unsolder the two wires that connect the pack and off to the web for replacements. I used all-battery.com to order 8 AA NiMH flat top with tab batteries. Solder the tabs together to make a new pack of four, insulate with some tape, and use some double stick foam to secure in the pack as the factory did. Voila! As a side bonus the chemistry of these cells has been improving so my old 1700mAh batteries are now 2000mAh ones. All this for the princely sum of about $12 plus shipping.
    This is good stuff right here! I will copy this next time my packs turn into duds instead of waiting for the warranty to go through.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Ventura Highway in the Sunshine
    Posts
    22,431
    I got my replacement Li ion batteries so my wife will have happy feet on Sunday. It is a proprietary battery, so not an easy swap. I will have to do some searching to find the specific battery as I imagine it is not that proprietary, but it not a simple wire in swap either.

    I agree it is a constitutional right for Americans to be assholes...its just too bad that so many take the opportunity...
    iscariot

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Up North
    Posts
    1,017
    thanks for this write up

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Carbondale
    Posts
    698
    Quote Originally Posted by hutash View Post
    I got my replacement Li ion batteries so my wife will have happy feet on Sunday. It is a proprietary battery, so not an easy swap. I will have to do some searching to find the specific battery as I imagine it is not that proprietary, but it not a simple wire in swap either.
    Is it made of a bunch of cells or is it one big flat pack? The suppliers have all the odd sized cells 1/2, 2/3, etc. If you know the voltage you can figure how many cells and then see what will fit. Where there's a will, and at the prices they are charging I have a lot of will.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Carbondale
    Posts
    698
    Here's a couple shots of what to expect:

    One thing to watch out for. The silver case of the slide switch on the top right is grounded. The battery tab that fits next to it is the positive terminal. Be sure you have enough tape in that area so that they cannot touch. Much havoc if those two ever come together.
    Last edited by stevesmith7; 12-26-2010 at 12:54 PM.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Dec 2017
    Posts
    1

    charger

    Quote Originally Posted by Fatfish View Post
    This is good stuff right here! I will copy this next time my packs turn into duds instead of waiting for the warranty to go through.
    Can I use the same charger with the new 2000 as the old 1700?

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Posts
    90
    Quote Originally Posted by m627ba View Post
    Can I use the same charger with the new 2000 as the old 1700?
    m627ba?!?
    that’s not a name, JONG
    PM me your favorite stashes, I'll send you a pic of skidog's tits

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Banff
    Posts
    22,210
    how long is the life with the new battery?


  12. #12
    Join Date
    Feb 2018
    Posts
    1
    I am trying to do the same, but can't see how 4 AA batterys fit inn the case. Could you clarify

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