Smartphone battery in my project - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: maniron
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: August 14, 2017, 08:19:05 pm
content: Hi, I have a little question. Can I integrate a replacement part in my own product? I thinking about smartphone batteries, they have a big capacity and at same time are very slim. Can I buy smartphone replacement batteries, integrate these batteries in my own product and sell it?Thanks in advanceP.S. sorry for my english

author: m98
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 14, 2017, 08:42:55 pm
content: Unless they have some patented interface or connector and you can establish a reliable supplier, I see no issues. Stay clear of Samsung, though.

author: maniron
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: August 15, 2017, 09:22:24 pm
content: Thank you for your answer! So it's all about patents, good to know

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 16, 2017, 12:05:48 am
content: Quote from: m98 on August 14, 2017, 08:42:55 pmDo you base your advice on the general Samsung business practices and other cases like the geohot one, or do you know of a specific case regarding batteries?

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 16, 2017, 02:48:39 am
content: Quote from: Mr. Scram on August 16, 2017, 12:05:48 amHe might be referring to this.

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 16, 2017, 04:16:30 am
content: Have you checked Hobbyking if they have a battery of the right specs?

author: janekm
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 16, 2017, 04:28:34 am
content: Nokia BL-5C used to be a popular choice for this. The phones are probably all not being made any more but the batteries are so popular in other products that they are still widely available.Only problem is that it's hard to find an original battery so you don't really get the safety benefits you might expect.

author: stmdude
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 16, 2017, 04:55:39 am
content: Quote from: janekm on August 16, 2017, 04:28:34 amOn the upside though, you can ship your product without the battery, and have the end-user source it themselves, saving you of the hassles that are associated with shipping Lithium based batteries.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 16, 2017, 05:08:11 am
content: Quote from: m98 on August 14, 2017, 08:42:55 pmA reputable supplier is very important. Those cheap Chinese batteries are frequently of dubious quality and many lack the requisite safety protection.Quote from: stmdude on August 16, 2017, 04:55:39 amNot a bad idea. Depending on your device of course. Those 18650 torch batteries are very popular and fairly easy to source.

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 16, 2017, 06:38:16 am
content: Quote from: blueskull on August 16, 2017, 05:01:12 amThere are these fuel gauges, which work on voltage alone and don't require anything else:http://www.richtek.com/en/Design%20Support/Technical%20Document/AN024They only measure voltage, but can determine the charge level very accurately as long as there is some change in voltage. If you've ever swapped a battery in a phone and saw a percentage that changed rapidly for a short time, then stabilised around a more accurate value, it's probably using something like that. TI and Maxim make similar parts. More (rather vague) information on the algorithm can be found here:http://www.batterypoweronline.com/conferences/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/TI_YandongZhang__dynamic_voltage_correlation.pdf

author: RGB255_0_0
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 16, 2017, 08:51:15 am
content: Quote from: m98 on August 14, 2017, 08:42:55 pmHyperbolic nonsense. SDI is still one of the best battery manufacturers out there and a myriad of problems led to the Note 7 issues, the battery being the main one; the Note 7 design being another. Race to the bottom when it comes to battery life and slim firm factor was always a disaster waiting to happen.But to slate an entire battery manufacturer's product line?

author: darko31
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 16, 2017, 11:27:01 am
content: Samsung's 18650 cells are widely used in power tools, and proven to be quite durable and good quality.Sent from my Redmi 3S using Tapatalk

author: m98
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 16, 2017, 12:39:36 pm
content: Quote from: RGB255_0_0 on August 16, 2017, 08:51:15 amGlad you noticed, it was meant as a joke.

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 16, 2017, 01:13:39 pm
content: Quote from: m98 on August 16, 2017, 12:39:36 pmGermans don't joke.

author: maniron
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: August 16, 2017, 04:58:41 pm
content: Thank you all for the interest, I'm working on a project where a 18650 can't fit due to his dimensions, I need a flat and slim battery.My conclusions are that smartphone batteries are perfect. I'm attracted to Xiaomi batteries, they have huge capacity (4 Ah) and at same time are very slim. The battery will have to power a Mediatek mt7688 and a generic low power uC, with a similar battery my device can be operative for a lot of hours.The downside of xiaomi is that these batteries have their own connector while nokia batteries, like the BL-5C suggested above, have only three contacts directly on battery body. The shipping is another problem, I want to sell my devices with the battery already installed.

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 16, 2017, 10:25:08 pm
content: Most images Google spits out show a fairly regular connector. What is the problem with that?

author: hans
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 16, 2017, 10:28:47 pm
content: I personally also wonder about the longevity supply of smartphone batteries.In particular, once you commit to a proprietary size/connector battery (no standardization here), can you still get that battery model in 5 years? Smartphones and tablets are consumer products with a life span of 4-5 years tops, so I wouldn't be amazed if batteries only are made till that age and then stock is being cleared out.But of course, I could also be wrong.And perhaps it doesn't make a difference in your project.

author: Howardlong
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 16, 2017, 10:31:46 pm
content: FWIW, a common standard is to use 2mm pitch JST PH series connectors.

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 16, 2017, 10:56:37 pm
content: Quote from: hans on August 16, 2017, 10:28:47 pmThat was the nice part about the Nokia batteries. Nokia either used the same battery for many models, or used a compatible model. Not too many manufacturers seem to be doing that.

author: Howardlong
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 16, 2017, 11:42:23 pm
content: A further option, if the 7.2v 2S route works for you, is that there is a large and reasonably priced after market for third party Sony NP-Fxxx series camcorder batteries (e.g. NP-F330, NP-F550 etc) The photography and video market use these batteries extensively for lighting, monitors, etc. and they use a standard quick release fitting if you can work that into your project.

author: maniron
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: August 17, 2017, 07:05:14 am
content: You are opening my eyes on some issues I did not think about. The Sony camcorder batteries are very difficult to integrate, it's a portable device and must be as small as possible. I think that the JST PH connector will be my backup solution.I'm still in brainstorming phase, I'll see what other solutions will come out, in the meantime thanks to everyone!