Is it worth saving? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: Connecteur
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2021, 04:10:17 am
content: I know a lot of answers will be "no, but I have a Fluxmob Bolt combination phone charger and battery bank. It sat idle for a few years and when I plugged in, it didn't show any life for a few days, but eventually began charging. I assume it has a lithium polymer cell inside. Once all the lights came on to indicate a full charge, I put it in my pocket to use if my cellphone went dead. But after 2 days, the voltage had dropped to 3V and it didn't work to charge my phone. This time I left it plugged in to charge for a few days, and I noticed it was quite warm, and it was also drawing about 60mA according to the Kill-a-Watt. After about 2 more days, it's no longer warm and it shows 10mA draw, which could be anything between 0-10 mA because of the range of the Kill-a-watt meter.I know I should throw it away, but it was a Kickstarter project and it wasn't cheap. Call it sentimental value.Is it worth saving?

author: Algoma
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2021, 04:17:55 am
content: Likely a Lithium cell in there, beware of trying to force it to charge, especially if it's significantly self discharging, as it could thermally break down without much warning due to an internal short getting hot enough to thermally run away..My vote would be to recycle it or replace the internal cell. Plenty of lithium cell packs available in all shapes and sizes.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2021, 04:23:44 am
content: Definitely replace the battery if you want to save it. Lithium batteries can be dangerous, especially the pouch cells.

author: bdunham7
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2021, 04:23:57 am
content: Does it come apart in a manner that it could possibly go back together?

author: Connecteur
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2021, 04:58:20 am
content: Quote from: bdunham7 on December 05, 2021, 04:23:57 amIt seems to be glued together. I'll heed the advice that it could be a fire hazard.I suppose I'll put it away in a metal box.

author: rpiloverbd
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2021, 11:54:32 am
content: I Do not recommend throwing away. But since the batteries are quite old and getting hot, those definitely need a change.

author: SmallCog
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 07, 2021, 02:02:42 am
content: Go for a poke around Big Clive's channel on youtube, he's pulled quite a few power banks apartMore than likely be able to replace the cell inside if you can get it open

author: Connecteur
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 07, 2021, 05:00:37 pm
content: I noticed something else on this fancy piece of garbage. There is apparently no boost converter. It never exceeds 4V on a full charge. That means it might only deliver a small charge to a nearly dead phone. I feel sorry for all the dupes who like me were taken in.

author: Doctorandus_P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2021, 09:32:26 am
content: no, but I have a Fluxmob Bolt combination phone charger and battery bank.

author: Connecteur
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2021, 06:10:26 pm
content: Quote from: rpiloverbd on December 05, 2021, 11:54:32 amI should dispose of it properly, but I need a keepsake to remind me of my gullibility.