Tracker Tag Batteries anyone?
Discussion
I think I've managed to locate someone who can supply a battery like the ones to fit in the tracker tags.
I'm getting a trial version shipped to me this week and will install it and test it with tracker on Monday.
The main issue will be whether the tag has lost its personality. If it has then I think its a lost cause.
Assuming it works, anyone else up for some batteries to refurb their own tags? I'll give costs once I know we're on the right path but suffice to say it is significantly cheaper than new tags!.
I'm getting a trial version shipped to me this week and will install it and test it with tracker on Monday.
The main issue will be whether the tag has lost its personality. If it has then I think its a lost cause.
Assuming it works, anyone else up for some batteries to refurb their own tags? I'll give costs once I know we're on the right path but suffice to say it is significantly cheaper than new tags!.
SHIFTY said:
My two tracker tags are U/S and I will swap them at next service, they have 6 x CR2050 batterys in each tag.
Should be 18V reads less than 12v on each tag.
Same as these:- http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/533728861/Good_p...
Your tags are clearly different to mine then which are 4 x 2450s configured to make 6volts and last longer (but not long).Should be 18V reads less than 12v on each tag.
Same as these:- http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/533728861/Good_p...
[quote=Good Soil (Pete)]Haven't got mine in front of me but I thought the tags were a sealed item i.e. not obviously something you can pry in half......am I mistaken or will I be tacking a screwdriver and club hammer to the edge of one to get it apart?
[/quote]
Nothing that a bit of judicious prying cannot overcome! The hammer stayed in the drawer.
[/quote]
Nothing that a bit of judicious prying cannot overcome! The hammer stayed in the drawer.
Murph7355 said:
Am interested Peter - haven't progressed mine yet.
But isn't the battery pack soldered/glued on?
Can your supplier sell smaller batteries? I'm think of a smaller case with replaceable batteries...
Nothing that can't be undone/redone.But isn't the battery pack soldered/glued on?
Can your supplier sell smaller batteries? I'm think of a smaller case with replaceable batteries...
I didn't want to be having to remake the case as it does have the benefit of making it easily pocketable due to its thin form factor.
Yes the supplier can do smaller batteries, however I suspect replaceable will mean bigger.
I can't imagine there will be sufficient volume of these needed to justify a new case to be made and I'm happy changing battery as and when needed.
BingoBob said:
Good job!
Did you take any photos?
I've just ordered a few more batteries and will do some photos when I do my second tag.Did you take any photos?
If anyone isn't happy doing the job themselves I can probably offer a "reconditioning" service or even a swap out service as I've got two spare old tags in stock. That would however mean registering them with Eurowatch 9-5 Monday to Friday.
I've pm'd back the details of the battery suppliers to the people who've contacted me.
Finally got round to changing out the cells in my other tag.
Prise the case open by putting the flat of the back of a knife in the groove around the outside and twisting slightly. I tried to take photos of this but seriously ran out of hands. The objective is to damage the plastic shell as little as possible. It's a bit like opening a scallop or oyster shell!
You will hear a few clicks and pops as you open it, but in the three I've dismembered none have had any breaking on the external shell.
It's best if you slip the knife under the side with the Aston badge on rather than the side with the serial number, which is the side that has the PCB on it.
Once open you'll find this:-
As you can see the cells are held in place with some sticky pads.
Unsolder the old battery and solder in the new one, making sure the polarity is correct and that you do not short out the bare ends in the process.
Pop some little blobs of silicon sealant on the bottom of each cell and stick them to the shell base.
Pop some more dabs of silicon sealant on the tops of the cells and some just on some of the edges. The picture shows where I put them and the sort of quantity.
The silicon should easily peel off next time the cells need changing
If necessary pop some tape around the case while the silicon cures.
It really is a 10-15 minute job.
Prise the case open by putting the flat of the back of a knife in the groove around the outside and twisting slightly. I tried to take photos of this but seriously ran out of hands. The objective is to damage the plastic shell as little as possible. It's a bit like opening a scallop or oyster shell!
You will hear a few clicks and pops as you open it, but in the three I've dismembered none have had any breaking on the external shell.
It's best if you slip the knife under the side with the Aston badge on rather than the side with the serial number, which is the side that has the PCB on it.
Once open you'll find this:-
As you can see the cells are held in place with some sticky pads.
Unsolder the old battery and solder in the new one, making sure the polarity is correct and that you do not short out the bare ends in the process.
Pop some little blobs of silicon sealant on the bottom of each cell and stick them to the shell base.
Pop some more dabs of silicon sealant on the tops of the cells and some just on some of the edges. The picture shows where I put them and the sort of quantity.
The silicon should easily peel off next time the cells need changing
If necessary pop some tape around the case while the silicon cures.
It really is a 10-15 minute job.
About £7.20 plus postage
As already quoted contact russ@cellpacksolutions.com and order CPS1295A which are the ones I have specified.
These are not off the shelf batteries and have to be individually welded. I thought the price was significantly more reasonable than the £140 for a new tag.
As already quoted contact russ@cellpacksolutions.com and order CPS1295A which are the ones I have specified.
These are not off the shelf batteries and have to be individually welded. I thought the price was significantly more reasonable than the £140 for a new tag.
AMDBSNick said:
Can't you just pair your phone!!!!!!!
Yes I can.. and do.However if I leave the car with someone (servicing for example) I want to take the phone with me.
Not only that, my misses only has a fisher price phone which doesn't have Bluetooth. I didn't know they still made such things!
In addition some people have "smart" phones with batteries that only last about 4 hours so that'd be flat before you've completed a journey.
Ah well it's nearly lunch time BingoBob said:
Very good thread this.
Given the size of the PCB I bet it would be possible to use a smaller case and a '27A' type battery...
Interesting. Might have to fire up the CAD see if I can come up with a keyring size box.
I did consider doing that myself. If you were to do this I'd be tempted to add a switch to de-activate it as without the continuous power draw a much smaller 6volt cell could last for years.Given the size of the PCB I bet it would be possible to use a smaller case and a '27A' type battery...
Interesting. Might have to fire up the CAD see if I can come up with a keyring size box.
I also considered a "push to use" button which would keep it alive for say 24hours and then shutoff. Problem is, I reckon the quiescent current draw associated with that would probably equal (or exceed) the bluetooth module so I discounted that!
Obviously an easy to open shell, perhaps with a non solder battery (the downside of which would be that it would increase size)
At the end of the day, the new cell in the existing case is a good enough solution for me personally.
v8woollie said:
NoIt's made up of four of those in a custom battery with welded tags.
Ask Russ for a CPS1295A and he'll know what to send you!
AMDBSNick said:
Pete the the batteries in my tags are f
ked. Can I bring them along to the D&D tomorrow for you to fix them please. I'm bringing my Carbon Fibre ECU for cockers to sort out. Do I need to bring my own tools 
Yes of course. I'm vat registered so invoicing shouldn't be a problem either. Or you can just by me a pint!ked. Can I bring them along to the D&D tomorrow for you to fix them please. I'm bringing my Carbon Fibre ECU for cockers to sort out. Do I need to bring my own tools Gassing Station | Aston Martin | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff