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Has anyone done this? I've got two Di2 internal batteries (two different bikes) one of which refuses to charge and one of which runs down really quickly. It seems bonkers to buy new ones at ~£100 a pop if it's possible to replace the cells, assuming that's the problem.
This video is encouraging.
I am, however, completely unskilled with a soldering iron and to make things more interesting when you take them apart the cells are spot welded in, not soldered, but in the comments it suggests pealing the spot weld off.
What do you reckon for a soldering numpty? Or if anyone has recommendations of where I could send them please share?
I replaced the batteries in a set a few months ago and honestly it was not too bad of a job. Watch a couple of videos on soldering technique ahead of time. be careful when removing tabs from the old batteries, a pair of needle nose piers were handy. Make sure you have a powerful soldering Iron so you can get to temp quick without heat soaking the batteries. Batteries were cheap from ebay. Look for higher capacity cells in the same form factor.
I'd get the bike with the fast battery drain hooked up to the latest diagnostic tool to establish why it's draining the battery so fast - usually corroded terminals on the e-tube wires. May be able to fix that one without touching the battery itself.
@sillyoldman. Thanks, since my post I've borrowed the latest diagnostics box from my LBS (I have the 1st gen but that doesn't find current drains) and ascertained that in one bike it's the rear mech that is 'probably' draining the system and in the other it's definitely the battery. Have you had experiernce of corroded terminals? Is it something you can spot visually? My 4-port junction is basically in the BB shell and must always be damp in winter...
@furrner. Thanks, that's reassuring. I think I'll need to get a better soldering iron then, mine is a super cheapo one that I a mate gave me. Any advice as to type/cost/what to look for?