Remote Link2 Battery Failure

[GTench]

I had reason the other day to make use of a remote link2 that had not been used for 4 or so years. I plugged it in to recharge but the red LED would not go off so it was not taking a charge. I found this strange because it had just been sitting there unused. I then went to a spare remote link2 that was in its original box (also at least 4 or more years old) and discovered that it too would not take a charge. I looked online for a replacement battery but could not find one with the same dimensions as required to fit in the remote link2 enclosure so I just MacGyvered something together using a similar capacity battery that I could find as I do not believe new remote links are available yet.

I released the 4 tabs on the remote link2, cut the battery leads close to the battery and pushed them through a small hole that I drilled in the back of the case. I stuck a new 300 mahr 3.7V battery to the back of the case since it would not fit inside the enclosure and soldered its leads to the ones poking through the case hole and now it works fine.

Just wondering if it is common for these batteries to fail if they are unused for a lengthy time. I have other remote link2s that are at least as old as the failed ones and they are working fine but they are in regular use and are recharged periodically.

Gary

[tmorse305]

Lithium ion batteries should not be left in a discharged state (<2V) or permanent damage occurs.  I also find that if I don't use the RL2 for a while the battery is dead which makes me think that power is being drawn even when the buttons are not pressed.  So sitting in a drawer for a while could drop the voltage to 2V unless there is some protection circuit in the RL2.

[dbuss]

If a lithium-based battery is discharged below its minimum voltage (typically 2.50V per cell), the protection circuitry disconnects the cells and prevents any further discharge. In order to reconnect the cell, a trickle charge current is applied until battery voltage reaches the end of discharge voltage and turns off the over-discharge protection circuit in the battery. In some cases, voltage may have to go over the end of discharge voltage to reset. The actual value can only be determined through experimentation. If the cells are allowed to self-discharge to a point where the protection circuitry is inoperable, the battery is truly dead.

https://www.cadex.com/_downloads/_support/boost_app_notes.pdf

Edited November 27, 2022 by dbuss

[Brian H]

I have seen a how to on replacing the battery in a Remotelinc 2

They found one that had a lower capacity but it fit and you could snap it back together.  Seems the original one was a uncommon size. There problem was would charge but had very little capacity and needed very frequent recharges.

Edited November 27, 2022 by Brian H

[GTench]

Thanks for info the guys. My fix, although not pretty, works for now at least until replacements become available.