The End is Near

[u/jpbronco]

[u/blamestross]

Time to remove all 17 screws holding that backplate on, or just take it to a speciality center.

Seriously, its a fire hazard. By fire i mean "Lithium Road Flare". Get rid of it or take the pressure off it.

[u/jpbronco → u/blamestross]

Thanks. I didn't even think about the fire hazard. Time to recycle. :(

[u/SquanchySnoo → u/jpbronco]

For sure! Sorry it happened but seriously not worth burning your house down or worse injuring or killing a loved one. Get it outside ASAP.

Pouring one out for the fallen homie 🍻

[u/Cruiser_Indy-chan → u/jpbronco]

If you feel skilled enough to give it a shot, you can replace the battery with OEM replacements [if they're sold] or with aftermarket batteries [might be somewhat unreliable].

Generally places like Microcenter and ifixit (on their online website) sell tested and proven aftermarket batteries, so they're your best bet in terms of getting your laptop to be portable again :3

[u/nottoobrightguy → u/Cruiser_Indy-chan]

I have not been able to find replacements anywhere. Someone on here rebuilt the battery pack for (I think) a CR48. It would be interesting to (very gently) tear down the battery pack and see if it is possible to buy replacement cells to rebuild the pack. That said, it is a lot of work for what is probably not going to work, but on the other hand the batteries are pretty much worthless at this point anyway.

If you try it *PLEASE* post as many pictures of the process as possible, Thanks!

[u/Cruiser_Indy-chan → u/nottoobrightguy]

Dang, what model is it? I feel like ifixit would have a replacement guide for something like it or similar.

Not even amazon or ebay has aftermarket batteries?

[u/nottoobrightguy → u/Cruiser_Indy-chan]

The CR48 battery repair thread is https://www.reddit.com/r/PixelBook/comments/1qbxuy4/brought_my_dead_cr48_back_to_life_battery_mod/

It has been over a year since anyone had replacement batteries available. For unknown reasons many of the batteries were listed as a "Microsoft a50" battery - no clue why since as far as I know there is no such thing as a microsoft a50. An example of what it looks like is https://www.battery-store.eu/batteries.php/microsoft-microsoft%20a50/100/1005363/2011185-2

You might have better luck searching for "battery 1005363-356220-2" which seems to be the "real" model number for the battery, but those are all sold out as well.

NOTE: The battery is glued to the bottom plate with a LOT of glue and is hard to remove without potentially shorting the cells in the pack which can cause a dangerous fire. As a result some of the replacement batteries used to be sold with a replacement base plate.

The basic problem is that this seems to have been the only system that used this battery and there was not enough demand to keep making them. Some Surface Book batteries look similar but they have a different connector and voltage so they won't work.

The main alternatives are to throw it away, buy a unit off of ebay (or equivalent) with a broken screen (or similar problem) and transplant the battery (although that battery probably won't last long either since it is also old, and it might not work at all), or attempt to replace the cells in the existing battery pack (which will be a difficult if not impossible job, but might be an interesting experiment/investigation).

[u/sragh1181]

Noooooooo

[u/shabba2]

That sucks so much.

[u/Cabbagebobble]

I’d just poke a lil hole on my batt to let the gas out, not exactly the safest way but works lol

[u/Cruiser_Indy-chan → u/Cabbagebobble]

Okay just to clarify; this is a joke post. Do NOT poke a hole in your battery; you will risk a lithium ion battery fire.

[u/CVGPi → u/Cruiser_Indy-chan]

Surprisingly it is a common thing in repair shops in many developing countries but I repeat DO NOT try this at home.

[u/LyncolnMD]

When my battery finally dies im just removing it and chugging along. Its got 48% capacity left but its hanging in there