SDS100/SDS200: SDS100 Battery Rebuild

[I_am_Alpha1]

Has anyone done it yet? I got the dreaded swollen battery after two-years of ownership. It's the big battery. Amazon has the cheapest replacement that I've found...nearly $50. Last year I did allot of work on 18650 harvesting and pack building, so I thought I'd give this a try since individual batteries can be had for cheap. Since the pack was so swollen, some of the glue had already separated. Only glue and tape are holding it together. Inside there are three pouch batteries connected to a BMS (1S3P). The BMS wires to the outer case are very short, not leaving much working room...and they are covered with glue on both ends. Two of the three batteries are spot welded...the center one is soldered to the BMS. Replacing them would be an easy task. Flush cutters made removing them easy. I opened a pouch out of curiosity...nothing but the material rolled up. I searched the number on the battery and only found the MSDS from the manufacturer. Good thing I read it--"Do not swallow batteries". Whew, that was close...I was feeling peckish and thought a Lithium battery would make a good snack . I've not found a replacement battery that would make doing this economical. Measurements inside the case are about 55mm x 32mm x 25mm. My batteries are swollen so the measurements may be off a bit...32x50x9--with the tabs on the 32 side. If the 08/18 on the battery is the birth date, it was nearly two years old when I got it. I searched the manufacturer's website and didn't find this battery--they have one with a little less mAh and one with a little more...didn't find anything when searching those part numbers. If anyone finds a replacement battery, please post the info...I've only found ones that would make the cost of replacement the same as buying a new one from Amazon.

 

[trentbob]

I'm sure you're going to get many responses from people who know more than I do. Buy a replacement battery LOL.

I'm actually familiar with battery rebuilds, it can be done but only on a product that was very high quality to begin with. This crap swells for a reason LOL. It's got a life span like a light bulb. Why would anyone make a light bulb that never burns out. Oh that's right, they do...

I just replaced one the other day... after it burned out.

 

[Ubbe]

I've rebuilt batteries for radios and when open them up there where usually standard AA or AAA size cells connected with metal ribbons that where welded. It was easy to pry off the metal ribbons and replace the cells and solder wires to them and glue the battery together again. I believe I've read that Uniden special ordered these SDS100 batteries to make use of the space as much as possible, so probably no standard size of the cells. But using smaller cells are still good if loosing just some 25% capacity.

When I bought lithium batteries for R/C models they where just some $10 for a 5000mAH 4,7v when I ordered from China. Only one have swollen of 5 of that size, and it was already swollen when it arrived but has stayed that way over a 10 year time frame and have worked just as good. So do not know what's going on inside it. I bough some 2.7v 500mAH for something like $1 to a 2-wheel R/C motorcycle and could use some of those cells in the swollen SDS100 battery just to get it running and record. I can use an external powerbank if needed to take it mobile.

/Ubbe

 

[trentbob]

I've rebuilt batteries for radios and when open them up there where usually standard AA or AAA size cells connected with metal ribbons that where welded. It was easy to pry off the metal ribbons and replace the cells and solder wires to them and glue the battery together again. I believe I've read that Uniden special ordered these SDS100 batteries to make use of the space as much as possible, so probably no standard size of the cells. But using smaller cells are still good if loosing just some 25% capacity.

When I bought lithium batteries for R/C models they where just some $10 for a 5000mAH 4,7v when I ordered from China. Only one have swollen of 5 of that size, and it was already swollen when it arrived but has stayed that way over a 10 year time frame and have worked just as good. So do not know what's going on inside it. I bough some 2.7v 500mAH for something like $1 to a 2-wheel R/C motorcycle and could use some of those cells in the swollen SDS100 battery just to get it running and record. I can use an external powerbank if needed to take it mobile.

/Ubbe

I get what you're saying... It makes sense... Don't you think though that these 2 batteries are proprietary and unlike any other? Hard to replace or rebuild

I'm not saying it can't be done or that a new type of battery couldn't be built. But rebuilding the existing battery? If building a new battery we have to remember that these radios can't run on just Double A's. Otherwise they would take just Double A's.

I doubt these batteries can be rebuilt. Replacing them with a new type of battery would be problematic. Just my two cents.

 

[n1chu]

You write “The cheapest replacement I’ve found”… I haven’t found anyone competing with the Uniden offering so, yea, it’s the cheapest. But as stated, these LI-Ion batteries aren’t of the best quality. I’m sure better quality batteries would be available if there was a market for them but does a market exist? I haven’t seen any other applications for this battery. And a single appliance (SDS100) is not anywhere near enough incentive to compete with the Uniden offering. None of this is a put-down to the Uniden offering… it’s a decent battery for the money. But when Samsung had that bad batch of cell phone batteries a few years back they either had to fix the problem fast or take a big hit in the marketplace. They upgraded the quality of their batteries and all is well-no swelling.

I agree with those who believe it may be be economical to rebuild the battery packs, but only if they use better quality components. It’s not going to do any good to rebuild using OEM components… to what end, so you can rebuild it again after it swells up again?

 

[Ubbe]

I doubt these batteries can be rebuilt. Replacing them with a new type of battery would be problematic. Just my two cents.

Of course they have to be rebuilt with the same cell type lithium Ion polymer, but capacity doesn't matter to the BMS circuit. The cell packs of Li-Ion are usually of standard sizes, as I_am_Alpha1 explains, but Uniden special ordered those cell sizes and are probably impossible to order for someone else. So have to go down one step to nearest standard size.

/Ubbe

 

[enosjones]

My one big battery has swollen as well it was packed away..

 

[trentbob]

Of course they have to be rebuilt with the same cell type lithium Ion polymer, but capacity doesn't matter to the BMS circuit. The cell packs of Li-Ion are usually of standard sizes, as I_am_Alpha1 explains, but Uniden special ordered those cell sizes and are probably impossible to order for someone else. So have to go down one step to nearest standard size.



/Ubbe

So we are basically talking about building a new battery. As we both know the specifications are specific to power the sds100 because if its power drain. Since standard Double A's X 4 wouldn't do it, why would standard size lithium batteries do it?

I yield to your superior knowledge in all seriousness. If I was the poster, my order would already be in... for a new battery pack to arrive shortly.

I would like to see an after-market battery show up and you know what... As time goes on and nothing new comes down the pike and this is it for simulcast reception... there might be a buck to be made.

 

[I_am_Alpha1]

If the battery tends to swell when looked at, it wouldn't make much sense to keep buying them at $50 over and over again. You can replace the cells cheaper--and they might be better cells (or worse, only time will tell). Swollen batteries could be a result of poor construction, or a poor quality charger. It wouldn't be economical for Uniden to use a proprietary battery, unless they were buying them by the millions. After more research, the number's meaning became clear--883256 are the measurements; 8.8mm x 32mm x 56mm. Amazon's search algorithm really sucks (and that's on a good day) making it difficult to find what you need...they display what they want you to sell you, not always what you want to buy. So I searched a few different ways and found these:

EBL Replacement Sp 803048 Battery for Infant Optics DXR-8 Video Baby Monitors, 1800mAh High Capacity 3.7V Lithium Ion DXR-8 Rechargeable Battery. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08Y6R2GMQ/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_500WE4TY6S347HPTBESW?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

They are slightly smaller (8mm x 30mm x 48mm), but have the same power and volts. I'll need to cut off the tape and remove the BMS, then solder into the Uniden BMS. A bit of kapton tape and Bob's your uncle. I rarely get next day delivery from them...so two-days and a day or two to install and we'll see. BTW, the remaining two cells I pulled swelled considerably more after sitting on the bench a few hours...to the point of rupture any second. They are outside and can burn all they want now.

 

[trentbob]

If the battery tends to swell when looked at, it wouldn't make much sense to keep buying them at $50 over and over again. You can replace the cells cheaper--and they might be better cells (or worse, only time will tell). Swollen batteries could be a result of poor construction, or a poor quality charger. It wouldn't be economical for Uniden to use a proprietary battery, unless they were buying them by the millions. After more research, the number's meaning became clear--883256 are the measurements; 8.8mm x 32mm x 56mm. Amazon's search algorithm really sucks (and that's on a good day) making it difficult to find what you need...they display what they want you to sell you, not always what you want to buy. So I searched a few different ways and found these:

EBL Replacement Sp 803048 Battery for Infant Optics DXR-8 Video Baby Monitors, 1800mAh High Capacity 3.7V Lithium Ion DXR-8 Rechargeable Battery. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08Y6R2GMQ/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_500WE4TY6S347HPTBESW?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

They are slightly smaller (8mm x 30mm x 48mm), but have the same power and volts. I'll need to cut off the tape and remove the BMS, then solder into the Uniden BMS. A bit of kapton tape and Bob's your uncle. I rarely get next day delivery from them...so two-days and a day or two to install and we'll see. BTW, the remaining two cells I pulled swelled considerably more after sitting on the bench a few hours...to the point of rupture any second. They are outside and can burn all they want now.

So this battery has to fit exactly into the carcass of the sds100 along with the big butt battery cover. It's worth to try if you want to experiment but will it perform better than the replacement battery specifically made per specifications to increase performance over the first, inadequate, battery?

It should be interesting to see what happens after there's no new radios better than SDS 100 and 200 for simulcast reception. Not saying uniden won't come out with some kind of radio but it won't be a replacement for what exists as their Flagship radios.

Might be a few bucks there to be made buy some intelligent aftermarket entrepreneur.

 

[kruser]

Great experiment!

Hopefully the EBL cells you found may hold up better than the cells used in Uniden's pack.

 

[spikestabber]

A pair of rounded lithium ion cells could also fit if the correct length, would last a longer lifespan too. I facepalmed myself when I threw out the Uniden BMS circuit as I wanted to reuse it for that purpose of using a battery better suited to warmer environments. I run my 100 permanently off a off a 5V DC-DC low noise converter and even then it still causes noise when running in a car environment without a battery present. At the very least I would have been able to trick it with some supercapacitors so the recording/playback still functions without an active battery installed.

 

[iMONITOR]

Has anyone done it yet? I got the dreaded swollen battery after two-years of ownership. It's the big battery. Amazon has the cheapest replacement that I've found...nearly $50.

Uniden BPS100 SDS100 Battery $39.95 in-stock

https://www.walcottradio.com/uniden-bps100-sds100-battery-p-3716.html

 

[Ubbe]

I took out my old swollen battery to see how it could be modified and it has swollen considerable, without even looking at it. All three cells has now swollen the same amount.

It's a bit strange and inconsistent that when powering off the SDS100 without a battery it saves to SD card just fine but it can't save recordings, that function are disabled.

/Ubbe

 

[iMONITOR]

/Ubbe

Doesn't Uniden use any metal plate (see Post #13) for strength or protection from a violent eruption?

 

[Ubbe]

Doesn't Uniden use any metal plate (see Post #13) for strength or protection from a violent eruption?

Maybe the metal are used as a cooling fin?

/Ubbe

 

[iMONITOR]

Maybe the metal are used as a cooling fin?

/Ubbe

Do the batteries themselves get hot? I know the radio can.

 

[I_am_Alpha1]

Several answers:
1. The replacement batteries do not have to be the "exact" size...just exact specs (volt, amp, rate). Less amp would be ok, just won't last as long.
2. Walcott Radio sells the battery for $39.95...then charges $19.95 for shipping--total cost is more than Amazon
3. The metal has no real function. I thought shielding, but it's towards the outside. Protection--not really, since the rest is plastic and it's inside another cover. Cooling, perhaps...again, inside with a cover defeating that purpose. So, unknown what the "real" purpose is.
4. Lithium batteries do get hot when charging and discharging.

UBBE: DANG!!! Worse than mine. Tur att det inte fattade eld

I received the replacement batteries today...hopefully tomorrow I'll be free to swap them out--I'll post pics of the process.

 

[jdolina]

Just had to replace mine. Found one on Amazon $44.67 free shipping. Put it in last night charged just fine. I also notice the radio is much cooler with new battery. The old one was original so about 4ish years old. It would not charge anymore (red blinking) and when I took it out I almost couldn't close the case if I tried to put it back in.

 

[Ubbe]

UBBE: DANG!!! Worse than mine. Tur att det inte fattade eld

Yeah, pretty bad. I'm a bit worried now beacause I have some 10 Lipo for R/C cars, helicopters and motor gliders in a storage locker for 5-6 years and haven't checked on them. I was in the locker last week to get some computer stuff and there was no sign of smoke or fire.

/Ubbe