DIY Squeezebox Radio battery

[marklemsn]

Hi,
I have read the various threads about making your own battery pack and can't find anywhere the exact spec for the thermistor. I know that it is a 10k NTC type but I also need the 'Beta value' to specify it exactly.

The instructions at http://cms.diodenring.de/en/electron.../92-squeezebox give a Farnell part number #1672286 which has s Beta Value of 3630 but I don't know if this was just a guess or based on measurement of a real pack.

I'm getting a pack made up by www.strikalite.co.uk and if I can tell them the correct NTC part they can include it.

Battery taps at the top of cell 3 & 6 appear to have been confirmed from a real pack.

Help anyone?

Regards, Mark Leman

[marklemsn]

I ordered two batteries from www.strikalite.co.uk on Friday and they arrived in the post today, shrink wrapped complete with the correct connector and Thermistor for the Squeezebox Radio :-). Great service and nice people to deal with.

The batteries are made up with 2100mAh 'enelong' cells.

I will do a few charge/discharge cycles and report back how it performs.

The radio is currently reporting:-
Battery voltage : 14.098v
Vmon1 : 4.235v
Vmon2 : 8.471v
Temperature : 24.53125C
Charger state : Battery Charging

So for those of us in the UK it appears there is now a source of reasonably priced Squeezebox radio batteries :-)

Regards, Mark Leman

[sawtooth]

Hi, can I ask how much you paid for the batteries? Also what reference number should I quote to order them? I dont see the battery pack on their web site.

Many Thanks.

[hubbaloo]

Yes, can you tell us exactly which parts you ordered?
Thanks!

[marklemsn]

Yes, can you tell us exactly which parts you ordered?
Thanks!

Hi, I originally went to http://www.strikalite.co.uk/prodcat_...ery_Packs.html and ordered Product ID: 752 which was as close as I could find to what I wanted. However I emailed the attached schematic of the battery pack I really wanted to info@strikalite.co.uk and they have made it up, complete with low discharge cells, thermistor and connector.

I am testing the cell over the Christmas break and will report back on how well it works. The first charge cycle terminated with the cell reporting 40C and my meter confirmed this was about right.

Strikalite may add a unique part number to their site once I report back to them with my test results / if enough people ask them. If you are desperate to get one in the mean time, and at your own risk, I suggest you email them and ask for the 'squeezebox radio battery' that they made for up for Mark Leman.

Regards, Mark Leman

[sawtooth]

Thanks very much for the info.

Do you know if the battery will discharge whilst just sat in the radio? I'm thinking that the radio does not completely shut off so standby current could be quite high. Might consider putting a small toggle switch in line with the battery loom and perhaps modify the battery door so I can shut off power completely ie. when travelling or just an easier way to restart the radio.

Not sure its absolutely necessary yet though.

How much did you pay for the battery pack?

Ta.

[marklemsn]

Thanks very much for the info.

Do you know if the battery will discharge whilst just sat in the radio? I'm thinking that the radio does not completely shut off so standby current could be quite high. Might consider putting a small toggle switch in line with the battery loom and perhaps modify the battery door so I can shut off power completely ie. when travelling or just an easier way to restart the radio.

Not sure its absolutely necessary yet though.

How much did you pay for the battery pack?

Ta.

The Logitech battery does not have a switch so I don't see why you would need one. As far as I know the battery is charged whenever the radio is 'on' but not if you shut it down (press and hold on/off button). The pack the Strikalite made for me used low discharge cells.

I paid £19.50+vat+P&P each for two batteries, but there is no guarantee that strikalite would sell them as a standard item at this price, give them a mail and ask.

Regards, Mark Leman

[mobileadam]

Hi,

Thanks for the very useful posts. It will be interesting to see how you got on over Christmas.

I too would order a pack once I hear your comments.

Thanks

Adam

[marklemsn]

Hi,

Thanks for the very useful posts. It will be interesting to see how you got on over Christmas.

I too would order a pack once I hear your comments.

Thanks

Adam

Hi Adam, both the packs have performed well over Christmas. The only things I need to do are 1) a full discharge test to see the life 2) A full recharge with a thermocouple inserted in the battery pack to check the thermistor is reporting reasonably accurately in the Squeezebox radio.

I hope to complete these tests in the next day or so and will report back.

Jeff at Strikalite tells me that he will put the pack on their site as a standard part once I tell him these tests are ok :-)

Regards, Mark Leman

[marklemsn]

Hi Folks,
Over the weekend I did the tests :

1) Discharge test: Saturday 4pm-Sunday 1am + Sunday 10:15am-10:45am + Sunday 11:15am - 1:15pm = total of 11hours 30mins at a mid volume.

2) Charge test: Started at Sunday 1:30pm and had completed by 5pm, I did not notice exactly when it finished but more importantly the thermocouple I inserted into the pack matched the reading given by the squeezebox to within 1C or so over the range 25C-40C, this is important because the squeezebox probably uses the temperature for charge termination and for safety monitoring.

In conclusion I am very pleased with the battery packs Strikalite have supplied me, but if you choose to order from them it's at your own risk. In the event of the battery damaging your squeeze box or burning down your house don't come complaining to me!

Regards, Mark Leman