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Help, please: Opening a sealed camera battery

I have several exhausted NiMH camera batteries, for a camera I rarely use anymore. The batteries (or perhaps the charging system) were awful. But I would like to use it as a backup--maybe by replacing the NiMH cells, or inserting smaller Li-ion unit... Anyone been successful at opening these? I think the seams are welded...

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14 comments
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2
Oct 19, 2007. 5:46 PMtheque says:
did you try unscrewing that little screw on the top (in the picture). Although that probably wont help..
10
Oct 20, 2007. 5:52 AMgmoon (author) says:
I did try that...the end cap (left in photo) unscrews, too. No good.
8
Oct 19, 2007. 3:08 PMPunkguyta says:
Well, squeezing a battery in a vice is a good way to lose the hand that is operating the vice. It should be pry-able but if all prevails, dremel+cut off disk.
10
Oct 19, 2007. 4:13 PMgmoon (author) says:
The last time I tried it, I didn't have a dremel. I do now, and that's a great idea. I've never heard of NiMH batteries exploding, although I guess they could if you overcharge/pump massive current in to 'em. This one is filled with several AA size tabbed cells. I'll be careful, though.
8
Oct 19, 2007. 6:53 PMPunkguyta says:
It'll be fairly easy (at least for me :P) to only cut the plastic, however there is a plastic shell around those AA cells, like a heat shrinked film, then the thick metal casings on the batteries themselves. Don't be worried you couldn't even blow them up if you did get into the battery core. Usually...
2
Oct 19, 2007. 3:41 PMtheque says:
Im not quite sure what a vice is. But what i often do to get things like that open. just insert a thin flat-headed screwdriver and turn the screwdriver as if you were screwing something in. Be careful though, it can slip out and slice your hand pretty fast :p.
38
Oct 19, 2007. 3:46 PMGoodhart says:
Here is a vice with a suction base:
Oct 19, 2007. 4:20 PMPatrick Pending says:
You can have to many vices ;-) Cheers, Pat. Pending
38
Oct 19, 2007. 4:21 PMGoodhart says:
Then you would have a vice squad LOL
10
Oct 19, 2007. 4:22 PMgmoon (author) says:
Or be the vice president.
Oct 19, 2007. 3:31 PMPatrick Pending says:
I open up old phone batteries for the rechargeables. I generally, cut with a hacksaw then put a flat bladed screwriver in the slot and pry them open. Cheers, Pat. Pending
10
Oct 19, 2007. 4:09 PMgmoon (author) says:
Maybe that approach (with Punkguyta's) will work. Just prying sure didn't.
38
Oct 19, 2007. 3:34 PMGoodhart says:
It would be difficult, at best, to remove the batteries without damaging the case they are in.
10
Oct 19, 2007. 4:07 PMgmoon (author) says:
Yeah, that's why I didn't proceed any farther without some advice. But I have 4 dead battery units, and don't mind trashing some. I hope to have about a 50% success rate...

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