Pismo batteries... re-cell? No cycle counter

[FacnyFreddy]

So the battery cycle counter on both my Pismo batteries reads "0" in OS X (Tiger) when I go into the system profiler.

Is this normal or are these some how defunct? The one battery is "dead" (not even walking-dead).

The other battery will run for about 20min and then drop into sleep.

If I re-cell them with new Sony batteries (2600mAH 18650) can I get back in the game with these? I know the junkers from ebay with outragous claims are to be avoided. These were pulls from the local computer store from damaged units that came in on a shipment... tore open 2 of them and came up with 9 cells that were not damaged.

 

[bunnspecial]

I've found the 0 cycle count to be normal behavior with EOL or near EOL batteries of all types. I'm actually not sure offhand if the cycle count works on the Pismo batteries-I have some working NOS ones that I can check.

You can likely recell the 20min one and get it to work. The completely dead one may be a complete goner.

 

[FacnyFreddy]

Is there a fuse or such on the Pismo batteries? I didn't think it had that protection on it until the later G4s.

 

[mitchW]

Yes, there is a fuse, although is a 3 pin device, it will not blow if you disconnect and then reconnect the cells from the main control PCB.

If it is blown, the battery pack will not be recognised in Tiger under Power in System Profiler, also it will not even try to charge it.

I only found the fuse blown once, in a completely dead battery, that all cells were at almost 0V. For kicks, I bricked it with a thin wire (about 20A rating), and the battery took normal charge. So I guess, you'll be safe to brick this fuse with a thin wire, if you change the cells. The original fuse had the 30A rating, if I remember correctly.

This "repaired" battery only lasts few minutes, but the interesting thing to me is that these cells have very low self discharge (internal leakage) even after they were discharged to 0V for probably more than 3-4 years.

 

[FacnyFreddy]

What is the fuse in the controller board? Is it labeled "F1" on the circuit board? I want to test it before I recall. My battery was previously recognized, but, didn't hold a charge at all.

Do I just test the continuity between the contacts of the 3 pins? (it is a small rectangular SMD for F1

 

[mitchW]

Here is the fuse (circled in red) that I bricked with a thin wire.