Dark Fire Battery Workaround Kit

[admin_shawnb]

I've been playing my DF lately, and fairly shocked everything still works.  Even the battery (which is my 2nd battery in my DF, I replaced the original a few years ago...). 

Uh... Kinda sorta...  If the battery charge indicator drops below a full charge at all, certain functions don't work, e.g., a big tuning change.  So the battery is going.

So I see that Tronical has a "Gen II Battery Workaround Kit" to make the DF use a more standard battery.  That looks promising, but, Tronical says they are moving & unable to ship for a while... 

https://www.tronicaltune.com/shop/gibson-spare-parts/gibson-dark-fire/gen-ii-battery-workaround-kit-for-gibson-dark-fire-back-plate-battery-charger/?v=7516fd43adaa


I've also seen folks say that inside the DF battery are two standard batteries, and that if you are very brave you can attempt some battery surgery:
https://forum.gibson.com/topic/130586-a-fix-for-the-no-longer-available-battery-gen-1/?do=findComment&comment=2191193



My first preference is the Tronical kit.  I'll keep trying to make contact...  Wish me luck!

[Elantric]

I've been playing my DF lately, and fairly shocked everything still works.  Even the battery (which is my 2nd battery in my DF, I replaced the original a few years ago...). 

Uh... Kinda sorta...  If the battery charge indicator drops below a full charge at all, certain functions don't work, e.g., a big tuning change.  So the battery is going.

So I see that Tronical has a "Gen II Battery Workaround Kit" to make the DF use a more standard battery.  That looks promising, but, Tronical says they are moving & unable to ship for a while... 

https://www.tronicaltune.com/shop/gibson-spare-parts/gibson-dark-fire/gen-ii-battery-workaround-kit-for-gibson-dark-fire-back-plate-battery-charger/?v=7516fd43adaa


I've also seen folks say that inside the DF battery are two standard batteries, and that if you are very brave you can attempt some battery surgery:
https://forum.gibson.com/topic/130586-a-fix-for-the-no-longer-available-battery-gen-1/?do=findComment&comment=2191193



My first preference is the Tronical kit.  I'll keep trying to make contact...  Wish me luck!

Chris Adams remarried recently and is relocating within Germany

New pair of 14500 rechargeable batteries

https://www.amazon.com/ER14505-Non-Rechargeable-Single-Use-Electricity-Security/dp/B0B8G6RQ2G/ref=asc_df_B0B8G6RQ2G/

[admin_shawnb]

I'll pursue both routes...  I've reached out to Tronical regarding the kit.

Fortunately I kept the initial dead battery.  It wasn't too difficult to open, however, it does NOT disassemble easily.  It's almost like everything was lightly glued.  Even the battery connectors want to stay put.

Slow process of coaxing things apart, with blades & tiny screwdrivers...


Lots of variants on these batteries.  The biggest factor is the rating in mah, milli-amp-hours.

That governs how much of a charge it holds, I believe. 

So...  A bigger # is better?  Or need I match the original?

I *think* I read somewhere the original was 750mah (I can't find the source tho...).  The author in the article above uses an 800mah replacement battery.

Some of these are 2600mah.  I'm tempted to try those.

[Elantric]

Larger mAH is better

But must conform to ER14500 size

[admin_shawnb]

I think they used conductive glue instead of solder on the battery connections.

That, or some serious molecular migration going on...

[admin_shawnb]

I think using 2 new 14500s worked!

There were some extremely delicate operations cleaning everything & reassembling...

I did not want to glue & solder it all together, to make it easier to repeat next time.  But it needs to be held together, because the parts are otherwise loose. 

So...  I used 4 tiny strategically placed pieces of duct tape.  Enough to hold it together before going in the housing. 

The housing itself firmly holds it together. 

[gumbo]

So...  I used 4 tiny strategically placed pieces of duct tape...


Adam Savage would be proud of you !   

[Elantric]