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crwdns2944351:0crwdnd2944351:0Pono Player Battery Replacementcrwdnd2944351:0crwdne2944351:0

crwdns2933797:0Jimcrwdnd2933797:0crwdne2933797:0

crwdns2936043:0crwdne2936043:0 crwdns2933505:0crwdne2933505:0 Jim

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Pono Player
Type
replacement
Thing
Lithium Ion 3.7 V Battery (protected)
Title
Pono Player Battery Replacement
Introduction
Originally my Pono Player would run for 5 or 6 hours. Now, 6 years after I got the Pono, the battery can only play a 45 minute album. Time to upgrade that battery.
Let face facts, 18650 batteries will recharge a couple of hundred times but they do degrade. Perhaps the Panasonics, Sonys and LGs really are higher quality and will keep recharging to full capacity in the 1000s; show me the data. My Pono has a “McNair New Power” 3.78V, 2950mAh cell (they all had the same cell). Remove the black plastic wrapper and label (thanks for the label with the specs fellas’) low and behold it is a generic 18650, maybe 2500 mAh is my guess but no other markings on the raw battery, with a little protection PCB on the plus end.
I bought a high capacity, name brand, unprotected 18650 to put in my Pono. I want to spot weld nickle tabs on the plus and minus contacts (like a real battery manufacturer) rather than solder to the battery (like a hobbyist).
It turns out people are doing this spot welding operation quite a bit using a motorcycle battery or a “super cap” and a moped starter relay to make battery arrays for e-bikes and e-skate boards. Spot welding batteries at home is fun and dangerous (PPE required). There are battery spot welders that can do this work for < $200 on Amazon which are safer. I plan on using a few batteries not hundreds so I went with a 100 CCA motorcycle battery I have available, a $15 dollar 12 V relay and 2 copper nails for welding contacts.
Time Required Min
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Time Required Max
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Difficulty
Very difficult
Conclusion
To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.
Author
Jim
Public
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  • Soldering Iron x1 added.

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  • Good Quality 18650 battery 3.6 to 3.8 V >3000 mAh x1 added.

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  • In Progress added.
  • Community-Contributed Guide added.

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