Tomtom Go 720 Replacement Battery

mikealder · Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2008 3:35 pm Post subject:

The issue with larger capacity cells is they are often physically larger in thickness, I doubt these will fit within the case.
To be honest the standard battery has enough charge capacity when new, my 18 month old 720 is currently only lasting 30 to 40 minutes without the charger connected (a real pain when you get a hire car with a dead ciggy lighter socket).
I will be swapping the cell out later this month once I get a replacement. Unless someone can locate something like a 3000mAh cell that will still fit then its probably best to stick to like for like component swapping, a couple of hundred mili amphours isn't going to be noticable in use - Mike

253 · Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2008 4:14 pm Post subject:

Many thanks for all the info.
I wil have a rummage for batteries and if i find anything compatible will get back.
It was just an idea, if I was going to replace then could it be with a longer lasting one.
_________________
Triumph Tbird 1700. And now a Bonnie T100.

topgazza · Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2008 4:40 pm Post subject:

A much larger battery wouldn't always be much bigger. Finding one might be. The standard one should be quite cheap anyway

Theres a guy on ebay sells them for £16 delivered. 1300 ah...... but thats OK its age and recharging that knackers them..in another 2 years just buy another......

Just search on TomTom 720 batteries
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TomTom 720

Nokia Lumia 800 with Nokia Maps, iPhone 4S with Apple Maps (sigh)

Trevor1234 · Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2008 4:56 pm Post subject:

Hi Mike
I have just had a good look at your instructions/pictures and I will save the Post in case I ever need to get into the 720. Thanks.
_________________
Tomtom Go 720.
Navcore 9.510
Central and Western Europe v855.2884
GPS World Traffic cameras
Home 2.7
iPhone 3G

DennisN · Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2008 8:29 pm Post subject:

topgazza · Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2008 8:44 pm Post subject:

Thats Mike all over though. Never clear enough.....shoddy workmanship.....I blame the parents
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TomTom 720

Nokia Lumia 800 with Nokia Maps, iPhone 4S with Apple Maps (sigh)

DraySoft · Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 10:29 pm Post subject:

Hi All,

Good news and bad news - good news I collected a replacement battery from GPSforLess today, thanks Trevor1234, followed Mike’s excellent instructions to gain access to the battery , all good news so far.

THEN.... start of bad news, the old battery is secured to the PCB with double sided tape the strength of which I have not seen before, after some considerable time I managed to free the battery. I then applied tape to new battery and stuck it to the PCB connected all connectors and reassembled my 720. ( I found it better to remove all the connectors due to the fact that I had to apply a considerable amount of effort to remove the old battery and I did not want to stress the thin wires)

I charged the unit for some time then switched it on, after a few ‘red crosses’ and hard resets the unit initialized correctly locking onto the GPS signals.

BUT.... All of the Bluetooth menu items are ‘greyed’ out I have reinstalled one of my backup’s but the Bluetooth still does not work, anyone got any ideas?

I should add I worked in the Electronics industry for 45 years before becoming a ‘white van man’ in this role I very often dismantled / repaired and calibrated all kinds of electronic instrumentation so I was not in the least phased by dismantling my 720. Getting to the battery is not the hard, removing it is nigh on impossible and I think I may have damaged the thin PCB in doing: so think twice before attempting to remove a Tomtom battery.

I will dismantle it again tomorrow and reconnect the ribbon cable just in case it has not seated correctly, however I did check it when I assembled today.

Draysoft

topgazza · Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 11:58 pm Post subject:

Hope its OK.

Curious how companies, TT aren't alone in this, make the replacement of a component that has a known "half life" and will fail before the device does almost impossible to remove. I would imagine even repair shops would have a problem. Sounds easier but a good scalpel and hours of patiently slicing away is the order of the day. Thats even if you can get under it enough

Not done it so Draysoft's warning is a very valid one.

Sheesh!
_________________
TomTom 720

Nokia Lumia 800 with Nokia Maps, iPhone 4S with Apple Maps (sigh)

mikealder · Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 12:19 am Post subject:

Try Change Preferences/ Restore factory settings although this won't repair any PCB damage it should reset the device to default and then see if the BT options are available - Mike

DraySoft · Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 1:42 pm Post subject:

Thanks Mike - tried that before I installed the backup, as I said I am going to dismantle again to night and have a good look at the ribbon connector and also the PCB for damage.

Everything to do with the phone is missing from the menu's, the phone icon on the first menu screen and all bluetooth icons.

I will keep you posted.

Draysoft.

Trevor1234 · Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 2:07 pm Post subject:

Hi DraySoft
I’m sorry to hear that the 720 battery is so difficult to remove and the predicament that you now find yourself in. Please keep us posted as to the final outcome. Its something that we 720 users must bare in mind if our batteries ever begin to go down hill.

I just hope that you find out what’s wrong later this evening.
_________________
Tomtom Go 720.
Navcore 9.510
Central and Western Europe v855.2884
GPS World Traffic cameras
Home 2.7
iPhone 3G

topgazza · Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 2:45 pm Post subject:

I'm an optimist...I reckon its a connector not sitting right...
_________________
TomTom 720

Nokia Lumia 800 with Nokia Maps, iPhone 4S with Apple Maps (sigh)

DraySoft · Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2008 8:11 pm Post subject:

Well it must be a hardware fault I dismantled it again then reassembled it very carefully reinstalled the original software still no phone icon and all Bluetooth icons greyed out. Are well at least it still works as a GPS routing device, I will get it repaired if it can be in the near future.

On the Tomtom web site I note this :-
*****************
Question.
Can I change the battery on my TomTom.

Answer.
No. If you have a problem with the battery, please contact TomTom customer support.

Don't forget that you can use your TomTom device in the car with the car charger and at home with the home charger or home dock even if you are having a problem with the battery.
*******************
This doesn't help as has been said jf the car power outlet doesn't work or you want to use it outside.

If I were to do it again I would very ‘carefully’ cut the battery outer plastic sleeve with a scalpel, remove the old cells then peel the sleeve off the PCB.
I say ‘carefully’ as Lithium Polymer batteries can be VERY unpredictable if damaged in any way i.e. overcharge or shorted see this link http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=-DcpANRFrI4

Swingmanic · Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 3:20 am Post subject: GO 720 battery replacement!

One big tip guys...Don't try and remove the WHOLE battery with outer shrink wrap!
Simply peel the outer shrink wrap away from the original battery and lift the the battery out of the wrap, then place the new one inside the original wrap and gently stick the adhesive sides over the new battery.
If you do that, then you'll have no problems!!
And be careful of the zif connector that holds the ribbon cable of course...Very easy to break!!
Cheers Very Happy

stuart · Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 5:46 pm Post subject: Replacing inner items

Nice DIY pictures Mike...Now I wonder if I can use the same procedure to replace a speaker in a TomTom One v3 which my son has. I see Maplins sell the speaker here.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=227369

Has anyone replaced a speaker yet, I couldn't find a thread !

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