Speaker Will Not Charge

[sunny-dave]

We've got an old bluetooth speaker which has been left in a drawer and the rechargeable battery has gone totally flat.

I've tried all my usual tricks (various chargers of different amperage - including an actual Apple iPad charger which bungs out a full 2.4 amps and will usually bring even the most recalcitrant battery back from the dead, and a very low amperage trickle charger in case that would do the job over a couple of days).

Sticking an ammeter in the circuit shows that the speaker is just not accepting any current (beyond a few milliamps) and hence is just not charging.

Anyone got any tricks for reviving dead rechargeables - I'd have to break the speaker to get the battery out, and it's almost certainly uneconomic to replace the battery anyway.

Cheers

SD

[Buenchico]

There are various suggestions on YouTube, including connecting up to a 12V car battery, but I wouldn't risk them myself. (I'd regard the risk of a battery exploding, and bursting into flames, as rather too high for my liking!).

Unless you're after a really high-end product, Bluetooth speakers are so cheap these days that it's probably not worth the hassle of trying to fix the old one. For example, your local Dealz store should have this for €6
https://www.dealz.ie/432081-wireless-speaker/
and this for €9
https://www.dealz.ie/431488-wireless-portable-sound-bar/

[sunny-dave]

I've got a good few already Chris - this was just an occasionally useful one as it had a light.

I might try a higher voltage battery - perhaps a PP3 rather than one from the car ...

[jim360]

I too am frustrated by Lindsay Hoyle's refusal to do anything :P

[Hopkirk]

Yes, I thought it was going to be a politics question too.

[youngmafbog]

HAs he got battery problems too then Jim?

On the speaker problem, I would be very careful trying to charge with anything but a proper charger. The lithium batteries (which it probably is) can be very temperamental and dangerous. I had a similar problem with my Hive. It did eventually start taking the charge. I just put it on charge for a few hours over a few days.

I also wouldnt leave it on charge when you are not around either.

[sunny-dave]

Thanks everyone - yes ymb, I only leave it plugged in when supervised - but it has been on charge for several hours every day for the last week - not a flicker & still not taking any current.