Successful battery latch operation on my Dell Axim x51v PDA

daffodilistic · 03-14-08, 09:26 AM

Took out the stupid battery latch switch by brute force, leaving the 2 battery metal contacts. Then I used the solder wire to bridge the 2 and viola! No more "Battery Latch Is Open" messages! Yeah I know it looks very amateurish solderwork, but the damn thing is tiny!

Gigi · 03-14-08, 09:53 AM

Thanks for sharing. I'm sure this will help a lot of people!

speedy1979 · 03-14-08, 11:43 AM

It appears that your backup battery is corroding. You might want to replace that while your under the hood.:exc:

Sorry but I ain't got the baseballs:hide: to solder anything in my Axim x51v. One mistake could cost me $500 (Ipaq 211 + Innopocket Magnesium Case).

saint-francis · 03-14-08, 03:29 PM

That is the best fix yet. I thought I was the coolest guy on the block when I used super glue on the feet of my battery doors.

daffodilistic · 03-14-08, 07:34 PM

Originally Posted by speedy1979

It appears that your backup battery is corroding. You might want to replace that while your under the hood.:exc:

Yeah I realized that...problem is finding the parts for replacement...

Ivan Awfulitch · 03-14-08, 07:50 PM

Originally Posted by daffodilistic

Yeah I realized that...problem is finding the parts for replacement...

Actually, not a problem. First, not a battery but a super capacitor. Second, check here:
Cornell-Dubilier - EDLEN204RL3R3S - Allied Electronics

daffodilistic · 03-15-08, 03:32 AM

Originally Posted by Ivan Awfulitch

Actually, not a problem. First, not a battery but a super capacitor. Second, check here:
Cornell-Dubilier - EDLEN204RL3R3S - Allied Electronics

Well sadly although this part is available in my country via Farnell, minimum order is 2000 units.

I've searched Farnell's catalog, and came up with a local part available in smaller quantities - EECEN0F204RK — PANASONIC — CAPACITOR, SMD 0.2F 3.3V

nakedracer · 03-18-08, 08:01 AM

To fix the battery latch problem I just rolled up a tiny piece of cardboard and squeezed it into the battery cover foot's hole so it pushes down the button more. Works perfectly so I'm probably going to make a little nob of silicone and gorilla glue it to the foot. I wouldn't solder in my axim cause I reaaly suck at it and it seems like alot of work and risky when a little peice of silicon can do the trick. Lucky u did though so u can start looking for a backup battery replacement.

SevenNine · 03-25-08, 05:04 PM

You're my hero!

All the "use nailpolish, use glue, use paper" advice is completely worthless. I've been doing this with my axim for over a year in a vain attempt to get rid of that stupid battery latch message and these solutions are ALWAYS short-term. After a few weeks it wears down and the message comes back. Not to mention the swapping of batteries also often messes up these "tricks".

Maybe I just really suck at applying those ghetto methods, but I think I just might attempt to get a buddy to do the same thing to my axim that you did here.

arocholl · 03-26-08, 02:20 PM

I agree soldering is the best -long term- solution. Another could be to find the registry setting to disable the warning feature (if such a setting exists, nobody found it yet AFAIK).

In any case, are there step-by-step instructions anywhere to open the axim with no damage?

Thanks for sharing.

saint-francis · 03-26-08, 05:56 PM

Originally Posted by arocholl

I agree soldering is the best -long term- solution. Another could be to find the registry setting to disable the warning feature (if such a setting exists, nobody found it yet AFAIK).

The registry is out of this equation. You might be able to hack WM to make the message not appear but the Axim will still shut down. You cant even turn it on (not even get into the boot loader) if the battery latch is open.

srvctec · 03-26-08, 10:39 PM

Originally Posted by arocholl

In any case, are there step-by-step instructions anywhere to open the axim with no damage?

Thanks for sharing.

Better yet here's thread linking to a video how to do it by an aximsite member.

arocholl · 03-27-08, 05:45 AM

Originally Posted by srvctec

Better yet here's thread linking to a video how to do it by an aximsite member.

Wonderful! Thanks for the link!

emg4 · 05-16-08, 01:38 PM

Originally Posted by daffodilistic

Well sadly although this part is available in my country via Farnell, minimum order is 2000 units.

I've searched Farnell's catalog, and came up with a local part available in smaller quantities - EECEN0F204RK — PANASONIC — CAPACITOR, SMD 0.2F 3.3V

Hi. Here are some links to ebay. Capacitors at 15€ each:

Backup Battery RTC (Dell Axim X51, X51v) (Capacitor) en venta en eBay.es (finaliza el 20-may-08 22:00:00 H.Esp)

Backup Battery RTC (Dell Axim X51, X51v) (Capacitor) en venta en eBay.es (finaliza el 20-may-08 22:15:00 H.Esp)

At last we don't have to buy 2000 capacitors! :approve:

slyman · 06-03-08, 11:37 PM

Originally Posted by nakedracer

To fix the battery latch problem I just rolled up a tiny piece of cardboard and squeezed it into the battery cover foot's hole so it pushes down the button more. Works perfectly so I'm probably going to make a little nob of silicone and gorilla glue it to the foot.

Hey thanks,

Just to be sure, by "battery cover foot..." do you mean the 2 knob things that the latch latches on to?

Any possibility of a photo of your silicone fix?

Thanks.