Fitbit charge2 battery life problem ? Solution maybe replace battery.

TLDR; It seems like Fitbit batteries last maybe a year or 2 or 4 before "going bad".

Makes sense, same for any rechargable battery for mobile phones, laptops, . . . telsas, . . .

If we can buy a replacement battery we will try and replace it and hopefully recover the device.

Fitbit don't offer to repair but offer discount on upgrade to new device.

Fionn's fitbit languishing in the uncharged unused pile at the moment.

Report is last few times it was used that the charge just about lasted maybe a day.

Device worked grand maybe for 4 years.

What's the problem?

Software update ? Change in config ? Causing more battery use.

  Can see some evidence (on the internet) that this could be a problem.

  https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/fitbit-charge-2-firmware-update-battery-1.5258511 Aug 2019

Not charging properly ?

  Myeh loads of info. Official company line. 

Charge not lasting long ? Old battery?

 Thinking that this is most likely.

 Fitbit forum discussion indicate lots of users with problem.

 Fitbit company policy seems to be offer discount on purchasing a newer Fitbit device instead of repair.

https://www.google.com/search?q=fitbit+charge+2+battery+not+lasting

https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Charge-2/Battery-draining-quickly/td-p/1975351#
(solutions offered: optimise power use, check charging is ok (which will not solve issue for a device with a battery problem))

https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Charge-2/Charge-2-battery-not-lasting-a-day/m-p/3758231/highlight/false#M213283
terrible(8 hours) charge holding, either since forever for device or onset of problem, same solutions offered

https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Charge-2/Charge-2-battery-is-draining-to-fast-and-heart-rate-stopped/td-p/2806332/page/3
onset of charge holding problem and defective other things maybe

https://help.fitbit.com/articles/en_US/Help_article/2004.htm
"Can I extend my Fitbit device's battery life?"
https://www.androidauthority.com/fitbit-problems-issues-732505/
"The most common Fitbit problems and how to fix them"
https://gadgetsandwearables.com/2019/04/01/fitbit-not-holding-charge/

https://www.reddit.com/r/fitbit/comments/93tly4/charge_2_battery_drain_customer_service_rant/
"MY charge 2 wont't keep a charge. After 17 months of a charge lasting 4-5 days, its battery life is down to less than a year[ed: day I presume]."

SOLUTION: Buy a battery and replace it ourselves. We are electronic engineers with a little experience torxing, disassembling mobile phones, laptops, computers, etc and sometimes successfuly replacing parts, fixing screens, replacing batteries etc . . . so we might be able to do it.

https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Charge-2/Can-I-purchase-a-Charge-2-battery/td-p/2095010
Note: The official line is "There is no battery replacment"

https://www.google.com/search?q=replace+battery+fitbit+charge2

Buying a battery and replacing it is a bit tricky requiring plastic/electronics parts gentle disassembly and delicate un-solder, solder on new battery. WARNING: this will definitely void your warranty. It could cause wailing and gnashing of teeth, bruised/cut/burnt fingers/thumbs, dead fitbits, fire. I might be possible if you have some electronics soldering and disassembly/reassembly repair experience. This battery might work: 80mAh LSSP411415 Replace Battery For Fitbit Charge 2, or less mAh(not as good): LSSP411415 Battery for Fitbit Charge 2 Smart Watch SmartWatch 60mAh Li-Po Li Polymer Voltage:3.7V Not original parts obviously so size(physical dimensions and power) as well as quality could be an issue, BUT they might work. Good project to take on.



https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000050065247.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.24982ee5o0soAj&algo_pvid=ddb6b931-893d-4db9-91a1-7fda5884fb2c&algo_expid=ddb6b931-893d-4db9-91a1-7fda5884fb2c-0&btsid=0ab6d70515984544339366018e59a2&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_,searchweb201603_

VERY GOOD HOW TO video on youtube: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYwEM7W19dg

4 mins but fast forward in the soldering part of the video, I would guess this task would take me an hour (not includign time to browse web, find all the infos, find battery, purchase). And I already have torx screwqdrivers, philips, tools, soldering iron, etc etc.

https://yourfitnessradar.com/can-fitbit-batteries-be-replaced/
No detail on battery and instead of soldering a technique called smoldering is used >;-) "Smoldering is up next. It can be hard to smolder the circuit board while you’re holding it, so we recommend that you tape it down while you’re working on it."