Swollen battery on Sprint Air Card - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

PonyPotato · 05-17-2009, 07:35 AM

I will be asking this question of my friend who works for Sprint, but here goes:

Since I've taken it on a few flights to Ohio and back, my Sierra 595U has had issues. The battery is swollen, causing it to easily disconnect and render the air card useless (usually in the middle of a connection). Thus far I have kept the battery connected by a) taping around the plastic battery cover to keep it closed and b) adding more tape as the first layer stopped helping c) adding a rubber band on top of both layers of tape to keep the connection tight.

Is the battery's swelling likely caused by high altitude? Is it something I can continue to just deal with via various layers of tape and rubber bands, or do I need to get the air card replaced? I didn't pay for equipment protection for the air card (it was free and $7 a month sounded ridiculous when I'm already paying that for my Centro) so I'm not sure what, if anything, Sprint can do for me.

Any ideas? I'd rather not have to go get an upgrade because they'll want me to re-sign my contract and therefore forfeit my unlimited usage plan (they now cap data plans at 5 GB per month).

Martian · 05-17-2009, 07:51 AM

A swollen battery is a dying battery. The swelling is caused by damaged cells. It's nothing to do with altitude, but the battery will have to be replaced. The card itself should be fine, and you should have no trouble finding one online so you don't have to go through Sprint (who, if they're anything like Canadian telcos, probably put a huge markup on accessories).

There's a battery on Amazon for $12.99 but I can't link it, because link parsing to Amazon seems to be broken. Anyway, they're out there to be had and you might even be able to get one cheaper if you do a bit of digging.

05-17-2009, 07:35 AM	#1 (permalink)
PonyPotato Soaring Location: Ohio!	Swollen battery on Sprint Air Card I will be asking this question of my friend who works for Sprint, but here goes: Since I've taken it on a few flights to Ohio and back, my Sierra 595U has had issues. The battery is swollen, causing it to easily disconnect and render the air card useless (usually in the middle of a connection). Thus far I have kept the battery connected by a) taping around the plastic battery cover to keep it closed and b) adding more tape as the first layer stopped helping c) adding a rubber band on top of both layers of tape to keep the connection tight. Is the battery's swelling likely caused by high altitude? Is it something I can continue to just deal with via various layers of tape and rubber bands, or do I need to get the air card replaced? I didn't pay for equipment protection for the air card (it was free and $7 a month sounded ridiculous when I'm already paying that for my Centro) so I'm not sure what, if anything, Sprint can do for me. Any ideas? I'd rather not have to go get an upgrade because they'll want me to re-sign my contract and therefore forfeit my unlimited usage plan (they now cap data plans at 5 GB per month). __________________ "Without passion man is a mere latent force and possibility, like the flint which awaits the shock of the iron before it can give forth its spark." — Henri-Frédéric Amiel

05-17-2009, 07:51 AM	#2 (permalink)
Martian Young Crumudgeon Location: Canada	A swollen battery is a dying battery. The swelling is caused by damaged cells. It's nothing to do with altitude, but the battery will have to be replaced. The card itself should be fine, and you should have no trouble finding one online so you don't have to go through Sprint (who, if they're anything like Canadian telcos, probably put a huge markup on accessories). There's a battery on Amazon for $12.99 but I can't link it, because link parsing to Amazon seems to be broken. Anyway, they're out there to be had and you might even be able to get one cheaper if you do a bit of digging. __________________ I wake up in the morning more tired than before I slept I get through cryin' and I'm sadder than before I wept I get through thinkin' now, and the thoughts have left my head I get through speakin' and I can't remember, not a word that I said - Ben Harper, Show Me A Little Shame Last edited by Martian; 05-17-2009 at 07:54 AM..