Introduction
How to open a SPÖKA light, how to replace the battery pack, how to put it all back together.
Tools
Parts
-
-
The most tricky part is to get the inner body out of the rubber shell.
-
I was supprised. The rubber can actually take some stretching
-
you end up with an egg shaped plastic body
-
-
-
Now we need to remove the bottom cap.
-
carefully bend the two hoocks inwards (e.g. with a small screwdriver) ad remove it
-
Now you can split the the body into two
-
-
-
you now can extract the battery pack.
-
on top you see the little switch to turn it on and off.
-
the LED are strapped with a cable tie around the battery
-
at the bottom lies the connector for recharging
-
-
-
remove the cable tie
-
remove the warapping of the battery pack
-
desolder the two cables from the pack
-
now it should look like the pack on the right
-
glue the new batteries together. - keep in mind, to alter the ends.
-
at the end you should have a new pack with (+) (-) (+) at one end and (-) (+) (-) at the other
-
-
-
this is the tricy part.
-
the new pack should be facing you with (+) (-) (+)
-
solder the right (+) to the (-) in the middle
-
Lolder the upper left (-) to the (+) in the middle
-
I used some old wire for it
-
Now solder the short black wire to the upper (-). It must be the only (-) with no connection yet
-
Solder the red long wire to the lower left (+). Also this must be the only (+) left without any connection
-
let it cool off
-
-
-
Use the cable tie to strap the LED back to the battery pack
-
isolate the open ends of the batterypack. It must not be able to create a short circuit. I used the hot glue. but also some thick rubber tape can do the job
-
put it back together in the shell
-
be aware to place the switch and the connector for recharging on the right places
-
-
-
Now its getting ugly again.
-
you have to put the shell back into the rubber
-
this could take a while
-
Be aware to put the connector on the right side, so you are able to recharge it again
-
-
-
Switch it back on and enjoy the bright light
-
Please remember that you altered a electric device.
-
never let your new spöka charge unattended and keep a good eye on it for short circuits
-
be aware that you altered an electric device!!!
If you do not know what you are doing... dont to it
One comment
This is a good writeup. One flaw is the old battery photo doesn’t show the markings — not everyone will want to hot-glue a NiMH battery pack from scratch, when you can purchase 4 for $10 on Amazon (from a baby monitor or cordless phone). These they have the advantage of using JST connectors (though you’d need to solder on a socket to take advantage of that).
ALSO - if you have the “fat Spoka” as I do, it uses 3 NiMH formed in a triangle (byd nimh battery h-aaa550X3) and those are IMPOSSIBLE to find so no retail option there — I probably will have to hot-glue the battery pack… :-)
scootz -