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Main Forums => The Roundtable => Topic started by: K Frame on September 11, 2020, 12:00:06 PM

Title: Replacing the battery on a Kindle...
Post by: K Frame on September 11, 2020, 12:00:06 PM
Years ago I received a Kindle for Christmas, and I love the thing. But, the battery is starting to crap out. It's only taking a partial charge and is discharging WAY fast.

Has anyone ever tried replacing the battery their Kindle?

I've seen some Utoob videos, but I'm just worried about giving it a try.
Title: Re: Replacing the battery on a Kindle...
Post by: Ben on September 11, 2020, 12:19:22 PM
If it's from years ago, I would just wait a few months and get another one from Amazon when they do the Christmas specials. You can probably get the same generation or even a newer one for not much more than what a battery will likely cost. I think last year I was seeing them go for as low as $30.
Title: Re: Replacing the battery on a Kindle...
Post by: zxcvbob on September 11, 2020, 01:22:19 PM
I replaced the battery in my Kindle Paperwhite last year.  It was pretty easy to do; the replacement battery came with the tools (tiny Torx driver, etc)
Title: Re: Replacing the battery on a Kindle...
Post by: K Frame on September 11, 2020, 01:27:22 PM
I identified it as a Kindle 4th or 5th generation based on the serial number.

The battery replacement would be just under $30, which includes the tool kit and the like (probably the same manufacturer as Bob's battery).

I thought about upgrading to one of the ones with the light, but I really like this unit. No, it's not cutting edge, it doesn't have a light, but for some reason I just find it to be about... perfect.
Title: Re: Replacing the battery on a Kindle...
Post by: Ben on September 11, 2020, 01:31:40 PM
I identified it as a Kindle 4th or 5th generation based on the serial number.

The battery replacement would be just under $30, which includes the tool kit and the like (probably the same manufacturer as Bob's battery).

I thought about upgrading to one of the ones with the light, but I really like this unit. No, it's not cutting edge, it doesn't have a light, but for some reason I just find it to be about... perfect.

Well, we're not talking a lot of money either way, so if it's something you like, no reason not to do the battery swap. I did similar with an obsolete Creative Zen a while back, just because I really like it. Supposed to be a non-user replaceable battery, but the third party battery came with tools and a youtube link, and it was pretty easy.
Title: Re: Replacing the battery on a Kindle...
Post by: K Frame on September 11, 2020, 01:35:41 PM
Doing a little digging around I find that I can get one of the ones with a front light, for about $80 if I'm willing to accept ads. I'm generally OK with the ads on the unit I have, and have even gotten a couple of interesting books from the ads. I could get one with Audible e-reader with a 3-month free subscription, but I'd never used that. I've tried multiple times to do books on tape and they just don't work for me. I end up losing concentration and having to backtrack to figure out what I missed.

Going to have to think about this.
Title: Re: Replacing the battery on a Kindle...
Post by: TechMan on September 11, 2020, 01:38:40 PM
The ads are generally on the startup screen (definitely)  and in the bookshelf (maybe).  I have never seen one within a book.
Title: Re: Replacing the battery on a Kindle...
Post by: K Frame on September 11, 2020, 01:49:25 PM
No, the ads aren't in the books, at least not on the Kindle that I have.
Title: Re: Replacing the battery on a Kindle...
Post by: Ben on September 11, 2020, 02:19:20 PM
Doing a little digging around I find that I can get one of the ones with a front light, for about $80 if I'm willing to accept ads. I'm generally OK with the ads on the unit I have, and have even gotten a couple of interesting books from the ads. I could get one with Audible e-reader with a 3-month free subscription, but I'd never used that. I've tried multiple times to do books on tape and they just don't work for me. I end up losing concentration and having to backtrack to figure out what I missed.

Going to have to think about this.

I will say that  I went from the gen 2 (Kindle with keyboard) to I think it's the gen 5 paperwhite, and there was a very noticeable improvement in being more "book-like".
Title: Re: Replacing the battery on a Kindle...
Post by: K Frame on September 11, 2020, 02:26:45 PM
I have thought about springing for a paperwhite... but the cheapest of those is well over $100.
Title: Re: Replacing the battery on a Kindle...
Post by: Pb on September 11, 2020, 03:18:05 PM
I have an kindle reader (4th generation) and I've changed the battery two or three times.  I bought replacement batteries on ebay that came with the tools to do it.  The battery I got on ebay was $15 I think.

It is not especially difficult.

They glue it shut (at least mine was), so the first time you have to heat up the back of the kindle with a hair drier to loosen the glue to remove the cover.  After that it is easy.  That was the only hard part.

I watched a youtube video to see how it was done.

Go ahead and do it.

My kindle 4 is one of my favorite possessions, I use it most days.

I dread the day it breaks.
Title: Re: Replacing the battery on a Kindle...
Post by: K Frame on September 11, 2020, 03:42:13 PM
Hum... Hair dryer...

I'd have to have hair to own a hair dryer...

I wonder if I could use a heat gun from a distance...
Title: Re: Replacing the battery on a Kindle...
Post by: Regolith on September 11, 2020, 08:31:30 PM
I have thought about springing for a paperwhite... but the cheapest of those is well over $100.

The current generation Paperwhites are waterproof, so it's somewhat worth it.

Title: Re: Replacing the battery on a Kindle...
Post by: cordex on September 11, 2020, 08:46:15 PM
The current generation Paperwhites are waterproof, so it's somewhat worth it.
Probably less so after a battery replacement.
Title: Re: Replacing the battery on a Kindle...
Post by: K Frame on September 12, 2020, 06:58:37 AM
Well, if I bought a paperwhite, I'd have to wait for probably 4 to 5 years, or longer, before needing to replace the battery.

Not sure what I'm going to do. Maybe I will just limp along for awhile and see what kind of deals are available around Christmas.
Title: Re: Replacing the battery on a Kindle...
Post by: K Frame on September 12, 2020, 07:07:00 AM
"My kindle 4 is one of my favorite possessions, I use it most days."

Word.

It's very rare that I don't fall asleep at night reading on my Kindle. I've read a TON of books that I never would have because I wouldn't have either sprung for the money for the physical version, plus I've found a metric buttload of neat books through the "Kindle book deals" e-mails I get. Fascinating stuff on military history, general history, murder mystery, etc., plus a bunch of classics that I've always wanted to read.

The only thing that might make me want to get a newer Kindle is if the newer ones handle graphics and illustrations better. Reading a lot of military history I come across a lot of maps, and my Kindle just doesn't handle those well at all. Very dim, can't enlarge them, etc. Basically it's pretty rare to get much of anything usable from the image. That's also true with black and white photos. Those don't render well at all.

I just finished a book discussing whether or not the German Blitzkrieg was actually a German military thing or a way for the Allies to explain how they got their asses handed to them early in the war (author makes a convincing case, but not a completely solid case that it was an Allied excuse/explanation).

Those kinds of books have tons of maps and photos, and they just don't do well.
Title: Re: Replacing the battery on a Kindle...
Post by: Ben on September 12, 2020, 09:08:51 AM
I also read on my Kindle for an hour or so every evening. I have so many books on it I might otherwise never have gotten in hardcopy that it's ridiculous.

Unless the newest generation has made major leaps, the paperwhite is as crappy about images and stuff as the first gen Kindles. The Kindle Fire is much better at this, but (caveat - I only own the first gen Fire) I find it hard on the eyes to read on the Kindle Fire and pretty much never do.
Title: Re: Replacing the battery on a Kindle...
Post by: Pb on September 12, 2020, 09:52:29 AM
I do not want a new kindle, as all of them are touch screen- I find these very hard to use.  It is difficult for me to select exactly the word I want when using the dictionary function.  I also find myself accidentally turning the page when I touch the screen.  The Kindle 4 and 5 are perfect for my purposes.

They haven't been made for years though.   
Title: Re: Replacing the battery on a Kindle...
Post by: K Frame on September 13, 2020, 08:14:42 AM
Didn't realize that the new Kindles were touch screen. Not sure I'm interested in that.

I also dislike reading on an actively lit screen. I rarely try to read books on my phone because of that.
Title: Re: Replacing the battery on a Kindle...
Post by: Ben on September 13, 2020, 08:54:07 AM
Didn't realize that the new Kindles were touch screen. Not sure I'm interested in that.

I also dislike reading on an actively lit screen. I rarely try to read books on my phone because of that.

Know that the paperwhite light is not anything like a lit phone, or even a Kindle Fire. You need to see if you can find someone near you whose paperwhite you can look at.

I have no problems with the Kindle touchscreen. While I wish it additionally had buttons (some models might) so  I could choose, the touchscreen is not bad at all for me.
Title: Re: Replacing the battery on a Kindle...
Post by: Pb on September 13, 2020, 10:41:07 AM
If you want an extra Kindle 4 or 5 (both similar) they can be found on shopgoodwill.com, ebay, and there are some used ones on amazon.

I am going to buy one or more as a backup.

Of course, there is no guarantee if you buy a used one it will not have a depleted battery as well.
Title: Re: Replacing the battery on a Kindle...
Post by: Boomhauer on September 13, 2020, 10:53:11 AM
Target has Kindles on display if you want to check them out.
Title: Re: Replacing the battery on a Kindle...
Post by: K Frame on September 16, 2020, 09:58:32 AM
And, Woot has a bunch of Kindle refurb units on sale right now, including a bunch of paperwhites...
Title: Re: Replacing the battery on a Kindle...
Post by: K Frame on September 16, 2020, 10:13:54 AM
Bought one.

2016 Paperwhite. Internal light. Whole schmear. 4 Gig. Should be here next week.
Title: Re: Replacing the battery on a Kindle...
Post by: K Frame on September 21, 2020, 10:29:41 AM
Very cool. My new to me Kindle Paperwhite is out for delivery. It was originally estimated to be delivered on Thursday. I guess Woot/Amazon got their *expletive deleted*it together and got it out in good time.
Title: Re: Replacing the battery on a Kindle...
Post by: Pb on September 21, 2020, 12:29:41 PM
Let us know how you like it.
Title: Re: Replacing the battery on a Kindle...
Post by: K Frame on September 22, 2020, 07:21:44 AM
So far, so good. Got my books transferred over from the old Kindle, or at least some of them.

I love the screen light. Very easy on the eyes.

Not too crazy about the touch screen, but it's working OK.

The layout is a lot busier than my old Kindle, so that's taking getting used to.
Title: Re: Replacing the battery on a Kindle...
Post by: Pb on September 22, 2020, 09:30:53 AM
I've just ordered an old Kindle Keyboard as a backup for when my Kindle 4 finally dies.

So far, I really don't like the touchscreens of the new ones, though a light would be nice.
Title: Re: Replacing the battery on a Kindle...
Post by: Ben on September 22, 2020, 09:36:18 AM
One of the great things I found when going to the light was all the areas I could use the Kindle comfortably. With the old Kindle, I pretty much had to sit under the same lighting as I would with a real book. With the paperwhite, I can read anywhere with no eyestrain. It was really nice when I still traveled a lot for reading on the plane and wherever.

This talk about the Kindle keyboard had me wanting to dig mine out from wherever it is, except I can't find it. I don't know if I lost it when I moved or what. Dang it.
Title: Re: Replacing the battery on a Kindle...
Post by: K Frame on September 22, 2020, 10:04:15 AM
"With the old Kindle, I pretty much had to sit under the same lighting as I would with a real book."

Yep, that's one of the only complaints I had about my Kindle. I liked to use it in bed before going to sleep, and the reading lighting in my bedroom really isn't the best. I made do OK, but it took me a long time to figure out what combination of light bulbs and light placement on the nightstands would be best. What I ended up with I really don't like for a variety of reasons. Now that I have the lighted Kindle, I can go back to bulbs that I like and which are more suitable for the room.
Title: Re: Replacing the battery on a Kindle...
Post by: K Frame on September 28, 2020, 01:55:04 PM
So, with the new Kindle, I decided to, in fact, go and change the bulbs in my bedroom.

I went with these from Amazon...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07N2NHJWB/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Antique-style squirrel cage LEDs in the 2700K range (warm white). But, these bulbs have an amber coating on them to give them an even more yellow, warm, almost firelight effect.

I put two in nightstand lamps and two in the pillar lamps in the corners on the other side of the room.

The light color and warmth is simply incredible. So inviting, so relaxing.

They're 60-watt equivalent, so 240-WE light level in the bedroom.

But, for when I need a whiter, more task oriented light, I left the four straight white LEDs in the ceiling fan unit.

I'm seriously thinking about updating the bulbs in the living room to the same color, but if I do I'll probably go 100-WE to get the extra light levels.
Title: Re: Replacing the battery on a Kindle...
Post by: K Frame on October 07, 2020, 12:09:31 PM
Well that's embarrassing...

I was looking at ordering some more of the bulbs that I described below when I realized that I... ordered the wrong bulb among the ones I was looking at.

These are actual incandescents, not LEDs. I wondered why they were putting out so much heat when I put them into my nightstand lights.

I need to make sure that my lamps are rated for them. I think they are, but not 100% sure.

And I need to keep better track of what I'm ordering next time.

Still love the color light they put out, though.