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Ray Samuels Nighthawk F-117 Phono battery replacement


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Hi all

Anyone ever replaced a battery in a Nighthawk?

Mine has died and they're a tricky little sucker to open up so I emailed Ray Samuels and he explained the battery is soldered into place and the charger will have to be replaced as well.

He will do it no problems, only issue is that then involves postage back and forwards to the US and who knows how long that will take.

Thought someone here is bound to have gone through this before and maybe there's a local solution??

Cheers in advance.

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10 hours ago, Richard Cranium said:

Hi all

Anyone ever replaced a battery in a Nighthawk?

Mine has died and they're a tricky little sucker to open up so I emailed Ray Samuels and he explained the battery is soldered into place and the charger will have to be replaced as well.

He will do it no problems, only issue is that then involves postage back and forwards to the US and who knows how long that will take.

Thought someone here is bound to have gone through this before and maybe there's a local solution??

Cheers in advance.

 

Don't think so, RC.

 

I seem to remember @blybo had the same issue, some years ago - he had to send his back to the USofA.

 

Andy

 

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I have a Nighthawk F-117. Mine has a problem with the on off switch, you have to wiggle it some times for it to light up. Concerned that one time it may not turn on at all I contacted Ray and he said to return it and he would replace the switch at no cost. The postage was $19. Posted it yesterday.

 

No problem with the battery presently but will be interested to see how this goes. I wonder why the charger would need to be replaced ,if the same battery is being re fitted.

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12 hours ago, EV Cali said:

I have a Nighthawk F-117. Mine has a problem with the on off switch, you have to wiggle it some times for it to light up. Concerned that one time it may not turn on at all I contacted Ray and he said to return it and he would replace the switch at no cost. The postage was $19. Posted it yesterday.

 

No problem with the battery presently but will be interested to see how this goes. I wonder why the charger would need to be replaced ,if the same battery is being re fitted.

Not sure, maybe its been updated? If you're sending yours to him, and yours is a few years old or older,  I'd suggest you get him to do the battery at the same time, might save some heart ache down the track?

Thanks guys

Edited by Richard Cranium
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1 hour ago, Richard Cranium said:

Not sure, maybe its been updated? If your sending yours to him, and yours is a few years old or older,  I'd suggest you get him to do the battery at the same time, might save some heart ache down the track?

Thanks guys

I was thinking the same thing.

I would imagine the battery is generic and if the case was opened there would be a serial number on it ,enabling a new one to be sourced in Australia and then soldered into place. Probably less time and cheaper than sending to the US.

Chargers can be sourced here for $40 so you would think the batteries would be to.

https://batteryspecialists.com.au/100-240vac-input-3-cell-lithium-ion-lithium-polymer-charger-with-2-1mm-dc-plug-3p10-l1012-2-1mm.html

 

The front of the case is held in position by Imperial size hex keys, one in each corner and one for each knob after that there are four screws on the rear panel.

 

Would look in mine but it is on it's way to America?

 

Hopefully some members with more electrical knowledge will offer some more advice.

 

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9 hours ago, EV Cali said:

I was thinking the same thing.

I would imagine the battery is generic and if the case was opened there would be a serial number on it ,enabling a new one to be sourced in Australia and then soldered into place. Probably less time and cheaper than sending to the US.

Chargers can be sourced here for $40 so you would think the batteries would be to.

https://batteryspecialists.com.au/100-240vac-input-3-cell-lithium-ion-lithium-polymer-charger-with-2-1mm-dc-plug-3p10-l1012-2-1mm.html

 

The front of the case is held in position by Imperial size hex keys, one in each corner and one for each knob after that there are four screws on the rear panel.

 

Would look in mine but it is on it's way to America?

 

Hopefully some members with more electrical knowledge will offer some more advice.

 

I previously removed the rear screws but it still didn't come apart, looks like the front knobs have to come off as well, looks like a very tiny grub screw or similar but I haven't got the correct bit. 

I'll suss out those links you sent and have a closer look, thanks heaps

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6 hours ago, Richard Cranium said:

I previously removed the rear screws but it still didn't come apart, looks like the front knobs have to come off as well, looks like a very tiny grub screw or similar but I haven't got the correct bit. 

I'll suss out those links you sent and have a closer look, thanks heaps

To remove the front I purchased  this Imperial  / metric Hex key set.

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/30Pc-Metric-Imperial-Combination-Allen-Key-Set-Hex-Spanner-Wrench-With-Case/252674441783

The knobs have tiny Imperial Hex grub screws. You can clearly see the marks on the stems of the knobs ,left by the screw, so that helps get them in the correct position when replacing them.

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On 01/11/2019 at 10:50 PM, Richard Cranium said:

Hi all

Anyone ever replaced a battery in a Nighthawk?

Mine has died and they're a tricky little sucker to open up so I emailed Ray Samuels and he explained the battery is soldered into place and the charger will have to be replaced as well.

He will do it no problems, only issue is that then involves postage back and forwards to the US and who knows how long that will take.

Thought someone here is bound to have gone through this before and maybe there's a local solution??

Cheers in advance.

Yeah I got charged somewhere around US$80 plus freight both ways, but the new battery had brilliant life, got a newer charger which told me when it was full, and IIRC it only took around 10 days there and back! US freight can be good. This was a few years back so my memory may not be too good.

Edited by blybo
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6 hours ago, blybo said:

Yeah I got charged somewhere around US$80 plus freight both ways, but the new battery had brilliant life, got a newer charger which told me when it was full, and IIRC it only took around 10 days there and back! US freight can be good. This was a few years back so my memory may not be too good.

That doesn't sound as painful as I was thinking it might be, that might be the simplest way forward, cheers

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I had problems with my unit a few years ago as it would charge. After contacting RS, I was distraught about the cost to replace the battery. I can't remember the exact figure, but it was much more than US$80. More like US$250...

I just happened to try another charger and all was fixed. Battery still holds days of listening power after 8 years.

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1 hour ago, EDGEAUDIO said:

I had problems with my unit a few years ago as it would charge. After contacting RS, I was distraught about the cost to replace the battery. I can't remember the exact figure, but it was much more than US$80. More like US$250...

I just happened to try another charger and all was fixed. Battery still holds days of listening power after 8 years.

Before we all get frightened by the costs let’s wait and see the feedback from the Ray Samuels in the present. He has got some outstanding products backed by a great customer support.

Neo

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  • 2 weeks later...

It appears that I have the answer.

Sent my phono off to Ray to have the switch  replaced. He has received it and informed me I would be wise to replace the battery.

 

Your F-117 has the old Lithium Ion battery. It has to be replace with a new one with lesser voltage and a new charger which is 8.4 volts instead the 12.6 volts charger.

The new battery & charger combo are $85.00 labor & new switch are free of charge.

You pay the shipping fee, $48.00

Total is $133.00

 

I am assuming Ray's quote is in US $  so that will be $190 au  and that it would be the same for any one else wanting to do the same.

Plus the $19 au  it cost me to post it to Ray.

Edited by EV Cali
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