I "Solved" Samsungs Swelling Battery Problem! (Batteryless Phone)

Summary

The creator modifies a Samsung Galaxy S10e to run without its lithium-ion battery, aiming to avoid future battery swelling and repurpose the phone as a stationary device.

Build and findings

• The phone would not run reliably from USB power alone; it repeatedly entered a boot loop. It had to be powered through the battery connector.
• Removing the wireless-charging coil during disassembly caused a temperature warning and stopped charging. The creator found that the coil assembly’s pins also appear to provide temperature-sensing information.
• The original battery’s protection-circuit board was reused as an interface. With a bench supply set to 4.2 V, the phone started, but its battery indicator still fell over time and the phone eventually shut down. The creator theorizes that the phone estimates battery percentage from voltage at startup, then reduces it as power is used.
• The final setup uses a 5 V supply rated for at least 2 A, USB cables, and a MUR460 diode. The diode drops the supply voltage into a range suitable for the battery input and helps the phone draw most of its power through USB while keeping the displayed battery level from running down.
• The USB data lines are disconnected to prevent the phone from negotiating 9 V fast charging.
• The creator routes the wires through small holes in the phone housing and reinstalls the charging coil and covers.

Potential uses

The modified phone could serve as an alarm clock, universal remote, media player, digital photo frame, or baby monitor. The creator’s intended use is as a security camera with the Presence app, which detects motion, records video, and uploads it for viewing on another phone.

Guide and cautions

The video demonstrates disassembly, battery removal, and the external power arrangement. The creator damages part of the rear glass during opening and notes that an iFixit repair guide would have helped.

This is a risky hardware modification. The video does not establish that the arrangement is safe for all phones or power supplies.

Main speakers and sources

• GreatScott! — Presenter and builder
• Mrwhosetheboss — Mentioned as reporting swollen batteries in Samsung phones
• Samsung — Described as looking into the issue
• iFixit — Referenced for a Galaxy S10e battery-replacement guide