Seems like if one was careful, they could open it up, put in a new and maybe larger battery, and then encase it in epoxy or something. Might add some bulk along with another year of life.
I'm new to Dexcom, but would love to try this in about a year. Just a normal new battery alone would be a great money savings if nothing else. Or maybe just a cool project for a tinkerer type.
I think it's a great Idea too. Not knowledgeable enough to do it though. Wish they would just have cards like secure digital with programing on them so you could just update the card and use new features etc. I know that the FDA controls so much of the market though and they would probably interfere with this type of thing.
I just got my dexcom last week, but I plan on doing this when the battery dies in 6 to 8 months. I have already looked up the FDA information and now know they take silver-oxide batteries. I figure when I get it apart I can see how many and beleive these batteries are the same ones used in hearing aids so I should be able to buy them at the local pharmacy.
The only question I have is if it will keep it’s code when the battery dies or I remove them? If it looses it’s code then I will have no way to reprogram it.
I have a dead transmitter. Well, a not quite dead transmitter, but it produces horrible results. Dexcom told me it was a low battery and I am getting a replacement.
Hopefully there will be advice soon on how to dissect it. In the meantime I will follow this thread. Anyone know of more info out in the world?
I received a new system a few weeks ago, I'll take a crack at opening the old, dead transmitter from my now dead g4 system. Don't really want to open the receiver though, as it still works, and I can use it as a spare if the need arises.
I saw a video on "YouTube" (could possibly have been Vimeo though) several months ago showing a step by step process on how to replace the batteries in the G4 transmitter. At the time I also searched through the publicly available, actual Dexcom patent documents which outline pretty much everything in detail.
I whined to Dexcom about the transmitter & of course their response is, "SEND US MORE MONEY". I tried to explain to them that; If they want me to continue to send them $300/mo for sensors for the rest of my life, I'll need their hardware to work. They sent me a new one mostly "free ISH", "free-like", after asking for the CEO's assistant & finally conversing with a VP. I'm scared to add up how much cash I've already given them over the years. I'm a little annoyed that they want hundreds of dollars for a new transmitter when it just needs
My transmitter batteries are now dead. Unfortunately, I can't locate the video that I previously saw on how to replace the transmitter batteries. I don't see it in my "Chrome" browsing history & am unsure of exactly what keywords I originally used to locate it.
However, I DO remember the process (mostly) & will be soon attempting to perform the process on video.
Basically the plastic on the "top" of the transmitter (opposite side of the metal contacts) must be VERY GENTLY cut/ground off to expose the top of the batteries. From there it's just a matter of removing them, inserting new ones & (if I remember correctly) soldering a single new lead/conductor/wire to the tops new batteries & also back to the old/existing wire that was cut in order to remove them from the plastic. A 2-part epoxy can be used to reseal the transmitter. It won't look pretty, but will work.
If you do find the video please post a link here. Please post your video when you are successful. Also, there is another thread on tudiabetes
with the title "Reactivate a dead transmitter by replacing the batteries" There, Joern has posted instructions and pictures on how to do it. The problem is the original instructions are in German and the Google translate is incomprehensible to me. I asked a business associate of mine to translate the German into English, and Joern may do it, too. Joern's writing looks like it's from a native English speaker.
In any case I am sure his pictures will be helpful to you. Good luck with your project and keep us posted. My Transmitter battery is on it's last legs and will be dead soon.
I have also disassembled the G4 receiver after cracking the screen. It uses a Sanyo battery & a semi-standard ribbon connector for the display screen. They told me $600, then either $300 or $200 for a replacement receiver. I asked them if "They were kidding me?" & then told them that "I refuse to pay several hundred dollars for an entirely new unit, when it only needs a replacement part that costs less than $10".
Dexcom refused to sell me a replacement screen or any other parts. They told me "The equipment is proprietary", to which I responded with the questions "Are you trying to tell me that the Sanyo battery is YOUR proprietary property?", "Do you own Sanyo?", "How EXACTLY is the Sanyo battery YOUR proprietary property?". That's when the VP started backpedaling, avoided ever answering the questions & promptly transferred me to one of his underlings to get me a replacement. Still wasn't free, but was better than the typical cost.
Attached is some patent info pertaining to sensors (the biggest cost). If I enjoyed reading & was enthusiastic enough, I would likely already have reverse engineered the entire system & possess a significantly cheaper (long & short term cost) system. Completely legal for person use BTW.
Also a pic of the an opened unit with a "Sanyo" battery in this one.
[1221-US20100174163.pdf|attachment](upload://w8uPdfBUvrKgbmCZY8LjLjnRe7Q.pdf) (531 KB) [1222-US81331781.pdf|attachment](upload://ij695T5M9WufFGDnfOAaD8koqwI.pdf) (1.19 MB) [1223-G4Receiveropenedimagefromback.jpg|attachment](upload://bgGUoJK94DCecJmvWRB1uEDjhc5.jpeg) (2.5 MB)Will do on the video post. Thank you for the thread title, it looks quite helpful. I think I may be able to swap out the batteries in less than an hour. Cured epoxy & all.
We will see...I'll keep ya posted.
There is also a Microsoft translation of the German instructions. It seems to be a little better than Google's, but I did not read the whole thing.
how do you disassemble the receiver without breaking it? pics or a how to? Mine went thru the washing machine and insurance isn't replacing it as quickly as they could. so I needa dry it out and see if I can get it to work.
Many wet electronics are helped by burying them in a container of rice for a day or two. It doesn't always work, but sometimes it yields nice surprises.
Its beenin rice for 4 days now, there is still condensation on the backside of the screen glass.. I just need to open it. Is there a screw?
There is a mention of opening the receiver in another tudiabetes thread called
Changing the flat batteries of a dead Dexcom G4 transmitter
Here is what they say:
My Receiver failed after 14 months of use and seemed that my insurance and supplier were going to result in my cost being $480 - final result was my highest copay. 2 weeks after initial request I finally received a new Receiver. Besides all that:
The battery is a 2.05" x 1.26" x 0.21" 970mAh, 3.7V, 3.6Wh made in Indonesia. Numbers on the battery are: 1/LPP 473350 8TH PCM WC and VKB: 56479 201 012. Battery is located behind the display and connected by a simple miniature 3 pin connector. The connector is easy to disconnect and I can only suspect that only severe drops would knock it loose sealed in the case.
I used a very thin cutting blade on my dremel, cutting along the seam being careful not to cut too deep. If you cut more than 0.16" past the main body you may cut the electronics. Once I saw the plastic removed in several locations I used a small flat screwdriver to pry the case apart, cutting any excess plastic still holding it together. There are 3 tiny hex head screws (jeweler’s size?) holding the circuit board in place.
Also a link to a picture:
The transmitters are just about the hardest plastic I've ever toyed with, really tough material to cut into, so no luck there.
When electronics get wet, I try to disassemble (remove and toss battery first) and then pour distilled H2O over it before drying it out.
One more thought...these are medical devices and therefore are not user serviceable. Dexcom can't sell us any parts for it even if they wanted to. FDA would shut them down.Dropped my receiver in water and its been a bag of rice but I do not think it is going to come back from the dead. I saw on Dexcom they want $200 for a replacement. I have only had it for a month.....