The video was a great starting point. I would add the following: To cut the tea lights open I first found a spot that wasn’t flush where the top part slightly protruded from the base part. Using a back and forth rolling motion along the groove cut deep enough to break the glue seal (about 1/8 - 1/4”). Then use an “ice breaker” technique where you bury the bottom 2/3 of the blade in the existing groove while rolling back on forth pressing the tip in into cutting open the still glued groove. Repeat this all the way around. I wore a pair of leather gloves just in case I splipped while cutting. The battery connectors are spot welded to the batteries so I found I had to cut them away making sure to leave the end on the wire of the battery connectors intact to be soldered to the new batteries. I have the smaller tea lights. The replacement batteries are 1.2V 1/3AA NiMH 300mAh Flat Top which I found on Amazon. To connect the batteries together I also bought Pure Nickel Strip- 0.15x6x50mm 99.6% Nickel for 18650 Soldering Tab (from Amazon) since the strips connecting the batteries together are also spot welded so can't be reused. I used 1/2 strip per tea light. I made a soldering jig from a small length of 2 x 4 scrap by using a 9/16" forstner bit to drill two 1/2" deep holes that were centered 11/16" apart from each other (measured from the centers of the battery locations on the base.) Make sure you solder the batteries in series (i.e. top/button + side to a bottom/flat - side.) Put the batteries in the base and place the electronics with the red (+) wire on the button (+) battery side. Make sure the circuit board is in the grooves. Solder the wires to the batteries. When putting the top back on you will notice from inside that it has grooves for the circuit board to fit between. I spot glued two opposite spots on the outside of the tea light using thick CA glue to make it easier for any future battery replacements.
Thank you for making this. I've been toying with disposing of mine for a while now but keep putting them back in my junk box as they were so expensive. I'll have a go at fixing them now. Hopefully I can remove the light units from the glass holders without breaking them 🤞
You're welcome. I was not able to remove them from the glass holders without breaking them. They seem to be glued with silicon paste. If you find a way to get them out without breaking the glass I would be very interested.
@@robjal I used some sticker remover , poor a little bit it in the glass and let it sit for a while. After that it comes loose. Also the bottom is soft to open up the case 😀
Hi Jerry. I tried several things but could not get it out without breaking the glass. The candles are glued with Silicone kit and there is nothing with which I could dissolve it with.
@@robjal Cheers, I have three so I will experiment by drilling the base and poke a punch through to maybe force it out. These things are now expensive to replace. I shall report my findings :)
@@robjal It's very easy to get the candles out, just press with your finger on the candle piece towards the glass, the silicone glue will snap and the candle will come out.
Hi Jenik. I did not manage to get it out of the glass without breaking it but somebody posted a possible solution in the comments. So see if you can find it. I know that the candle is glued to the glass with silicon and that is not easy to remove.
I succeeded in this operation by putting the glasses in a pot of boiling water. This softened the glue and I was able to take out the fake candles with a pair of long-nose pliers by pulling on the cap which is strong enough. I made three without breaking anything.
Robb. Hi I have a set of Imageo Aqua lights. Opened one up and find batteries look like the bigger set in your video. Batteries are: Ni- MH 28AA 1.2V. Found a supplier but they want to know the Ahfor the batteries. Can you help please. Batteries are 28mm x 14mm. Thanks.
Hi David, I could not see the Ah on the large ones but this is what I know. The smallest are 166 mAh, the medium are 300 mAh so I expect the larger ones to be around 600 mAh, this because it lager one is double the size of the medium one. But I measured the charge current for the large unit and it was around 40 mA. Since you normally can charge with 1/10 of the capacity for a maximum of 12-14 hours you could even use a 500 mAh version (if it exists). Note that the charger does not charge for 14 hours but less so I think you are safe with this capacity.
Thanks for in-depth review! Is it possible to tell which revision/mAh are these lights by markings on the top? Your new ones are shown to have C16, I also spotted C14, H14, F10 on the web.
Hi Stefano. In The Netherlands you can order them at Conrad (which is a German company btw), see: www.conrad.nl/p/emmerich-13-mignon-zlf-speciale-oplaadbare-batterij-13-aa-z-soldeerlip-nimh-12-v-300-mah-255060
I replaced the two batteries with two NiMh batteries of 300 mAh. If you look at the part where it shows the 3 variants (around the time 2:40) the size is same as the tea light which is shown in the middle. They also fit in the housing of the smaller one at the right (which only have 160 mAh batteries).
Hello, I have lost the charger of my Philips Imageo after my last move. I have attempted to purchase one but am unable to find any vendor ... Would it be possible to charge the Philips Imageo with a mobile phone induction charger? There is an alternative option that is not very expensive. Thank you very much for your help.
Hi Dave that is fine. Higher is better than a battery that does not have enough capacity. Note that the current of 40 mA which I mentioned is the current inside the tea light going to the battery, not the charging current of the charger.
The video was a great starting point. I would add the following:
To cut the tea lights open I first found a spot that wasn’t flush where the top part slightly protruded from the base part. Using a back and forth rolling motion along the groove cut deep enough to break the glue seal (about 1/8 - 1/4”). Then use an “ice breaker” technique where you bury the bottom 2/3 of the blade in the existing groove while rolling back on forth pressing the tip in into cutting open the still glued groove. Repeat this all the way around. I wore a pair of leather gloves just in case I splipped while cutting.
The battery connectors are spot welded to the batteries so I found I had to cut them away making sure to leave the end on the wire of the battery connectors intact to be soldered to the new batteries.
I have the smaller tea lights. The replacement batteries are 1.2V 1/3AA NiMH 300mAh Flat Top which I found on Amazon.
To connect the batteries together I also bought Pure Nickel Strip- 0.15x6x50mm 99.6% Nickel for 18650 Soldering Tab (from Amazon) since the strips connecting the batteries together are also spot welded so can't be reused. I used 1/2 strip per tea light. I made a soldering jig from a small length of 2 x 4 scrap by using a 9/16" forstner bit to drill two 1/2" deep holes that were centered 11/16" apart from each other (measured from the centers of the battery locations on the base.) Make sure you solder the batteries in series (i.e. top/button + side to a bottom/flat - side.)
Put the batteries in the base and place the electronics with the red (+) wire on the button (+) battery side. Make sure the circuit board is in the grooves. Solder the wires to the batteries.
When putting the top back on you will notice from inside that it has grooves for the circuit board to fit between.
I spot glued two opposite spots on the outside of the tea light using thick CA glue to make it easier for any future battery replacements.
Hi Gilroy. Thanks for the additional information.
Super!!! Great!!! 😊
Thank you for making this. I've been toying with disposing of mine for a while now but keep putting them back in my junk box as they were so expensive. I'll have a go at fixing them now.
Hopefully I can remove the light units from the glass holders without breaking them 🤞
You're welcome. I was not able to remove them from the glass holders without breaking them. They seem to be glued with silicon paste. If you find a way to get them out without breaking the glass I would be very interested.
@@robjal I used some sticker remover , poor a little bit it in the glass and let it sit for a while. After that it comes loose. Also the bottom is soft to open up the case 😀
@@sanderhilgenga9054 Thanks for this information. I will give it a try.
Thanks Rob.
Batteries ordered, just need to dismantle and rebuild, waterproof.
Thanks again.
Does anyone know how to remove the candle without breaking the glass
Please explain how you get the candle unit out of the frosted glass
Hi Jerry. I tried several things but could not get it out without breaking the glass. The candles are glued with Silicone kit and there is nothing with which I could dissolve it with.
@@robjal Cheers, I have three so I will experiment by drilling the base and poke a punch through to maybe force it out. These things are now expensive to replace. I shall report my findings :)
@@jerrymatthews3477 Hi Jerry. I tried a lot getting them out (even heating it up) and the silicon is quite strong but good luck in getting it out.
@@robjal It's very easy to get the candles out, just press with your finger on the candle piece towards the glass, the silicone glue will snap and the candle will come out.
@@pr3t I tried that but it did not work for my Candles unfortunately.
Can you show how to remove the candle from the glass holder
Hi Jenik. I did not manage to get it out of the glass without breaking it but somebody posted a possible solution in the comments. So see if you can find it. I know that the candle is glued to the glass with silicon and that is not easy to remove.
Does anyone know how to remove the candle without breaking the glass ???? Thanks
I succeeded in this operation by putting the glasses in a pot of boiling water.
This softened the glue and I was able to take out the fake candles with a pair of long-nose pliers by pulling on the cap which is strong enough.
I made three without breaking anything.
Robb.
Hi I have a set of Imageo Aqua lights. Opened one up and find batteries look like the bigger set in your video. Batteries are: Ni- MH 28AA 1.2V. Found a supplier but they want to know the Ahfor the batteries. Can you help please. Batteries are 28mm x 14mm.
Thanks.
Hi David, I could not see the Ah on the large ones but this is what I know. The smallest are 166 mAh, the medium are 300 mAh so I expect the larger ones to be around 600 mAh, this because it lager one is double the size of the medium one. But I measured the charge current for the large unit and it was around 40 mA. Since you normally can charge with 1/10 of the capacity for a maximum of 12-14 hours you could even use a 500 mAh version (if it exists). Note that the charger does not charge for 14 hours but less so I think you are safe with this capacity.
Thanks for in-depth review! Is it possible to tell which revision/mAh are these lights by markings on the top? Your new ones are shown to have C16, I also spotted C14, H14, F10 on the web.
Hi. I am not sure what you are asking. The new batteries shown are 300 mAh.
how u get it out the glass?
Check the comments. Somebody found a way. I just broke the glass and bought other ones.
Thank you for show us how to fix it again. By the way could you please tell where we can order via internet the 300 mAh NiMH rechargeable batteries ?
Hi Stefano. In The Netherlands you can order them at Conrad (which is a German company btw), see: www.conrad.nl/p/emmerich-13-mignon-zlf-speciale-oplaadbare-batterij-13-aa-z-soldeerlip-nimh-12-v-300-mah-255060
What NimH batteries do I replace these with just any that will fit?
I replaced the two batteries with two NiMh batteries of 300 mAh. If you look at the part where it shows the 3 variants (around the time 2:40) the size is same as the tea light which is shown in the middle. They also fit in the housing of the smaller one at the right (which only have 160 mAh batteries).
@@robjal Thanks I will try and find the 300mah ones.
Hello, I have lost the charger of my Philips Imageo after my last move. I have attempted to purchase one but am unable to find any vendor ...
Would it be possible to charge the Philips Imageo with a mobile phone induction charger?
There is an alternative option that is not very expensive.
Thank you very much for your help.
Hi Jose. I do not know that. Would an alternative not be to buy a new set of Philips Tea Lights and use that charger?
Charger is 12v === 500ma 6va
So should I go for. 600 mAh batteries.
Dave.
Hi Dave that is fine. Higher is better than a battery that does not have enough capacity. Note that the current of 40 mA which I mentioned is the current inside the tea light going to the battery, not the charging current of the charger.