Thanks Dave! This is great! I'm a EE so I buy from Digi-Key all the time. They're wonderful and they don't charge an arm and a leg for shipping. The total for me was just under $150 for two with shipping, and, yes the tariff, which is still in place. Still, not bad, since it's been three years since you bought yours. Your instructions were very clear! I think I'll try to devise a way to put the rivets back.
Great video, thanks Dave. Here in the UK Digikey UK don’t sell the ready made battery pack, but various places do sell the individual Panasonic HHR-370 (L-Fat A size) batteries with solder tabs, so you can make your own easily enough. The original batteries in my velux blinds have started to fail after 14 years- I’ve done 3 so far!
Thanks for this! It's gone up a bit. Is this for the VSS SERIES skylight? I though I'd check before I order. BTW the skylights were just put in during the pandemic and five other ones working fine. Lost app connection with this one and it did say "low battery" for awhile before no connection. I read more replies of yours I'm beginning to think this is a battery for a blind not a skylight!
Thanks for the video. I'm in the UK and Digikey doesn't look like an option. Can you see any reason why I couldn't use a 4 x AA (and use 4 x NiMH AA batteries in there) spring type holder for the batteries (connected to the original block connector)?
I'm not a battery expert by any means Paul. These are considerably bigger than AA batteries but older technology so the newer high current AA might be fine. I'd be more concerned with the charging circuit. There may be a supplier or two there that stock the parts.
The bare batteries themselves are Panasonic HHR 380A (or or sealed up as HHR 380AH, as seen in the video). These are also available from DigiKey and other sellers. Since DigiKey is out of the nice assembled 4-packs that Dave used, I, too, am considering going deeper (and saving even more money) by replacing the 4 batteries inside the battery pack. I believe this will require soldering directly to the batteries, so i have a bit of trepidation. But these are desperate times.
OK guys, I just got a response from the place in Hong Kong - the minimum order from this company is $500. So are there enough guys in this situation to go in together to put together an order totaling $500?
Hi Alex. Since there are different models I would suggest downloading the manual for your model and it should show you the process. Mine is as simple as two small plastic latches on either side of a cover panel. Sliding then both inward opens that panel and the battery can be removed. The end caps are the shape they are so they fit snugly into the slot. The wiring is on one end so that leaves a 50/50 chance of it fitting the first time.
@@DaveKelleyphotography HI Dave It's solved... ruclips.net/video/f1QxI4QA80c/видео.html I did get the battery back in, after watching that video. Thank you!
Dave, did your batteries slide out of the housing easily? It appears that mine has a touch of glue keeping the battery pack in the housing. I see a tear in the wrapping around the battery cluster in the video which is why I asked about glue. Did you use something to tap the battery cluster to get it to slide out of the housing?
It has been years since I filmed this and it sounds like they have either made some changes to improve the battery or make it so you had to buy it from them and not do this cheaper update.
Dave, the battery housing is thin plastic. It appears the only way to install new batteries is to cut the plastic housing, find out what is preventing the removal of the old batteries, remove them, solder the connectors to the new battery pack and tape the housing together so that the end caps can be installed and install it in the shade. I've opted to have BBM Battery retrofit my old battery pack for $84.95+$8.00 shipping. The battery pack alone $55.95. Besides, I don't think Velux sells this battery pack anymore. Oh, well.
Hi there, thanks for your advice! Strange that velux doesn't sell these batteries seperatly, pitty. It would be much easier for me. And unfortunately this 4-pack battery you are showing in the video can not be bought in Europe, only possible in America. I asked the personal advice from digikey. I can buy 2-packs of these batteries. Anyone an idea how to make a 4-pack from 2x2-packs!? Since I have no electronic knowledge at all 😐
Good question. Those aren't really rivets. If you can pull the centers out you can preserve them and reuse them. They are inserts that spread with the center pin is pushed in. So, if you can get that center pin out the 'rivet' will just pull out. Note that they aren't designed to be reused but I think they could be. I didn't discover that until too late and I'd just cut them off with wire cutters.
I removed mine with a Dremel cutoff wheel and mill. Note that this destroys the plastic "rivets". I am thinking of replacing them with a simple wood (nonconductive) dowel.
@@DaveKelleyphotography You are absolutely right. I was able to get under the lip that is accessible from the outside with a fingernail, and gently remove the "pins"... and then went in after the center rivet. It took about 1 minute each. Just wanted to put that here for anyone else trying. Thanks Dave!
my solar roller shutter does not connect to the remote control. I want to try changing the battery. I couldn't find any video or explanation where the battery is located. who can help me? for velux it tells me that I have to put everything back in again. Thank you
The battery in the sky light motorized device can only be accessed from the roof. I have to open my glass portion with the hand crank from inside and then I can get to the part that has the long battery in it. There are two clips you open and the battery is right there. Now, there are a LOT of different models of their skylights, so your may or may not be like mine. I take no responsibility for the information of you going on your roof to change a battery. That is all your call.
There are a lot of models, so I'm not an expert on that. There should be two slide latches on the 'engine pipe' that should give you access to the battery if that design is like mine.
There are two little slides on each end that holds the battery cover closed. Note you might have a newer version and they may do it differently. I get to mine by having the skylight open all the way and then access it from the roof.
@@cglenn0757 If you push up on the motor drive/battery bar it will disengage from the gears and allow you to move it. If you open it by 6-12 inches you should have plenty of room to get to the battery.
I put in the blinds and your batteries look the same. Having said that on my Velux vss total solar skylights there is no info on the skylight battery or how to get access. That's why i assumed it was for the blinds. Thanks for the video.. Rich
When companies like velux etc overcharge for their products, one has to find an alternative…… thanks a bunch from Europe here!
Thank you! Did what you said and saved about $100!!! The hardest part was ordering it online…and that was easy!!!
Thanks Dave! This is great! I'm a EE so I buy from Digi-Key all the time. They're wonderful and they don't charge an arm and a leg for shipping. The total for me was just under $150 for two with shipping, and, yes the tariff, which is still in place. Still, not bad, since it's been three years since you bought yours. Your instructions were very clear! I think I'll try to devise a way to put the rivets back.
Ok so I followed your advice and rebuilt the battery and out skylight works again! So thankful for your video!!
That's awesome!!
Where are the battery’s on the roof or inside the house?
I'd like to know that also. Where do I find the battery in the skylight?
Great video, thanks Dave. Here in the UK Digikey UK don’t sell the ready made battery pack, but various places do sell the individual Panasonic HHR-370 (L-Fat A size) batteries with solder tabs, so you can make your own easily enough. The original batteries in my velux blinds have started to fail after 14 years- I’ve done 3 so far!
Hi Dave. I found this video very helpful. Thank you. However, I can't find any information on how to access the battery from the skylight. Any advice?
Thanks for this! It's gone up a bit. Is this for the VSS SERIES skylight? I though I'd check before I order. BTW the skylights were just put in during the pandemic and five other ones working fine. Lost app connection with this one and it did say "low battery" for awhile before no connection. I read more replies of yours I'm beginning to think this is a battery for a blind not a skylight!
Thanks for the video. I'm in the UK and Digikey doesn't look like an option. Can you see any reason why I couldn't use a 4 x AA (and use 4 x NiMH AA batteries in there) spring type holder for the batteries (connected to the original block connector)?
I'm not a battery expert by any means Paul. These are considerably bigger than AA batteries but older technology so the newer high current AA might be fine. I'd be more concerned with the charging circuit. There may be a supplier or two there that stock the parts.
@@DaveKelleyphotography there's a postal service where I can return the unit and they'll switch the cells which suggests you can get them. Thanks
The bare batteries themselves are Panasonic HHR 380A (or or sealed up as HHR 380AH, as seen in the video). These are also available from DigiKey and other sellers. Since DigiKey is out of the nice assembled 4-packs that Dave used, I, too, am considering going deeper (and saving even more money) by replacing the 4 batteries inside the battery pack. I believe this will require soldering directly to the batteries, so i have a bit of trepidation. But these are desperate times.
OK guys, I just got a response from the place in Hong Kong - the minimum order from this company is $500. So are there enough guys in this situation to go in together to put together an order totaling $500?
I have done this and seems to work mostly fine. Sometimes (during winter time) I have charged them using a normal AA charger
are you able to show how to reinstall the battery back up into the skylight? I cannot fit it back in
Hi Alex. Since there are different models I would suggest downloading the manual for your model and it should show you the process. Mine is as simple as two small plastic latches on either side of a cover panel. Sliding then both inward opens that panel and the battery can be removed. The end caps are the shape they are so they fit snugly into the slot. The wiring is on one end so that leaves a 50/50 chance of it fitting the first time.
@@DaveKelleyphotography HI Dave It's solved...
ruclips.net/video/f1QxI4QA80c/видео.html
I did get the battery back in, after watching that video. Thank you!
Dave, did your batteries slide out of the housing easily? It appears that mine has a touch of glue keeping the battery pack in the housing. I see a tear in the wrapping around the battery cluster in the video which is why I asked about glue. Did you use something to tap the battery cluster to get it to slide out of the housing?
It has been years since I filmed this and it sounds like they have either made some changes to improve the battery or make it so you had to buy it from them and not do this cheaper update.
Dave, the battery housing is thin plastic. It appears the only way to install new batteries is to cut the plastic housing, find out what is preventing the removal of the old batteries, remove them, solder the connectors to the new battery pack and tape the housing together so that the end caps can be installed and install it in the shade. I've opted to have BBM Battery retrofit my old battery pack for $84.95+$8.00 shipping. The battery pack alone $55.95. Besides, I don't think Velux sells this battery pack anymore. Oh, well.
Hi there, thanks for your advice!
Strange that velux doesn't sell these batteries seperatly, pitty. It would be much easier for me.
And unfortunately this 4-pack battery you are showing in the video can not be bought in Europe, only possible in America. I asked the personal advice from digikey. I can buy 2-packs of these batteries. Anyone an idea how to make a 4-pack from 2x2-packs!? Since I have no electronic knowledge at all 😐
If I wanted to buy the replacement where can I order it? I cant find them?
NLA from VELUX, unfortunately.
@@johntauxe4423 VELUX tech support guy was very nice but he couldn't even find the part in his system. NLA pisses me off !
Just wanted to check and see if your replacement worked out? I have the same issue and want to follow your lead.
The batteries worked just fine.
@@DaveKelleyphotography hey Dave did u have to wait for solar battery to charge fully before it worked after u installed it back in the skylight?
Worked for me too, batteries must have come charged as they worked right away
how or what did you use to remove the rivets
Good question. Those aren't really rivets. If you can pull the centers out you can preserve them and reuse them. They are inserts that spread with the center pin is pushed in. So, if you can get that center pin out the 'rivet' will just pull out. Note that they aren't designed to be reused but I think they could be. I didn't discover that until too late and I'd just cut them off with wire cutters.
I removed mine with a Dremel cutoff wheel and mill. Note that this destroys the plastic "rivets". I am thinking of replacing them with a simple wood (nonconductive) dowel.
@@DaveKelleyphotography You are absolutely right. I was able to get under the lip that is accessible from the outside with a fingernail, and gently remove the "pins"... and then went in after the center rivet. It took about 1 minute each. Just wanted to put that here for anyone else trying. Thanks Dave!
But how do you get them out of the Velux and back in again ?
There is a clip on one end that you squeeze in and it just pops out.
@@DaveKelleyphotography Thanks Dave. Good videos by the way.
my solar roller shutter does not connect to the remote control. I want to try changing the battery. I couldn't find any video or explanation where the battery is located. who can help me? for velux it tells me that I have to put everything back in again. Thank you
The battery in the sky light motorized device can only be accessed from the roof. I have to open my glass portion with the hand crank from inside and then I can get to the part that has the long battery in it. There are two clips you open and the battery is right there.
Now, there are a LOT of different models of their skylights, so your may or may not be like mine. I take no responsibility for the information of you going on your roof to change a battery. That is all your call.
I have access to the roller shutter without going out onto the roof. I wanted to understand if the battery is in the engine pipe. Thank you
There are a lot of models, so I'm not an expert on that. There should be two slide latches on the 'engine pipe' that should give you access to the battery if that design is like mine.
How do you open the Motor ?
There are two little slides on each end that holds the battery cover closed. Note you might have a newer version and they may do it differently. I get to mine by having the skylight open all the way and then access it from the roof.
@@DaveKelleyphotography So, if the battery is dead and won't open the skylight, how do you get the skylight open so that you can change the battery?
@@cglenn0757 If you push up on the motor drive/battery bar it will disengage from the gears and allow you to move it. If you open it by 6-12 inches you should have plenty of room to get to the battery.
This is just for the blind right?
This is for the skylight. But if they use the same style of batteries it may pertain to those too.
I put in the blinds and your batteries look the same. Having said that on my Velux vss total solar skylights there is no info on the skylight battery or how to get access. That's why i assumed it was for the blinds. Thanks for the video..
Rich