Fitbit One Battery Life reduced since September 2019 change?

[michae1a1ee]

Do we have any verification that something has changed this month (September 2019) that is negatively impacting the battery life of our Fitbit One trackers?  I've also been having the sync issues other people have commented on, but but have been manually restarting my One using the charging cable connected to a PC USB port and holding the button down for 10-12 seconds.  I've been able to get the syncing working again for a day or two at a time.  That's still not good, but what is perhaps more alarming is the sudden severe drop in battery life.  Are you seeing this as well?  Has Fitbit acknowledged this?  I am only syncing the One with a single Android phone with an updated Fitbit app, version 3.6.1.

[SunsetRunner]

I bit the bullet and ordered a replacement battery from China and replaced mine.

Early signs are good, the first charge lasted over a week.

The package from China was interesting - more like a drugs package, various layers of foil, cables, more foil and plastic boxes with more foil parcels and a foil envelope inside that - presumably to get around the restrictions over posting batteries!

Replacement whilst fiddly and not for the faint of heart was actually quite quick.

After warming the fitbit up to soften the glue, it was easy to prise apart starting at the end with the metal contacts (The split is in the black case at the end of the device, you don't remove the bit which is coloured different). 

60 seconds with a soldering iron, and squeeze the case back together and job done!

[Sparkytwo]

Well done on what must have been a fiddly job. I am charging mine every couple of days, but you have inspired me ........ I might just give it a go!

[wpg822]

WOW!  

My ONE completely died just last week - had the same quick battery life issue happen while I was on a 2 day trip for work without my charger.  Have been trying to get it to come back to life every since with no luck.  

So disappointed to not be able to get a new Fitbit ONE.  Not sure I'm skilled enough to switch out the battery on my own like you did.  Is there any place we can take them to have the battery switched out??

[ejjsinsights]

Hi there...I got a good deal on a One on ebay... Sent from Samsung Galaxy smartphone.

[SunsetRunner]

Did you try un-installing and re-installing. Maybe if you take your fitbit to a battery place they can put a new battery in for you. 

[SunsetRunner]

I don't think its the sort of job a "battery place" would do. 

The Fitbit One is essentially a sealed unit glued together and opening it risks damaging it. The battery itself is also a non-standard one.

[Williger]

@SunsetRunner I told you that would work, glad you're back to full action upgraded Fitbit One! 🤗

[Williger]

@wpg822 the installation isn't tough, in fact, it was my first soldering experience, I'd bought an inexpensive soldering iron at the same time as my battery. 2-minute operation and back in business! If uncomfortable replacing it yourself, places like Joe's CE may be helpful. Cheers!

[mknj]

@Williger @SunsetRunner @azubes 

After opening, the two halves of the device are not joining together as closely (i.e. there is a gap) as it was prior to opening.

How were the two halves joined together after opening for repair so that there is no gap?

Did you reuse the pre-existing glue? How?

Any new glue? Which one?

[Williger]

@mknj unsure what you're encountering without a supporting picture and can only assume the battery you've used to replace was larger width than the original and this is what's circumventing a proper fit? Personally, I didn't have the case open for more than a few minutes to replace the battery and the glue was tacky enough to hold the case together. I do keep it in the silicone protective clip case, as it'd likely be easy to open it again and not have the same bond as the original factory sealing. Another member had shared about a moldable epoxy glue they'd used, though this would likely require removing the preexisting glue. Most importantly, how's the new battery working for you?

[mknj]

@Williger 

Gap is at the bottom end of the device and maybe due to the foam block under battery or the one around the altimeter pushing against the case. Not going to touch the one around the altimeter, but considering removing the one under battery. Did you remove either or both?

The original glue does not have tackiness after opening. Ordered some B-7000 to use for sealing.

Battery lasted about 1 week on ~50% charge after installation. Have not had a chance yet to charge it, since the case is not put together.

[SunsetRunner]

Much the same as @Williger for me. Just warmed it  up and the original glue sealed it again when I squeezed it back together.

I am sure its not as good as the original bond, but as its always either in the silicon clip or the charger this doesn't worry me.

[Williger]

@mknj I didn't have any foam blocks in mine. The battery I'd purchased was slightly larger than the original, so I had to remove the original brackets (pried them off with fingers, they came off easily), to install the replacement. The replacement did fit the top part of the case perfectly. Keep in mind there are at least two builds of the One, though from seeing mine and teardown images I'd seen online, the main differences are the case design. If your battery is larger width, then it may make sense to remove part of the padding to accommodate, though as mentioned, mine didn't have padding. Here's mine:Difference in original/new battery

Two soldering points for battery

[blkchre]

I spoke with them in a live chat and they told me to charge it to 100% and then sync it 5 or 6 times. I don't have the charger with me right now so I haven't done it. The did give me a case# so when I am able to do the test I can call back in.