Some day before Xmas my CosmoCom has begun to refuse access with the usual code. After some astonishment I decided to put in use again my Gemini, as I’m really used to have an organizer to take notes, to-do lists, etc. I thought that while I was searching for a solution to the CosmoCom lock the Gemini could “organize me” just fine. But the Gemini battery, having not been recharged for more than a year, was dead. So what ? Just buy a new one !
After some search I found that Planet batteries are called “cs-plx600sl” (4150mAh) and were made by Shenzhen Henzens Technology, but are not produced anymore. So I took out the CosmoCom battery and put it into the Gemini: it functioned and now I had again an organizer. But I had to put a battery into the CosmoCom to be able to troubleshoot it.
Ok, I thought, there must be some way to put another one with the same connector. Is that possible that a connector has been developed just for Planet batteries ? Possible but quite improbable, for cost reasons. I searched into the web and, after some evenings and many thoughts on how to change connector on the battery or on the CosmoCom, I got lucky: I found a picture of the same connector associated to Huawei Ascend P6 and Oppo R11. While the shape was the same nothing could be know about the pins. Anyway on eBay both batteries were quite cheap, the Ascend one was the bigger so I bought one for about 12€.
When it arrived I verified both connector and polarity, printed on the flat cable near the connector (it’s inverted so I had to twist the cable), and mounted it on the CosmoCom: after a day on charge and after many trials at switching it on, it functioned ! This battery is less than half the capacity of Planet’s one so with it CosmoCom lasts only a few hours. But it’s better then nothing and then I found a more capable Huawei P6 battery (look at the bottom).
Anyway now I have a reliable spare battery source.
Here are the photos of the hack: beware a little plastic tooth constraining the vibration (?) capsule must be cut and the capsule moved a little.
My CosmCom has started again, and I found a way to unlock it. Luckly I had Gemian installed in double boot so, by the way, I was able to access all the internal flash and also make a dd image of it. This was the end of the problem.
Then I put the new Ascend battery into the Gemini, which I believed needs less energy. It was not even necessary to move the vibration capsule, but I had to fix the battery with some tape otherwise it would have moved into its slot. Here are the photos.
The Gemini couldn’t start with this battery, not even with the charger in. Why the CosmoCom yes and Gemini not ? How can it be that the Gemini needs more energy ?
I bought a more powerful battery, a “Losoncoer” 3600mAh, put it into the Gemini in same way as shown (this time fixing it with plastic spacers instead of tape) and it functioned immediately without the need to try many switching on with the charger attached. The only problem I’ve had is that, if the battery is let to discharge completely, that you have to use a more powerful charger that the Planet one to be able to recharge it.
A friend has tried to do the same with the Oppo R11 battery but found the connector ribbon cable is too short.
If some one has knowledge to add about these problems, or the data of others compatible batteries still on sale, please please please write me !
That’s all folks ! (for today…)
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