Northern tool Welding helmet puked.

[k0ua]

My Northern tool welding helmet has not been used in over a year and stored in the dark. So I take it out to use it and guess what? It doesnt darken any longer. No amount of leaving it in the sun is going to fix it as the solar assist is just that an assist to make the life of the two CR2335 lithium button cells last longer.. After I got the module out of the helmet and pried apart with my Spyderco knife (no easy task), Naturally they are solder in (not that I can't handle that, but really now much would it have cost to put in some simple holders and a couple of CR2032 which are available everywhere?.. Don't you just love engineers and bean counters?... " fix it so we can save 3 yen on every helmet Mr. Miyagi" jeez.. Now I have to hunt for the batteries and install them.. More to follow.

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[dickfoster]

My Northern tool welding helmet has not been used in over a year and stored in the dark. So I take it out to use it and guess what? It doesnt darken any longer. No amount of leaving it in the sun is going to fix it as the solar assist is just that an assist to make the life of the two CR2335 lithium button cells last longer.. After I got the module out of the helmet and pried apart with my Spyderco knife (no easy task), Naturally they are solder in (not that I can't handle that, but really now much would it have cost to put in some simple holders and a couple of CR2032 which are available everywhere?.. Don't you just love engineers and bean counters?... " fix it so we can save 3 yen on every helmet Mr. Miyagi" jeez.. Now I have to hunt for the batteries and install them.. More to follow.

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Yeah I have a guitar amp like that. It's a 3Volt cell. I tell people to replace the stinking thing with a battery holder and common AAA lithium batteries. To keep the batteries from shaking loose just tape them in the holder. Solder the wires from the holder to where the battery soldered in. 3V is 3V.
Energizer Ultimate Lithium | Best Batteries
These are 1.5V so you'll need two and a battery holder for two AAA cells.

 

[CADplans]

I purchased my auto helmet ~2001,, and used it today,,, it STILL functions.

Probably, they expect the batteries to outlast the rest of the devise??
I might get a new one,, because I am tired of looking at the same flame design for so many years,,,

:laughing:

NA!!,, I will run it until it quits,,,, :thumbsup:

 

[George2615]

I recently bought a new helmet from HF for the same reason. I'm going on 10 years on my other HF helmet and figure that it will fail when I'm in the middle of a job and I haven't used my flip down helmet in so long I forgot where I put it.

 

[k0ua]

I recently bought a new helmet from HF for the same reason. I'm going on 10 years on my other HF helmet and figure that it will fail when I'm in the middle of a job and I haven't used my flip down helmet in so long I forgot where I put it.

Fortunately I still had my old Jackson autodarking one. And I still have some old "flipper" too. So I wasn't out of the welding business. Of course the batteries were dead in the Jackson too, but at least they were AAA's and easy to replace.

 

[hutchman]

Fortunately I still had my old Jackson autodarking one. And I still have some old "flipper" too. So I wasn't out of the welding business. Of course the batteries were dead in the Jackson too, but at least they were AAA's and easy to replace.

In the HF stuff that doesn't suck thread ... aczlan recently posted a link where you can get replacement guts for cheap (like $14 if memory serves me right - but don't count on that .. been screwing up lately) and it takes replaceable batteries so it's fixed for good!

 

[hutchman]

Found it. Check this out:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...-tools-dont-suck-post4528137.html#post4528137

... on sale for $12.36!

 

[k0ua]

Found it. Check this out:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...-tools-dont-suck-post4528137.html#post4528137

... on sale for $12.36!

Thanks for the link If I don't get this one going I will just order those guts.

 

[hutchman]

Thanks for the link If I don't get this one going I will just order those guts.

A few posts prior to the one aczlan did, I posted some links to hack/fix these type of helments. Probably not worth it though if the replacement for $12+ works!

 

[k0ua]

Amazon.com: uxcell 5 PCS Black Shell 2 x 1.5V AAA Battery Holder Case Container Cell Box: Electronics

here are the battery holders at amazon. 5 of them. for 8 bucks.

 

[hutchman]

I purchased my auto helmet ~2001,, and used it today,,, it STILL functions.

Probably, they expect the batteries to outlast the rest of the devise??
I might get a new one,, because I am tired of looking at the same flame design for so many years,,,

:laughing:

NA!!,, I will run it until it quits,,,, :thumbsup:

I'm not sure when they did it ... but some (china) mfr. switched to a design where they claim the batteries are good for 5 years or so and the batteries aren't intended to be replaceable. I guess in this throw away society it was a plan to get you to chuck it and buy another one. Planned obsolescence. Lot of that going around these days.

 

[k0ua]

I'm not sure when they did it ... but some (china) mfr. switched to a design where they claim the batteries are good for 5 years or so and the batteries aren't intended to be replaceable. I guess in this throw away society it was a plan to get you to chuck it and buy another one. Planned obsolescence. Lot of that going around these days.

I am seriously considering ordering the battery holder's just to thwart their plans.

 

[dickfoster]

Amazon.com: uxcell 5 PCS Black Shell 2 x 1.5V AAA Battery Holder Case Container Cell Box: Electronics

here are the battery holders at amazon. 5 of them. for 8 bucks.

Yeah one of those would work.

 

[k0ua]

Okay Dokey, it is repaired. The two coin cells were dead. I installed two of the above twin AAA holders (with switches) into the helmet. The supplied tail wires were soldered in place of the coin cells, and notches made into the sides of the module to pass thru the wires. Four little tacks with the hot soldering iron in the corners to hold the module shut. Then install the module back into the helmet body and hot glued the AAA holders into the helmet body after roughing up the plastic on both pieces. Here are pics. Total cost to repair about $7 and I still have 3 of the battery holders left over. So I could repair 1 1/2 more helmets!:laughing: Total time about 30 minutes.

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[yomax4]

Wish I had saw this sooner. A couple manufacturers that I once worked for and won't mention ( Arc One and Optrel ) suggest putting the hood under a Halogen Work light for 24 hrs. It re-jump starts the lithium. It's not a sun issue it's about Lithium and Halogen. How ever it is pretty easy to undo the old lithium cells and solder in new ones. Or better yet, Don't buy a solar hood. I have a couple of Speed Glass. One from the late 80's and a 9000X from10 years ago. I hate the cheap Fibre Metal 3C type head gear but The lenses with replaceable batteries, Although much heavier, last a Long Time. I also have a Nex-Gen Jackson that is 14 yrs old. Not as good optical quality but still works.

 

[yomax4]

Okay Dokey, it is repaired. The two coin cells were dead. I installed two of the above twin AAA holders (with switches) into the helmet. The supplied tail wires were soldered in place of the coin cells, and notches made into the sides of the module to pass thru the wires. Four little tacks with the hot soldering iron in the corners to hold the module shut. Then install the module back into the helmet body and hot glued the AAA holders into the helmet body after roughing up the plastic on both pieces. Here are pics. Total cost to repair about $7 and I still have 3 of the battery holders left over. So I could repair 1 1/2 more helmets!:laughing: Total time about 30 minutes.

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Wow.. Nice work !!

 

[k0ua]

Wow.. Nice work !!

Thanks. It was very easy to do. And now it uses AAA batteries you can buy anywhere, and replace them in seconds.

 

[dickfoster]

Thanks. It was very easy to do. And now it uses AAA batteries you can buy anywhere, and replace them in seconds.

If you replace the batteries with these
Energizer Ultimate Lithium | Best Batteries
you likely wouldn't have to change them very often.

 

[k0ua]

If you replace the batteries with these
Energizer Ultimate Lithium | Best Batteries
you likely wouldn't have to change them very often.

I like that 20 year shelf life:thumbsup: In this application with the solar assist, those would likely be a one and done proposition.

 

[oldpilgrim]

I bet you could connect the button battery holders together in parallel and feed them both with one battery pack. The unit draws very little power considering it had button cells and the AAA batts have much more capacity than the button cells. Less weight and less clutter in the helmet.