TicWatch Pro 3 GPS Battery Replacement

Written By: Dominik Schnabelrauch

Comments: 14

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

35 - 50 minutes

Introduction

Use this guide to replace the battery in your TicWatch Pro 3 GPS.

For your safety, discharge the battery below 25% before disassembling your watch. This reduces the risk of fire if the battery is accidentally damaged during the repair. If your battery is swollen, take appropriate precautions.

You’ll need replacement adhesive when reassembling the device. Your device will function normally, but will lose its IP (Ingress Protection) rating.

Tools

Step 1

Before starting repairs, take your watch off the charger and power it down.
Remove the watch band.

Step 2

Use a Torx T3 screwdriver to remove the four 4.1 mm-long screws securing the back cover.

Step 3

Apply a heated iOpener to the rear side of the watch for 5 minutes to loosen the adhesive underneath.
A hair dryer, heat gun, or hot plate may also be used, but be careful not to overheat the device.

Step 4

Insert the flat end of a spudger into the microphone opening at the top edge of the back cover.
Pry upwards to loosen the back cover assembly. This may require some force.
Don't try to remove the back cover assembly all the way yet. It's still connected to the daughterboard.
Swing the back cover assembly open by 45 degrees to gain access to the sensor assembly cable.

Step 5

Use a spudger to disconnect the sensor assembly cable by prying the connector straight up from its socket.
To re-attach press connectors like this one, carefully align and press down on one side until it clicks into place, then repeat on the other side. Do not press down on the middle. If the connector is misaligned, the pins can bend, causing permanent damage.

Step 6

Remove the back cover assembly.

Step 7

Use a spudger to disconnect the microphone cable by prying the connector straight up from its socket.

Step 8

Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the three 4.1 mm-long screws securing the core assembly.

Step 9

Insert the point of a spudger between the right edge of the core assembly and the watch frame.
Pry upwards to loosen the core assembly.
Don't try to remove the core assembly all the way yet. It's still connected to the screen.

Step 10

Carefully swing open the core assembly like the front cover of a book.
Avoid straining or tearing the display cables at the bottom of the core assembly.

Step 11

Use a spudger to disconnect the screen and the digitizer cables by prying the connectors straight up from their sockets.

Step 12

Remove the core assembly.

Step 13

Use a spudger to disconnect the interconnect cable by prying the connector straight up from its socket.

Step 14

Use a pair of tweezers to remove the daughterboard.

Step 15

The battery is held in place by mild adhesive.
Insert the flat end of a spudger between the bottom edge of the battery and the midframe.
Take care not to puncture or bend the battery with your tool—a punctured or bent battery may leak dangerous chemicals or cause a fire.
Pry upwards to loosen the battery.
If you're struggling to pry up the battery, place a heated iOpener onto the motherboard to loosen the adhesive underneath. Don't apply the iOpener directly onto the battery.
Don't try to remove the battery all the way yet. It's still connected to the motherboard.

Step 16

Carefully fold the battery over to gain access to the battery cable connector.
Avoid straining or tearing the battery cable.

Step 17

Use a spudger to disconnect the battery cable by prying the connector straight up from its socket.

Step 18

Remove the battery.
Do not reinstall a damaged or deformed battery, as doing so is a potential safety hazard.
Secure the new battery with pre-cut adhesive or double-sided adhesive tape. In order to position it correctly, apply the new adhesive into the device at the places where the old adhesive was located, not directly onto the battery. Press the new battery firmly into place.

Battery : pls advise the exact dimensions of the battery? And or provide a weblink?

Thanks,

AjTic -

Conclusion

Compare your new replacement part to the original part—you may need to transfer remaining components or remove adhesive backings from the new part before you install it.

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

During reassembly, apply new adhesive where it's necessary after cleaning the relevant areas with isopropyl alcohol (>90%).

For optimal performance, calibrate your newly installed battery after completing this guide.

Take your e-waste to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.

Repair didn’t go as planned? Try some basic troubleshooting, or ask our TicWatch Pro 3 answers community for help.

Author

Dominik Schnabelrauch

Member since: 23/11/16

201162 Reputation

13 comments

Where did you buy a replacement battery (if you did)? I have scoured thru aliexpress, ebay, and tried to find shattered-screen watches I could transplant from, with no luck so far. I guess I'll keep looking. My watch barely lasted a year before the battery life halved. The voltage sag is so bad the watch bootloops whenever it vibrates below 30% voltage.

George -

I've found a listing in aliexpress for an aftermarket battery but need to de-solder the original BMS and transfer to this new battery. Here's the link to aliexpress.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/10050049...

Daniel Lee -

link: https://ibb.co/f0LGK5L

marco deirossi -

I don't think it's tin welding, but most likely TIG welding.

Difficult to open it, but the less experienced could solder the battery contacts on the top without opening the old solder.

https://imgur.com/zhFXcQ4

https://imgur.com/cKJb137

marco deirossi - 12/01/23

A small problem (solved) that I encountered with the battery purchased as compatible from ali-express is the greater ( >5mm)

distance (compared to the battery) of the original two poles of the battery.

You have to bend them carefully inwards to be able to weld them afterwards.

https://imgur.com/5mrfzDk

https://imgur.com/v2OCVCc

https://imgur.com/Izw3dU1

https://imgur.com/QsnAN6I

marco deirossi -

done, thank you all :-)

https://imgur.com/dMgUtPw

https://imgur.com/I6Gpq9L

marco deirossi -

Hello all,
I bought this battery as marco deirossi but I don't know how to weld them properly. What's the welding method? It doesn't seem like typical welding for me. Also, I have taken off the sticker of the new batter and the new orange foil out of it. Did I do something wrong? Shall I buy new batter?
Best Regards
Paul

rybson1908 -

Hello... Does anyone know where you can get this battery? since on Aliexpress it appears as out of stock in all the sellers that publish it.

luciano.alonso84@gmail.com -

Was able to install a new battery thanks to all the comments here but had to improvise a bit.

I had some trouble connecting the battery adapter to the battery and ended up shortening one of the flat connectors on the battery. Used some copper wire to bridge the gap and make it a bit easier.

After soldering the wires to the original adapter I made a small hole in the flat connectors of the battery, threaded the wire through there and soldered that. Ended up removing the wire insulation to be able to bend it in space. Recommend taping off anything you don't want the wires to touch beforehand if you do try to prevent short circuiting.

Also be mindful of the buttons during repair. Somewhere in the process I somehow lost the tiny clicker on one and misaligned the other. Was able to glue the latter back in the proper spot. Luckily only the one is necessary to do most stuff.

Hope this helps someone

https://imgur.com/a/QCb2nAX

Ferdi -

Hi Ribson

the best thing to do is bend the two poles of the battery 90° inwards and give them a spot of soldering directly on the plus and minus contacts of the BCM circuit. It is NOT necessary to extract the mainboard as per the guide because you risk damaging the button contacts. Remove the cover, unhook the sensor flat cable, slightly heat the battery, pry it and unhook it from the flat cable. Open the battery film in the BCM circuit part and cut the two poles of the battery so that only the charging circuit remains in your hand

marco deirossi -

bend the two poles 90° inwards and solder on the BCM circuit

https://imgur.com/OiLXSrL

marco deirossi -

Hi Ferdi,

I don't understand why you did all that work,

pull the old BCM circuit out of the old battery.

Bend the two poles of the new battery 90° inwards.

spot solder directly on top without drilling anything or adding bits of wire.

marco deirossi -

What's the best temperature for iron to solder the terminals? I have a new battery, I have the old dissected and the terminal pad removed. The new battery already came with the poles be t inwards 90 degrees. Do I need to do more to the BCM circuit? I just cut the old poles off the battery.

Jeffery Cates -