BELKIN Bluetooth GPS battery RECALL (aka Fortuna ClipOn BT)

whocarez

Hi,

On June 21 BELKIN made a notice about safety problem with the batteries sold with Bluetooth GPS Navigation - "ballooning" effect.

More information on http://www.belkin.com/support/gpsrecall.asp

or http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml05/05582.html.

I discover this information because yesterday i tried to recharge my Fortuna ClipOn BT, but never make it. The power led always stays green and when i disconnected from power the unit turn off.

After opening and battery had a weird aspect, with one side not plane.
Then i discovered this information on belkin site.

On fortuna site there isn't any information about this problem.

My battery photo:

Whocarez

Steee73 · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jun 22, 2005 Posts: 4

Hi,
I have just checked my battery and found that one side of it is smooth but the other side is a bit bubbled. It still works ok and when i checked my battery with the one it the link you posted it was the same battery but mine doesn't have a model number on it. I can't see the picture of your battery on this page so could you send it to me please so i can compare it with mine and in return i will send you a picture in mine. Steve ([email protected])

mrchips · Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2005 5:23 pm Post subject:

I have one of the suspect batteries marked AE-8210.

BUT nowhere can I find anything on Belkin's website about how to get this potentially dangerous battery replaced.

Has anyone any ideas?

regards
_________________
TomTom Start 25 M UK & ROI

Deaky · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jan 03, 2004 Posts: 20

This has happened on my Fortuna Clip on. So much so that the battery cover has snapped Sad

. I have emailed Fortuna but have had no reply yet.

mrchips · Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2005 8:50 am Post subject:

Mine still seems to be OK. ... but it probably only be a matter of time.

I think I did hear that the battery was switchable with a Nokia cell-phone ... but that may be wrong.

Please let us all know what the result from Fortuna is please.

regards
_________________
TomTom Start 25 M UK & ROI

Deaky · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jan 03, 2004 Posts: 20

Fortuna were very helpful. They have offered to replace the battery and battery cover for me. The only problem is that I have to send the unit back to them in Tiwan. Because my GPS is not the current model the complete bottom needs to be changed and not just the battery cover. I would have to pay for postage to and from Tiwan. Sad

I have asked them if there are any distibutors in the UK who could help but there isnt.

My contact is [email protected]

Looks like I'll have to get a nokia battery and tape it in Sad

mrchips · Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2005 8:31 am Post subject:

Thanks Deaky.

Helpfull perhaps .... but not too much so.

Does the Nokia cell-phone battery actually act as a good replacement?

Fortuna must have a distributor in the UK who could help.

So our model is out of date already is it!

regards
_________________
TomTom Start 25 M UK & ROI

robsipaq · Occasional Visitor Joined: Aug 30, 2005 Posts: 3

I emailed Fortuna yesterday about the battery problem and this morning they seem to be saying "what problem ?"
I haven't established if it is ONLY a Belkin problem - but looking at the two units Belkin/Fortuna seem just to be rebadged identical units.
I have yet to discover if the "Slim Fortuna" unit (mine) has a similar problem.
Which "Nokia cell phone battery" IS a direct replacement ???
More later .....

Regards

mrchips · Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2005 8:35 am Post subject:

I have assumed, from all of the discussions, that it is the battery itself which is the problem.... the one marked as mentioned in the above posts.

Does it matter whether it is the slim version or not? and how would I be able to work out which type mine is. It doesn't call itself slim.

In all other respects the Fortuna is a wonderful GPS receiver.
I have it situated well below my dashboard in my Ford Focus, (with the heated front windscreen) and never have problems with it locking onto satellites.

Shame about the battery..... and customer service levels.
_________________
TomTom Start 25 M UK & ROI

robsipaq · Occasional Visitor Joined: Aug 30, 2005 Posts: 3

psyskiesman · Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2005 9:33 pm Post subject:

The Fortuna battery can indeed be replaced with a Nokia battery. The one you need is BLB-2; it's lithium-ion as opposed to lithium-polymer, so doesn't have such a high power rating, but it's still good for 6 hours continuous use. Searching on eBay I was able to buy one for just £1, no kidding!

CheshireCat · Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 12:26 am Post subject: Nokia BLB-2 battera for Clip-On

My BLB-2 has never given more than 5 hours, which is about what the original battery was down to when replaced. When new, the original battery would do 7 to 8 hours.

BigH · Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2005 12:46 am Post subject:

I to had the bubble battery problem it also failed quite early on in its life. I bought a Nokia clone battery which works great. In fact I bought 2 on ebay for about £3!! They last about 6 hours. Forget the original they cost about £12 plus postage.

BigH

	PocketGPS
	Web