iRiver Hxxx, Will This Battery Kill?

[piscator]

Can BATTERY reverse polarity 'kill' the H340?  If so, is this "Replacement For iRiver..." battery reverse polarity?   

Please take a look at the leads going into the molex plug and tell me if I'm incorrect.  I think this battery is reverse polarity and may have damaged my H340.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Extended-2200Mah-Battery-iRiver-H140-H320-H340-FREE-S-H_W0QQitemZ230300912125QQihZ013QQcategoryZ33931QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting

To my eyes, the BatteryGallery H340 replacement (linked above) looks exactly OPPOSITE to the pictures in this MisticRiver tutorial:

http://www.misticriver.net/forums/player-faqs/50898-h1xx-h3xx-series-faqs-3.html#post363259

My reason for asking?... 

O.K. I'm stupid... I bought one of these and didn't check the polarity before installing it.  Because it was labeled "Replacement For iRiver H340..." I plugged it in and let it charge overnight. 

After this event, is when my H340 started locking in 'charge mode'

I tried to fix it, but eventually, based on 'Big Bambi's' advice, I bought a H320 and swapped parts.

I'd really like to 'track down' what 'killed' my player, so I don't do it again.  A 'second set of eyes' on the link to the battery I purchased, would be very much appreciated. 

Any thoughts on this discrepency? 

Thanks, piscator

P.S.  Rockbox 3.0 ROCKS!!  Just installed last night.  GREAT JOB TEAM!!!!!

[dreamlayers]

The red and black wires are switched on your replacement battery when I compare it with the replacement guide.  This probably means the polarity is wrong, but those are just pictures.  Wire colours do not tell you polarity beyond any doubt.  You'd need to electrically test to be sure.

Reverse polarity does damage electronics.

[AlexP]

Yes, the wrong polarity is not good.  I seem to remember mistic river having a guide on swapping the battery?

I tried to fix it, but eventually, based on 'Big Bambi's' advice, I bought a H320 and swapped parts.

As a note, I didn't advise you to do this per se, I just told you that swapping the internals of an H320 and H340 would work should you chose to do so.

[piscator]

Big Bambi,

Well it's true, you only confirmed that it would work.  I was simply trying to express my appreciation to you.  It worked!  Thanks! 

Dreamlayers,

Thank-you.  I appreciate you and BigBambi looking at this.  When I compared the BatteryGallery replacement to my old iRiver battery it was obvious that the leads were reversed. 

Still, it confused me, since it was so definitely labeled an iRiver replacement.

I contacted BatteryGallery and warned them that their mislabeled batteries might damage iRiver players.  They wrote back and said (I quote) "this is too technical for me."  Hmmm...

Should I reverse the wires and use this battery or 'junk' it?

Thanks again, piscator

[AlexP]

Big Bambi,

Well it's true, you only confirmed that it would work.  I was simply trying to express my appreciation to you.  It worked!  Thanks! 

You are welcome

Still, it confused me, since it was so definitely labeled an iRiver replacement.

I contacted BatteryGallery and warned them that their mislabeled batteries might damage iRiver players.  They wrote back and said (I quote) "this is to technical for me."  Hmmm...

That is just shocking....  Seems a clear indication to steer clear of them.

Should I reverse the wires and use this battery or 'junk' it?

I would imagine that the battery with the wires swapped is OK - however given the response of the store I would use a multimeter to double check the polarity.

[piscator]

BigBambi,

THANK-YOU!!  IT WORKS!!  My 120gig 'hot rod' H340 is back in business!!  

What's more, I loaded it with Rockbox 3.0 tonight, so now it's the 'hottest rockin' Rockbox player on the block!!'

I really appreciate yours and Dreamlayer's help with this.  That mislabeled battery had me so shook, I was afraid to trust my own ohmeter!

Talk about nervous.  Here's a funny (or maybe not funny) aside:  After swapping the leads and checking (and double checking) the polarity, I decided to put a little charge on the replacement battery by plugging it into my FRIED H340 (which is sitting on my bench).

I had a phone call, did a few things, came back to the bench and THOUGHT I'd already installed the battery in the GOOD h340.  When I rebooted and saw the player locked in charge mode, I nearly fell on the floor!  What did I do NOW  

It took a short while to remember that I'd 'tested' in the old h340 and I nearly wet myself  I'll tell ya, this 'age related memory' thing can be rough    

I'm calm now!  And the story ends happily.  I even swapped around all the best case parts, so the player even looks new!  

And, Rockbox 3.0 is FANTASTIC.  On my player 3.0 seems to boot up and run much, much faster, than the prior version.  

Lastly, yes, 'BatterGallery's' response was shocking.  When I alerted them, I included the link to the battery FAQ at MisticRiver, so they could see the problem firsthand.  As they said though, "it's too technical" for them.  

Anyway, a BIG thanks, once again.  I'm excited to be back in business!

Piscator

[AlexP]

Congratulations, I'm glad that you are up and running again

I'm still shocked about that store - if they don't want to know that they could be killing customers electronics....