Di2 internal battery

Spender
Spender Posts: 87
edited June 2013 in Road general
I want to change my ultegra external battery for the new seatpost one due in the uk in the next month or so. It apparently charges through a mini USB socket. The question I have is can I charge it from any USB to USB mini cable ( eg from my laptop) or do I need to buy the shimano charger unit as well?

Comments

  • DavidJB
    DavidJB Posts: 2,019
    Spender wrote:
    I want to change my ultegra external battery for the new seatpost one due in the uk in the next month or so. It apparently charges through a mini USB socket. The question I have is can I charge it from any USB to USB mini cable ( eg from my laptop) or do I need to buy the shimano charger unit as well?

    USB mini is a universal standard. Any USB mini charger will work with any USB mini device.
  • bernithebiker
    bernithebiker Posts: 4,148
    Spender wrote:
    I want to change my ultegra external battery for the new seatpost one due in the uk in the next month or so. It apparently charges through a mini USB socket. The question I have is can I charge it from any USB to USB mini cable ( eg from my laptop) or do I need to buy the shimano charger unit as well?

    This is what Di2 has always needed. External batteries are darn fugly.

    Tried it in Majorca and liked it, but would never consider getting it unless the battery was internal.
  • gloomyandy
    gloomyandy Posts: 520
    How does this work, does the frame need to be designed for the battery, or will it fit any frame?
  • Spender
    Spender Posts: 87
    edited February 2013
    The battery sits inside the seatpost. My fram has a hole where the cable can go through to the junction box underneath the BB. Just noticed the connection is micro USB. What I'm more worried about is frying the battery by not using the shimano charger. The charger on its own looks like being about £86

    Incase you missed it there is some info here

    http://www.bikerumor.com/2013/01/10/clo ... more-53447
  • metronome
    metronome Posts: 670
    Will the internal battery fit any seat tube and be compatible with Ultegra?

    Also wondering where will the micro USB charge point be located if retro fitted to Ultegra. Looks like the 9070 charge point is on the control box.
    tick - tick - tick
  • Spender
    Spender Posts: 87
    The internal battery is supposed to be compatable with ultegra. I was looking at putting on the new 9070 control box as well, but that will mean new cables from the shifters to the control box. I was wondering if there was a charging point on the battery itself which would mean taking the seatpost out for a recharge, but that's not a big issue. So costs for a vanity project of just having an internal battery could be up to about £300 ish if I need to buy the contorl box, new cables and a charger as well.
  • metronome
    metronome Posts: 670
    Oh right, yeah that's expensive for a battery change!

    I'd like to get an internal battery but I don't want to buy a charger / control box. Ideally I'd have a post battery and the new charge plug/socket would exit from the redundant hole on the down tube. The socket/plug would be hidden under bottle cage.

    I have a feeling that's not an easy plan.
    tick - tick - tick
  • Spender
    Spender Posts: 87
    Just been told that earliest I can get the internal battery is April and it may be as late as July. :(
  • fevmeister
    fevmeister Posts: 353
    Do you have to take the seatpost off every time you want to charge the battery??? I couldnt be doing with that
  • Spender
    Spender Posts: 87
    No unfortunately you don't seem to be able to charge direct from the seatpost battery. I could live with doing that every three months or so. It looks like you need to buy a new junction box at the stem where the battery charger connects into - more expense
  • metronome
    metronome Posts: 670
    Were you given any idea of cost when you were quoted the delivery due date?
    tick - tick - tick
  • motd2k
    motd2k Posts: 71
    The new charger includes the SM-PCE1 (which allow you to tweak the di2, update firmware etc) so it's well worth the price.
  • Spender
    Spender Posts: 87
    I think I will have to buy:
    New internal battery
    New charger
    New junction box at stem
    New wires from shifters to junction box

    Plus make sure the latest firmware is loaded.

    Madison don't have any photos of each item yet. They are supplying for whole bike builds first before upgrades. I was budgeting about £300 for everything.
  • motd2k
    motd2k Posts: 71
    Incidentally, on my DA9000 Junction-A it's NOT a microUSB charging port behind the cover.
  • Spender
    Spender Posts: 87
    So is it a special Shimano connector to stop people from using their own chargers?
  • Plastic Boy
    Plastic Boy Posts: 5
    Spender wrote:
    So is it a special Shimano connector to stop people from using their own chargers?

    I run internal seat post battery's and you can unplug the display box, front mech and charge through the rear mech connection if you want. I have made a charger specifically for this purpose.

    lj6XuYC4
  • di2diy
    di2diy Posts: 4
    Spender wrote:
    I think I will have to buy:
    New internal battery
    New charger
    New junction box at stem
    New wires from shifters to junction box

    Plus make sure the latest firmware is loaded.

    Madison don't have any photos of each item yet. They are supplying for whole bike builds first before upgrades. I was budgeting about £300 for everything.

    I sell a complete kit on eBay that last longer, fits in a 27.2 seat post, and is half the price of the Shimano upgrade and you do not need to buy a new junction box or any of that stuff, also works with 9070
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/290894523169?ss ... 1555.l2649

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