DIY APEX Classic brain battery replacement

[Reefiness]

I recently upgraded to the new APEX and was having trouble selling my old apex being that I was disclosing that the internal battery was dead so it needed to run hooked up to a battery backup so it didn't lose the time set during an outage and turn your lights on during the middle of the night like mine had done a few times.

Neptune apparently wants what they claim is a minimum of $50 to replace the battery and claim it is not user replaceable. Well I beg to differ. I opened up the brain (4 screws on the back side) and looking right at me was the battery. Seemed easy enough to access, just needed to be soldered off and on (which I had no experience doing prior to this project)

Well after purchasing the soldering equipment and finding the battery (ML1220 with solder tabs on opposing sides) here...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Brand-New-...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

...it was a rather simple install. Granted make sure your unit is out of the warranty period before attempting this, because I'm sure this voids the warranty. If you ask me, the blue battery looks better in the unit than the yellow one did anyway

 

[Chrishvacman]

Thank you for sharing i have a dead battery aswell and couldn't find anything on this.

 

[Reefiness]

I ran into the same issue. That's why I waited until I purchased my new apex to attempt this. The main issue was figuring out the battery. Initially I just measured the battery and went off of that. Only after the order had already been placed did I peel off the solder tab on top revealing the battery model number which luckily had matched what I already ordered.

 

[Chrisv.]

Thanks for posting this! Battery and soldering iron are in the mail headed my way!!

 

[Reefiness]

Thanks for posting this! Battery and soldering iron are in the mail headed my way!!

Glad I could help!