Sony Cybershot Battery Upgrade for Almost Free

Welcome to my instructable. This is how I modified a Sony NP-BG1 lithium-ion battery for my digital camera's. I own a cybershot DSC-W35 and a DSC-W55. Both are old but working. The DSC-W35 is little bit working less, sometimes problems to start up and so on. I also own newer camera's so hey lets start to modify :)

I'm using the cameras only for fishing, to take a shot with the selfie -10 sec mode. They can be mounted on a tripod.

What you need:

Sony Cybershot camera which is using the G type battery
Original charger for G battery
18650 battery
18650 battery holder like this one
Velcro
Some tools like a drill, pliers, small screwdriver, solder and so on

Where is the charger be needed for? Well, maybe I made a fault by myself, I dont know for sure but after soldering, there was no output voltage. I know that a lot protection circuits prevent shortcuts, and then gives no output. That can be reset by charging the battery by the circuit. I did that, and the problem was solved after that.

You can use the charger also for charging the modified battery but its a bit slow, but shouldn't be a problem.

About the 18650 cells, I salvaged some laptop and other batteries containing 18650 cells, I picked the best out. Cost me nothing. Please search instructables to find out how to get good 18650 cells for free.

Step 1: Disassemble the Original G Battery

First I prepared the 18650 battery holder, and drilled a small hole in the middle to put the wires trough.

Peel off the foil from the battery, after that you will find three little clamps which you can press carefully with a small screwdriver, the push/pull it slowly forwards and you will see take the battery out of is house.

Please use a multimeter to measure the gold contacts for polarity and voltage of the battery, take a pic of that or write it on paper. Cut the original battery off the contacts but leave the contacts for soldering the wires on, see next step.

Please do not short the battery or contacts somehow. Thing can go wrong and cause injuring.
Also when recycling the old battery, please use some tape to cover the contacts. You dont want to start fire in the battery recycle bin or somehing.

In the gray piece, there is a protection circuit. I never opened it, but an empty original battery is 0 volt, and this one was 2.5v.
That is called protection from discharge. This is the moment when the battery is empty for the camera and you should charge it. We are going to double or even triple the original battery capacity.

Step 2: Drill a Hole and Solder

Drill a hole in the corner of the housing, or cut it carefully with a dremel, I think that would be nicer than I did. For the DSC-W55 is it better to cut out the corner.

Then pull the wires trough the hole and solder them on then contacts. Put the 18650 battery in the holder an please measure the gold contacts on the outside for voltage and polarity.

Well, maybe I made a fault by myself, I dont know for sure but after soldering, there was no output voltage. The 18650 was charged. I knew that a lot protection circuits prevent shortcuts, and then gives no output. That can be reset by charging the battery by the circuit. I did that, and the problem was solved after that.

Step 3: Carve the DSC-W35

For using the new battery, you can leave the battery-door open of carve it out so it can be closed. I did it with a sharp knive. Also the inside of the DSC-W35 should be carved a little bit for the wires.