Zink Polaroid ZIP Wireless Mobile Photo Mini Printer Battery Replacement

Introduction

After many years of good service, my mini printer was not able to print a full picture anymore. Its battery was done, and could not even hold enough charge to go through one full print.

Instead of buying a new one and create e-waste, I chose to replace its battery. It was pretty challenging to find a battery pack that would replace properly the one originally present in the device.

This guide should also work other Zink mini printer like the Canon IVY mini photo printer or the HP sprocket mini photo printer line.

What you need

Step 1 Open printer

Zink Polaroid ZIP Wireless Mobile Photo Mini Printer Battery Replacement, Open printer: step 1, image 1 of 1

Tool used on this step:

Pro Tech Toolkit

$74.95

Buy

Open the paper trail
Get your screw driver with a Philips bit (from your Pro Tech Toolkit for instance) and unscrew the four screws at each corner
Unclip lid delicately with the help of a guitar pick or with the Jimmy tool.

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Step 2 Unplug battery

Zink Polaroid ZIP Wireless Mobile Photo Mini Printer Battery Replacement, Unplug battery: step 2, image 1 of 1

Unplug the battery pack and remove it
You can also see the internals of this device directly on the FCC ID website.

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Step 3 Remove foam padding

Zink Polaroid ZIP Wireless Mobile Photo Mini Printer Battery Replacement, Remove foam padding: step 3, image 1 of 3

Zink Polaroid ZIP Wireless Mobile Photo Mini Printer Battery Replacement, Remove foam padding: step 3, image 2 of 3

Zink Polaroid ZIP Wireless Mobile Photo Mini Printer Battery Replacement, Remove foam padding: step 3, image 3 of 3

Tool used on this step:

iOpener

$19.99

Buy

Remove the foam padding from the battery
Optional: use a warming element like the bed of your 3D printer or iFixit iOpener
Place the foam on your new battery

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Step 4 Make sure connector's wires are matching

Zink Polaroid ZIP Wireless Mobile Photo Mini Printer Battery Replacement, Make sure connector's wires are matching: step 4, image 1 of 1

Make sure the connector of your new battery pack is matching the one you remove
If it's not matching, for each wrong pin:
Push down pin in the cover part of the connector
Pull on the pin to extract it from connector
Place it back in right spot

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Step 5 Plug new battery pack

Zink Polaroid ZIP Wireless Mobile Photo Mini Printer Battery Replacement, Plug new battery pack: step 5, image 1 of 1

Place and plug new battery pack
Plug device with USB mini cable and test device is charging
If blinking red, unplug immediately and verify polarity of your battery pack
If the LED indicator stays red-still for more than 60 seconds, you replaced the battery successfully! 🎉
Clip lid back and put back the screws
Charge battery fully, until LED turns green, before using.

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Conclusion

It was really satisfying to be able to avoid throwing away the whole product, and only replace the battery pack. So happy to be able to use this mini printer again!

To recycle the battery, call +1 800-822-8837 or go to call2recycle.org.

2 other people completed this guide.