Possible to mod a MX1000 (BT) to use batteries?

Hey I have a MX1000 (Bluetooth) mouse which runs on its own rechargeable battery and it's very annoying to bring the charger around...

Is it possible to mod it such that it uses batteries?

Some pics of the mouse:

 

Unless you're a whiz with electronics, it's not feasible. And since you're asking, I'm assuming you're not. You'd need a battery that produces the right voltage and sustains a particular power draw, and you'd need it to be able to use the right adapter.

 

If you can cram 3 AA or AAA batteries in that space it'll work, but then you have to dismantle the mouse every time you wanna swap batteries since the battery holder is above the circuit board right under where your hand rests. Honestly I don't see why you'd need to do this unless you're away from home for a week at a time unless the bluetooth version of this mouse kills its battery way faster than the standard RF version. I bought the original RF MX1000 when it came out and it still held a charge for 3-4 days using it to game every night for 3-4 hours or more last year before i let it go with a computer i sold.

 

Really, you don't need to be a genious to make it work with normal batteries, it totally doable for anyone.

If you don't have one battery that can provide the correct amount then take several and add them togheter, that'll give you the extra voltage.

About the adaptor, for this mouse, just find a small fan that has the exact same connector (it's a standard connector for the most small fans for example among many other things but a small fan is the easiest to get). Just cut it of and mod it onto the batteries.

 

Well, the only thing i can think of is to...

First, see if 2 or 3 AAA batteries will fit in the battery compartment. If not, its not possible. If so...

Get a wire with the same port on the end or cut that one off (at your own risk)
Then you may be able to wire it to the batteries... somehow...

but, this is a complete and total guess, i recommend not doing it.
Just get a new mouse.

 

3 AA or AAA should do it. That would be 3.6v or so. However I dont see the point.

 

The reason behind this little project:

- MX1000 BT was (and I believe still is) the best bluetooth mouse in terms of number of buttons and customisability thereof.
- The only thing I hate about it is the enormous charging dock. I don't like bringing it around.
- I bought 3 MX1000 BT mice refurbed, so I thought I might want to tinker with one to see if I can make it run on batteries. I want to practice my soldering skills anyways.

Now a question:

Would the 0.1v difference betweet 3 AAA (or AA) batteries and the stock 3.7v Li-ion battery be significant enough to make it not power at all?

 

Actually AA/AAA batteries are nominally 1.5 volts, you generally won't get all 4.5 volts but you'll definately get more than the 3.7 volts required to power the mouse. Probably you'd be fine just running it unregulated at 4.5 volts but worst case you might need a small voltage regulator in the circuit. Heck some of the more expensive cells actually put out significantly more than 1.5 volts in low drain configurations and you might even be able to skate with just 2 of them if the mouse can operate on a couple tenths below rated power (which isn't uncommon).

 

If you have 3 of these mices, just take out the batteries out of two of them and bring them along with you whenever you're from home. I guess one battery is enough for it to run atleast one full day or two!?


And about 3.6volts or 4.5v either would probably just work fine. Aslong as it's near the 3.7v specced it shouldn't be a problem and i can't really see a problem if it gets a little to much voltage.

 

Just a little update, I worked on this over the summer and now one of my MX1000 (BT) runs on 3 rechargeable AAA batteries (1.2V each)!

Needless to say, the battery life is pretty bad - it needs a recharge every day! But I have 6 rechargeable AAA's, so my new baby can run non-stop, and I no longer need my charging stand

I'll post up some pics when I get a camera..

 

A Microsoft Notebook Presenter Mouse 8000 bluetooth (not to be confused with the 'normal' MSFT Mouse 8000) can be had in whitebox (generic) packaging for about $30- on ebay. This mouse takes 2x AAA batteries.