From the page: The iPhone still has chapters ahead

Idea 3

Donation for parts

Easy 30 min

Workshops and technical schools have always lived on donated devices: a phone that no longer turns on holds a screen, cameras, tiny screws and boards that still work. Before thinking about repairing it, you need to understand the structure: a swollen battery is an internal pressure problem — the gas released by chemical degradation pushes the casing from the inside out.

What you need

  • The iPhone with the swollen battery
  • A sturdy, non-flammable box or container (a metal tin, ceramic pot)
  • Wide adhesive tape (masking tape or packing tape)
  • A bag or small box for transport
  • The address of a repair shop, a phone repair store, an electronics drop-off point or a local technical school
  • A room thermometer isn't necessary, but avoid leaving the device in a closed car or a hot place

How to make it

  1. 1

    Turn off the device (if it still turns on) and don't try to charge it anymore: every charge cycle increases the internal pressure of a swollen battery, and the structure is already deformed.

  2. 2

    Don't squeeze, bend or try to open the casing at home: the screen and structure act as containment for the pressure, and forcing that barrier can rupture the cell.

  3. 3

    Place the device on a firm, non-flammable surface, away from papers, fabrics and curtains — if there is any gas leak or heating, the surrounding material won't feed anything.

  4. 4

    Secure the device with adhesive tape inside the box or tin, without pressing on the screen: it must be immobile for transport, since friction and impact are the real risks here.

  5. 5

    Take it to a repair shop, workshop or electronics drop-off point and explain that the battery is swollen: those with the right tools remove the cell safely and give the rest a new life as parts.

Finishing touches

many workshops are happy to receive devices like this to extract components — it's worth calling ahead and asking. And if you like, ask them to return the casing after the battery is removed: it still has plenty of projects in it.

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