Help Running phone without battery

[Android Question]

Asked this question in the Rugby Pro forum 4 days ago without response. Hoping this is a generic android question.
I have a Rugby I no longer use. I want to recycle my phone but want to erase the files first. My problem is the battery is dead. Any way to start/run a Rugby without a battery?

 

[Mikestony]

Not sure, but what happens when you plug the device into the charger even with the battery installed?

 

[Hadron]

In my experience phones run off the battery at all times, and the charger is just for charging. So don't be surprised if you will need a battery to do this.

Mike's test will be definitive: if it won't boot while plugged in with no battery then you definitely need a battery.

 

[old_codger]

In my experience phones run off the battery at all times, and the charger is just for charging. So don't be surprised if you will need a battery to do this.

Mike's test will be definitive: if it won't boot while plugged in with no battery then you definitely need a battery.

Whether the battery is installed or not, when the charger is plugged in, I get a battery icon? with an indicator showing it's charging. Every few seconds the phone vibrates. After 24 hours the battery still shows zero. Hate to buy a battery just to wipe data. It would be easier to throw it away.

 

[Hadron]

Unfortunately if you can't power the phone up you can't erase it (other than by physically destroying it).

 

[Mikestony]

Heh, just a loooooong shot, call it crazy, but what about putting just the battery in the freezer for about 1/2 hr., putting it back into the phone, plugging the charger in for a while and try it?
The reason I suggest this, is because I recall doing this with the old Evo 4G

 

[lunatic59]

I see replacement batteries for sale on amazon for $7.

Replacement Generic Battery for Samsung Galaxy Rugby Pro i547 / SGH-i547 (EB-L1D7IBA) (AT&T)

 

[funkylogik]

I say do Mike's thing

 

[old_codger]

Thanks for the replies. Put the battery in the freezer. Worked almost perfectly. Almost. I can get to Settings>Backup>Factory reset, and a screen with something similar to "Erase all data . . . ?" I select "Delete All" but nothing happens.
BTW, I read this is the way to wipe my data. True?

 

[Hadron]

Yes, that should wipe the phone. Don't know why it wouldn't work.

 

[old_codger]

Yes, that should wipe the phone. Don't know why it wouldn't work.

OK, maybe I read the post wrong. Put the battery in the phone and put the phone in the freezer. 45 minutes later and reset worked perfectly. Thanks for the help.

 

[Hadron]

I think you read it right. But hey, it worked

 

[Alex Lototzky]

Nothing about erasing data on the phone, but I have a tangential issue where I want to power and use a phone without its battery.
Got a few old phones and want to try to re purpose them. Batteries are old.
I can only seem to get them to boot up when the batteries are in them and a charging cable is plugged in.
I looked at the batteries and see that they both supply 3.7v whereby USB charging is at 5v
Seems the batteries are required to run the phones even if you plan to always have them tethered. Which brings me the the point:
At some point in time, the battery will no longer even be able to perform its sigular remaing task being; to regulate the voltage from 5v input to 3.7v output.
Anyone had any luck in hacking a bypass that replaces this final function of the battery? for example installing a voltage regulator in place of the battery?