Rode Wireless Mic: Battery Upgrade + Custom 3D-Printed Body

Well, this is not our usual DIY blog — this will be an upcycling project.

I’ve been using this microphone for about two years, but recently the battery started failing and eventually the device stopped working completely.

So I decided to repair it myself.

In this blog, I upgraded it with a bigger battery and a custom 3D-printed body, and the result actually looks better than the original.

1. Replacement battery 400mAh
2. Hot plate USBC PD
3. B7000 Glue
4. Pry Tool

After approximately two years of regular use, the microphone's battery began to degrade. This resulted in longer charging times, shorter runtime, and eventually the device stopped powering on completely. Before disassembling the microphone, make sure the issue is indeed related to the battery: plug it in to charge, wait for 30 minutes, and then try to power it on. If it doesn’t turn on, the battery cell is likely dead.

Tip: Check if your mic is still under warranty before proceeding — opening it will void it.

The top cap is held in place with adhesive. Apply gentle, even heat with a heat gun or hair dryer for 30–60 seconds to soften the glue. Keep the heat moving — you're warming adhesive, not soldering. Once warm, insert a prying tool at the seam and work around the edge until the cap lifts free.

The original battery is rated around 350 mAh and is usually held in with adhesive tape. Before disconnecting anything, photograph the wiring — note which wire is positive and which is negative. Carefully disconnect the battery connector from the PCB, then peel the battery free.

An exact 350 mAh replacement is hard to find. Instead, look for a 400 mAh cell with the same footprint (length and width) but slightly thicker. Search by dimension code rather than capacity — for example, "401530 LiPo" (digits = thickness in 0.1mm, width in mm, length in mm). Good sources: AliExpress, Alibaba, or specialist electronics suppliers. Always verify the connector polarity matches your original.

After that, transfer the BMS PCB from the original battery to the new battery.

Because the new battery is slightly thicker, the original cap won't close flush. Open Fusion 360 and measure the original cap carefully with calipers. Model a new cap with a slightly deeper internal cavity to fit the extra thickness, keeping all external dimensions identical so it fits the existing body shell. Export as STL.

Upload your STL to JLC3DP (or another MJF-capable service) and select Nylon PA12 with MJF (Multi Jet Fusion). MJF produces dense, accurate parts with a great surface finish — much better than FDM for small enclosures. At the same time, you can print a transparent front cover in clear resin if you want the new look.

Also gone with 8001 translucent resin for RX

Here is the link for JLC3DP.com

Tip: MJF nylon parts come out naturally gray/black. Dye or paint after printing if you need color matching. Transparent parts require SLA or PolyJet printing.

Do a dry fit before using any adhesive. Place the new battery in the body, reconnect the lead to the PCB (matching polarity from your photos), and press the new top cap on. Power on before sealing — confirm it charges and pairs correctly. Once everything checks out, apply a thin bead of B-7000 around the seam and press closed.

Tip: Don't glue it shut until you've done a full charge cycle and verified audio quality. You may need to reopen it.

The microphone works perfectly — with 400 mAh instead of 350 mAh, battery life is about 14% better. And with the transparent front cover and custom nylon cap, it looks even better than the original.

A huge thanks JLC3DP for supporting this project with their amazing 3D printing service.

LC3DP is the future of manufacturing, offering a user-friendly online platform for advanced 3D printing with:

1. ✅ Instant quoting & real-time tracking
2. ✅ 48-hour lead time & door-to-door delivery
3. ✅ 20+ material options
4. ✅ Enterprise-grade quality
5. ✅ Prices starting at just $0.3, with up to $123in new user coupons!

✨ Try them out at JLC3DP.com

If you like my project and would like to see more projects,

you can buy me a coffee to keep supporting my work.

☕❤️