Modern smart home devices like the Xiaomi Mi Bedside Lamp or Mijia Night Light 2 are known for their minimalist design and functionality. However, the lack of visible screws often confuses the owner when you need to replace the battery or clean internal components. Disassembling such gadgets requires accuracy, the right tool and understanding of the design so as not to damage fragile plastic latches.
In this article, we will take a closer look at the process of dismantling popular nightlife models from the Xiaomi ecosystem. You will learn where to look for hidden fasteners, how to safely unplug plumes and what nuances exist when working with lithium batteries. The main difficulty of most models is the adhesive connection of the bottom cover, which requires heat with a hairdryer.
Before you start to act, you need to make sure that the device is completely de-energized. Even if you plan to just clean the contacts, the risk of short circuits remains high. Proper preparation of the workplace and the availability of high-quality lighting will greatly simplify the task and minimize the risk of loss of small parts.
Tools and workplace preparation required
For high-quality disassembly of electronics, a conventional set of screwdrivers may not be enough. Xiaomi nightlife design involves the use of specific tools that will help to open the case without any trace of interference. You will need a thin plastic blade to snap clips and a suction cup to work with smooth surfaces.
Special attention should be paid to heating elements. Since many joints are covered with glue, you will need a hair dryer or a special heating pad for pre-heating. Do not use an open fire, as this can melt the plastic or damage internal electronics.
Organize the space so that small screws don't get lost, a magnetic mat or a container of cells will be great assistants, and don't forget about personal protective equipment if you plan to work with a soldering iron or chemical adhesive solvents.
- 🔧 Precision screwdriver kit (cross-hatch) PH0, PH00 and slit-faced)
- 🧲 Magnetic mat for sorting screws and small parts
- 🌡️ Hair dryer construction or household (low temperature mode)
- 🧤 Antistatic gloves to protect components
- 🔦 Powerful light source for working with small details
It's important to understand that using a poor-quality tool can lead to the failure of screw screws. Cheap screwdrivers are often made of soft metal, which deforms at the first effort. Investing in a good toolkit will pay off at the first complex repair.
⚠️ Warning: Before starting work, be sure to disconnect the nightlight from the power supply and remove the battery if the design allows you to do this at the initial stage.
Design features and search for hidden fasteners
Xiaomi engineers are famous for their ability to hide fasteners, creating a monolithic appearance. In most nightlight models, the screws are located under decorative plugs or rubber legs. A close inspection of the bottom of the device often reveals hidden access points to the insides.
Some models, such as the Mijia Bedside Lamp 2, have screws hidden deep inside the base, which may require removing the bottom cover, which in turn holds onto the glue, creating a "closed circle" situation where you need to remove the lid to access the screws and you need screws to remove the lid.
Use a flashlight to shine through the body, and sometimes you can see the screw heads or the attachment points of the internal modules, which helps you understand the logic of the assembly and avoid unnecessary actions to dismantle the external panels.
| Model of the device | Type of attachment | Location of screws | Difficulty autopsy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi Mi Bedside Lamp | Glue + screws | Under the bottom cover. | Tall. |
| Mijia Night Light 2 | Latchers | Missing (framework) | Medium |
| Yeelight Bedside Lamp | Screws + Glue | In the deeps of the base | Medium |
| Mi Smart LED Desk Lamp | Screws. | Under decorative rings | Low. |
It's worth noting that some versions of the devices use different types of screws, for example, some screws can be used to fix the board, and others can be used to fix the case, and remembering the type and length of each screw is critical for subsequent assembly.
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Use your smartphone to take photos of each stage of the dismantling, which will help you remember the order of assembly and the location of the plumes when you reverse edit.
The process of removing the bottom cover and access to the board
The most important step is to separate the bottom panel from the main body, and if you find the screws, carefully twist them out, trying not to put too much effort, and if there are no screws, then the panel is held on a glue layer that needs to be softened.
Heat the perimeter of the joint with a hair dryer to a temperature of 60-80 degrees Celsius. The plastic should become warm to the touch, but not hot. Then insert a thin plastic map or spatula into the gap and slowly lead around, gradually dissipating the halves of the case.
Inside, you'll see the main control board, which can be secured with extra screws or plastic clips, and be careful, because thin power wires and button plumes often come to the board, which can easily be damaged when you move around sloppyly.
☑️ Check before charge is withdrawn
Use a plastic tool to detach the connectors. Metal tweezers can damage the contacts or close the circuit if the device accidentally gets energized. Carefully lift the connector lock up, after which the plume easily comes out of the groove.
If the board is glued to the body, don't try to tear it off by force. It's better to tuck it off at the edge and, warming up with a hair dryer, slowly separate it, and inside it may be a thermal paste or heat-conducting gaskets that become softer when heated.
⚠️ Warning: Don't pull the wires when removing the board. First, make sure all connectors are disconnected, otherwise you risk tearing the wires from the contacts or damaging the soldering.
Dismantling of lighting module and cooling system
LED module in the nightlights Xiaomi is usually a board with powerful LED-In models with adjustable color temperature, several groups of LEDs are used, which require precise alignment with respect to the lens.
The cooling system can be passive (aluminum radiator) or active (fan) and passive cooling is more common in night lights, but powerful table lamps can have a small fan, which must also be turned off before the assembly is fully removed.
When working with LEDs, it is important not to touch the light-emitting surface with your fingers. Fat spots can cause local overheating and failure of the element in the future. If you touch, wipe the surface with alcohol.
- 💡 Carefully unscrew the radiator mounts
- 🔌 Cut off the power. LED-matrix
- 🧹 Clean the surface of the old thermal paste
- 👀 Check the status of contacts for oxidation
Often, a lighting module is connected to the main board by a flexible plume that passes through the rotary mechanism, which is the weakest part of the structure, because it experiences constant loads when turning the lamp. When disassembling, inspect it for microcracks.
What to do if the LED does not burn?
Battery replacement and battery maintenance
Many of Xiaomi’s portable nightlights feature an integrated battery that loses capacity over time, and to replace it, you need to access a battery compartment that is often located separately from the main board.
Batteries in these devices are usually standard sizes and connectors, but may differ in the type of connector. When buying a new battery, make sure the voltage and dimensions match the original. Using low-quality batteries can cause swelling or even fire.
When removing an old battery, be careful: if it is swelled, it is strictly forbidden to pierce it. Carefully remove the element, trying not to damage neighboring components.
Calibrating the new battery after replacement is an important step: fully charge the device and let it run before it turns off, which will help the power controller to correctly display the charge level.
⚠️ Warning: Dispose of old lithium batteries at special reception points, and it is forbidden to throw them into ordinary garbage due to the danger of environmental pollution.
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When replacing the battery, always check the integrity of the insulation of the wires. Damaged insulation can lead to a short circuit inside the housing.
Device assembly and functional testing
The assembly is done in reverse order, but requires even more care. Make sure all plumes are snapped to a characteristic click, and the screws are twisted with the right tightening moment. Twisted screws can crack the plastic, and untwisted screws can cause rattles.
Before you finally lock the bottom cover, do a primary test, plug the power in, check all the functions: turn on, change the brightness, switch colors, if the device works correctly, you can apply glue and lock the cover.
Use a special glue B-7000 or electronics analogs to fix it, apply a thin layer of glue to keep the excess from squeezing out and staining the case, and the time to fully polymerize the adhesive is about 24 hours.
- 🔌 Connect all the plumes and check the connections
- 🔩 Twisting all screws in the right order
- 🧪 Test all the functions of the device
- 🧴 Apply the glue and press the lid.
The final check should include a heating check. Leave the device on for 15-20 minutes and touch the case. If it heats unevenly or too much, there may be a problem with the cooling system or contacts.