Someone posted an image of attaching batteries to a completely dead 3 to fix exactly this issue. might be worth a search for that.
Not sure how to fulfil your slicing idea but doubtless it could be done. with the right numbers, but I have to say: I like the way you think : )
The battery thing looked pretty easy.
EDIT: Found it
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...&postcount=584