AA-sized conductor (fake battery) wanted

[Michael A. Terrell]

D Yuniskis wrote:

On 1/13/2011 1:46 PM, Baron wrote:
D Yuniskis Inscribed thus:

On 1/13/2011 4:24 AM, baron wrote:
Eldor Inscribed thus:

Hello all NG

I am looking for a fake AA battery, i.e. a conductor of the same
size, so that I can put it in an AA battery holder and have a lower
voltage (N-1 x 1.5V) . Actually I want multiple of them so that I
can make a "configurable voltage" battery.

I have looked around but I can't find it. Does anybody know any?

Alternatively I could look for a battery which can be charged at
various voltage levels, but it needs to hold a significant charge at
any voltage level. I don't think it exists.

Thanks for any help

Whats wrong with a piece of rolled up cardboard ?

Cardboard isn't a very good conductor at low voltages :

Sorry ! My brain fart :-(
I meant to write "Whats wrong with a piece of alloy foil wrapped over
rolled up cardboard ?"

Wrapping the foil might be tricky -- especially if it
*is* "foil" -- since you want a durable and reliable
contact surface yet can't really tolerate lumps, bumps,
etc. "Shrink-wrap-aluminum"! Now *that* would be
an idea! :> (not "shrink-WRAPPED-aluminum")

The ideal would be to turn a length of copper dowel to
the correct profile and then encase in shrink wrap.
But, I suspect the OP doesn't have access to a lathe
(though many people *have* lathes so "asking around"
could be an option -- note that the profile is probably
published as a standard someplace so it's just a matter
of getting someone to give you 3 minutes of time on a
lathe).

Why do you need a lathe? Just use a piece of drill rod the right
length, and insulate it if there is any chance of a short in the holder.

It isn't expensive and comes in a lot of sizes:

<http://www.fastenal.com/web/products.ex?N=0&Ntk=Search+All&Ntt=drill+rod&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Nty=1&searchBox=1>



You could get some scrap 6 AWG solid copper wire and wrap it with
paper to make it the right size, if you don't want to use steel.

A piece of wood dowel, two brass screws and a piece of wire run from
end to end is the traditional method.

My "dummy cells" look like "I" beams in cross section.
I.e., imagine the top and bottom 1/10th of an inch of a
cell joined by a thick *sheet* of metal. Very obviously
castings and saved on material by not making them
solid cylinders.

--
You can't fix stupid. You can't even put a band-aid on it, because it's
Teflon coated.

 

[Ian Field]

"Eldor" <eldor@example.com> wrote in message
news:4d2edb51$0$77558$892e0abb@auth.newsreader.octanews.com...

Hello all NG

I am looking for a fake AA battery, i.e. a conductor of the same size, so
that I can put it in an AA battery holder and have a lower voltage (N-1 x
1.5V) . Actually I want multiple of them so that I can make a
"configurable voltage" battery.

I have looked around but I can't find it. Does anybody know any?

Alternatively I could look for a battery which can be charged at various
voltage levels, but it needs to hold a significant charge at any voltage
level. I don't think it exists.

Thanks for any help

Use a whiskered (shorted) NiCd cell.

 

[D Yuniskis]

On 1/14/2011 6:26 AM, baron wrote:

D Yuniskis Inscribed thus:

On 1/13/2011 1:46 PM, Baron wrote:
D Yuniskis Inscribed thus:

On 1/13/2011 4:24 AM, baron wrote:
Eldor Inscribed thus:

Hello all NG

I am looking for a fake AA battery, i.e. a conductor of the same
size, so that I can put it in an AA battery holder and have a
lower voltage (N-1 x 1.5V) . Actually I want multiple of them so
that I can make a "configurable voltage" battery.

I have looked around but I can't find it. Does anybody know any?

Alternatively I could look for a battery which can be charged at
various voltage levels, but it needs to hold a significant charge
at any voltage level. I don't think it exists.

Thanks for any help

Whats wrong with a piece of rolled up cardboard ?

Cardboard isn't a very good conductor at low voltages :

Sorry ! My brain fart :-(
I meant to write "Whats wrong with a piece of alloy foil wrapped over
rolled up cardboard ?"

Wrapping the foil might be tricky -- especially if it
*is* "foil" -- since you want a durable and reliable
contact surface yet can't really tolerate lumps, bumps,
etc. "Shrink-wrap-aluminum"! Now *that* would be
an idea! :> (not "shrink-WRAPPED-aluminum")

I've actually used rolled up cardboard and wrapped aluminium cooking
foil round it, folding the ends over to make contact surfaces. It
works quite well. I imagine that its current carrying capacity would
be quite low.

The ideal would be to turn a length of copper dowel to
the correct profile and then encase in shrink wrap.
But, I suspect the OP doesn't have access to a lathe
(though many people *have* lathes so "asking around"
could be an option -- note that the profile is probably
published as a standard someplace so it's just a matter
of getting someone to give you 3 minutes of time on a
lathe).

Actually a hacksaw and a short length of 0.5" or 13.0mm bar/rod cut to
2" or 51mm long would do !

My comment was intended more as "tongue-in-cheek" (I have a
friend that I *never* ask for things like this as he *would*
turn something on a lathe for me and I often end up embarassed
at the "excessive quality" of his solution! :> )

Some batteries (against which the "dummy" may mate) require
the little "nub" on the + end to ensure contact. Likewise,
some battery holders "guard" the + terminal with a bit of
raised plastic to protect against a battery installed backwards.
(i.e., a "flat surface" -- like the - terminal -- won't connect)

 

[Jim Yanik]

"Ian Field" <gangprobing.alien@ntlworld.com> wrote in
news:lo3Yo.23358$zr1.20265@newsfe10.ams2:

"Eldor" <eldor@example.com> wrote in message
news:4d2edb51$0$77558$892e0abb@auth.newsreader.octanews.com...
Hello all NG

I am looking for a fake AA battery, i.e. a conductor of the same
size, so that I can put it in an AA battery holder and have a lower
voltage (N-1 x 1.5V) . Actually I want multiple of them so that I can
make a "configurable voltage" battery.

I have looked around but I can't find it. Does anybody know any?

Alternatively I could look for a battery which can be charged at
various voltage levels, but it needs to hold a significant charge at
any voltage level. I don't think it exists.

Thanks for any help


Use a whiskered (shorted) NiCd cell.

that could LEAK electrolyte.

Better to just cut a dowel to size,cut a slot for a wire from end to
end,fold over the ends,maybe epoxy in place.

Cheap,easy. follows the KISS principle.

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
localnet
dot com

 

[Wild_Bill]

The dowel and wire would be the most easily fabricated/accomplished for most
handy folks, I think.
If some cells are arranged end-to-end in the equipment's battery holder,
placing the dowel version between 2 other cells would eliminate the need for
a more sophisticated top and bottom terminal, which some battery holders
actually require.

Additionally, it's about as lightweight as can be, and durable (won't
collapse or leak, etc).

--
Cheers,
WB
..............


"Jim Yanik" <jyanik@abuse.gov> wrote in message
news:Xns9E6DD3D6CE067jyaniklocalnetcom@216.168.3.44...

Better to just cut a dowel to size,cut a slot for a wire from end to
end,fold over the ends,maybe epoxy in place.

Cheap,easy. follows the KISS principle.

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
localnet
dot com

 

[Baron]

D Yuniskis Inscribed thus:

On 1/14/2011 6:26 AM, baron wrote:
D Yuniskis Inscribed thus:

On 1/13/2011 1:46 PM, Baron wrote:
D Yuniskis Inscribed thus:

On 1/13/2011 4:24 AM, baron wrote:
Eldor Inscribed thus:

Hello all NG

I am looking for a fake AA battery, i.e. a conductor of the same
size, so that I can put it in an AA battery holder and have a
lower voltage (N-1 x 1.5V) . Actually I want multiple of them so
that I can make a "configurable voltage" battery.

I have looked around but I can't find it. Does anybody know any?

Alternatively I could look for a battery which can be charged at
various voltage levels, but it needs to hold a significant
charge at any voltage level. I don't think it exists.

Thanks for any help

Whats wrong with a piece of rolled up cardboard ?

Cardboard isn't a very good conductor at low voltages :

Sorry ! My brain fart :-(
I meant to write "Whats wrong with a piece of alloy foil wrapped
over rolled up cardboard ?"

Wrapping the foil might be tricky -- especially if it
*is* "foil" -- since you want a durable and reliable
contact surface yet can't really tolerate lumps, bumps,
etc. "Shrink-wrap-aluminum"! Now *that* would be
an idea! :> (not "shrink-WRAPPED-aluminum")

I've actually used rolled up cardboard and wrapped aluminium cooking
foil round it, folding the ends over to make contact surfaces. It
works quite well. I imagine that its current carrying capacity would
be quite low.

The ideal would be to turn a length of copper dowel to
the correct profile and then encase in shrink wrap.
But, I suspect the OP doesn't have access to a lathe
(though many people *have* lathes so "asking around"
could be an option -- note that the profile is probably
published as a standard someplace so it's just a matter
of getting someone to give you 3 minutes of time on a
lathe).

Actually a hacksaw and a short length of 0.5" or 13.0mm bar/rod cut
to 2" or 51mm long would do !

My comment was intended more as "tongue-in-cheek" (I have a
friend that I *never* ask for things like this as he *would*
turn something on a lathe for me and I often end up embarassed
at the "excessive quality" of his solution! :> )

Us mechanical engineer types take great pride in our hobbies !

Some batteries (against which the "dummy" may mate) require
the little "nub" on the + end to ensure contact. Likewise,
some battery holders "guard" the + terminal with a bit of
raised plastic to protect against a battery installed backwards.
(i.e., a "flat surface" -- like the - terminal -- won't connect)

Ah ! In that case you would need to turn it to produce the pip on one
end.

--
Best Regards:
Baron.

 

[D Yuniskis]

On 1/15/2011 10:46 AM, Baron wrote:

My comment was intended more as "tongue-in-cheek" (I have a
friend that I *never* ask for things like this as he *would*
turn something on a lathe for me and I often end up embarassed
at the "excessive quality" of his solution! :> )

Us mechanical engineer types take great pride in our hobbies !

Well, *he's* the mechanical type: lathe, end mill, surface grinder,
shadow graph, coil winder, etc.

Of course, another friend has a sinker EDM and a couple of wire EDM
machines... a bit too expensive to qualify as "toys" :-/

Some batteries (against which the "dummy" may mate) require
the little "nub" on the + end to ensure contact. Likewise,
some battery holders "guard" the + terminal with a bit of
raised plastic to protect against a battery installed backwards.
(i.e., a "flat surface" -- like the - terminal -- won't connect)

Ah ! In that case you would need to turn it to produce the pip on one
end.

Yes, that was why I suggested the lathe instead of just cutting drill
rod, etc.

Though, with copper, I think you could *almost* use a file as "cutting
tool" and a large electric (hand) drill to spin the work. Wouldn't have
much control over the dimension of the pip but I suspect you could
fashion a functional one in a few minutes. Heck, even putting a
slight taper on the one end would work!

 

[Baron]

D Yuniskis Inscribed thus:

On 1/15/2011 10:46 AM, Baron wrote:
My comment was intended more as "tongue-in-cheek" (I have a
friend that I *never* ask for things like this as he *would*
turn something on a lathe for me and I often end up embarassed
at the "excessive quality" of his solution! :> )

Us mechanical engineer types take great pride in our hobbies !

Well, *he's* the mechanical type: lathe, end mill, surface grinder,
shadow graph, coil winder, etc.

Of course, another friend has a sinker EDM and a couple of wire EDM
machines... a bit too expensive to qualify as "toys" :-/

Ooo ! I feel the green eyed monster coming on.

Some batteries (against which the "dummy" may mate) require
the little "nub" on the + end to ensure contact. Likewise,
some battery holders "guard" the + terminal with a bit of
raised plastic to protect against a battery installed backwards.
(i.e., a "flat surface" -- like the - terminal -- won't connect)

Ah ! In that case you would need to turn it to produce the pip on one
end.

Yes, that was why I suggested the lathe instead of just cutting drill
rod, etc.

I wasn't aware of that limitation. Though my son just pointed out the
battery holder in the Wii was shaped so you couldn't put the battery in
backwards.

Though, with copper, I think you could *almost* use a file as "cutting
tool" and a large electric (hand) drill to spin the work. Wouldn't
have much control over the dimension of the pip but I suspect you
could fashion a functional one in a few minutes. Heck, even putting a
slight taper on the one end would work!

Very true ! A trick I've used to clean up the end of damaged bolts.

--
Best Regards:
Baron.

 

[D Yuniskis]

On 1/15/2011 2:20 PM, Baron wrote:

D Yuniskis Inscribed thus:

On 1/15/2011 10:46 AM, Baron wrote:
My comment was intended more as "tongue-in-cheek" (I have a
friend that I *never* ask for things like this as he *would*
turn something on a lathe for me and I often end up embarassed
at the "excessive quality" of his solution! :> )

Us mechanical engineer types take great pride in our hobbies !

Well, *he's* the mechanical type: lathe, end mill, surface grinder,
shadow graph, coil winder, etc.

Of course, another friend has a sinker EDM and a couple of wire EDM
machines... a bit too expensive to qualify as "toys" :-/

Ooo ! I feel the green eyed monster coming on.

Yeah, when I hear complaints about all of my crap ^H^H^H er, *toys*,
I think about *these* sorts of things! :> The first friend (above)
gave me a 3KW FERRUPS (UPS) one day. I was trying to figure out how
to get it *into* the truck (weighed a couple hundred pounds... the
batteries alone weighed more than 100 pounds). He "disappeared".
And came back a few minutes later with a front-end loader, scooped
the UPS into the bucket and dropped it onto the truck.

Sheesh!

Some batteries (against which the "dummy" may mate) require
the little "nub" on the + end to ensure contact. Likewise,
some battery holders "guard" the + terminal with a bit of
raised plastic to protect against a battery installed backwards.
(i.e., a "flat surface" -- like the - terminal -- won't connect)

Ah ! In that case you would need to turn it to produce the pip on one
end.

Yes, that was why I suggested the lathe instead of just cutting drill
rod, etc.

I wasn't aware of that limitation. Though my son just pointed out the
battery holder in the Wii was shaped so you couldn't put the battery in
backwards.

Yes. It's the same sort of problem you face with "untabbed"
NiCd or Li cells. They don't always want to conduct abutted
"end to end".

Though, with copper, I think you could *almost* use a file as "cutting
tool" and a large electric (hand) drill to spin the work. Wouldn't
have much control over the dimension of the pip but I suspect you
could fashion a functional one in a few minutes. Heck, even putting a
slight taper on the one end would work!

Very true ! A trick I've used to clean up the end of damaged bolts.

 

[Michael A. Terrell]

Baron wrote:

Very true ! A trick I've used to clean up the end of damaged bolts.

How rebolting! ;-)


--
You can't fix stupid. You can't even put a band-aid on it, because it's
Teflon coated.

 

[Baron]

D Yuniskis Inscribed thus:

On 1/15/2011 2:20 PM, Baron wrote:
D Yuniskis Inscribed thus:

On 1/15/2011 10:46 AM, Baron wrote:
My comment was intended more as "tongue-in-cheek" (I have a
friend that I *never* ask for things like this as he *would*
turn something on a lathe for me and I often end up embarassed
at the "excessive quality" of his solution! :> )

Us mechanical engineer types take great pride in our hobbies !

Well, *he's* the mechanical type: lathe, end mill, surface grinder,
shadow graph, coil winder, etc.

Of course, another friend has a sinker EDM and a couple of wire EDM
machines... a bit too expensive to qualify as "toys" :-/

Ooo ! I feel the green eyed monster coming on.

Yeah, when I hear complaints about all of my crap ^H^H^H er, *toys*,
I think about *these* sorts of things! :> The first friend (above)
gave me a 3KW FERRUPS (UPS) one day. I was trying to figure out how
to get it *into* the truck (weighed a couple hundred pounds... the
batteries alone weighed more than 100 pounds). He "disappeared".
And came back a few minutes later with a front-end loader, scooped
the UPS into the bucket and dropped it onto the truck.

Sheesh!

Indeed. In my case it would still be in the truck.

Some batteries (against which the "dummy" may mate) require
the little "nub" on the + end to ensure contact. Likewise,
some battery holders "guard" the + terminal with a bit of
raised plastic to protect against a battery installed backwards.
(i.e., a "flat surface" -- like the - terminal -- won't connect)

Ah ! In that case you would need to turn it to produce the pip on
one end.

Yes, that was why I suggested the lathe instead of just cutting
drill rod, etc.

I wasn't aware of that limitation. Though my son just pointed out
the battery holder in the Wii was shaped so you couldn't put the
battery in backwards.

Yes. It's the same sort of problem you face with "untabbed"
NiCd or Li cells. They don't always want to conduct abutted
"end to end".

Though, with copper, I think you could *almost* use a file as
"cutting
tool" and a large electric (hand) drill to spin the work. Wouldn't
have much control over the dimension of the pip but I suspect you
could fashion a functional one in a few minutes. Heck, even putting
a slight taper on the one end would work!

Very true ! A trick I've used to clean up the end of damaged bolts.

--
Best Regards:
Baron.

 

[David Nebenzahl]

On 1/15/2011 9:28 PM Michael A. Terrell spake thus:

Baron wrote:

Very true ! A trick I've used to clean up the end of damaged bolts.

How rebolting! ;-)

Aaaaaah, the guy's nuts I say. Cross-threaded between the ears. Tapped
out, ready to die.


--
Comment on quaint Usenet customs, from Usenet:

To me, the *plonk...* reminds me of the old man at the public hearing
who stands to make his point, then removes his hearing aid as a sign
that he is not going to hear any rebuttals.

 

[Baron]

David Nebenzahl Inscribed thus:

On 1/15/2011 9:28 PM Michael A. Terrell spake thus:

Baron wrote:

Very true ! A trick I've used to clean up the end of damaged bolts.

How rebolting! ;-)

Aaaaaah, the guy's nuts I say. Cross-threaded between the ears. Tapped
out, ready to die.

Ooo Nasty. ;-)

--
Best Regards:
Baron.

 

[Michael A. Terrell]

Baron wrote:

D Yuniskis Inscribed thus:

Yeah, when I hear complaints about all of my crap ^H^H^H er, *toys*,
I think about *these* sorts of things! :> The first friend (above)
gave me a 3KW FERRUPS (UPS) one day. I was trying to figure out how
to get it *into* the truck (weighed a couple hundred pounds... the
batteries alone weighed more than 100 pounds). He "disappeared".
And came back a few minutes later with a front-end loader, scooped
the UPS into the bucket and dropped it onto the truck.

Sheesh!

Indeed. In my case it would still be in the truck.

You need one of these!

<http://www.harborfreight.com/1000-lb-capacity-hydraulic-scissor-table-cart-93116.html>


--
You can't fix stupid. You can't even put a band-aid on it, because it's
Teflon coated.

 

[Michael A. Terrell]

David Nebenzahl wrote:

On 1/15/2011 9:28 PM Michael A. Terrell spake thus:

Baron wrote:

Very true ! A trick I've used to clean up the end of damaged bolts.

How rebolting! ;-)

Aaaaaah, the guy's nuts I say. Cross-threaded between the ears. Tapped
out, ready to die.

Left hand thread in a right handed world!


--
You can't fix stupid. You can't even put a band-aid on it, because it's
Teflon coated.

 

[Baron]

Michael A. Terrell Inscribed thus:

Baron wrote:

D Yuniskis Inscribed thus:

Yeah, when I hear complaints about all of my crap ^H^H^H er,
*toys*,
I think about *these* sorts of things! :> The first friend
(above)
gave me a 3KW FERRUPS (UPS) one day. I was trying to figure out
how to get it *into* the truck (weighed a couple hundred pounds...
the
batteries alone weighed more than 100 pounds). He "disappeared".
And came back a few minutes later with a front-end loader, scooped
the UPS into the bucket and dropped it onto the truck.

Sheesh!

Indeed. In my case it would still be in the truck.


You need one of these!


http://www.harborfreight.com/1000-lb-capacity-hydraulic-scissor-table-cart-93116.html

Hey that looks nice ! Don't know what I would do with it ! But it
looks nice.

--
Best Regards:
Baron.

 

[Baron]

Michael A. Terrell Inscribed thus:

David Nebenzahl wrote:

On 1/15/2011 9:28 PM Michael A. Terrell spake thus:

Baron wrote:

Very true ! A trick I've used to clean up the end of damaged
bolts.

How rebolting! ;-)

Aaaaaah, the guy's nuts I say. Cross-threaded between the ears.
Tapped out, ready to die.


Left hand thread in a right handed world!

That reminds me of a little tale. Many many years ago, an apprentice
was given the task of drilling some holes in a piece of metal. He was
given a drill of the right size and told to get on with it.

He came back quite some time later with a very badly burnt and blunted
drill, a piece of metal with a burned depression in it.

The foreman had sneakily given the lad a left hand drill...

--
Best Regards:
Baron.

 

[D Yuniskis]

On 1/16/2011 11:59 AM, Baron wrote:

http://www.harborfreight.com/1000-lb-capacity-hydraulic-scissor-table-cart-93116.html

Hey that looks nice ! Don't know what I would do with it ! But it
looks nice.

Great for moving (light) pool (billiard) tables, pinball machines, etc.

Of course, the latter can be moved by a person with a suitably strong
*back*

 

[Baron]

D Yuniskis Inscribed thus:

On 1/16/2011 11:59 AM, Baron wrote:

http://www.harborfreight.com/1000-lb-capacity-hydraulic-scissor-table-cart-93116.html

Hey that looks nice ! Don't know what I would do with it ! But it
looks nice.

Great for moving (light) pool (billiard) tables, pinball machines,
etc.

Of course, the latter can be moved by a person with a suitably strong
*back*

Well that rules me out then ! ;-)

--
Best Regards:
Baron.

 

[Michael A. Terrell]

Baron wrote:

Michael A. Terrell Inscribed thus:


Baron wrote:

D Yuniskis Inscribed thus:

Yeah, when I hear complaints about all of my crap ^H^H^H er,
*toys*,
I think about *these* sorts of things! :> The first friend
(above)
gave me a 3KW FERRUPS (UPS) one day. I was trying to figure out
how to get it *into* the truck (weighed a couple hundred pounds...
the
batteries alone weighed more than 100 pounds). He "disappeared".
And came back a few minutes later with a front-end loader, scooped
the UPS into the bucket and dropped it onto the truck.

Sheesh!

Indeed. In my case it would still be in the truck.


You need one of these!


http://www.harborfreight.com/1000-lb-capacity-hydraulic-scissor-table-cart-93116.html


Hey that looks nice ! Don't know what I would do with it ! But it
looks nice.

Get heavy things from the bed of a pickup truck to your workbench.
You should have seen the fun Ihad unloading a 60 Gallon air comressor
from my truck last year. Two guys with a forklift loaded it, and slid
it all the way forward. I had to use a chain hoist to inch it back to
the tailgate, then lift it an inch above the bed before I pulled the
truck out. Then I lowered it to the ground and 'walked' it into my
shop.


--
You can't fix stupid. You can't even put a band-aid on it, because it's
Teflon coated.