Connecting to battery terminals? (without ruining)

[Joe Magiera]

So my wife gets my kids a battery operated device for Christmas. It's some
kind of slurpee making machine and a real battery eater. Goes through 4 C
cell batteries in about 4 cans of pop. I'm thinking, hey, I can hack a
120VAC/6VDC converter that I have lying around up to it and just have it run
right from a wall outlet. Except I'd rather not hack and ruin the battery
connection terminals in the device. Does anyone have any ideas or know of
any parts that I can make a nice solid non-permanent connection to standard
battery connection terminals (and not ruin the battery connection terminals
in the process)? I'd really rather not make a solder connection on this
one, I'd like it to be able to run on batteries again in the future without
having to give it a major overhaul to convert it back. Any help/advice
appreciated. Thanks,

Joe (joemagiera at ameritech dot net)
[email protected]

 

[Captain Napalm]

There are two things you could do.

1) Buy a small DC barrel female plug and open up the machine, splice it into
the power wires, drill a hole through it and mount it. After that you can
just plug the adaptor straight into the machine.

2. Get 4 D cells that are discharged. Solder a the positive wire from the
wall wart to the positive terminal of one of the batteries, the negative to
another battery, and the other two remaining batteries will simply be used
to hold everything in place. After that, I would just put some electrical
tape in between a battery-to-battery contact to avoid accidently recharging
the batteries.

 

[Jim Yanik]

So my wife gets my kids a battery operated device for Christmas. It's
some kind of slurpee making machine and a real battery eater. Goes
through 4 C cell batteries in about 4 cans of pop. I'm thinking, hey,
I can hack a 120VAC/6VDC converter that I have lying around up to it
and just have it run right from a wall outlet. Except I'd rather not
hack and ruin the battery connection terminals in the device. Does
anyone have any ideas or know of any parts that I can make a nice
solid non-permanent connection to standard battery connection
terminals (and not ruin the battery connection terminals in the
process)? I'd really rather not make a solder connection on this one,
I'd like it to be able to run on batteries again in the future without
having to give it a major overhaul to convert it back. Any
help/advice appreciated. Thanks,

Joe (joemagiera at ameritech dot net)
[email protected]

Cut some dowels of a similar diameter of the cells,and use a screw and
washer in the end to connect to your external DC source.
You may need to make a notch in any battery compartment cover for the
cable.

 

[Dave D]

So my wife gets my kids a battery operated device for Christmas. It's
some kind of slurpee making machine and a real battery eater. Goes
through 4 C cell batteries in about 4 cans of pop. I'm thinking, hey, I
can hack a 120VAC/6VDC converter that I have lying around up to it and
just have it run right from a wall outlet. Except I'd rather not hack and
ruin the battery connection terminals in the device. Does anyone have any
ideas or know of any parts that I can make a nice solid non-permanent
connection to standard battery connection terminals (and not ruin the
battery connection terminals in the process)? I'd really rather not make
a solder connection on this one, I'd like it to be able to run on
batteries again in the future without having to give it a major overhaul
to convert it back. Any help/advice appreciated. Thanks,

Joe (joemagiera at ameritech dot net)
[email protected]

Are you sure the converter is up to the job? It isn't just the voltage that
is important, it needs to supply enough current or it will cause the
appliance to malfunction. It will also cause the converter to overheat and
fail at best, or at worst potentially cause a fire.

It sounds like this gadget uses a lot of current if it flattens C cells
quickly, you'll need to measure the current draw before deciding whether the
converter is suitable. My guess is it's probably drawing well over an amp,
many wall wart type converters are only good for half that, and some even
less.

My advice is to forget about modifying the gadget, especially as your kids
are using it, and try a set of rechargeable cells in it. Much safer than
guessing with mains derived supplies.

Dave

 

[Dave D]

There are two things you could do.

1) Buy a small DC barrel female plug and open up the machine, splice it
into the power wires, drill a hole through it and mount it. After that you
can just plug the adaptor straight into the machine.

A fuse might be a wise addition. That's certainly the proper way to do it if
it must be done though, provided the power adaptor is up to the job and
suitable for the purpose.

2. Get 4 D cells that are discharged. Solder a the positive wire from the
wall wart to the positive terminal of one of the batteries, the negative
to another battery, and the other two remaining batteries will simply be
used to hold everything in place. After that, I would just put some
electrical tape in between a battery-to-battery contact to avoid
accidently recharging the batteries.

You're kidding, right? I wouldn't let my kids in the same room as that
arrangement. It only takes a tiny breach in the tape for a potentially
serious accident to occur. It's a time bomb, especially around kids.

Dave

 

[Mike Berger]

Alligator clips connected to a pigtail that's strain-relieved
so they can't be accidentally yanked off.

 

[Franc Zabkar]

So my wife gets my kids a battery operated device for Christmas. It's some
kind of slurpee making machine and a real battery eater. Goes through 4 C
cell batteries in about 4 cans of pop. I'm thinking, hey, I can hack a
120VAC/6VDC converter that I have lying around up to it and just have it run
right from a wall outlet. Except I'd rather not hack and ruin the battery
connection terminals in the device. Does anyone have any ideas or know of
any parts that I can make a nice solid non-permanent connection to standard
battery connection terminals (and not ruin the battery connection terminals
in the process)? I'd really rather not make a solder connection on this
one, I'd like it to be able to run on batteries again in the future without
having to give it a major overhaul to convert it back. Any help/advice
appreciated. Thanks,

Joe (joemagiera at ameritech dot net)
[email protected]

Use a switched panel mount DC power socket. Wire it so that the device
runs off its internal batteries until a plug is inserted, at which
time a switched contact opens the battery circuit and switches across
to the external adapter.

- Franc Zabkar