Hookups for 6V dry batteries (4R25)?

This is as basic as it gets.

I need to build a bank out of three of these 6V dry zinc/manganese (I
think 4R25 is a proper ID or just lantern battery) for an application.
Question is: how do you hook them up reliably? The batteries have spring
terminals at the top, and I presume most devices that use them (like
emergency lights or flashlights) simply have matching pair of contacts on
the inside of the case cavity. In my case I would have to use a makeshift
case and therefore have to figure out some way of reliable hookup.
Had anyone ever seen a holder for those batteries sold anywhere? What are
my other options, other than the simple alligator clips?

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I think they make batteries like that with brass knurled nuts on top
rather than springs. I thought it would be easy to find a "lantern
battery holder", but I am striking out.

 

In the US, we can get those same batteries with thumbscrew binding post
terminals. You might have to shop around a bit.

Failing that, if you're handy with tools, if you could build a sort of
L-shaped frame that they could sit on, kind of like an open-sided display
case, with sort of a hinged lid with 6 strips of copper tape stuck to the
bottom and connected appropriately. Arrange for a way to lock it down at
the right pressure, of course.

Good Luck!
Rich

 

I wonder if he isn't talking about the old fashion "fanstock" clip? If so,
it might be better to plan soldering to them.

Albert

 

In the old days uhh ~70s as I remember you could still get those 6V
lantern batteries with nuts on top of them also earlier you could get
them with the clips. This was when they were used for the filaments of
"portable" tube radios. For quite a while after they still had the
screw tops as the lanterns they were made for had a little adapter
plate that screwed to the tops of the batteries. Gradually it became
cheaper I guess to just have those springs on top and they clipped into
the lanterns.
I just Googled them they're still made, here's a whole page of them.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=6V+lantern+batteries+screw+top&btnG=Search
I see Eveready still makes them. I set off more stuff with one of
those...
I recently built a back up using rechargeable lead acids like a scooter
battery. Cheap and available in 12 and 6 volt.
Richard

 

Aw, Dood - that's just a google search! Feh! I could have done that
myself! ;-D

<just kidding>
Cheers!
Rich

 

Y'know? Speaking of Fahnstock clips, I wonder if anybody still makes them?
I have an application in mind, where they'd be ideal. It's a macroscopic
breadboard type of thing (yes, on an actual wooden board, with thumbtacks
and little strips cut out of a coffee can lid), and Fahnstock (Fahnestock?)
clips would be ideal for on-the-fly configuration.

Thanks!
Rich

 

Hi, Rich. Look at Mouser -- they still stock 'em:

http://www.mouser.com/index.cfm?han...uctid=232249&e_categoryid=126&e_pcodeid=52400
or
http://tinyurl.com/8ehjr

Also, you might want to look at the mighty HH Smith's P/N 539.

Have fun
Chris

 

Lots of ways to do it - here's one.
Make a contact plate, like this:

Top view, wood
------------------------------
| * * * * |
| * * * * | < Wood lath or plexiglass with two
| * * * * | holes for the springs to pass
------------------------------ through and notches at ends



Edge view, wood + PC board
with battery underneath
pppppppp pppppppp <- Two pieces of pc board (p) glued to
wwww/wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww\www <- wood (w). Springs (sss) pass through
/ sss sss \ holes in wood and contact the copper.
/ --------------------- \ <-- Wires soldered to the copper PC board
/ | | \ pass through small holes drilled in
| BATTERY | the wood and go to the circuit
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
---------------------

The notches in the ends fit around posts made from
threaded rod. A nut on each post is tightened to put
pressure on the springs. The other end of the threaded
rod goes through a wood base to a nut and washer recessed
into the wood. The battery sits on the wood base. If
you don't have a forstner bit for making the recess for
the nut and washer, do this:

-------------------------------------
| || || |
| || <---------RODS---------> || | <--Base 3/4" pine
| || || |
-------------------------------------
NUT | 1/2" thick | NUT
| plywood |
----------------------


Finally, a keeper plate - wood lath or plexi with two holes drilled
in it that hold the rods perpendicular. Here's the whole assembly:

|| ||
====||========KEEPER PLATE=======||====
|| ||
NUT pppppppp ppppppp NUT
|wwww/wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww\wwww|
|| / sss sss \ ||
|| / --------------------- \ ||
|| | | ||
|| | BATTERY | ||
|| | | ||
|| | | ||
|| | | ||
|| | | ||
|| | | ||
|| | | ||
|| | | ||
|| | | ||
|| --------------------- ||
-------------------------------------
| || || |
| || <---------RODS---------> || | <--Base 3/4" pine
| || || |
-------------------------------------
NUT | 1/2 thick | NUT
| plywood |
----------------------

If you drill the holes for the threaded rods a bit oversize,
you will be able to spread the threaded rods at the top when
the keeper plate is removed. That allows the notched contact
plate to be removed easily for battery replacement, with no
need to readjust the nut for the correct pressure. When you
first assemble it and adjust the nuts, a little nail polish
or locktite will hold them in place.

Ed

 

Thank you all who responded here. After reading suggestions here and
looking at some battery prices I decided to think outside the box, so to
speak. It looks like I will spend a little fortune replacing those
batteries, and therefore it makes perfect sense to go with sealed lead
acid re-chargeable batteries. Those, fortunately, present no problem in
terms of the hookups.
Thanks again, everyone.


-------------------------------------
--
Dmitri Abaimov, RCDD
http://www.cabling-design.com
Cabling Forum, color codes, pinouts and other useful resources for
premises cabling users and pros
http://www.cabling-design.com/homecabling
Residential Cabling Guide

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##-----------------------------------------------#
Article posted with Cabling-Design.com Newsgroup Archiv
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I just used a battery at American Science on the 2nd page of this URL
for a backup for a client:
http://www.sciplus.com/category.cfm?subsection=13
It looked pretty new and ran down at 90% of it's rating. A lot cheaper
too, shipping would have been $6.
Richard