[size=medium] I have been using 2 alternating pairs of Radio Shack 9V NiCads to power my Pioneer 505 with Alkalines in my kit for Back-Up. Problem was I was only getting about 4 Hrs per pair after 8 Hrs on the charger (I have to charge 1 at a time). Batteries are $10 each & a double charger is another $10 so I was NOT too thrilled about buying more..! I needed a Better Way !!!
I found a 9.6V NiCad Battery for $15 with 700 mAh and considered it until I almost accidently found Radio Shack part # 23-432, It is a 1600 mAh Ni-MH battery with included charger for Radio Control Toy, Priced under $20.!.!. This has over 5 X the capacity of a pair of NiCads, & Charge time was the same or less.! In addition the charger is circuit protected to prevent overcharge & will charge both NiCad & NiMH. I only had to rewire it to fit the unit. (I own a BH Tracker IV & Pioneer 505).
I could have cut & spliced into the machines leads but decided against it. I left them as is to keep the warranty intact. Also so I could still use regular backup batteries or in case I trade it off. Plus altering the battery pack would make it fit ALL 9V machines.!
I bought a pack of five 9v terminals for $2 (radio Shack # 270-325) to protect the loose 9V's in my kit so I just wired 2 of them to the battery pack leads. NOTE!: The terminal has to be reversed when used as a battery terminal so the clip will line up correct polarity.!.! Attach the 2 red terminal leads to the battery negative (black) wire & attach the 2 Black leads to the + RED lead. You now have a battery with 2 9V connectors on the charger connector leads.
I soldered to the wires inside the connector block by releasing the clips & pulling 1 wire out of the connector at a time. Solder to the base of the connector tip and reinsert it into the block. (If you do 1 at a time you cannot accidently swap polarity) If you prefer a quick & easy way, just strip a bit of insulation from the leads to attach terminals directly to wires. REMEMBER ! Red terminal wires to black battery wire - Black terminal wires to RED battery wire.
Now attach the 2 metal detectors battery clips to the pair you created! The 1600 mAh is MORE than enough to power both lines and still last over 5 times as long..!! You can even charge the battery either in or out of the machine if you positioned the white connector block right.
Another thing! The battery pack is slim enough to fit into the battery compartment but is just a bit too long. You can cut away inside the case to slide the battery in but I just left the door off & made a metal bracket to retain the battery in the compartment. It allows me to remove the battery pack for charging & even replace the door if I decide to use 'regular' batteries at any time.
I spent $20 on the Ni-MH battery pack w/ charger & $2 for 5 terminals. Wiring took me about 15 minutes including soldering and I now have well over 5 times the run capacity without swapping batteries and a rechargeable system that will fit ANY 9V battery powered machine
If This is unclear or you cannot make sense of my details feel free to email questions to docjim@classicnet.net I am NO engineer or expert but I can build what I need.! My son says I " Can fix anything from the Crack of Dawn to a Broken Heart... DOC [/size]
I found a 9.6V NiCad Battery for $15 with 700 mAh and considered it until I almost accidently found Radio Shack part # 23-432, It is a 1600 mAh Ni-MH battery with included charger for Radio Control Toy, Priced under $20.!.!. This has over 5 X the capacity of a pair of NiCads, & Charge time was the same or less.! In addition the charger is circuit protected to prevent overcharge & will charge both NiCad & NiMH. I only had to rewire it to fit the unit. (I own a BH Tracker IV & Pioneer 505).
I could have cut & spliced into the machines leads but decided against it. I left them as is to keep the warranty intact. Also so I could still use regular backup batteries or in case I trade it off. Plus altering the battery pack would make it fit ALL 9V machines.!
I bought a pack of five 9v terminals for $2 (radio Shack # 270-325) to protect the loose 9V's in my kit so I just wired 2 of them to the battery pack leads. NOTE!: The terminal has to be reversed when used as a battery terminal so the clip will line up correct polarity.!.! Attach the 2 red terminal leads to the battery negative (black) wire & attach the 2 Black leads to the + RED lead. You now have a battery with 2 9V connectors on the charger connector leads.
I soldered to the wires inside the connector block by releasing the clips & pulling 1 wire out of the connector at a time. Solder to the base of the connector tip and reinsert it into the block. (If you do 1 at a time you cannot accidently swap polarity) If you prefer a quick & easy way, just strip a bit of insulation from the leads to attach terminals directly to wires. REMEMBER ! Red terminal wires to black battery wire - Black terminal wires to RED battery wire.
Now attach the 2 metal detectors battery clips to the pair you created! The 1600 mAh is MORE than enough to power both lines and still last over 5 times as long..!! You can even charge the battery either in or out of the machine if you positioned the white connector block right.
Another thing! The battery pack is slim enough to fit into the battery compartment but is just a bit too long. You can cut away inside the case to slide the battery in but I just left the door off & made a metal bracket to retain the battery in the compartment. It allows me to remove the battery pack for charging & even replace the door if I decide to use 'regular' batteries at any time.
I spent $20 on the Ni-MH battery pack w/ charger & $2 for 5 terminals. Wiring took me about 15 minutes including soldering and I now have well over 5 times the run capacity without swapping batteries and a rechargeable system that will fit ANY 9V battery powered machine
If This is unclear or you cannot make sense of my details feel free to email questions to docjim@classicnet.net I am NO engineer or expert but I can build what I need.! My son says I " Can fix anything from the Crack of Dawn to a Broken Heart... DOC [/size]