Author Topic: Looking for a specific battery  (Read 2233 times)

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mettleramiel

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Looking for a specific battery
« on: August 25, 2006, 02:27:11 AM »
I know that this is not about storing power for your home, but I thought that knowing so much about batteries in general, you people would be the best to help me. So, I just bought a solar and dynamo powered radio second hand for $5. At first, I thought that it was broken since it would not turn on no matter how much I wound it up. Then the sun came out and it went on. Ok, I thought, so the dynamo is broken, not a problem, I'll just replace it. However, once I opened it up, I found that the dynamo was intact. The problem is that the battery no longer holds a charge. So, here is my dilema. The radio appears to use 3 280BNK batteries in series but I can't find them for sale anywhere except for some wholesaler in another language (punjabi?). Anyone know where to find some of these suckers or a suitable replacement? Thanks!
« Last Edit: August 25, 2006, 02:27:11 AM by (unknown) »

veewee77

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Re: Looking for a specific battery
« Reply #1 on: August 24, 2006, 09:03:09 PM »
Just find cordless hone batteries (not cell phone) of similar size and voltage and solder away. . .


Doug

« Last Edit: August 24, 2006, 09:03:09 PM by veewee77 »

coldspot

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Re: Looking for a specific battery
« Reply #2 on: August 24, 2006, 09:28:44 PM »
"a suitable replacement"


With out the needed info

"size and voltage"

Would be hard to help

Size not as important as volts

« Last Edit: August 24, 2006, 09:28:44 PM by coldspot »
$0.02

nanotech

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Re: Looking for a specific battery
« Reply #3 on: August 25, 2006, 12:56:34 AM »
Disconnect the dynamo from the batteries.  Give it a spin with a multimeter on the leads and measure the voltage.  You'll then know what voltage the batteries are charged at and can deduce the nominal battery voltage from that.


Once you have the nominal battery voltage you can work from there finding a replacement.

« Last Edit: August 25, 2006, 12:56:34 AM by nanotech »

maker of toys

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Re: Looking for a specific battery
« Reply #4 on: August 25, 2006, 02:02:44 AM »
easier still-


 very few 'survival radios' (if any) use Li-Ion cells. . . .


take the old battery out. Count the cells.  Most rechargable units (except LI-ion) are multiples of 1.2-1.4 volt cells.


In this case, 3 cells = 3.6 nominal volts, which is pretty standard for portable phones.  


take the old pack to the local electronics shop, drugstore or (shudder!) radioshack (if you're in the states) and pick a new set that looks close.  you'll probably need to splice the old connector onto the new battery.


 be careful with the soldering iron so as not to overheat the cells if you must solder to them.  use a big iron and work fast. . .  10 sec of heat is probably ok, 20 sec is not.  


Just in case anyone is wondering:  DO NOT USE ACID CORE SOLDER on batteries or electronics!


or:


take the unit outside in the sun, and turn it on.


measure the voltage developed by the solar panel across the battery connector.  choose a battery that aproximates that value and will fit in the space.


many vendors out there. . . . by preference, use NiMH.  (best long term durability vs sensitivty to charge parameters. I have a cheap set that are in daily use with 7 years on them.) Most of the big electronic supply houses and surplus outfits deal in rechargable batteries.  ex: Newark, Allied or Jameco electronics.


-Dan

« Last Edit: August 25, 2006, 02:02:44 AM by maker of toys »

mettleramiel

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Re: Looking for a specific battery
« Reply #5 on: August 25, 2006, 06:56:03 AM »
Thanks alot guys, I think I should have a phone battery or two lying around somewhere.
« Last Edit: August 25, 2006, 06:56:03 AM by mettleramiel »

fishfarm

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Re: Looking for a specific battery
« Reply #6 on: August 25, 2006, 07:02:21 AM »
"Anyone know where to find some of these suckers or a suitable replacement? Thanks!"


This site shows the battery as obsolete but lists battery specs and a replacement. I know, it says "no results found", but click search and it will bring it up. I tried several times to paste the search results page, but it keeps coming up as you see it.


http://www.mouser.com/search/Refine.aspx?Ne=1447464+254016&Ntt=280bnk&N=1323038+254432&
;Ns=P_SField&Mkw=280bnk&Msb=0&RefType=Header

« Last Edit: August 25, 2006, 07:02:21 AM by fishfarm »

asheets

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Re: Looking for a specific battery
« Reply #7 on: August 25, 2006, 03:56:52 PM »
What you've got there is a 3.6V battery pack.  Go down to radio shack or whatever and get yourself 3 or 4 aa or aaa nicads, wire them up, and stuff them in the case.


Or, if you're cheap like me, you'll just steal some from your kids' toys. :)

« Last Edit: August 25, 2006, 03:56:52 PM by asheets »

mettleramiel

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Re: Looking for a specific battery
« Reply #8 on: August 25, 2006, 05:28:27 PM »
hmm...I was about to put a 3.6v battery I had lying around in the radio but just for fun I decided to check the output of the solar panel. It was well below 3.6 volts. So I looked over the battery again and it says on it that it is only 2.4v. So do I trust the writing on the battery or the websites that used to sell them?
« Last Edit: August 25, 2006, 05:28:27 PM by mettleramiel »

elvin1949

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Re: Looking for a specific battery
« Reply #9 on: August 25, 2006, 08:30:32 PM »
that's 2 nicad's     aaa or aa

 1.2 volt's each

later

elvin
« Last Edit: August 25, 2006, 08:30:32 PM by elvin1949 »

ghurd

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Re: Looking for a specific battery
« Reply #10 on: August 26, 2006, 02:20:28 AM »
Can you post a close up photo or 2?


Or take it to radio shack and see if they have one.

There are not really that many kinds of batteries.

G-

« Last Edit: August 26, 2006, 02:20:28 AM by ghurd »
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