NiMH Rechargeable Battery Repair
 

Sorry for crosspost but r.b.e doesn't seem to see much traffic these days.

I am trying to rebuild several old handheld VHF battery packs that seem no
longer commercially available. The radios themselves seem fine and are
certainly OK for my application. I took the batteries apart and tried a
temporary fix with standard alkaline AA cells, taping aluminum foil in place
to make series connections. The radios seemed to like this so I bought a
quantity of the corresponding NiMH rechargeable AA cells to make a permanent
repair.

Problem is I am not at all sure how to secure a conductor from "plus" to
"minus" with the cells to make a strong and long-lasting series connection.
Is there some kind of conductive adhesive or conductive film that can be
used for this application? Larry, where are you when we need you (weak
humor)?

--
Good luck and good sailing.
s/v Kerry Deare of Barnegat
http://home.comcast.net/~kerrydeare

NiMH Rechargeable Battery Repair
 

On Sat, 15 Mar 2008 06:43:33 -0400, "Armond Perretta"
wrote:

Sorry for crosspost but r.b.e doesn't seem to see much traffic these days.

I am trying to rebuild several old handheld VHF battery packs that seem no
longer commercially available. The radios themselves seem fine and are
certainly OK for my application. I took the batteries apart and tried a
temporary fix with standard alkaline AA cells, taping aluminum foil in place
to make series connections. The radios seemed to like this so I bought a
quantity of the corresponding NiMH rechargeable AA cells to make a permanent
repair.

Problem is I am not at all sure how to secure a conductor from "plus" to
"minus" with the cells to make a strong and long-lasting series connection.
Is there some kind of conductive adhesive or conductive film that can be
used for this application? Larry, where are you when we need you (weak
humor)?

Buy cells with solder tags:
http://www.google.co.uk/search?sourc...mh+solder+tags
and find someone to solder them. NiMH need to be cycled quite a few
times until they reach full capacity so don't get disappointed too
soon. They also self-discharge quickly so recharge before use.

NiMH Rechargeable Battery Repair
 

Armond,

Try this group.

http://www.primecell.com/

I had my old handheld redone with a new NiMH battery and it has been fine
since.

Ansley Sawyer

NiMH Rechargeable Battery Repair
 

Armond,

I do this all the time. I have one on the bench right now waiting for
the new cells to come in. It is an old handheld VHF that the owner
loves which is good, because the repair will not be cost effective. (He
can buy a complete, NIB unit for a few dollars more than the quote.

Do not solder to the cells. This is a recipe for problems.

The only answer is to get on the web and find NiCad or NiMH (Lithium are
still hard to come by) with solder tabs all ready in place. Then you
can solder the tabs together or jumper between then to make up the
package.

If you can't find cells with solder tabs, the only other choice it to
use a micro size resistance welder.

Good Luck Guy

Matt Colie

Armond Perretta wrote:
Sorry for crosspost but r.b.e doesn't seem to see much traffic these days.

I am trying to rebuild several old handheld VHF battery packs that seem no
longer commercially available. The radios themselves seem fine and are
certainly OK for my application. I took the batteries apart and tried a
temporary fix with standard alkaline AA cells, taping aluminum foil in place
to make series connections. The radios seemed to like this so I bought a
quantity of the corresponding NiMH rechargeable AA cells to make a permanent
repair.

Problem is I am not at all sure how to secure a conductor from "plus" to
"minus" with the cells to make a strong and long-lasting series connection.
Is there some kind of conductive adhesive or conductive film that can be
used for this application? Larry, where are you when we need you (weak
humor)?

NiMH Rechargeable Battery Repair
 

"Ansley W. Sawyer" wrote in message
...
Armond,

Try this group.

http://www.primecell.com/

I had my old handheld redone with a new NiMH battery and it has been fine
since.

Ansley Sawyer



I used them recently. They seem to have returned a working unit... the good
news. However, their turnaround time was terrible, and they had very poor
response to email inquiries.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

NiMH Rechargeable Battery Repair
 

"Armond Perretta" wrote in message
. ..
Sorry for crosspost but r.b.e doesn't seem to see much traffic these days.

I am trying to rebuild several old handheld VHF battery packs that seem no
longer commercially available. The radios themselves seem fine and are
certainly OK for my application. I took the batteries apart and tried a
temporary fix with standard alkaline AA cells, taping aluminum foil in
place
to make series connections. The radios seemed to like this so I bought a
quantity of the corresponding NiMH rechargeable AA cells to make a
permanent
repair.

Problem is I am not at all sure how to secure a conductor from "plus" to
"minus" with the cells to make a strong and long-lasting series
connection.
Is there some kind of conductive adhesive or conductive film that can be
used for this application? Larry, where are you when we need you (weak
humor)?


Use copper wire and solder it to the top and bottom's of the respective
batteries. The trick is to not get the battery ends too hot. Use one of
those fancy butane torches that have a tiny flame. They will melt and stick
the solder without harming the battery. Practice on a couple dead batteries
first to get your technique down. Use rosin core solder.

--
Gregory Hall

NiMH Rechargeable Battery Repair
 

Matt Colie wrote:


If you can't find cells with solder tabs, the only other choice it to
use a micro size resistance welder.


Perhaps silver loaded epoxy as used for chip assembly would work, I have
used it to repair car rear window heater traces.
Dick

NiMH Rechargeable Battery Repair
 

"Matt Colie" wrote
Do not solder to the cells. This is a recipe for problems.

I've soldered them successfully. It's definitely not a job for the
ham-handed, though, which is why the manufacturers tell you not to do it.
I've been buying cells from http://www.all-battery.com lately, btw. Pretty
good selection and price, tabbed and otherwise.

NiMH Rechargeable Battery Repair
 

Armond Perretta wrote:
Sorry for crosspost but r.b.e doesn't seem to see much traffic these days.

I am trying to rebuild several old handheld VHF battery packs that seem no
longer commercially available. The radios themselves seem fine and are
certainly OK for my application. I took the batteries apart and tried a
temporary fix with standard alkaline AA cells, taping aluminum foil in place
to make series connections. The radios seemed to like this so I bought a
quantity of the corresponding NiMH rechargeable AA cells to make a permanent
repair.

Problem is I am not at all sure how to secure a conductor from "plus" to
"minus" with the cells to make a strong and long-lasting series connection.
Is there some kind of conductive adhesive or conductive film that can be
used for this application? Larry, where are you when we need you (weak
humor)?

--
Good luck and good sailing.
s/v Kerry Deare of Barnegat
http://home.comcast.net/~kerrydeare

Hi, Armond, and group,

I took another device to Batteries Plus. Having already opened the
case, they did them microweld/jumper/connection tags to the
appropriate batteries for only the cost of the batteries themselves.

I expect that would be a good solution to your dilemma...

HTH

L8R

Skip

Morgan 461 #2
SV Flying Pig KI4MPC
See our galleries at www.justpickone.org/skip/gallery !
Follow us at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheFlyingPigLog
and/or http://groups.google.com/group/flyingpiglog

"You are never given a wish without also being given the power to
make it come true. You may have to work for it however."
(and)
"There is no such thing as a problem without a gift for you in its
hands. You seek problems because you need their gifts."
(Richard Bach, in The Reluctant Messiah)

NiMH Rechargeable Battery Repair
 

"Skip Gundlach" wrote in message
...


Armond Perretta wrote:
Sorry for crosspost but r.b.e doesn't seem to see much traffic these
days.

I am trying to rebuild several old handheld VHF battery packs that seem
no
longer commercially available. The radios themselves seem fine and are
certainly OK for my application. I took the batteries apart and tried a
temporary fix with standard alkaline AA cells, taping aluminum foil in
place
to make series connections. The radios seemed to like this so I bought a
quantity of the corresponding NiMH rechargeable AA cells to make a
permanent
repair.

Problem is I am not at all sure how to secure a conductor from "plus" to
"minus" with the cells to make a strong and long-lasting series
connection.
Is there some kind of conductive adhesive or conductive film that can be
used for this application? Larry, where are you when we need you (weak
humor)?

--
Good luck and good sailing.
s/v Kerry Deare of Barnegat
http://home.comcast.net/~kerrydeare

Hi, Armond, and group,

I took another device to Batteries Plus. Having already opened the
case, they did them microweld/jumper/connection tags to the
appropriate batteries for only the cost of the batteries themselves.

I expect that would be a good solution to your dilemma...


These posts **** me off. Whatever happened to self-reliance? Everybody but
myself's answer is to pay somebody else to do a simple job. Yes pay what a
battery costs to get somebody else to do what you should be able to do
yourself. Are there any REAL men left in the world anymore or are there just
lazy bums with more money than skill or sense?

--
Gregory Hall

NiMH Rechargeable Battery Repair
 

On Sat, 15 Mar 2008 13:03:02 -0400, "Gregory Hall"
wrote:


"Skip Gundlach" wrote in message
...


Armond Perretta wrote:
Sorry for crosspost but r.b.e doesn't seem to see much traffic these
days.

I am trying to rebuild several old handheld VHF battery packs that seem
no
longer commercially available. The radios themselves seem fine and are
certainly OK for my application. I took the batteries apart and tried a
temporary fix with standard alkaline AA cells, taping aluminum foil in
place
to make series connections. The radios seemed to like this so I bought a
quantity of the corresponding NiMH rechargeable AA cells to make a
permanent
repair.

Problem is I am not at all sure how to secure a conductor from "plus" to
"minus" with the cells to make a strong and long-lasting series
connection.
Is there some kind of conductive adhesive or conductive film that can be
used for this application? Larry, where are you when we need you (weak
humor)?

--
Good luck and good sailing.
s/v Kerry Deare of Barnegat
http://home.comcast.net/~kerrydeare

Hi, Armond, and group,

I took another device to Batteries Plus. Having already opened the
case, they did them microweld/jumper/connection tags to the
appropriate batteries for only the cost of the batteries themselves.

I expect that would be a good solution to your dilemma...


These posts **** me off. Whatever happened to self-reliance? Everybody but
myself's answer is to pay somebody else to do a simple job. Yes pay what a
battery costs to get somebody else to do what you should be able to do
yourself. Are there any REAL men left in the world anymore or are there just
lazy bums with more money than skill or sense?

If the OP had a Weller temperature controlled soldering iron he would
not be ****ing about with BacoFoil..

NiMH Rechargeable Battery Repair
 

Gregory Hall wrote:

snip
Problem is I am not at all sure how to secure a conductor from "plus" to
"minus" with the cells to make a strong and long-lasting series
connection.
Is there some kind of conductive adhesive or conductive film that can be
used for this application? Larry, where are you when we need you (weak
humor)?



Use copper wire and solder it to the top and bottom's of the respective
batteries. The trick is to not get the battery ends too hot. Use one of
those fancy butane torches that have a tiny flame. They will melt and stick
the solder without harming the battery. Practice on a couple dead batteries
first to get your technique down. Use rosin core solder.


Our local "Batteries Plus" (USA) will weld tabs onto customer's batteries
for a small token payment ($2 last time I had a dozen done).

Michael

NiMH Rechargeable Battery Repair
 

"msg" wrote in message
...
Gregory Hall wrote:

snip
Problem is I am not at all sure how to secure a conductor from "plus" to
"minus" with the cells to make a strong and long-lasting series
connection.
Is there some kind of conductive adhesive or conductive film that can be
used for this application? Larry, where are you when we need you (weak
humor)?



Use copper wire and solder it to the top and bottom's of the respective
batteries. The trick is to not get the battery ends too hot. Use one of
those fancy butane torches that have a tiny flame. They will melt and
stick the solder without harming the battery. Practice on a couple dead
batteries first to get your technique down. Use rosin core solder.


Our local "Batteries Plus" (USA) will weld tabs onto customer's batteries
for a small token payment ($2 last time I had a dozen done).

Michael

Strange how at least one subscriber here says "Don't do it!" yet it's plain
that it's done all the time. I guess what some people believe is THEY can't
do it while a so-called professional can. What they're really saying is
don't do it because *I* can't do it and I don't want you doing it because
YOU would make ME look bad. They don't believe they have the skill to do a
simple job. They don't have the guts to even try it on a dead battery. They
would have YOU be the same. How pathetic is that? And these people claim to
be sailors? Yeah right! Probably have to pay somebody to repair a tear in a
sail, or put an eye splice in doublebraid, or wire up their GPS, or put a
coat or two of paint on their boat's bottom, or install new standing
rigging, or install new parts in the head pump.

Stupidity, laziness, fear, sloth and ineptitude is all that one encounters
in this world anymore. A bunch of dependent people all queuing up to pay
somebody else with borrowed money to do things they should learn how to do
themselves. Disgusting and pathetic!

--
Gregory Hall

NiMH Rechargeable Battery Repair
 

In article ,
"Armond Perretta" wrote:

Sorry for crosspost but r.b.e doesn't seem to see much traffic these days.

I am trying to rebuild several old handheld VHF battery packs that seem no
longer commercially available. ...

Problem is I am not at all sure how to secure a conductor from "plus" to
"minus" with the cells to make a strong and long-lasting series connection.
Is there some kind of conductive adhesive or conductive film that can be
used for this application? Larry, where are you when we need you (weak
humor)?

Conductive adhesive does not work for these currents.

Get them from a manufacturer's distributor - they will weld them with
strips in any shape you like, or even have them in your desired shape.
By far the best option.

HTH

Marc

--
remove bye and from mercial to get valid e-mail
http://www.heusser.com

NiMH Rechargeable Battery Repair
 

"Armond Perretta" wrote in
:

I am trying to rebuild several old handheld VHF battery packs that
seem no longer commercially available.

www.batteriesplus.com

Our local stores can take apart many, but not all, battery packs and
replace the cells with new, even improved ones. My old Standard marine
walkie has 2.8AH Ni-mh cells replacing the old .6AH Ni-Cds. Batteries Plus
has the spot welding equipment right in the stores to safely weld the
straps onto the cells without damaging either, same as the manufacturer of
the pack.

The best rebuilders hardly make a scratch breaking open the plastic welds,
but, of course, there's no guarantee. As he's breaking something that's
patently worthless, there's no risk. If you worry about him getting it
apart, do what I do, take the pack apart, YOURSELF, and carry the guts of
it into the store, then reseal the pack yourself.

That 2.8AH power beast costs about half what any Waste Marine would want
for a 600maH pack in a bubble pack. Having over 4 times the capacity of
the original is no-extra-charge...(c;

NiMH Rechargeable Battery Repair
 

Goofball_star_dot_etal wrote in
:

Buy cells with solder tags:
http://www.google.co.uk/search?sourc...8&rls=GGLD,GGL
D:2004-11,GGLD:en&q=nimh+solder+tags and find someone to solder them.
NiMH need to be cycled quite a few times until they reach full
capacity so don't get disappointed too soon. They also self-discharge
quickly so recharge before use.



DO NOT SOLDER THEM! Heating a Ni-CD or Ni-mh battery with a soldering iron
may cause an EXPLOSION! NO NO NO!

These things are spot welded with a tiny spot welding machine that is
instantaneous, a tiny spark welds them together.

NiMH Rechargeable Battery Repair
 

On Sat, 15 Mar 2008 19:18:24 +0000, Larry wrote:

Goofball_star_dot_etal wrote in
:

Buy cells with solder tags:
http://www.google.co.uk/search?sourc...8&rls=GGLD,GGL
D:2004-11,GGLD:en&q=nimh+solder+tags and find someone to solder them.
NiMH need to be cycled quite a few times until they reach full
capacity so don't get disappointed too soon. They also self-discharge
quickly so recharge before use.



DO NOT SOLDER THEM! Heating a Ni-CD or Ni-mh battery with a soldering iron
may cause an EXPLOSION! NO NO NO!

What do you think solder tags with little holes in them are for?


These things are spot welded with a tiny spot welding machine that is
instantaneous, a tiny spark welds them together.

NiMH Rechargeable Battery Repair
 

In article ,
"Ernest Scribbler" wrote:

"Matt Colie" wrote
Do not solder to the cells. This is a recipe for problems.

I've soldered them successfully. It's definitely not a job for the
ham-handed, though, which is why the manufacturers tell you not to do it.
I've been buying cells from http://www.all-battery.com lately, btw. Pretty
good selection and price, tabbed and otherwise.

I have soldered new NiMH, Nicad, and Lithium Cells into new battery
packs, for rebuilding Batteries for older Radios for years. I find
that if you file the Plating off a small spot on the Cell ends, that
they solder a whole lot easier, and with much less heat, than if you
don't. Never had a cell, explode, or die prematurely, Yet.....

--
Bruce in alaska
add path after fast to reply

NiMH Rechargeable Battery Repair
 

On Sat, 15 Mar 2008 19:18:24 +0000, Larry wrote:

Goofball_star_dot_etal wrote in
:

Buy cells with solder tags:
http://www.google.co.uk/search?sourc...8&rls=GGLD,GGL
D:2004-11,GGLD:en&q=nimh+solder+tags and find someone to solder them.
NiMH need to be cycled quite a few times until they reach full
capacity so don't get disappointed too soon. They also self-discharge
quickly so recharge before use.



DO NOT SOLDER THEM! Heating a Ni-CD or Ni-mh battery with a soldering iron
may cause an EXPLOSION! NO NO NO!

" Do not solder directly onto batteries. Always solder onto solder tag
for connection. "

http://www.steatite.co.uk/batteries/...echargable.pdf

Notice that they have vents too.

NiMH Rechargeable Battery Repair
 

In article ,
"Gregory Hall" wrote:

Strange how at least one subscriber here says "Don't do it!" yet it's plain
that it's done all the time. I guess what some people believe is THEY can't
do it while a so-called professional can. What they're really saying is
don't do it because *I* can't do it and I don't want you doing it because
YOU would make ME look bad. They don't believe they have the skill to do a
simple job. They don't have the guts to even try it on a dead battery. They
would have YOU be the same. How pathetic is that? And these people claim to
be sailors?

There are good reasons not to do it yourself here.
I can solder - but I also know that such a procedure will hurt the
battery, and I also know that solder joints are susceptible to failing
under vibrations, corrosion etc.
Just because something can be done and it works first does not mean it
will be reliable and live long. Qualities I tend to look for if it is
installed on my boat.
Of course everyone is free to use their preferred solution. I just do
not recommend soldering for this purpose.
It is just like I'd never use screw terminals to join conductors on a
boat.

HTH

Marc

--
remove bye and from mercial to get valid e-mail
http://www.heusser.com

NiMH Rechargeable Battery Repair
 

"Marc Heusser" wrote
Of course everyone is free to use their preferred solution.

Whew.

NiMH Rechargeable Battery Repair
 

wrote in :

Larry, where are you when we need you (weak
humor)?


http://www.powerstream.com/spot-welder.htm

This is how the tabs should be put on the cells. The holes are for
soldering AWAY FROM the cells so as not to heat them. They are for wires.

When someone makes a pack with the proper welding machine, there is no
soldering except for the output wires, which is the proper way to make a
pack.

NiMH Rechargeable Battery Repair
 

"Larry" wrote
http://www.powerstream.com/spot-welder.htm
This is how the tabs should be put on the cells.

Umm, I don't have one of those...

NiMH Rechargeable Battery Repair
 

The pros don't solder, they spot weld the tabs on.


"Gregory Hall" wrote in message ...

"msg" wrote in message ...
Gregory Hall wrote:

snip
Problem is I am not at all sure how to secure a conductor from "plus" to
"minus" with the cells to make a strong and long-lasting series connection.
Is there some kind of conductive adhesive or conductive film that can be
used for this application? Larry, where are you when we need you (weak
humor)?



Use copper wire and solder it to the top and bottom's of the respective batteries. The trick is to not get the battery ends too
hot. Use one of those fancy butane torches that have a tiny flame. They will melt and stick the solder without harming the
battery. Practice on a couple dead batteries first to get your technique down. Use rosin core solder.


Our local "Batteries Plus" (USA) will weld tabs onto customer's batteries
for a small token payment ($2 last time I had a dozen done).

Michael

Strange how at least one subscriber here says "Don't do it!" yet it's plain that it's done all the time. I guess what some people
believe is THEY can't do it while a so-called professional can. What they're really saying is don't do it because *I* can't do it
and I don't want you doing it because YOU would make ME look bad. They don't believe they have the skill to do a simple job. They
don't have the guts to even try it on a dead battery. They would have YOU be the same. How pathetic is that? And these people
claim to be sailors? Yeah right! Probably have to pay somebody to repair a tear in a sail, or put an eye splice in doublebraid, or
wire up their GPS, or put a coat or two of paint on their boat's bottom, or install new standing rigging, or install new parts in
the head pump.

Stupidity, laziness, fear, sloth and ineptitude is all that one encounters in this world anymore. A bunch of dependent people all
queuing up to pay somebody else with borrowed money to do things they should learn how to do themselves. Disgusting and pathetic!

--
Gregory Hall

NiMH Rechargeable Battery Repair
 

"Ernest Scribbler" wrote in
:

"Larry" wrote
http://www.powerstream.com/spot-welder.htm
This is how the tabs should be put on the cells.

Umm, I don't have one of those...




Precisely why you need to seek out a battery shop that does....

NiMH Rechargeable Battery Repair
 

"Larry" wrote
Precisely why you need to seek out a battery shop that does....

Maybe in a perfect world, but Marc Heusser said I'm also free to solder them
if I like. (I thought it was quite the magnanimous gesture.)

NiMH Rechargeable Battery Repair
 

wrote in message
...

I think you need to move up to the next larger sized tin foil hat. This
one is
too tight.

Bad, bad advice.

http://people.csail.mit.edu/rahimi/helmet/