Make a cordless drill battery holder?

[John Doe]

I must make a cordless drill battery holder and I'm asking for help
with the design.

I can't hack the batteries because they must fit into the charger and
they might be used in cordless drills too.

How would you temporarily connect electrodes to the two battery
terminals? Mine are shaped like typical cordless drill batteries with
a cylindrical upper body that has a metal contact plate on each side
of the top of that cylinder.

http://g-ec2.images-amazon.com/images/I/41K3C8BQPVL._SS500_.jpg
(the two side terminals, the other two terminals are used for
charging)

I suppose some nonconducting springy material could be used for
clamps. Any premade store-bought stuff that might fit?

Thank you.

 

[Lord Garth]

I must make a cordless drill battery holder and I'm asking for help
with the design.

I can't hack the batteries because they must fit into the charger and
they might be used in cordless drills too.

How would you temporarily connect electrodes to the two battery
terminals? Mine are shaped like typical cordless drill batteries with
a cylindrical upper body that has a metal contact plate on each side
of the top of that cylinder.

http://g-ec2.images-amazon.com/images/I/41K3C8BQPVL._SS500_.jpg
(the two side terminals, the other two terminals are used for
charging)

I suppose some nonconducting springy material could be used for
clamps. Any premade store-bought stuff that might fit?

Thank you.

You be best served if you bought a new pack and hacked the old one.
You'd be sure to have the proper fit for the contacts by doing so.
Otherwise, that pack will be spent in about a year or so...you can
hack it at that time unless you are going to rebuild it.

Are you trying to connect it to your vehicle?

 

[Tom Biasi]

I must make a cordless drill battery holder and I'm asking for help
with the design.

I can't hack the batteries because they must fit into the charger and
they might be used in cordless drills too.

How would you temporarily connect electrodes to the two battery
terminals? Mine are shaped like typical cordless drill batteries with
a cylindrical upper body that has a metal contact plate on each side
of the top of that cylinder.

http://g-ec2.images-amazon.com/images/I/41K3C8BQPVL._SS500_.jpg
(the two side terminals, the other two terminals are used for
charging)

I suppose some nonconducting springy material could be used for
clamps. Any premade store-bought stuff that might fit?

Thank you.

I use cordless drill batteries to launch rockets.
I made a holder by molding two part wood putty around the battery and
fabricating contacts. It works great.
If you make a mold remember the battery has to come out. Don't trap it. Make
sure there are no dimension smaller than the battery as you go up and out.
If your application is a one time event you could just solder wires to the
terminals. The solder can be wicked off later.

Tom

 

[Lord Garth]

Would you be willing to buy three new Panasonic 12V 3.5AH batteries,
make a high quality charger, and give them to me?

It's not going to happen.

I'd be willing to help you modify one but no, I'll not be making a gift
of anything.

So why 3 packs? Just what are you trying to accomplish?

 

[ehsjr]

I must make a cordless drill battery holder and I'm asking for help
with the design.

I can't hack the batteries because they must fit into the charger and
they might be used in cordless drills too.

How would you temporarily connect electrodes to the two battery
terminals? Mine are shaped like typical cordless drill batteries with
a cylindrical upper body that has a metal contact plate on each side
of the top of that cylinder.

http://g-ec2.images-amazon.com/images/I/41K3C8BQPVL._SS500_.jpg
(the two side terminals, the other two terminals are used for
charging)

I suppose some nonconducting springy material could be used for
clamps. Any premade store-bought stuff that might fit?

Thank you.

For one time use (meaning you need to set it up
each time - you can't just pop batteries in and out)
you can make a contact assembly with PVC pipe and
screws and nuts.

Get PVC pipe that just goes over the nearrow end of the
pack that has the contacts. Use screws and nuts to
contact the battery, like this:

{****} <--Screw
||
[||] <--Nut
===============||=== <--PVC pipe wall
[||] <--Nut
||
--------------__---
Battery __ |
--------------- --
||
[||] <--Nut
===============||=== <--PVC pipe wall
[||] <--Nut
||
{****} <--Screw

You have to insert the battery and then tighten the
screws onto the battery contacts.

For a more permanent (ie batteris can be popped in and
out) setup, again you start with PVC pipe. Make
brass strip contacts:

H ______P
------ /
\__/< this part sticks through the PVC "window"

Cut "windows" in the PVC that line up with the contacts
on the battery when it is inserted into the PVC pipe.
A hose clamp holds the contact onto the outside of the
PVC pipe at location H.

A small section of larget PVC pipe slides to point P,
pushing the brass strip down into the window in the
smaller PVC pipe.

You can whittle small pieces out of PVC pipe that
can be glued inside the small pipe to keep it properly
aligned as it is inserted onto the battery.

Ed

 

[z]

I must make a cordless drill battery holder and I'm asking for help
with the design.

I can't hack the batteries because they must fit into the charger and
they might be used in cordless drills too.

How would you temporarily connect electrodes to the two battery
terminals? Mine are shaped like typical cordless drill batteries with
a cylindrical upper body that has a metal contact plate on each side
of the top of that cylinder.

http://g-ec2.images-amazon.com/images/I/41K3C8BQPVL._SS500_.jpg
(the two side terminals, the other two terminals are used for
charging)

I suppose some nonconducting springy material could be used for
clamps. Any premade store-bought stuff that might fit?

Thank you.

Duct tape, or equivalent. Remove with razor blade, or equivalent.