Beaulieu R16 - New Battery

[Steve Broback]

I have two grip handles for the R16 but no batteries so I decided to make a couple of batteries from scratch. The handle contains 6 - AA batteries soldered together with taps for 3.6 volts and 7.2 volts.

The contacts are stamped from copper sheet, the contacts are contained in a Delrin housing that is threaded on one end to fit the grip and internally threaded on the other end to contain the contacts.

The battery housing is machined from aluminum tubing with the ends knurled for grip - similar to the original. I could probably trim about 1 CM from the total length -I wasn't sure how much room the wires would take.

Yes - it works!

Photos here:

 

http://imgur.com/a/mis7S

 

Steve

[Dom Jaeger]

Very nice work Steve!

 

It might be worth adding a caution to people who would like to copy you, that soldering directly on to batteries can be quite dangerous. There is a possibility that if overheated they can explode. Not a problem if the cells already have tabs attached.

 

I got a new battery pack made up for a 4008 ZMII by a custom battery specialist, just gave dimensions and voltage/capacity requirements, cost me about $40 if I recall.

[Steve Broback]

Very nice work Steve!

 

It might be worth adding a caution to people who would like to copy you, that soldering directly on to batteries can be quite dangerous. There is a possibility that if overheated they can explode. Not a problem if the cells already have tabs attached.

 

I got a new battery pack made up for a 4008 ZMII by a custom battery specialist, just gave dimensions and voltage/capacity requirements, cost me about $40 if I recall.

 

Thank Dom - I appreciate that!

You also make a good point about the potential dangers of soldering the batteries. I did solder directly to the batteries (Ni MH) but did some research first. The batteries stayed cool and the soldering iron was only on the contacts for a moment so it did seem successful. The new wires are also very securely attached to the batteries.

That being said, it would probably be a good idea to wear a face shield next time.

When I started this project, I assumed that new batteries were unavailable. I discovered yesterday that they are still available from Beaulieu but they are not cheap - close to $375 each.

Steve

[David J Paradise]

It's great to see a DIY alternative because replacement batteries for the R16 cost quite a bit.

I think Wittner-Kinotechnik charge about 179 EURO which is well over 200 USD.

I've been using an external battery pack with a modified connector but I'd like to keep the power in the handle so I must give this a try.

Thanks!

[Charles MacDonald]

Not a problem if the cells already have tabs attached.

 

Industrial electronics suppliers like Digi-Key and Mouser sometimes have various batteries with factory welded solder tabs.

 

an example is http://www.digikey.ca/product-detail/en/NH15/N703T-ND/1040726

 

Iam not sure if the sample I am showing is the right one for your application, but going through the search tool may give you some ideas.

[Bengt Freden]

Steve,

 

This DIY approach is really interesting. Very cleverly performed. I used to own an R16 camera in the 90s and I remember well how incredibly expensive the new bigger battery cells were back then.

 

If you are using rechargable NiMH AA batteries, have you seen these new "eneloop" batteries:

http://kenrockwell.c...nyo/eneloop.htm

 

I have just ordered 20 of these from Amazon.co.uk, and I will give them a try in my various battery-eating cameras and hand flashes:

http://www.amazon.co...d=AN7UD8BGDUSKP

 

All the best,

Bengt in Stockholm, Sweden

[Bengt Freden]

Steve,

 

I checked with Wittner Cinetec in Hamburg, Germany, and in fact they do have complete new "eneloop" battery cells for the Beaulieu R16 camera - but scroll down the page and check out the price in Euros, it's quite stiff:

http://www.beaulieu.de/start.html

 

There are "eneloop" cells for the 4008ZMII and 5008 MS Super8 cameras as well. I will consider these when I get richer, because I am constantly re-charging the NiMH cells I have for these two cameras. I will give the usual AA "eneloop" cells a try first, though.

 

All the best,

Bengt in Stockholm

[Conor Fay]

On 9/4/2012 at 1:29 PM, Steve Broback said:

I have two grip handles for the R16 but no batteries so I decided to make a couple of batteries from scratch. The handle contains 6 - AA batteries soldered together with taps for 3.6 volts and 7.2 volts.

The contacts are stamped from copper sheet, the contacts are contained in a Delrin housing that is threaded on one end to fit the grip and internally threaded on the other end to contain the contacts.

The battery housing is machined from aluminum tubing with the ends knurled for grip - similar to the original. I could probably trim about 1 CM from the total length -I wasn't sure how much room the wires would take.

Yes - it works!

Photos here:

 

http://imgur.com/a/mis7S

 

Steve

hi steve

curious if you still the two battery grip handles and if so if you would be willing to sell one. i got a reasonable replacement battery but i don’t have the base plate battery grip attachment.

let me know!

conor