Society of Robots - Robot Forum

Electronics => Electronics => Topic started by: woolysheep on July 23, 2008, 01:29:07 PM

Title: $50 robot battery pack and charger question
Post by: woolysheep on July 23, 2008, 01:29:07 PM
Hey everyone,

Just a quick question about battery packs.  I saw some other posts about how you need the proper connectors on a charger for battery packs and was just wondering if this combination (charger, converter, battery pack) will work or if I am completely on the wrong track.

This is the charger:

http://www.all-battery.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1931 (http://www.all-battery.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1931)

Was also wondering what the product option pertaining to that charger means.

And here is the battery pack:

http://www.all-battery.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=495 (http://www.all-battery.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=495)

Here is the connector:

http://www.all-battery.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1332 (http://www.all-battery.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1332)

Thanks, I am a beginner at this so the more explanations, the better.  :)


One more thing, just wondering if this is a good battery charger for individual batteries, it has all the features and is Smart:

http://www.all-battery.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1652 (http://www.all-battery.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1652)

Thanks again.
Dan

Title: Re: $50 robot battery pack and charger question
Post by: pomprocker on July 23, 2008, 02:13:08 PM
1. Go to CVS buy a package of 4 AA NiMH batteries that comes with the wall charger

2. Find a place to buy another single AA NiMH battery

3. Go to radio shack and buy a 5 AA battery holder

This will give you a 6v NiMH battery, a charger, and the option to charge/use them individually.

plus you don't pay shipping.

edit:  you can put any connector on the battery holder that you want to use.
Title: Re: $50 robot battery pack and charger question
Post by: bulkhead on July 24, 2008, 12:33:00 AM
all-battery products are cheap because most of them are just low cost, entry level units with less development, testing, and product support than other "name brand" products.  The chargers may not be as reliable as you may want.  That said, a battery is a battery.  If you do order use one of their codes like "tenergydeals" or such (just google it) to save $.

You can solder whatever connectors you want or even just use alligator clips (not recommended though).  If you do replace the connectors be careful to cut ONE battery lead at a time so as to not short the battery.

If you're just looking for AA type batteries you can just get them anywhere locally.  That is, if your robot isn't using powerful motors requiring high output batteries, you don't need to invest in a good set of batteries and charger.
Title: Re: $50 robot battery pack and charger question
Post by: pomprocker on July 24, 2008, 01:09:29 AM
If you're just looking for AA type batteries you can just get them anywhere locally.  That is, if your robot isn't using powerful motors requiring high output batteries, you don't need to invest in a good set of batteries and charger.

just to clear this up...

AA is a size.
a type would be like NiMH or Alkaline.
Title: Re: $50 robot battery pack and charger question
Post by: zack on July 24, 2008, 05:40:19 AM
I totally agree with pomprocker. A standard AA battery pack means you can use it for your camera, remote, whatever once you are done playing with your bot. 
Title: Re: $50 robot battery pack and charger question
Post by: pomprocker on July 24, 2008, 09:51:08 AM
just FYI a single AA NiMH battery is 1.2 volts, a single AA alkaline battery is 1.5volts. So 4 alkalines equals 6 volts, and 5 NiMH equals 6volts.
Title: Re: $50 robot battery pack and charger question
Post by: airman00 on July 24, 2008, 10:10:48 AM
I used to use AA NiMH batteries on my smaller robots , but now I use NiMH battery packs with high amount of amperage . AA NiMH is usually like 1500 mAH , while I use at least 3000mAH on my battery packs.
Title: Re: $50 robot battery pack and charger question
Post by: pomprocker on July 24, 2008, 10:32:08 AM
the one i got from tenergy is like 2300mah, and it was like $11
Title: Re: $50 robot battery pack and charger question
Post by: airman00 on July 24, 2008, 10:33:15 AM
the one i got from tenergy is like 2300mah, and it was like $11
got two of those  ;D