Build your own NiCd battery pack: It's less expensive than buying one.
Factory-produced nickel cadmium (NiCd) battery packs can be expensive. Building your own is a less expensive option and does the job just fine. NiCd cells produce 1.2 volts, so an important first step is to find out how many cells you require to power your device. The voltage your device needs is on the label attached to the device. Note the figure, then divide it by 1.2 and round the answer down to the nearest whole number. For example, if your device needs 7.2 volts, divide it by 1.2 to get 6.25, then round down to 6.
Instructions
1. Purchase the number of NiCd cells you need to build a battery pack to power your device. NiCd cells can be purchased from most electrical supply stores.
2. Place the NiCd cells flat on a table. Position them next to each other so that you have alternating battery terminals at each end. For example, if you are using six NiCd cells to build your battery pack, you need three positive and three negative terminals for one end and three negative and three positive terminals for the other end. The positive and negative terminals are marked "+" and "-." Lining them up this way makes wiring the battery pack easier and neater.
3. Label each battery. You need to identify each battery as you wire. If you're using six cells, then label them 1 through 6.
4. Use two or three elastic rubber bands to form the cells into a battery pack. Hold the cells together with one hand and then place an elastic band over the cells and position it in the center. Put another one near the top of the pack and one near the bottom.
5. Cut strips of AWG 18-gauge wire using a small knife. Cut two strips long enough to reach between the NiCd battery pack and your electrical device. The other strips need to be about 1-inch long, as they only need to attach to the cell terminals. The number of strips you need is based upon the number of cells you are using. The calculation is simple: number of cells less one equals numbers of wire strips. For example, if you are using six cells then you need five wire strips.
6. Remove ¼ inch of colored plastic off the end of each wire strip using wire strippers so you expose the metal core. Label the two long strips "+" and "-" so you know which wire to connect to the terminals on your device.
7. Attach the long-wire strip you labeled "+" onto the positive terminal of battery 1. Use a strip of electrical insulating tape to hold the wire on the terminal. Attach the other long-wire strip you labeled "-" onto the negative terminal of the last numbered battery in your pack using insulating tape.
8. Attach a short-wire strip to the negative terminal of battery 1 and the opposite end to the positive terminal of battery 2. Repeat the process, attaching the remaining short-wire strips to the negative and then positive terminals of the batteries sequentially until you attach the last wire strip to the positive terminal of the last battery in your pack.
9. Wrap electrical insulating tape around the pack ensuring you cover all the wires and terminals. However, make certain you leave the two long wires protruding, as you need to connect them to your device.
Tags: your device, NiCd cells, battery pack, battery pack, insulating tape, NiCd battery, positive terminal