Circuitbenders Forum

Circuitbenders Forum => Circuitbending discussion => BENDING TIPS => Topic started by: egr on July 31, 2008, 01:44:45 PM

Title: Relacing battery contacts (what's a good alternative?)
Post by: egr on July 31, 2008, 01:44:45 PM
I've been finding a gold mine of cheap bendable toys lately but seems like most will have nasty corroded batteries and battery contacts in them.  It seems a lot easier to just replace the contacts as that's usually the only problem the toys have.  What's a good material to use for this?  I would just pirate the contacts from other toys but the bad ones far out number the good.  Any suggestions?  Especially for the spring type.  TIA!
Title: Re: Relacing battery contacts (what's a good alternative?)
Post by: egr on July 31, 2008, 03:31:52 PM
After some googling I think I found my aswer:  paper clips!  Anybody see a problem with this?

Link to the page:  http://imhdd.ms11.net/CLIP/01.html
Title: Re: Relacing battery contacts (what's a good alternative?)
Post by: Gordonjcp on July 31, 2008, 07:49:11 PM
Paper clips aren't very springy.  Maybe you could do something with brass shim stock, at least for the contacts that look like leaf springs?
Title: Re: Relacing battery contacts (what's a good alternative?)
Post by: egr on August 01, 2008, 01:23:44 PM
Paper clips aren't very springy.  Maybe you could do something with brass shim stock, at least for the contacts that look like leaf springs?

I think I like your idea better.  There's an Ace Hardware nearby that should have it.  Thanks!
Title: Re: Relacing battery contacts (what's a good alternative?)
Post by: Bogus Noise on August 05, 2008, 07:27:12 AM
I see you're in the US, so this may not be directly helpful, but Rapid Online have replacement battery contacts in their catalogue. Presumably you'll be able to find them other there as well :)

http://www.rapidonline.com/Electrical-Power/Batteries/Boxes-Holders/Slot-in-battery-contacts/62293

Then it's just a case of pulling the old ones out and glueing the new ones in place. They have holes in to resolder the power wires back on. Only thing I find is that if the old ones are really badly corroded they kinda fuse to the plastic, which can be awkward.
Title: Re: Relacing battery contacts (what's a good alternative?)
Post by: egr on August 05, 2008, 04:08:58 PM
Hmmm... well I guess that COULD work  ;D

I've been hesitant about mail ordering anything as of yet.  I don't really trust my terminology or descriptive prowess.

Thanks for the link!
Title: Re: Relacing battery contacts (what's a good alternative?)
Post by: shimshon on October 05, 2008, 09:34:23 PM
a little bit of coca cola will clean those right off. i use a cotton swab and just lightly brush the corosion off
Title: Re: Relacing battery contacts (what's a good alternative?)
Post by: ne7 on November 30, 2008, 07:17:51 PM
hey lads,
 i've fixed loads of springs and contacts with paper clips - just works every time - just get a smallish round pencil and wrap it round to the sharp end and make yourself a nice spring...

also to clean contacts i recommend isopropyl alchohol and cotton swabs / cotton buds - look IA up on ebay - thats where i last got a load from (you can also try your local chemist - they normally carry it in smaller quantities), its also very good at cleaning edge connectors of expansion boards and rust off of battery connectors and evaporates very quickly...

hope that helps :)