Battery size converter - C to D available?

[The Night Tripper]

Hi All
you know those battery size converters you can get from Maplin etc. - a
plastic sleeve the size of (say) a D cell, into which you put an AA
battery, thereby converting it into a D cell of smaller capacity? Like
this:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Search.aspx?criteria=battery%20adapter&source=15&SD=Y

All the ones I've seen use AA cells. Well, I have some C size rechargables
which I want to use in a D cell Torch. Has anyone seen similar converters
which accept C cells?

Thanks
J^n

[Jonathan Campbell]

Not heard of.

Those in the link look like AAA -> AA, C, D.

These are AA-> D:

http://www.budgetbatteries.co.uk/20155/battery-adaptors-to-convert-aa-cells-to-d-cells-x-4/

I note that AA are the same length as C and looking at the examples of
AA->D that I have here, it seems like a (rather difficult) machining job
might adapt them. If the radial spacing fins were removed right back to
the enclosing cylinder, 1-mm of some sort of wrapping would hold the C
cell in place.

I think.

Best regards,

Jon C.

[meow...@care2.com]

On Aug 6, 5:55 pm, Jonathan Campbell <jg.campbell...@gmail.com> wrote:
> The Night Tripper wrote:
> > Hi All
> >         you know those battery size converters you can get from Maplin etc. - a
> > plastic sleeve the size of (say) a D cell, into which you put an AA
> > battery, thereby converting it into a D cell of smaller capacity? Like
> > this:
>

> >http://www.maplin.co.uk/Search.aspx?criteria=battery%20adapter&source...

>
> > All the ones I've seen use AA cells. Well, I have some C size rechargables
> > which I want to use in a D cell Torch. Has anyone seen similar converters
> > which accept C cells?
>
> Not heard of.
>
> Those in the link look like AAA -> AA, C, D.
>
> These are AA-> D:
>

> http://www.budgetbatteries.co.uk/20155/battery-adaptors-to-convert-aa...

>
> I note that AA are the same length as C  and looking at the examples of
> AA->D that I have here, it seems like a (rather difficult) machining job
> might adapt them. If the radial spacing fins were removed right back to
> the enclosing cylinder, 1-mm of some sort of wrapping would hold the C
> cell in place.
>
> I think.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Jon C.

You could probably make convertors from cardboard glued well. Add wire
connectors, voila.

What I want is a laptop battery to cordless tool battery convertor.
Way more capacity.

NT

[Kevin]

but not at the sort of current you would be pulling laptop batteries are
not designed for that sort of abuse

--
Kevin R
Reply address works

[The Night Tripper]

Jonathan Campbell wrote:

[...]

> Not heard of.
>
> Those in the link look like AAA -> AA, C, D.

They're a mixture: AAA->AA, and AA->C, AA->D. I can't find anything other
than these.

[...]

>
> I note that AA are the same length as C and looking at the examples of
> AA->D that I have here, it seems like a (rather difficult) machining job
> might adapt them. If the radial spacing fins were removed right back to
> the enclosing cylinder, 1-mm of some sort of wrapping would hold the C
> cell in place.

Yeah, this is pretty much my current plan. AA and C are *slightly* different
lengths but not enough to make a difference, I think.

I might split the AA-D adapters in half, making the machining out easier. A
bit of a faff though.

Thanks
J^n

[meow...@care2.com]

On Aug 6, 8:12 pm, Kevin <dontemai...@ntlworld.com> wrote:

Yes. But in this case I'm willing to abuse them and see if they handle
it. Its that or they wont be used.

NT

[John Stumbles]

On Wed, 06 Aug 2008 10:25:45 -0700, meow2222 wrote:

> On Aug 6, 5:55 pm, Jonathan Campbell <jg.campbell...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> The Night Tripper wrote:

>> > All the ones I've seen use AA cells. Well, I have some C size
>> > rechargables which I want to use in a D cell Torch. Has anyone seen
>> > similar converters which accept C cells?

Yes, came across a couple of mine today. But I don't know where you get
them.

I've made some in the past using a 35mm film capsule with a short fat nut
& bolt in the end to make the shorter C size reach the length of the
longer D's contacts.

--
John Stumbles

A backstreet vasectomy left me sterile

[Jonathan Campbell]

To the OP. I've just had a look and the 35-mm film holder solution looks
like a lot easier solution than machining or hacking the AA->D
converter. Not that 35-mm film boxes will be easy to find unless you are
like me and never throw anything out.

Jon C.

[Bob Eager]

On Thu, 7 Aug 2008 09:22:30 UTC, Jonathan Campbell
<jg.camp...@gmail.com> wrote:

> converter. Not that 35-mm film boxes will be easy to find unless you are
> like me and never throw anything out.

Go to Boots and ask. Last time I did so they had a drawerful and gave me
as many as I wanted. Trade is probably less these days, but they
probably still get them.

--
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http://www.diybanter.com

[Bruce]

Jonathan Campbell <jg.camp...@gmail.com> wrote:

It doesn't solve your problem, but I quite like this AA to D size
converter that actually uses *two* AA batteries, not just one:

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.7031

[Kevin]

they wont fast charge and are liable to catch fire if you abuse them,+
you need a special charger, if you over discharge them you kill them and
if you over charge them you can start a fire.

[Dave]

The Night Tripper wrote:

They are / were available. I bought some about 10 years ago, AA to D
size, all using the next size down. You could even stack them from AA to
D's. Wife lost them though.

Dave

[meow...@care2.com]

wrong on all counts - unless you've got a convincing link that says
otherwise. BTW you didnt ask what battery type they are, they're NiMH.

NT

[Kevin]

what Laptop these days has NiMh???? there are difernt type of LiPo cells
that this does not apply to, but I dont think there are in laptop
batteries yet