Conductive Epoxy Cheap? Substitute? Performance UPDATE 11/08/03

[Ornery]

Just bought a whole pile of AA batteries from BatterySpace.Com. I've got 4 cordless phones that use the KX-TCA14 battery pack. I will be able to make my own packs from the AA batteries I've ordered, if only I can make some good connections on the terminals. I know soldering is out... or is it? I've found some conductive epoxy here and there, but the lowest price is $17.00! Any place I can get it cheaper? I've also found this trick for making your own. Think that will work?


UPDATE:

My $3.00 battery pack was installed on September 22nd. It's almost ready to be put into the charger for the 3rd time during that period. I do NOT store the phone in it's cradle. It's only put on the charger after it's almost completely drained. I made battery packs for 3 of the 4 phones so far, and all are performing as well. I hear it takes at least 3 chargings for the NiMH batteries to reach their full potential. Looking good so far!


UPDATE II:
I thought the batteries would need to be charged for the third time near the 11th of October. I was wrong. It didn't get charged till the 19th. It is now twenty days later and it still hasn't been put on the charger for the fourth time. Was it worth the trouble? Hah!

 

[Harvey]

By the time you're through screwing around with a mickey mouse solution, the value of your time won't be worth whatever money you think you might save.

 

[Ornery]

I gotta do it. What the hell else am I gonna do with all those batteries?

I already purchased their battery packs, that have solder tabs on the ends. I used those in two phones so far. Only took a couple minutes to solder up. They don't offer those packs anymore, and they were only 600mAh anyway. If I get these packs together, they'll be 2000mAh!

 

[NogginBoink]

Go to Radio Shack.

Buy a battery holder for however many batteries you need.

Solder to the solder tabs on the holder.

Replace batteries when they die with no more soldering.

 

[Ornery]

Um, that will no longer fit in the phone's battery compartment. As you can see, it's already pretty cramped!

 

[Ornery]

Hell, what was I worried about? This fellow Alan has a way to solder with good success. I followed the instructions, using flux that is generally used for sweating copper fittings. Worked like a charm! That is NOT a cold solder joint. Can't be pulled off, even with pliers. I'm in business!

 

[Colt45]

ive never had a problem soldering batteries, even with plain rosin core stuff.. nevermind acid stuff.


acid stinks like high hell, but it works fvckin' great.. so i save it for things that just wont stick with normal rosin

 

[Ornery]

Everybody says to wear goggles, and be so careful etc. I knew I could solder it, if I could get it hot enough, but I didn't want to take the chance on exploding the damn thing. Now I can do it with just a tiny bit of heat. I'm stoked. Gonna make four battery packs as soon as the the batteries arrive!

 

[Ornery]

My $3.00 battery pack was installed on September 22nd. It's almost ready to be put into the charger for the 3rd time during that period. I do NOT store the phone in it's cradle. It's only put on the charger after it's almost completely drained. I made battery packs for 3 of the 4 phones so far, and all are performing as well. I hear it takes at least 3 chargings for the NiMH batteries to reach their full potential. Looking good so far!

 

[LuNoTiCK]

Nice job. I personally wouldn't do it, because it seems like too much trouble and not much saved. How long would you say it took?

 

[Ornery]

It would have been a major hassle if I had to use epoxy. As it is, I can slap it together quicker than the soldering iron can heat up. Panasonic charges $15.00 (or $11.00 + $4.00 shipping) for their 600mAh battery. This is just $3.00 for 2,000mAh. I've yet to charge mine for the third time since 9-22-03. I'm still looking for things to use the rest of these batteries in. I started throwing them in TV remote controls, which is not their best application, but what the heck? Maybe I'll give a few to my dad for his Canon A40. For $1.00 a piece, why not?

 

[Eli]

Since each AA battery is 2000mAh, your total mAh is 6000mAh.

Or wait, maybe not. Are they hooked up series or parallel?

 

[Ornery]

They're in series, but that's plenty of power anyway. I'm thrilled with it. Two of my Panasonics lasted a good while with the 600mAh batteries, but the two newer ones are abysmal. They just got put on their third charge last night.

 

[Ornery]

I thought the batteries would need to be charged for the third time near the 11th of October. I was wrong. It didn't get charged till the 19th. It is now twenty days later and it still hasn't been put on the charger for the fourth time. Was it worth the trouble? Hah!