Connecting batteries in parallel for longer battery life

[DesiPower]

I have this huge ass wall clock that runs on one AA battery, which runs out every few months, I have tried high quality battery and stuff but they do not make much of a difference. I have tried rechargeable battery but the clock does not like them, I guess 1.2 volt is not enough. It's high up on the wall, getting it down and replacing battery is a pain. Its a nice looking clock and I really like it, so I was thinking of running multiple batteries in parallel for a longer battery life. Anyone tied anything like this before? I found these on fleabay (pic below), and was wondering they they will work. Any thoughts/inputs?

 

[sdifox]

run it off a wallwart

 

[DesiPower]

run it off a wallwart

what's a "wallwart"?

*Edit* nvm, looked it up, I though about it but there are no power outlets nearby and wires would make it look ugly, unless I run in behind the sheetrock.. which is too much work...

 

[sdifox]

this is a wallwart

 

[sdifox]

change battery size to D cell


http://www.allaboutbatteries.com/Energy-tables.html

 

[MrPickins]

AFAIK, it shouldn't be a problem. It'd act like a more expensive D-cell.

Be sure to check that it is really parallel first, though.

 

[Schmide]

Or just stick a D cell in it.

D = 20k mah
AA = 2-4k mah

 

[MrPickins]

Or just stick a D cell in it.

D = 20k mah
AA = 2-4k mah

Probably wouldn't fit behind the clock.

 

[DesiPower]

yeah, D is probably a good idea too, will have to look behind the clock to make sure there's is enough space for a D... even C could work...

 

[sdifox]

Probably wouldn't fit behind the clock.

Cut drywall, install hobby lead acid battery plus step down :awe:

 

[Jeff7]

I have this huge ass wall clock that runs on one AA battery, which runs out every few months, I have tried high quality battery and stuff but they do not make much of a difference. I have tried rechargeable battery but the clock does not like them, I guess 1.2 volt is not enough. It's high up on the wall, getting it down and replacing battery is a pain. Its a nice looking clock and I really like it, so I was thinking of running multiple batteries in parallel for a longer battery life. Anyone tied anything like this before? I found these on fleabay (pic below), and was wondering they they will work. Any thoughts/inputs?

That pack looks like it's wired in series. (Most of them are.) You'll need to do some rewiring to get it in parallel. Otherwise you'll deliver 6V to something expecting 1.5V.

Do that, and it'll be fine, and you'll get longer life.

 

[DesiPower]

AFAIK, it shouldn't be a problem. It'd act like a more expensive D-cell.

Be sure to check that it is really parallel first, though.

That pack looks like it's wired in series. (Most of them are.) You'll need to do some rewiring to get it in parallel. Otherwise you'll deliver 6V to something expecting 1.5V.

Do that, and it'll be fine, and you'll get longer life.

In the title and description of the listing it says parallel, search for 231667767334

 

[sdifox]

Yeah that thing is parallel. But dont use that, use one D cell.

 

[DesiPower]

I checked the clock, D will not fit, the entire outed edge of the clock touches the wall, but when I put a D (no matter where) it results in a gap between the edge and the wall... no worki worki...

 

[Jeff7]

In the title and description of the listing it says parallel, search for 231667767334

Huh, interesting. I've never seen one like that before.

Yeah, now I see the two positives tied together. I'm used to seeing the cells put in alternating orientations. The little diagrams went against years of conditioning.

 

[MrPickins]

In the title and description of the listing it says parallel, search for 231667767334

Really I just mean because you can't always trust cheap chinese stuff. :biggrin:

 

[PowerEngineer]

Really I just mean because you can't always trust cheap chinese stuff. :biggrin:

Maybe it is wired for parallel, but I'd definitely double check it before wiring it to your clock. I note that the little paper battery stickers are at odds with the molded in plus and minus signs.

 

[Jeff7]

Maybe it is wired for parallel, but I'd definitely double check it before wiring it to your clock. I note that the little paper battery stickers are at odds with the molded in plus and minus signs.

Cheaper to use the same injection mold and sticker it than to make or modify an existing one for the seven people in the world who need a parallel-wired 4x AA holder.

 

[PowerEngineer]

Cheaper to use the same injection mold and sticker it than to make or modify an existing one for the seven people in the world who need a parallel-wired 4x AA holder.

No doubt you are right, but I'd still be double checking their modifications! :hmm:

 

[flexy]

That unit should work, I mean the seller says parallel.

 

[Jeff7]

No doubt you are right, but I'd still be double checking their modifications! :hmm:

Bah, what's the worst that could happen from trusting cheap Chinese crap? :hmm:

 

[Muse]

Even a stopped clock is perfectly right twice a day.

Your battery operated clock might be wrong for weeks on end. :twisted:

 

[sdifox]

I checked the clock, D will not fit, the entire outed edge of the clock touches the wall, but when I put a D (no matter where) it results in a gap between the edge and the wall... no worki worki...

C cell?

 

[Rubycon]

Is this just a simple quartz movement?
These have draw in the microampere range (averaged) and an alkaline AA cell should last for thousands of hours - over a year or more is not uncommon. Lithiums even longer.

If your clock is chewing through batts like this something is amiss in the movement. Pick up another for a few dollars at a craft store. It will take a few minutes to swap out and you should be good to go.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]