Need advice on building battery pack/holder

[DavidD]

Most things which take alkaline normally also take NiMH. I have an elliptical trainer, a Vision Fitness X6000, which doesn't. It has a simple monochromatic LCD 2xAA powered display. I have tried using NiMH. If they are fresh off the charger, they will power up the display to about 1/2 intensity, if they are not fresh off the charger they won't power it up at all.

I am considering using a 3xAA battery holder for NiMH use. But, 3 NiMH have more voltage than 2 alkalines. And, if I am not mistaken, would supply a lot more current as well. Would this damage the console? If it would, is there a simple way to regulate the voltage &/or current? I am not electrically gifted, but could solder in a few parts if told what to do.

Thanks!

DavidD

 

[TigerhawkT3]

If you're planning on making an external battery pack anyway, why not just use a 3V AC adaptor? I would doubt that such a unit relies on alks' internal resistance to limit current.

 

[jayb79]

The amps won't be a problem, they are available but the display won't use them. A simple resistor will cut down the voltage, but you would have to know how much amperage the display is drawing to figure out the size of the resistor. I think the 4.5v hot off the charger would be ok and after they sit for a bit it will be about 3.6v under a load.
I think you could put a small diode in line and it would cut the voltage by about 1v.

 

[mdocod]

I agree with tiger here +1