What is best way to clamp & charge loose cells?

[LuxLuthor]

Doesn't anyone make a low resistance, reliable, somewhat universal holder for loose cells, rather than some Rube Goldberg wood clamp contraption?

 

[LuxLuthor]

Suggestions? Anyone ?

 

[Jay R]

I got some magnets with attached leads from Radio Spares. Does the trick.

 

[DonShock]

Here was my solution.

 

[DFiorentino]

I'm making my own "holders" out of some old 4-bay NiHM chargers. No pics yet, but I'm just gutting the internals and wiring each bay to a pair of female banana connectors mounted on the charger case. This way I can charge various size cells in series or parallel. I can daisy chain as many charger/holders as my Triton will handle.

-DF

 

[molite]

I've been contemplating this same problem.
And I've been thinking about making an adapter (bi-pin or potted)
that interfaces with the bulb socket.
You would have to remove the bulb everytime you wanted to charge the light and the switch would need to be on, but I think it beats dealing with a bunch of loose cells.
I'm sure there is some good reason for not doing this....but I can't think of one.

 

[LuxLuthor]

I've been contemplating this same problem.
And I've been thinking about making an adapter (bi-pin or potted)
that interfaces with the bulb socket.
You would have to remove the bulb everytime you wanted to charge the light and the switch would need to be on, but I think it beats dealing with a bunch of loose cells.
I'm sure there is some good reason for not doing this....but I can't think of one.

I can think of a number of reasons off the top of my head:

• It seems to take forever to unscrew those maglite heads
• Stress of frequently removing/insterting bipin can crack base of bulb or wire pins
• Having to make sure it is perfectly centered for least artifacts
• Make sure bipin is cleaned each time
• Close proximity of bipin holes increases chance of short & fusing
• Gradual enlarging of bipin holder holes, leading to loose bulb/decreased contact
• Worrying about bumping bulb when putting head back on (which I have done a couple times)

Other than those reasons, go for it.