PDA

View Full Version : Battery box/control box for 35mm Adapters



Worley
2007 July 18th, 15:10
I know lots of us are making our own 35mm adapters, and finding the components for the battery compartment - battery holder, switches, potentiometers, etc.

Personally, I have found it a bit of a chore assembling everything, especially as I'm not a great at soldering, and I have very limited access to the tools required to make the job progress at a decent rate.

Well, I think I've found a neat solution from Maplin. This box (http://tinyurl.com/2m7asl) is designed for 9v PP3 batteries, it has a switch built in, and there are wires pre-soldered.

http://hv20.info/yopu/PP3box.jpg

The terminals are easily removed by snipping the wire that connects the negative to the switch. Once removed, the wire to the positive terminal can be removed without cutting it.

An AA battery holder than then be inserted. It's a nice snug fit, so no gluing is required. And you can avoid soldering if you position the wires carefully - the fit is snug, so they won't come loose. All that remains is to insert the potentiometer, though I am experimenting with a fixed value resistor (http://tinyurl.com/2jcj7v).

Voila! the perfect control box. Small, not much bigger than 2 AA batteries, neat and pro-looking (though not very interesting). Easily attached to the extension tubes with velcro.

In all, mine came to £1.81.

nmaxfield
2007 July 19th, 21:12
I got mine at radio shack. It's one of their tiny project boxes. It's not much bigger than what you have here. I think it was $1.99. I will post some pictures this weekend. I also am adding a mono miniplug jack so I can easily disconnect the lens mount from the battery pack. It's all soldered up and ready to go. Just waiting for the rest of my parts to get here.

Worley
2007 July 20th, 01:41
I've got mine assembled, and will post pics soon.

Rather than have the control box wired permanently to the 35mm adapter, I plan to add some kind of plug so it and be easily attached and detached. It's just a matter of finding the right kind size of plug...

nmaxfield
2007 July 20th, 10:21
The mono miniplug works great. Not sure if it will work inside the lens though. I will have to experiment a little.

Worley
2007 July 20th, 10:57
That's the issue - finding a female plug that will fit on the macro extension tubes, but not get in the way of the focussing screen.

I'm thinking of using a simple, flexible PP3 connector.

Worley
2007 July 20th, 14:22
Right, here we are, the inside of my completed control box:http://hv20.info/yopu/boxinside.jpg
http://hv20.info/yopu/boxbattery.jpg

Quite a neat size, and cheaper to make than the larger boxes. I'm most pleased that no soldering is required, and no gluing, either!