Beaulieu 4008 ZM II: Another Battery Pack Solution

[GeneratriX]

Well; I've Finished A Few Days Ago My Own Solution For The Battery Pack On Beaulieu 4008 ZM II:

[reflex]

Well; I've Finished A Few Days Ago My Own Solution For The Battery Pack On Beaulieu 4008 ZM II...

It looks really nice. Much better than my NiCd/Duct tape solution with Genuine(TM) "chop the ends off an old wall-wart power supply and attach a female plug" solution for charging.

I'd post pictures, but its too embarrassing.

[GeneratriX]

Well; I've Finished A Few Days Ago My Own Solution For The Battery Pack On Beaulieu 4008 ZM II...

It looks really nice. Much better than my NiCd/Duct tape solution with Genuine(TM) "chop the ends off an old wall-wart power supply and attach a female plug" solution for charging.

I'd post pictures, but its too embarrassing.

Thanks "reflex"; I can say that was pretty stressful for me get all the six Ni-Cad elements inside these little plastic box, and get it all connected on a reliable form!

But, hey!, It is finished now! ...So, no more worries about it!
The Beaulieu works like a charm! Very nice!
Don't worry about your pictures, every solution has strongs/weaks points, so everyone contributes to make it better! ;)

Cheers! ;)

[Uppsala BildTeknik]

GeneratriX wrote:

Well; I've Finished A Few Days Ago My Own Solution For The Battery Pack On Beaulieu 4008 ZM II:

Nice! Would you sell these battery packs?
A price?

[gianni1]

Looks really first class. Posting the photos of my home made battery back might scare off others from attempting it. Mine works great BTW, I'll post 'em anyway real soon now, with a warning not to try this at home.. Thanks to Super 8 Man's advice and Awand's magic forum for demystifying the process.

The first time around my £.50p AAA battery pack holders overheated and melted in my hands (got the wiring crossed!) and had to start again. The Electrical Engineering PHd I asked for help (to check out my design) suggested I use a resistor to prevent... but I ignored that advice....

I was too cheap to find a six AAA holder, so I rewired the poles of two battery holders, a four pack and a two pack, and joined them together. It now has Ni-Mh's, connected to the plug by Gaffer taped wire. I couldn't afford a shrink wrap cover, nor liked the look of candy coloured wires.

For the battery insert, I scraped out concentric circles into a copper coated acrylic board using a hand drill, so it was and looks quite scary. I used heavy duty scissors to cut the board into a small circle, and attached it with wires soldered through the 2mm drilled holes. Then glued onto a plastic 35mm film cartridge can, then stuffed that into a 42mm photo macro extension tube. I had to use aluminum foil around the edges of the cut board to keep it snug inside the camera....

Gianni

[GeneratriX]

Nice! Would you sell these battery packs?
A price?

I've just arranged these one for my own camera; but I guess I can get assembled more if necessary, without problems. How many units could you need?

I think my total costs of electronic stuff was U$D 33.-, so, I could charge a little bit more by the time put to get it all finished and working. But if you need more than one, or maybe anyone else need them too, I could get lower costs.

Another point is: I'll need an old non-functional Beaulieu battery pack for each set! ...Anyway, I could arrange something if such thing is hard to get, or nobody has one!

Let me know if you'll need them.
I'll post later some pictures of a few more accesories that I have built for my Beaulieu.
Best regards,
Diego

[Uppsala BildTeknik]

I would easily buy one, but...

I'll need an old non-functional Beaulieu battery pack for each set!

I don´t have any...

I guess I´ll have to buy a recelled one and when it quits on me I´ll get back to you!

You should seriously try to get your hands on some old battery packs (I have no idea from where) make a few and sell them on Ebay!

Your work is very proffessional and you would sell them for sure!

[GeneratriX]

I would easily buy one, but...

I'll need an old non-functional Beaulieu battery pack for each set!

I don´t have any...

I guess I´ll have to buy a recelled one and when it quits on me I´ll get back to you!

Hello "Uppsala" ;)

I can construct something like my fake battery pack in the above pictures, using black anodized aluminium and black leather, to achieve as close as possible the look&feel of the original Beaulieu battery.

I think the only part really hard to copy, by now, is the alternating silver/plated aluminum bands on the external drum (or barrel).

If you don't mind by these bands, I can make a device pretty similiar to the original battery.

You should seriously try to get your hands on some old battery packs (I have no idea from where) make a few and sell them on Ebay!

These could be great... excepting because... I have not idea of how to get more non-functional battery units!
I've just posted these pictures to share my experiences; I was happy with the results. In fact I'm always planning some other accesories to build in my spare time. I have knowledges/skills on electronics, and I'm a full-time computers programmer; Super8 is one of my two very firsts beloved hobbies (along with 35mm and 6x6 photography!), and I think both are very good as a funny and creative entertainment.

But as you suggest, I could take more seriously my Super 8 hobby! ;)

Your work is very proffessional and you would sell them for sure!

I could build a quantity of these gadgets in my spare time, arranging batchs of the needed stuff, to sell it to the people later. I have not idea (really!) of how to sell it using eBay (I've only used eBay for purchases by now), but I can attempt it... What do you think?

Best regards,
Diego

[GeneratriX]

For the battery insert, I scraped out concentric circles into a copper coated acrylic board using a hand drill, so it was and looks quite scary. I used heavy duty scissors to cut the board into a small circle, and attached it with wires soldered through the 2mm drilled holes. Then glued onto a plastic 35mm film cartridge can, then stuffed that into a 42mm photo macro extension tube. I had to use aluminum foil around the edges of the cut board to keep it snug inside the camera....
Gianni

Hello "Gianni1"

...so, are you saying that the macro photography M42x1 extension tubes are the right ones to fit in the Beaulieu battery housing thread?

Are they of the M42x1 or M42x0.75 type?

I think the extension tubes maybe could be an expensive solution, but has a lot of potential to achieve high quality results if you don't have a damaged Beaulieu battery.

Thanks in advance by your post.
Best regards,
Diego

[Uppsala BildTeknik]

I can construct something like my fake battery pack in the above pictures, using black anodized aluminium and black leather, to achieve as close as possible the look&feel of the original Beaulieu battery.

Are you saying that you can create a "fake" battery pack and don´t need any old original Beaulieu battery pack?

So you could make a complete battery pack as in the above pictures from scratch?

If so, I´m in!

Just let me know and I´ll cancel my order from Bjorn (I ordered a recelled battery pack some time ago, he has my camera right now. Lets just hope he hasn´t already finished the repairs and sent them all to me! In that case I guess I can´t back with the battery pack....

I have not idea (really!) of how to sell it using eBay (I've only used eBay for purchases by now), but I can attempt it... What do you think?

Well to tell you the truth I haven´t sold anything through Ebay either...
But knowing the price for original Beaulieu battery packs (and the price for recelled ones) I´m pretty sure they would sell.

Anyone else here interested in buying one of these?

[Uppsala BildTeknik]

Hell it could be worth a try, contact Bjorn Andersson and ask if he is interested in your battery packs. You could make them, ship them to him and he could sell them for a higher price to his clients! The worst you could do is a "No, thanks.", and in best case you have found a source for a little extra cash.

Ehmm, except for me... I want one directly from you for cheap money... :oops:

[GeneratriX]

Are you saying that you can create a "fake" battery pack and don´t need any old original Beaulieu battery pack?

So you could make a complete battery pack as in the above pictures from scratch?

Yup!; That's the "B" plain, if you don't have the original one!

If so, I´m in!

Cool! ;)

Just let me know and I´ll cancel my order from Bjorn (I ordered a recelled battery pack some time ago, he has my camera right now. Lets just hope he hasn´t already finished the repairs and sent them all to me! In that case I guess I can´t back with the battery pack....

I don't know too much about Bjorn, but I'm pretty sure he has a lot more time than me in this forum... so, honestly; ethically, I could feel a lot better with myself if you don't cancel these order! :lol: Seriously!

He's the same Bjorn that repairs Beaulieu(s) all the time? :oops:
Just find some way to do it without damage of the Bjorn's order!

Hell it could be worth a try, contact Bjorn Andersson and ask if he is interested in your battery packs. You could make them, ship them to him and he could sell them for a higher price to his clients! The worst you could do is a "No, thanks.", and in best case you have found a source for a little extra cash.

Sure; now we are talking! ;)
...Yes, now sounds a lot better!, excepting because I don't know how to contact to Bjorn! He's registered here in this forum, true?

Ehmm, except for me... I want one directly from you for cheap money...

Sure! You'll have the first unit, directly from my hands to Sweden!
Hey; this sounds better every second! ;) ...I've wondered a few features to add in the new prototype to enhance it!

[Uppsala BildTeknik]

He's the same Bjorn that repairs Beaulieu(s) all the time? icon_redface.gif icon_smile.gif
Just find some way to do it without damage of the Bjorn's order!

Nah, he wont take offence. He still has 2 of my cameras to repair, so I´ll be sending a bunch of money his way anyway

Yep, thats the Bjorn I´m talking about, the "master of Beaulieu-repairs".

You should Email him some pictures and give him a price for 5 or 10 battery packs or so, I wouldn´t be surprised if you guys could make some sort of business arrangement. You could make some money and he could sell them and make some money too, and he wouldn´t need to put down any time to building the battery packs. He has by the way old Beaulieu battery packs too if that would save you some trouble in building them (he could send you old battery packs and receive them back in good shape, this could be called "repair of battery packs" and go without any customs fee.... :twisted: )

You can contact him him bjorn[a]brevet.nu i think it is the right adress...
He is a member: profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=60

I´ll call him today or tomorrow and then I´ll get back to you off-list!

EDIT: OK Christoph, cool. I changed the email so it is not a direct link.

[christoph]

...Yes, now sounds a lot better!, excepting because I don't know how to contact to Bjorn! He's registered here in this forum, true?

jup:
profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=60

or email him directly:
bjorn.andersson[at]brevet.nu

++ christoph ++

[edit:] kent was faster ;)
as a general note, it's advisable not to post other peoples email address in it's normal format since spambots will hunt it down eventually...

[gianni1]

The tubes fit my Pentax Spotmatic, but a bit long for the Beaulieu. Comparing the threads, the Beaulieu battery threads have half the travel of the macro tube, 4mm vs 2mm. I bought the tube set (of three) at a local camera fair for a few pounds. Don't know what the 1.0 or 0.75 is measuring...

Just checked UK eBay and found a few, ebay links below:

http://tinyurl.com/3pcjk
http://tinyurl.com/4wgz9
http://tinyurl.com/5jzhk



Gianni

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...Are they of the M42x1 or M42x0.75 type? ...
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