Nikon MN-2 Battery Unit: Dirty job

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Andreas Thaler

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An MD-4 motor drive with Ni-Cd battery pack MN-2 came to me.

As defective - the way I like it, because there is something to see and to do 👍

The battery pack provides 16.8 volts for the motor.

Pretty strong.

Coincidentally, the associated service manual is available 😉

IMG_5499.jpeg



Here the battery pack is inserted into the MD-4:

IMG_5500.jpeg



The connection contacts in the MD-4 are badly corroded.

There's definitely no more current flowing through it:

IMG_5501.jpeg



No wonder, because the contacts on the MN-2 don't look much better:

IMG_5502.jpeg


IMG_5503.jpeg



If I clean the contacts in the motor drive it might work again. With a battery holder for AA batteries, which is available as an alternative to the battery pack.

I could equip the battery pack with new batteries.

However, I am missing the associated charger. And nickel-cadmium batteries are already history. In addition, the casing is cracked

Let's see what it looks like in the MN-2.

14 cells that are interconnected.

Above this there are pressure strips made from the foam that rots sticky:

IMG_5504.jpeg



Some of the batteries have already entered the amorphous state 😉

A process over decades:

IMG_5505.jpeg



Here are the contacts for the counterparts in the MD-4.

Everything soldered individually, the cables glued on.

A lot of manual work:

IMG_5506.jpeg



The rechargeable batteries have to go. There is no life here anymore:

IMG_5507.jpeg


IMG_5508.jpeg



An exhumation 👻

IMG_5509.jpeg



The former operating data:

IMG_5510.jpeg



And the name:

IMG_5511.jpeg



An example of a series connection.

The sum of the individual voltages per battery results in the total voltage:

IMG_5512.jpeg



I would like to pick up the case of the MN-2. You don't see the battery pack that often.

I clean the parts in Durgol descaler solution.

The rest is hazardous waste:

IMG_5513.jpeg
 
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Andreas Thaler

Andreas Thaler

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The tools involved are cleaned of the sticky foam rubber residue using lighter fluid and a cotton swab:

IMG_5514.jpeg



As always, the work mat goes into the shower:

IMG_5515.jpeg



The cleansing bath did its job.

Where there were still greasy traces of foam rubber, lighter fluid and cotton swabs helped:

IMG_5516.jpeg



The MN-2 was reassembled and the broken parts were glued.

However, it is only used as a dummy, without any inner workings.

Ideal for teaching and training purposes 😉

IMG_5517.jpeg


IMG_5518.jpeg



+++

All information provided without guarantee and use at your own risk.
 
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Chan Tran

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Can you give me the schematic? I have recelled my MN-2 and it works great but I want to see what's the function of the diode. It seems like it's part of the charging circuit.
 

ic-racer

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Did you find a source for new batteries? I was lucky in that the last battery pack I re-did used AA sized Cadnica. So, I was able to replace with Eneloop batteries.
eneloop rolleiflex.jpg
 

Chan Tran

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I'm sorry, but I couldn't find a resistor in the MN-2 either?

Well it's been a while since I have the pack apart. I replaced the cell with NiMH cells and they last much longer than the original cells. I still use the original charger but I think it may be better that I build a new charger that is better suited for the new type of cells. I thought there was a diode or resistor in the charging circuit but if not that's easy.
 

ic-racer

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Ni-Cd cells (with soldering fans) can be ordered in different sizes on Aliexpress. Replacing Ni-Cd with Ni-Mh/Eneloop is not a direct way.
How did those no-name batteries work for you? Last time I used generic nicads they did not last long...waste of time.
 
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Andreas Thaler

Andreas Thaler

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Dirk Münchgesang on the German APHOG:

Christmas craft: Conversion of “Canon Ni-Cd Pack 1” into a battery holder for “Power Drive Boster PB-E1” (8xAAA NiMH)


Original version in German:



Translation into English by Google Translate:

 
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Andreas Thaler

Andreas Thaler

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Well it's been a while since I have the pack apart. I replaced the cell with NiMH cells and they last much longer than the original cells. I still use the original charger but I think it may be better that I build a new charger that is better suited for the new type of cells. I thought there was a diode or resistor in the charging circuit but if not that's easy.

Here exploded view and circuit of Nikon Quick Charger MH-2.

Is that what you are looking for?

A.jpg


B.jpg
 

Nicholas Lindan

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That charger is one strange design. The 555 & 4040 counter seem to only be there as a 3.5hr timer for the D2 'charging' LED. And I have a feeling the schematic is wrong when it comes to 'Vcc.' One would think with all that electronics it would be sensing battery health and tapering the charge current - sadly the electronics does nothing so useful.

This sort of abortion of a design pops up when a mechanical engineer, with no electronics experience (How hard can it be?), is put in charge of electronics design. I would like to say that this never happens when an EE is put in charge of a mechanical design, but sadly no ('Stress riser, what's a stress riser.?).
 

Chan Tran

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That charger is one strange design. The 555 & 4040 counter seem to only be there as a 3.5hr timer for the D2 'charging' LED. And I have a feeling the schematic is wrong when it comes to 'Vcc.' One would think with all that electronics it would be sensing battery health and tapering the charge current - sadly the electronics does nothing so useful.

This sort of abortion of a design pops up when a mechanical engineer, with no electronics experience (How hard can it be?), is put in charge of electronics design. I would like to say that this never happens when an EE is put in charge of a mechanical design, but sadly no ('Stress riser, what's a stress riser.?).

that is why I have the feeling that charger wouldn't fully charge my recelled pack with 900mAH cells.
 
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