| Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption |
| judith |
Slightly broken battery chargerJust about everything in the house and garden that has a battery seems also to have a flat battery, so I decided to start a campaign of charging. But the great god Who Must Not Be Named has other ideas. This is what I found when I went to deploy the charger
Can anyone tell me what I will need to reattach the wire to the clip, and hopefully where I can get it? Ta in advance. |
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| sean |
Looks like you need a ?shovel/spade connector which will crimp on to the cable and slide onto the croc clip. All you really need though is a decent connection between the two so you could solder it on. Or drill a little hole in the clip and clamp the lead to it with a nut and bolt. | ||||
| vegplot |
Often the wire is attached by a crimp. Sometimes you can prise the crimp open with a small screwdriver (be careful not to slip), insert the wire and recrimp with a pair of pliers. It the crimp is broken or missing then you can solder on the wire directly to the clip. Failing that buy a new clip.
Or, for a quick and easy fix, clamp (trap) the wire to the battery post using the clip. |
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| mochyn |
Would you like to borrow our charger? | ||||
| Nick |
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=45708
And it's blinged in gold. |
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| Treacodactyl |
That's what I was going to say. You should be able to tell by looking at the other clip if it's attached. Or if you've got a pic of that one someone else should be able to tell. |
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| judith |
Hmm. Can't find anything that looks like a crimp. That'll teach me to vacuum! Soldering is a possibility. Not that I've ever soldered anything in my life, but I know that himself had the wherewithal. Heaven knows where it is though. |
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| Chez |
Or, you could, in a temporary fashion, tape the wire in place with some electrical insulation tape. Which is probably what I would do, and it would stay like that for the next five years.
If you can't find your soldering/crimping stuff, Arv will be back on Friday with his. |
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| judith |
Thanks, but I have already borrowed one. The first thing that needed charging was the Discovery battery, which has been sitting unused for the last 2 months. Had to move the Disco to allow Wonderful Neighbour access to the trailer so he can take evil ram to the abattoir for me this afternoon. So he brought his charger with him last night when he came to help jump-start the Disco. I just want to mend ours like a good little Downsizer! |
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| vegplot |
It's probably missing one of these. A spade connector attaches a wire to something else which slots into the other end. They can be a pain to repair and a new one is often easiest. Do you have a harware store local to you? They may well be able to fix it properly for you if you can't find the soldering iron and solder.
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| judith |
That's what I thought too, unfortunately the other clip looks like this. 
And I can't push the plastic sleeve back to get a look at it. |
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| judith |
Thanks for the pic. I'll see if there is anything like it in Rob's kit. |
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| judith |
I'll bear that in mind. (Although the insulating tape solution sounds quite tempting at the mo.) |
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| judith |
Nice! |
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| Chez |
I think it should be fine as as short-term measure to get the charging jobs done if you use enough of it. |
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| judith |
Ha!
It's a very small victory in the great scheme of things, but a victory nonetheless. Thanks chaps. |
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| sean |
Good work. Now for the twenty page debate on battery chargers. | ||||
| mochyn |
You could change the title to 'Slightly MENDED battery charger'. | ||||
| judith |
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