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Leica M8 compact charger re-visited...


doubice

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Many months ago Rich described how he built a compact charger to replace the 'brick' supplied with the original M8. Here is the original thread:

 

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m8-forum/83090-finally-compact-battery-charger.html

 

The idea was fantastic and I immediately bought the parts needed but only now got around to making one. I strayed from Rich's design by keeping the 'figure 8' plug intact and using figure 8 plug adapters instead.

 

Thanks for the idea, Rich!

 

Best,

 

Jan

 

Here is the result:

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Rich,

 

Thanks!

 

I actually ran into a bit of a snag, as my Delkin plates only have the + and - contacts, not the ‘T’ like yours. I only noticed that yours had all 3 contacts after I had everything apart and cut up… I contacted Delkin who thought I was another one of those crazy Leica owners, when I told them that I was sure a Leica M8 plate with 3 contacts existed. I did not want to tell them about the surgery I planned or, to direct them to your photos which clearly showed the surgery and the 3 contacts.

 

Apparently, they checked their complete stock (so I was told) and not single M8 plate with 3 contacts was found. Their technician claims it is not needed. I built two chargers - the first one with only the + and - contacts. With the second one, I decided to experiment - I fabricated the ‘T’ contact from a sheet of brass, made the appropriate opening in the Delkin plate, installed it, connected it to the ‘T’ on the Pentax circuit board and epoxied it in place.

 

That step took a little longer and I did it only to find out what effect the third contact would have on the charging procedure. I discharged two Leica batteries and started the charge at the same time, using both chargers. The difference became obvious at the end of the full charging cycles - the charger with only 2 contacts extinguishes the red LED when the battery is charged. The one with the extra ‘T’ contact switches from a red glow to a green glow when charging is complete, using the same LED.

 

The ‘figure 8’ plugs are just about impossible to obtain separately - I tried the ‘net, eBay, local suppliers etc. Finally, I found a supplier who sells aftermarket chargers with these plugs and was lucky to get some plugs separately.

 

Just out of interest - how does your LED behave to indicate full charge?

 

Best,

 

Jan

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That third connection between battery pack and the Leica charger is a temperature sensor in the battery pack which ends the charge process if the battery pack gets hot and bothered.

 

Li-Ion cells like to stay within an operation envelope - charging voltage, charging current, temperature, discharge current - to keep them stable. There's a risk they will explode if, for example, they are over-charged.

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Mark,

 

Yes, I am aware of that. That is exactly what I said to the rep at Delkin when I queried them about the lack of the third connection on their charging plate. According to their technician it is not necessary; I would rather take your word than theirs I must admit though.....

 

When I charged the two batteries in the two chargers (one with the third connection and one without), I kept on checking the temperature of both batteries. A rather unscientific way, I must admit (by touching them...) but, they stayed at identical temperature throughout the charging cycle.

 

Best,

 

Jan

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The ‘figure 8’ plugs are just about impossible to obtain separately - I tried the ‘net, eBay, local suppliers etc. Finally, I found a supplier who sells aftermarket chargers with these plugs and was lucky to get some plugs separately.

 

I understood that these plugs are normally quite easy to find, but if not, there is an alternative.

 

Apple sell the Apple World Travel Adapter Kit which consists of a set of adaptors for most of the world, plus a USB charger too. These are designed to work with Apple power supplies, but will fit almost any standard figure-8 socket. :)

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I understood that these plugs are normally quite easy to find, but if not, there is an alternative.

 

Apple sell the Apple World Travel Adapter Kit which consists of a set of adaptors for most of the world, plus a USB charger too. These are designed to work with Apple power supplies, but will fit almost any standard figure-8 socket. :)

 

Nicole,

 

Yes, I am aware of these. Originally I planned to canibalize one of the Apple kits to finish the project. I even bought a cheap Chinese knock-off of the adapter (eBay is full of them) and it would have worked. In the end I decided against it, as the white figure 8 plug would have looked a little out of place on the black charger. The 'Apple' charger did not go to waste though - it is being used to charge my wife's Parrot Bluetooth phone kit.

 

Best,

 

Jan

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Rich,

 

Thanks the clarification. Now I can sleep better knowing that both chargers will work fine. :)

 

Your chemistry experiment reminded me of fabricating H0 scale houses out of cardboard, setting up Matchbox, Dinky and Corgi fire brigades, squirting lighter fuel on the houses and setting them on fire. Unfortunately, Jan's Fire Department was heavily understaffed and the houses happily burned to the ground while leaving a nice brown spot in the hardwood floor of our flat in Prague.

 

My affection to fires continued into my late teens, when I threw a few Molotov Cocktails at Soviet tanks in Prague, in August 1968. Had to leave the country soon thereafter....:D

 

I did not pursue the fireman's career and Prague, as well as Vancouver can now feel much safer.

 

Best,

 

Jan

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I recall making silver mirrors in a testube via reduction of silver ammonia complex. In my parents basement obviously. Years later I read that such solutions over time also form silver azide which is a high explosive used for detonators & such. I had more hair then than I do now & it literally stood on end. I guess we all have such moments:D

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I did not pursue the fireman's career and Prague, as well as Vancouver can now feel much safer.

 

The closest that I have come to being eligible to join the Ray Bradbury fire brigade was when I affixed a Jetex motor to a Tri-ang goods wagon. (With a BP key-ring figure as the test-pilot.) This experimental form of transportation accelerated very rapidly, but left the rails at the first bend. It might have achieved orbit if it had not encountered a set of curtains on its way out of the bedroom window. As you can probably imagine, the curtains did not fare too well in this encounter with a (by then,) burning mass of rocket propelled plastic, and I was banned from further research into rocket propulsion. :o The '60s were great times to grow up in. :D

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And of course, Airfix models. I'm sure all small English boys re-enact the sinking of the Bismark (
:o)

 

Not wanting to seem unpatriotic, but I 'blew up' my Airfix HMS Hood using a Wessex Dambuster banger which I taped to it. I remember being convinced the Dambuster made a bigger flash and bang than anything else. That was in the late1950s, naturally I wouldn't dream of condoning such irresponsibe actions today:rolleyes:

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........My affection to fires continued into my late teens, when I threw a few Molotov Cocktails at Soviet tanks in Prague, in August 1968. Had to leave the country soon thereafter....:D.....

 

Best,

 

Jan

 

I am proud to admit that one of those tanks, in front of the Czechoslovak Radio building, actually caught fire and had to be abandoned by the 'liberating' Red Army troops.

 

Now - beat that! :p

 

Best,

 

Jan

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  • 3 months later...

Welcome to the forum, latestart! :)

 

Thanks for the link. I think that's the standard charger supplied with the M9 (and possibly the M8.2), which Leica is now offering as an accessory for everyone who prefers it to the standard M8 "brick," as it's lovingly called on the forum. ;)

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