M8 Travel Battery Charger

[marknorton]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

The one thing we can all agree on is that the M8 battery charger is big enough. On a recent trip, I realised it's too big, I also realised that I always have my laptop with me with its own power adapter ("brick") so why not use that to power the M8 charger?

 

So here is the result of a re-packaging exercise in my lab to reduce the size of the M8 battery charger. This version runs off a car battery or pretty much any laptop brick you care to connect.

 

If you're handy with a soldering iron, I'll be telling you how you can do it too.

 

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

 

[bradhusick]

I would pay you to make one for me!

-Brad

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[Roderik]

same here

[mike prevette]

wow. What voltage range does it accept? Will a 110v version be in the works?

 

Nice work.

_mike

[mhoutman]

definitely a group buy here ;-)

[steich]

Nice!

Does "repacking" mean you used a complete charger, took it apart and put everything in this nice small case?

Maybe one could get the parts from Ansmann (ANSMANN ENERGY GMBH) ? At least they make the charger for Leica...a few weeks ago I tried asking them if they would supply a spare battery without the Leica label. They just said: ask Leica if you need a battery..

 

Regards

Stefan

[dspeltz]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

The advantage to the really big one to me( when traveling) is that I nearly trip over it when I am checking out of the hotel and it is hard to leave it. I generally charge in the bathroom where it is obvious and grab it off the wall the last few minutes of my stay. It is hard to miss. I have lost the little ones that way.

 

Well, I am looking for something positive to say about the current charger.

 

What I really want however is a tiny charger with prongs that fold in when not in use.

[carstenw]

I have access to someone who is really handy with a soldering iron. Will you post shots? Where did you get that case from? Can you still use it in a wall? It would be awesome if it would take those standard cables which end in a rubber plug looking like a small pigs nose, because so many things take such a cable that someone always has one, and it can be shared between people and devices.

[herbkell]

I love it - someone definately needs to make an aftermarket version....

[DaveEP]

I am pretty good with a soldering iron, having designed and built computers from scratch (and I mean from PCB/chip/resister/capacitor level!).... so I look forward to more info.....

[Guest guy_mancuso]

Hmmm I just bought a second M8 so I have one to travel with, very simple guys. ROTFLMAO

 

 

That is a pretty cool idea

[jrc]

If I were Leica, I'd steal this from you, and sell if for, mmm, $80 -- £80 in the U.K., just for numerical symmetry's sake. 8-)

 

JC

[4season]

Sweet hack.

 

Looks like Mark saved space by removing the AC power supply circuitry and repackaging just the charge controller. So you still need to scavange an AC brick from somewhere, but chances are, if you're traveling with a computer, you've already got one that's suitable for the job. Accomodating the magnetic connectors used on Apple's new notebooks will take some ingenuity though!

[Guest guy_mancuso]

Yes now that a lot of us are on Mac's that would be intersting to see how that can be done. I did not realize it was as small as that when I first looked at it. This is very cool , okay Mark start making them and they will come.

 

Movie :Field Of Dreams

Quote

"Build it and they will come"

 

Just saw this 2 nights ago, great movie

[thpeters]

Hi Mark,

 

I love to have one and be next in row, and willing to pay for it.

 

Great idea.

 

 

Theo

[yoMammabot]

HOORAY! Sign me up. I won't let friends see my Leica charger... I know they would only laugh at its size.

[fuchs]

I would buy such a small adapter right away.

 

Or one as big as the current one, but faster and with provision to charge two batteries at the same time

 

Best,

 

Ed

[bap]

If your taking orders count me in

[ronniestern]

I'll buy one too.

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[Cindy Flood]

I've soldered together a few computers in my day. I'd like to see how it is done.