Robert_Lai Posted January 10, 2004 Share Posted January 10, 2004 A while back, I asked what to do if I needed to have my NiCd battery packs rebuilt.<p> <a href="http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=0047l9" >How do I rebuild the MN-2?</a> <p> I'm happy to report that you can purchase the original Sanyo 270mAH cells ($1.50 each) as well as upgraded 350mAH cells ($2 each) from NiCd Lady, of El Camino California. In fact, they offered to rebuild the pack for me for $30, which is basically the cost of the cells in total (14 cells required). I've just received the pack back, and it works great! It even has a nice sticker on it with the rebuilt date. Because of the higher capacity of the new cells, the pack takes a 5 hour charge. The MH-2 charger gives a fixed 4 hour charge, so I have to cycle through once, then charge for another hour, using a timer to prevent overcharging.<p>For the record, the new cells read 20V on my voltmeter. The older packs that I have read between 18.5 to 19V when fully charged.<p>I have no commercial relationship to this company besides being their customer. I thought this may be of interest to others who will one day want their battery pack rebuilt. Get a quote first from Grace if you decide to go with them:<p> <a href="http://www.nicdlady.com/" >NiCd Lady Home Page</a> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert_Lai Posted January 10, 2004 Author Share Posted January 10, 2004 Whoops, I should have checked the address on the box more carefully. The correct address is this:<p> The NiCd Lady Company<p> 20585 Camino del Sol, Unit B<p> Riverside, California 92508<p> Grace is at sales@nicdlady.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl Stone Posted January 10, 2004 Share Posted January 10, 2004 Robert, do you know for sure whether or not the extra voltage is an issue? The added storage capacity is nice, but I get nervous with voltages beyond what the camera came with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mskovacs Posted January 10, 2004 Share Posted January 10, 2004 I built three MN-2 packs with the higher capacity Sanyo NiCd cells as well. Carl the higher voltage right after charging is normal behavior for NiCd cells. The extra capacity cells have no difference in the operation of the MD-4 except to add longer life. Robert I didn't know that the MH-2 charger simply charged and turned on the light after 4 hours. How did you determine you were finished at 5 hours? Did you just wait until the pack started to feel warmer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert_Lai Posted January 11, 2004 Author Share Posted January 11, 2004 Mike,<p>I used simple extrapolation to obtain the 5 hour time. If 4 hours is sufficient for 270mAH, then:<p> 350 x 4 hours / 270 = 5.2 hours. OK, I could have given it 12 more minutes (the 0.2 hours), but I didn't want to overcharge the cells the first time out.<p>This assumes the same charging efficiency as before:<p> 270mAH/(80mA x 4 H) = 0.84.<p>The figures in the denominator come from the charger specifications itself (turn your charger over to see: 20V, 80mA). Since the cells are identical except for capacity, I expect that 84% of the total charge put into the cells by the charger is stored, while the rest are dissipated in chemical changes and as heat. I'm not a battery expert - I went over these considerations with Grace via the email first.<p>The 20V is only a reflection of the freshness of the charge. My other cells were charged over a month ago, so they have run down slightly (self-discharge). The camera doesn't seem to mind at all.<p>As for timing, I use a simple cooking timer with a beeper to tell me when to unplug it. Otherwise, it will get an 8 hour charge, which is definitely too much (could lead to cell rupture). However, if you have the 350mAH cells in your pack and only give it a 4 hour (standard) charge, you're definitely short-changing yourself by 30%! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mskovacs Posted January 11, 2004 Share Posted January 11, 2004 Great I'll have to give that a try. I'm pretty sure that the red light on the charger doesn't switch the power off. Is that your experience as well? A general comment for F3/MD-4 users: if you've never tried your MD-4 with the MN-2, you won't believe the performance increase! With a fresh pack, 36 exposure films rewind in 5-6 seconds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david_h._hartman Posted January 11, 2004 Share Posted January 11, 2004 I get 4 frames per second out of eight Energizer NH-15AA(s) and 5 frames or a bit more per second out of Energizer L91(s). Thats with a 24 exposure test roll in the camera. Am I missing something?<br> <br> It must be childs play to refurbish the MN-2 with tabbed cells. I envision that the packs are held together with snaps and Phillips head screws. Is this correct? Id like a few dead packs if I could find them. Anyone know of a source?<br> <br> The one thing I know I do not put alkaline batteries in my cameras anymore.<br> <br> ---<br> <br> Some worry about L91 Lithium(s) in older cameras. I got this answer in an e-mail from columnist Steve Sint, <em>"I'm sure some will disagree but I find lithiums a total plus....I use them in everything in my bag that takes double AA's and have had no problems (what so ever, zip....nada...:-))" --SS</em> and <em>"....you can also get 9V lithiums at Radio Shack...I use them in my Quantum radios with no problems." -SS</em><br> <br> A spare MS-3 costs $24.95 (USD) at B&H Photo.<br> <br> Regards, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert_Lai Posted January 11, 2004 Author Share Posted January 11, 2004 David,<p>What you are missing is the ability to recharge the cell over and over for at least 100x, with each full charge capable of powering over 50 rolls of 36 exposure film. That is, if you use the charge fairly quickly, and don't let it sit around for months like I do. If I was a professional, I could see how having 3 or 4 such packs would allow me to keep shooting all day and night. Any spent packs can be recharged in 4 hours. So consider the economics - $25 for a depleted MN-2 shell + $30 to have it fully recelled + $100 or so for the charger. Compare that to what you will have to pay for all those Lithium cells to go through the same amount of film.<p>My reason for getting the MN-2 is that in the Northeast, the winters can get very cold. I've had the camera button cells die on me in the cold before. I've never had the camera fail in the freezing weather with the MN-2 pack in there.<p>The pack is rediculously simple to take apart. 4 Phillips (cross-head) screws need to be removed off the top aluminum plate. Then gently lift up the plate to reveal a plastic insulation sheet, and some foam rubber padding for wires which run the length of the unit. Be careful not to distort the aluminum plate, as the battery chamber tolerances of the MD-4 is actually very tight, and a distorted plate will not allow the pack to be put into the drive. Once inside, it is self evident how the batteries are hooked up.<p>One warning regarding the MN-2 use. You need to be meticulously clean with your film chamber. The MD-4 always runs at 5.5 fps speed (even on single shot) which means that the film travels very fast when advanced. If you're not clean, the film will get scratched quite severely.<p>I suggest you find a depleted MN-2 pack on ebay and give yourself a thrill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_johnston8 Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 FYI, the NiCad Lady now charges $55 to rebuild an MN-2 with the higher capacity 350 mAH cells. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gen Posted October 18, 2009 Share Posted October 18, 2009 <p>Has anyone found a good/reasonable source of used MN-2 battery packs? I'd like to get 1-2 to rebuild but haven't found any online for a reasonable price.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joel_bierling Posted May 8, 2010 Share Posted May 8, 2010 <p>I have a disassembled MN-2 that I'd trade for a AA battery insert.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason_ganz Posted October 11, 2010 Share Posted October 11, 2010 <p>in terms of going from 270mah to 350mah, is there a performance diff (ie: more fps), or is it just longer battery life?</p> <p>Jason</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lilly_w Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 <p>Going from 270 to 350mAh gives longer life per charge but no increase in frame-rate. It's analogous to having a larger gas tank.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geo2 Posted June 13, 2012 Share Posted June 13, 2012 <p>Hi,<br> I own an MN-2 which is loosing charge too early and I am thinking about rebuild the battery pach.<br> I am not an electronics bricoleur.<br> Searching the web, I found 2/3AA NiMH cells are now pretty much more performing than 270 or 350 mAh, it's pretty usual to find 1600 mAh units actually. There will be any problem replacing cells in my MN-2 with those, instead of with lower capacity units?<br> Thanks for your advice!</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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