Do batteries have to be round?

Hi all,

What a great new hobby! First ever surface-mount soldering was a success, (driver kit C/O Stonetek. Thank you!). Blown up a few PHR-803Ts, (China!), and a x16 Sony diode, (again, C/O Stonetek.), seen some cool stuff and seem to be getting on okay... Now, it's my first post so I'll get to the point!!

I'm aiming at building compact stuff so have been looking at mobile phone batteries. These seem to be a similar rating to the more common cylindrical type. I've now got an Ericsson with a reliable burning laser on the back and both seem to run quite happily together, (I've got photos if anyone's interested). There seem to be several advantages to this piggy-back approach but can anyone suggest why this would be a bad avenue to continue down? I've got lots to learn so any advice would be welcomed.

Loads of thanks,

Morgan

Yes --  Batteries have to be round.  As the electrons circulate in the corriolus effect of our earth's magnetic field, they can clump in the corners causing cellular constipation.  When these electrons break loose in a gigantic fart, your LD is toast.  ;D    No POOP

Sorry -- I couldn't resist.........

Mike

Hehe... right, that must be it

Seriously though, it doesnt matter. Most lasers use round batteries because those are the easiest to use in pointer/flashlight formfactor housings, but there is no other reason.

Hemlock Mike said:

Yes --  Batteries have to be round.  As the electrons circulate in the corriolus effect of our earth's magnetic field, they can clump in the corners causing cellular constipation.  When these electrons break loose in a gigantic fart, your LD is toast.  ;D    No POOP

Sorry -- I couldn't resist.........

Mike

Click to expand...

I think hes trying to say no, it's fine. ;D

Never underestimate the levels of sarcasm on LPF, especially towards newcomers.... :

I see, so theoretically a spherical battery would solve all our problems? Where would the contacts go? :-/

I couldn't resist either...

Thanks Mike, it was more of a rhetorical question. Did I upset or bring a smile? It was a smile right? ;D

(Man, I hope Mike was joking or I just looked like a real idiot!!! Hey, I'm new, don't pick on me yet!)

Morgan

Sarcasim ???   NOOOOOOO  that was to be funny in a scientific way  ;D

No slam against the question -- scientific questions sometimes need a funny answer.   By the way -- open a 9 volt battery -- the cells have curved corners  

Seriously now -- When I make a pointer or portable, my lathe makes round holes for cells. It is much more difficult to machine square or rectangular housings. Note also that the housings, Aixiz etc, are also round. Labbies are different and flat surfaces are best.

Mike

Thanks all,

I'm gonna have to be on my guard with you lot, eh! ;D

This was kinda serious. I like the packaging of the batteries and I'm working on building a spirograph projector, (inspired by Roger's mini projector), to hook up with an MP3 player or mobile phone. The end game is mini-mobile disco phone. The box should be a tidy 60x35x15mm.

The advantages, as I see them, are that you can charge your laser when you charge the phone; you have a handy power reading on the phone so you'd know if your diode is unwell or battery is dead; and you could call someone when you've inadvertently scorched your retina! ;D

Bingo-bango, the disco or Eye-Phone, as I like to call it!

Morgan.

In general, batteries come in cylindrical containers. You can also get polymer lithium batteries which are flat.

Thanks 691175002. Most of the mobile-phone batteries I've been looking at, (we've all got old mobiles knocking about somewhere), have been the polymer Li-ion type so I thought they were a good scavenge. Most seem, "rated", at 3.6-3.7 volts, 900-950maH. Did some digging... , found vids of catastrophic failures due to overcharging and thought, the phone charges them fine, I'm not using it... Why not hack it? I just wanted to make sure I wasn't gonna do damage, (to myself or my precious!). Will post my Ericsson piggy-back when I'm allowed.

Love, peace and cheese,

M

No, when I open a (the right) 9V Battery, I get cells for my first ever Laser Pointer, which has something like 680nm/5mW and costed more than 70,- in 1990 or 1992. This thing uses AAAA battereis, which are found in some alkaline 9V.
For the sarcasm: Its good, much better then in laserfreak.net, where some guy canceled his account because of a quarrel about a nice joke :-( They are just too serious - where stays the fun?

Morgan said:

I see, so theoretically a spherical battery would solve all our problems? Where would the contacts go? :-/

Click to expand...

On the inside, obviously! ;D

it could be possible for the use of an adapter...