My charger solution

[gwdigger]

We own 3 Deus' machines w/ 5 coils inc our back up so once upon a time had 3 charging clips. Bought 2 more along the way and have only one left. Broke 4 so far and its only a matter of time B4 the 5th one goes. I'm tired of buying them so made this really simple set up and it works every time.

All I did was clip off the connector, remove an inch of the wire coating then make a couple BB size solder balls on a piece of scrap wood, heat them up and shove the leeds inside and let them cool. Afterwards, I put the leeds into my vise and cranked down until I got these tiny flat discs. Use the small clear tape pieces to align the black and red leeds and press down with finger to assure a good connection. Works every time. Black leed in, red leed out. I like my steaks "black in'd". Thats an easy way to remember the proper configuration.

You can just set something on top of the tape to assure the connection holds. I was using a small cannon ball. But now have made this aluminum clamp out of some spare parts I had around here. Making 2 more now. Just a couple bolts and nuts. The black duct tape is only to make sure the wire doesnt touch the bare metal. Finger tighten is all that is needed to make a good connection.

 

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[Deft Tones]

I like your resourcefulness.

Looks like too much work. I have some of these already, so when my charging clip goes kaput I'll attach the wire leads through the spring to the clamping tip on one of these...



The Deft Tones Deus Charger!

 

[gwdigger]

I tried that but didnt get a reliable connection. But that was before adding the little soldered discs. Should work great w/ those though.

 

[jadocs]

That's some MacGyver stuff right there.

Although you could get this and not worry about clips again.

 

[gwdigger]

Yeah, I bought one and it broke while putting it on the 1st time - never even got one charge out of it. To be fair, the inventor sent me another but my wife and I have a bet on how long it lasts. The problem is it doesn't fit all 5 coils the same so it needs to be wiggled to get a good connection. I expect it will break B4 long. Good luck.

My method may seem a bit clumsy but it works every time and it won't break. Soon, I'll have 3 of them (need more small bolts/ nuts) and mount them onto a piece of plywood so i can just have a hanging charging station on my garage wall. Will snap a picture and post it up.

 

[Iron Buzz]

We own 3 Deus' machines w/ 5 coils inc our back up so once upon a time had 3 charging clips. Bought 2 more along the way and have only one left. Broke 4 so far and its only a matter of time B4 the 5th one goes. I'm tired of buying them so made this really simple set up and it works every time.

All I did was clip off the connector, remove an inch of the wire coating then make a couple BB size solder balls on a piece of scrap wood, heat them up and shove the leeds inside and let them cool. Afterwards, I put the leeds into my vise and cranked down until I got these tiny flat discs. Use the small clear tape pieces to align the black and red leeds and press down with finger to assure a good connection. Works every time. Black leed in, red leed out. I like my steaks "black in'd". Thats an easy way to remember the proper configuration.

You can just set something on top of the tape to assure the connection holds. I was using a small cannon ball. But now have made this aluminum clamp out of some spare parts I had around here. Making 2 more now. Just a couple bolts and nuts. The black duct tape is only to make sure the wire doesnt touch the bare metal. Finger tighten is all that is needed to make a good connection.

Boy, if I'm following you correctly, that looks like a VERY awkward solution! Every time you need to charge a coil (almost every night, in my case), you have to first apply those solder contacts (making damned sure they don't touch each other and short out), then hold them in place while you install your little aluminum clamp and tighten down the two nuts (I would recommend wing nuts for that, by the way)?

While I have yet to break my clamp (on my 2nd season), I am aware that it is a problem. And your idea may well be a good start, but for what you have to go through every time you need to charge your coils, I would certainly be looking for a more elegant solution. Maybe modify a spring clamp like the one that Deft Tones posted? I think you are on the right track, but wrong train.

 

[gwdigger]

I might try and take a small 1/2" x 1" piece of clear plastic sheeting (like from a thin plastic ruler) and glue the little flat solder pieces to it. Then try and use that clamp Deft Tones posted to see if that works. Might be an even simpler solution. One just needs to be able to see the connection line up hence the clear tape.

When my clips break, its the little gold tits that break off so the clips are completely useless at that point. There is nothing to salvage that I can see. I'll play with it further but at least what I've already made works well.

 

[gwdigger]

Boy, if I'm following you correctly, that looks like a VERY awkward solution! Every time you need to charge a coil (almost every night, in my case), you have to first apply those solder contacts (making damned sure they don't touch each other and short out), then hold them in place while you install your little aluminum clamp and tighten down the two nuts (I would recommend wing nuts for that, by the way)?

While I have yet to break my clamp (on my 2nd season), I am aware that it is a problem. And your idea may well be a good start, but for what you have to go through every time you need to charge your coils, I would certainly be looking for a more elegant solution. Maybe modify a spring clamp like the one that Deft Tones posted? I think you are on the right track, but wrong train.

The solder connectors dont need to be made every time. They're permanent. It takes little time to make the connection. When I'm done I'll make a video. I plug the charger in AFTER the connection is made. I am open to ideas to make it better.

 

[gwdigger]

I can consistently make the connection in about 45 seconds. Sure, I get that its not for everyone. By the way, the tape itself can quickly be placed in such a way that keeps the leeds from touching. I would advise new tape each time, I kept using the same 2 pieces.

 

[gwdigger]

Building on the idea I attached the leeds to clear plastic. Its almost as quick as the clip now. Just need to add one more thing to ensure the connection is properly aligned each and every time.

 

[vferrari]

Yeah, I bought one and it broke while putting it on the 1st time - never even got one charge out of it. To be fair, the inventor sent me another but my wife and I have a bet on how long it lasts. The problem is it doesn't fit all 5 coils the same so it needs to be wiggled to get a good connection. I expect it will break B4 long. Good luck.

My method may seem a bit clumsy but it works every time and it won't break. Soon, I'll have 3 of them (need more small bolts/ nuts) and mount them onto a piece of plywood so i can just have a hanging charging station on my garage wall. Will snap a picture and post it up.

Not sure when you got the replacement, but he redesigned the connector once he figured out what was causing them to snap. I got a redesigned one and have had no problems.

 

[Iron Buzz]

Building on the idea I attached the leeds to clear plastic. Its almost as quick as the clip now. Just need to add one more thing to ensure the connection is properly aligned each and every time.

Much better! Next I think I'd try for something more permanent for attaching the solder blobs than double-stick tape. In fact, I think I'd try to find something less likely to oxidize than solder blobs. If you know someone that plays guitar, ask them for their old strings, and check out the little brass rings at the end of each string. They might be perfect.

Some rare earth magnets might be more convenient and faster than the nuts and bolts.

But glad to see that you are refining it!

 

[OutdoorAdv]

Cool solution man! Already has me thinking on ways to make something myself. Thanks for the polarity tip with black'in too. I still have my original clip from 2 years ago and use it a TON. I just ordered a second one yesterday. The reason for me wanting more is not because I'm breaking them, but because I want to charge multiple coils at once. I have 3 coils, MI6, remote and WS4... It's tough to get everything charged for a hunt.

You broke 4 and at $25 a piece, that's $100 of clips... So I TOTALLY get why you're making these. Really looking forward to seeing the hanging bracket you make.

 

[tabman]

When a company price gouges to the extreme on a simple product like a charging clip that's cheaply made, people will improvise. Charging over $20 for a charging chip alone and over $22 for the charging cable is laughable. I'm guessing that these charging clips are produced in China for XP at less than a dollar a piece. I know similar Deus charging cables can be bought directly from China at pennies on the dollar because I just bought one (a 2 lead one) that is of much better quality for $1.99 shipped and it works great. 3ft USB 2.0 A Male to 2 Mini B 5pin Male Connector Power Cable Y Splitter Lead

tabman

 

[Iron Buzz]

Not sure when you got the replacement, but he redesigned the connector once he figured out what was causing them to snap. I got a redesigned one and have had no problems.

I ordered one today. The cheap plastic "spring" on my Deus one broke when I unclipped it last week. What on earth are they doing, making moving parts out of (what appears to be) styrene plastic?

On Monday I'll call and see if Moe will send me out a Deus replacement, but I'll just keep that in the car for mobile recharging.

 

[gene the machine]

gwdigger: what do you mean by Black leed in, red leed out? How did you know that there was positive and negative side?

1m USB 2.0 A Male to 3 × Mini 5pin Male Connector Power Data 1in3 Splitter Cable

here is a link to a USB to 3 mini usb cable.

does anyone have contact info on who makes the 3D printed ones? I might as well get one to have on hand.

 

[vferrari]

gwdigger: what do you mean by Black leed in, red leed out? How did you know that there was positive and negative side?

1m USB 2.0 A Male to 3 × Mini 5pin Male Connector Power Data 1in3 Splitter Cable

here is a link to a USB to 3 mini usb cable.

does anyone have contact info on who makes the 3D printed ones? I might as well get one to have on hand.

Do a google search on detecting doodads and you will find it.

Re: the red lead/black lead thing, Since its a battery connection, it has to have a + and - side. Not sure how gwdigger figured it out (probably by tracing the leads in the broken charging cable), but glad he did it and not me. lol.

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Nice piece of engineering to solve a problem!