No.147 - Fluke 45 Dual Display DMM Battery Retrofit

[@IanScottJohnston]

Update: found the connectors, they are Molex Picoflex, I have some on order, including a pre-made 200mm long one so should drop straight in.

[@TheEmbeddedHobbyist]

@@IanScottJohnston a proper job as they say😀

[@SpeccyMan]

Excellent job, Ian. Your repair and modification videos are always interesting.

[@GadgetUK164]

Brilliant work Ian =D Love all the custom mounting ideas to make it fit like it was designed that way!

[@sdgelectronics]

If only there was a portable form factor type DMM that takes small batteries... Those Picoflex connectors are generally designed for one-time assembly. It's pretty rare you can get them off the connector without damage, especially the SMD version - don't ask how I know 😥. You can buy them off the shelf as ribbon assemblies though so no need to crimp them yourself.

[@IanScottJohnston]

Have ordered both the conns themselves and a pre-made 200mm one.

[@daveodessa]

Good job Ian, nice bit of sheet metalwork.

[@joelkist6493]

Mr. Ian Scott Johnson "Master Engineer", well done sir!

[@injoelsgarage3934]

Nicely done! Thank you Ian Scott.

[@jwrtiger]

Wow very nice job. I bought the Fluke 45 in the 80's and still have it. The display is bright and looks new. I liked the dB mode.

[@Ben-says-you-are-AWESOME]

Love the test equipment videos! I hope you're well. Have a great Christmas.

[@964tractorboy]

A great mod, Ian. Also a very tidy battery replacement. I must say I prefer your battery to the somewhat (over-)elaborate Fluke original, assuming there's no magic sauce in the Fluke design. Watching some of your previous videos may make a very pleasant way to spend some spare hours over Christmas. Happy holidays!

[@IanScottJohnston]

Thanks!

[@SlartiMarvinbartfast]

Very nice work!

[@andymouse]

Nicely done, and a cool meter !

[@fredflintstone1]

Christmas Cheese!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@andymouse]

@@fredflintstone1 MerrySQUEAK! to you and yours !!

[@millycarrington]

My guess would be four Hawker / EnerSys Cyclon 0810-0004 2V 2,5Ah cells in that battery pack. Could be worth measuring available space and 3d printing a suitable case?

[@TheEmbeddedHobbyist]

I would not trust a IDC without the top part putting pressure on the cable. The connections in my view are iffy to start with, but once the connector is pressed together provides the much needed clamping force on the wire. You need to either find new connectors or just hard solder it IMHO😊

[@IanScottJohnston]

Looking for new connectors, got be available.

[@andymouse]

Squeak ! on the other channel we met not long ago I agreed with your Idea and got a telling off Lol!

[@IanScottJohnston]

Molex Picoflex connectors - on order.

[@TheEmbeddedHobbyist]

@andymouse well you can be a very naughty mouse, agreeing with me can have it's down sides,😅🤣

[@andymouse]

@@TheEmbeddedHobbyist LMAO!

[@TheDefpom]

@6:35 I must be lazy, I would have just double side taped the battery to the chassis LOL.

[@IanScottJohnston]

My other workshop is kitted out, bandsaw, pedestal drill, bench grinder etc……so it’s pretty quick to do. I just got lazy and didn’t paint the new brackets mind you!

[@ulwur]

​@@IanScottJohnston wouldn't the old bracket work with just a few new holes ? Pretty much the right shape already..

[@IanScottJohnston]

I did try orientating it with a view to re-use but it wasn't having it......

[@mrma281]

It would have been perfect if the cable had been replaced. Great job.

[@IanScottJohnston]

New 200mm cable on order c/w Molex Picoflex connectors fitted......should drop straight in.

[@KD0CAC]

Thanks again I would wonder if that cut resistor lead shows on the wiring diagram ?

[@kenreynolds4229]

Original battery pack looks like 4 RS Cyclon cells to me.

[@volodumurkalunyak4651]

19:17 lead-acid battery is around 2.5V per cell - way too high for normal charging, that is clearly a overcharge. That Fluke could almost take (a littly bit higher voltage) 3S LFP (lithium illron phosfate) battery pack, that should be happy with 10.2V charging voltage.

[@ulwur]

I was thinking the same. 10v on a four cell lead acid seems much.

[@raymiller5738]

These bespoke batteries are not a good look for a company selling worldwide. They should be using more generic units and more common voltages like 12V. Well done with the battery mode, although updating to 18650 cells would have been even better.

[@GapRecordingsNamibia]

Ian, I'm only 4 minutes in, but, does that sticker on the screen have to be where it is? Why would someone put a sticker ON THE BLOOMING SCREEN??? The very thing you need to look at and you have to look at a "warenty void" sticker..... That just urks me completely the wrong way.....

[@stevec5000]

I would just put a couple of 18650's in it and call it a day.