Converting Polaroid 440 land camera for AAA batteries?

[photopaint89]

i just purchased a Polaroid 440 at a Goodwill store for $3.30. I've been reading up how to use it and everything, but i was wondering if anybody knew how to convert the 3 volt battery compartment to take batteries that are a little more..... modern? I already looked on ebay and 8.50 plus shipping and handling really isnt something i want to pay for a battery that probably wont last very long.

 

[dsullivan]

Lithium 3V batteries with the battery contacts taped on has worked well for us, a bit of a pain to change but I'm estimating it'll last a good number of years.

 

[Anscojohn]

Actually, that battery lasts a long time. But as stated already, a regular three volt lithium and some duct tape works just fine and also lasts a very long time--probably longer.

 

[photopaint89]

i take the snaps off and just tape the stripped wires to the battery, right?

 

[Alisha]

i take the snaps off and just tape the stripped wires to the battery, right?

Yeah, I believe that's all you have to do. Then just use tape to put it in place, black electrical tap.

I've never converted my Polaroid 250 just because I was afraid something would go wrong and I heard the batteries go a long way, so I just payed. lol

 

[brofkand]

Here's what i do to my Polaroid cameras (assuming you have one of the older style cameras that has the door on the back, directly beside the film door):

*Go to Radio Shack and buy a 2XAAA battery holder for 99cents.
*Snip out the plastic inside the battery compartment (keep dry-fitting the holder until you get a good fit). Leave the metal piece, it's what keeps the door shut. (I used heavy-duty wire snippers for this job)
*Snip off the battery snaps and strip the ends of the wires
*Hot-glue the battery holder in place (this is optional, but I recommend doing so).
*Snip off the excess battery holder wiring and strip the ends of the wires.
*(Optional) Put heat-shrink tubing on the ends of one of each of the battery holder wires
*Solder the black wire from the camera to the black wire from the battery holder, and the white to the red.
*Insert batteries and test the shutter. If it doesn't work, probably didn't get a good connection when soldering, or you put the batteries in the wrong places. If neither, try brand new, out of the package batteries.

I've done this to 3 Land Cameras and they all work great. There's no way to tell they've been modded unless you open the battery door.

 

[Steve Smith]

*Go to Radio Shack and buy a 2XAAA battery holder for 99cents.

That was going to be my suggestion (together with the rest of the instructions). In fact, I have done it.


Steve.

 

[photopaint89]

alright.. i bought the AAA battery holder at radio shack. i'll let everyone know if i got it to work!

 

[spoolman]

converting Polaroid 440 land camera for AAA Batteries

Hello All:I own a Polaroid Model 360 which has the battery compartment on the right hand side of the camera as you look at it from the front.It too uses the type 532 battery of which I just received from a place up here in Ontario that specializes in find odd types of batteries.This camera uses two batteries,one for the shutter and one for the flash.I was wondering whether the idea floated in this forum about using a 3 volt lithium battery as a substitue would work in my camera.I don't have a flash so I would only need one battery.

Any suggestions ?.

Thanks

Doug

 

[brofkand]

Good Luck on that. I've not tried it. You want a battery #532. I know they're available on eBay for about $8 and should last a good while.

I doubt you could fit 2 AAA batteries in there. You may be able to fit a lithium battery holder, as you said. Go to Radio Shack, buy the battery holder and battery, and see if you can make it fit. If not, take it back. Radio Shack is like Wal-Mart; they'll accept any returns pretty much.

 

[brofkand]

Oh, and if you have the flash that takes bulbs, it uses an AA battery. Nothing special Not sure about the later electronic flashes (strobes).

 

[cordeliaflyte]

I did the simple snip the wires + use some electrical tape to connect the ends to the top and bottom of whatever 3 volt is available at Radio Shack trick on my Automatic 420 Land Camera. This same battery has worked for years.

On my other land cameras, I've taken the lenses out, replaced them with pinholes and gutted them them of many other electronics. These don't need batteries!