Olympus T45 flashgun power pack disassembly

[eggen]

Hello there!

Can anyone help me to disassembe Olympus T45 flashgun power pack. I want to change Ni-Cad batteries (dead) to metall hybrid batteries. Any advices, pictures or something that helps me. Thanks in advance.

 

[neilt3]

I can't help you with that , I just tent to keep removing screws until things fall apart .
Don't forget to draw a plan in paper to mark where every screw came from , important if they are different sizes .

Regards the batteries , how do you plan on charging them ?
If it's with the original charger , are they still compatible ?

I don't think you can charge most modern batteries in old NiCad chargers .
Just a thought .

 

[koraks]

I don't think you can charge most modern batteries in old NiCad chargers .

That's a very valid concern indeed. While some NiMH batteries will tolerate continued trickle charging (which is what many NiCd chargers will do), some won't and will have their lifetime cut drastically. Moreover, I have the impression that the original NiCD chargers doesn't charge the cells individually, which is a poor design choice to begin with. Better charge cells individually.

In general, it's best to charge batteries with the charger intended for that specific battery chemistry. Yes, it sounds kind of obvious...because it is.

I want to change Ni-Cad batteries (dead) to metall hybrid batteries.

I suspect the cells will be AA-sized. If so, in principle any NiMH AA cell will work as a replacement. Voltage is about the same and should present no problem.
Ideally you would make the cells easily removable so you can charge them in any generic NiMH charger (e.g. the kind that plugs directly into a wall socket). You could try to modify the existing battery pack by adding a removable flap/section to it or something. Or perhaps recreate the battery pack using 3D modeling & printing, but modify the design so the cells can easily be removed one by one. Since the battery pack sits inside the flash unit and is protected by it, some kind of open frame design would work.

 

[eggen]

First: I have changed Motor Drive 2 original batteries to NiMh batteries and it works very well. No problems with charging. Second: I just received very good instructions from Ken Norton who have done these operations many times. So I´ll try and I´ll report what happend.

 

[koraks]

Good to hear.

No problems with charging.

Any problems will manifest themselves in due course in the form of reduced lifetime of the cells. Some NiMH batteries may be more sensitive to this than others. The problem can be limited by removing the pack from the charger once it's full and don't leave it in there e.g. overnight.

Good luck! I know I'd do this differently, but that's not to say that my way is the only way that'll work.

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

I have replaced NiCad batteries with NiMH with no problems. One benefit was the computer (1988 Toshiba T1000 laptop) run time went from 4hrs to 6hrs. The NiMH's last ~4 years before needing replacement. The computer is normally connected to the charger when not in use in the backyard under a shade tree.

After all, a 4.77MHz 8088 waits for my next keystroke with the same speed as a 4.77GHz i7.

YMMV, heck YMWV. The whole thing may blow up in your face - but you won't know until you try.

If you need a custom battery pack - a number of cells with welded tabs between them in some odd size - may I recomend https://www.digikey.com/

 

[woodman133]

Hello there!

Can anyone help me to disassembe Olympus T45 flashgun power pack. I want to change Ni-Cad batteries (dead) to metall hybrid batteries. Any advices, pictures or something that helps me. Thanks in advance.

Hi there Eggen, I can't help you with your problem, but maybe you could help me with mine. I have a T45 flashgun but no battery or charger. I woyld like to get it working even if it means working off an external connected battery or mains. I need to know what voltage the battery pack gives out, and which of the various contacts to connect to. Would you be able to tell me this please?

Keith

 

[wiltw]

You guys rebuilding T45 flash units, intending to change batteries to NiMH...I would FIRST verify that the power capacitor still is able to take and hold a charge -- before putting much effort and expense into wiring in new batteries!

 

[eggen]

Hi there Eggen, I can't help you with your problem, but maybe you could help me with mine. I have a T45 flashgun but no battery or charger. I woyld like to get it working even if it means working off an external connected battery or mains. I need to know what voltage the battery pack gives out, and which of the various contacts to connect to. Would you be able to tell me this please?

Keith

Hello Keith
I´ll send some pictures about T45 Charger. There are some information you want to know, but I can´t tell to you about the various contacts. These contacts are so deep inside the charger back I can´t measure with my equipments. I also send exploded parts diagrams about the charger and letter by Ken Norton´s how to disasseble battery pack. Mayby you can ask from Ken if he knows about these contacts.

Best regards
Esko

 

[woodman133]

Hello Keith
I´ll send some pictures about T45 Charger. There are some information you want to know, but I can´t tell to you about the various contacts. These contacts are so deep inside the charger back I can´t measure with my equipments. I also send exploded parts diagrams about the charger and letter by Ken Norton´s how to disasseble battery pack. Mayby you can ask from Ken if he knows about these contacts.

Best regards
Esko

Thanks Eggen, that is very kind of you to take the time to send all the helpful information. I bought the flashgun at auction without seeing it and have been wondering ever since if I can make use of it. It looks like a real piece of kit so it would be nice to be able to use it. Well now thanks to you I have something to work with.
Keith

 

[omtech1]

Hello there!

Can anyone help me to disassembe Olympus T45 flashgun power pack. I want to change Ni-Cad batteries (dead) to metall hybrid batteries. Any advices, pictures or something that helps me. Thanks in advance.

It is welded shut and would require cutting along the seam to pop it open. Peal leatherette off the end and pop clips off (as I recall). I converted one of those years ago to NiMH. Battery fit was very tight. Battery pack worked but charger got very hot in use.

 

[eggen]

It is welded shut and would require cutting along the seam to pop it open. Peal leatherette off the end and pop clips off (as I recall). I converted one of those years ago to NiMH. Battery fit was very tight. Battery pack worked but charger got very hot in use.

When I changed NiCd batteries to NiMH there were very little space. I think NiMh batteries I changes were a little bit larger than old NiCd batteries so I made more room to cut some supports of the lids. Then all fits. The charger does not heat it works very well. I use T45 constantly.