Trying to figure out weirdly modified RB67 motorized back

[philcameraman]

I picked up an RB67 motorized back secondhand because it was at a good price, but it appears to have some odd modifications that I'll have to figure out. It came attached to an adapter to a 4x5 camera (I posted a thread yesterday where I was told how to remove it from that)

But more strangely, even though it's the newer type of motorized back that shouldn't need to be connected to a separate power box, it comes with what looks like a power cable coming out of the bottom. And there's a AA battery compartment but batteries won't fit, it looks like someone pulled off the metal connecters at the top of the removable door to the compartment where you place the batteries (see last photo below). So I can't test the back on my camera.

I'm looking for some advice. Is it my best bet to try to find a replacement door that can hold batteries, or get a separate battery compartment to connect to the cable? I'm partly worried that whoever owned this might have made some other modifications so that AA batteries still won't work even if I get the right holder for them. I've included photos to explain what I'm talking about, and because I'm not familiar with these film backs I'd love if someone could see if it looks like anything else that I haven't picked up on is out of order. Thanks!

 

[MattKing]

It probably came from something like a film recorder, and was modified to run on mains voltage.
I have no suggestions.

 

[Dan Daniel]

That multi-pin connector is probably meant to supply the power to the motor. The AA compartment was disabled in order to access the power inputs, etc.

I suggest that you do a test of the pin-out of the connector. Get a multi-meter and set to ring or for resistance. Open up the main body. Put one end of the meter at each output of the connector and see if it connects to any wire on the inside. You'll probably find at least four wires connected- + and - power, and a switch of some sort. Well, that's about all I can say. If you find the motor power points, you can make your own power source or reconnect the AA battery terminals.

 

[philcameraman]

Sorry could you be a little more specific? I'm not very experienced with wiring. Are you saying connect one end of the multimeter to the pins of the connector, and then try to connect the other end of the multimeter to somewhere in the body that will show a connection and will let me know where the power runs through?

 

[Dan Daniel]

There is a large rubber cone where the wire enters the back body. On the other side of this, most likely the wires break out and head to different points. Find those points...

You know, forget about the connector. All you need is to find wehre the wires go inside the back. At least two will be to power the motor. At least two will go so a switch of some sort...

How many AA batteries? Multiply times 1.5. Now you know how much power to apply to the motor points. Or just reconnect the battery terminals and use batteries.

The switch, I have no idea what it is supposed to do...