Introduction: $$ Super Cheap Inline Power Pack $$

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About: Hello, You can call me Rex. I'm intrigued by electronics and always on the lookout for a cool project to make my Family smile. I just posted my first Instructable and I got the happy response from my daug…

Hello Everyone!

I was working on a Project, in which I am almost done with, but I needed an Inline Power Pack. I looked around and I couldn't even locate one! The reason why I needed an Inline Power Pack was due to the internal specifications of the project that I was working on. I thought that I would just build one and in turn I came up with a way that everyone could build one and easily and inexpensively make it to have the voltage specifications of your project needs.

Well Guys and Girls, I hope you like this idea and can incorporate it into your project if you have a need for it too!

Step 1: Determine the Battery's Dimensions

  1. Before measuring the battery, be sure to apply electrical tape over the battery ends (+ & -) so you don't damage your battery or cause any unwanted actions to occur.
  2. Measure the length and width of the battery.

Step 2: Step 2: Select a Cylindrical (non-metallic) Tube That You Battery's Fit In.

I have a section of PVC Pipe left over from a old project which will work out just fine.

The inside dimensions of the PVC Pipe is 1 inch, which will work perfectly!

The C-Battery Length was 1.95 inches, so if I wanted to stack up (3) C-Batteries, we would multiply the length X 3. Which, when we add the batteries in Series would give me 4.5 Volts.

1.95 X 3 = 5.85 inches

Now, we need to add a little bit of room in the end caps for the Battery Terminals, 3 millimeters or 1/8" will do.

Step 3: Step 3: Cap the PVC and Add Terminals

During this step I needed to put a cap on one end of the PVC as well as put a spring in the bottom of it.

  1. I took the spring out of the Broken VCR Remote and bent the base wire outwards.
  2. Next, I took a box cutter and cut a small divot out of the edge of the PVC so the spring terminal could extend outwards.
  3. Then I cut (2) circles out of the VCR Case to make end caps for the PVC pipe.
  4. On the bottom end where the spring was going to be located I glued the spring and end cap into place.
  5. I drilled matching holes in the PVC for the positive end cap so I could easily remove it when I needed to replace the batteries.
  6. For the top end cap I cut a strip of the VCR Metal Sheeting that was located in the top of the VCR for the positive terminal. I bent the sheeting strip over my screw driver to achieve a slight curve.
  7. After scratching the cap and metal strip (to give a better adhesion) I glued it into place.

Step 4: Step 4: Test It!!

Connect it, Test it..... It's Alive!