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Quick hack: The $1 C-to-D adapter

Quick C to D adapter
Here's a common problem: You want to power your gizmo that runs on D cells, but all that you have handy are C cells. In many (but not all) circumstances, you can solve this problem by using the C cell and making up the battery length difference with a few quarters-- typically three or four. There is a 12 mm length difference between a C cell and a D cell, and quarters are about 2 mm thick, so if your gizmo has a really weak spring it could take up to six quarters to do the job.

Yes, commercial battery size adapters are available. They typically cost between 1.5 and three dollars and can only be used for the one purpose-- adapting battery sizes. (Well, that, and as a set of matryoshki.) Using quarters can also potentially end up costing as much as $1.50, but it can go straight back into your wallet when you're finished! Much more importantly, when you really need it, you can probably find a few quarters no further away than your pocket.

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Here's what others have to say about 'Quick hack: The $1 C-to-D adapter':
Neatorama >> Blog Archive >> Battery Adapter.
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Quick hack: The $1 C-to-D adapter from MAKE: Blog
Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories show you how to turn a C battery into a D in a jam... -Here's a common problem: You want to power your gizmo that runs on D cells, but all that you have handy... [read more]
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Technology Insight » Blog Archive » Quick hack: The $1 C-to-D adapter
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http://www.diyhappy.com/battery-conversion-techniques/
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CreepyFriend.Com >> Post Topic >> Make those C's, D's in No Time
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Battery conversion hacks from BlogCadre
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Quick hack: The $1 C-to-D adapter | 12 comments | Create New Account
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Quick hack: The $1 C-to-D adapter
From: Anonymous on Sunday, June 24 2007 @ 09:10 AM PDT
Very nice idea, I'm going to try that if I ever run out of D cells.
But the picture looks like a big fat short circuit to me - are you sure the batteries are not to be connected in parallel?
-- arne
Quick hack: The $1 C-to-D adapter
From: Anonymous on Sunday, June 24 2007 @ 12:43 PM PDT
To Arne: Ever heard of a Series Circuit, Mr. Electrical Genius? Fizz
Quick hack: The $1 C-to-D adapter
From: Anonymous on Monday, June 25 2007 @ 03:48 PM PDT
I believe this would better be described as the $1.50 C-to-D adapter?
But brilliant!
Quick hack: The $1 C-to-D adapter
From: Anonymous on Monday, June 25 2007 @ 03:49 PM PDT
Err, rather, the $1.75... ^^;
Quick hack: The $1 C-to-D adapter
From: Anonymous on Tuesday, June 26 2007 @ 01:26 AM PDT
I remember doing something like this with a handful of tin foil. I didn't realize why it worked at the time. Luckily, nothing exploded. :)
Quick hack: The $1 C-to-D adapter
From: Anonymous on Friday, July 06 2007 @ 03:48 PM PDT
I did something similar last month; I replaced the bulbs in my fridge with fluorescent ones, but the fluorescent ones had big badonkadonks (where the ballast lives) at the base of the bulb so they wouldn't screw into the sockets. Eight pennies wrapped in electrical tape later, there was light.