Holding a battery was a challenge in the last electric knife build, so I bought an 18650 holder and soldered long wires to it. I never liked how those wires bunched up inside the handle, and they looked especially bad with a clear handle. I considered many ways to make an axial battery into one that would reliably connect with a homemade contact block. The biggest challenges were the negative battery terminal, spring-loading the battery and holder, enabling fast changes, and avoiding excess wire.
The best solution was to use commercial electrical connectors. I planned to get a mated pair of connectors, with a socket mounted inside the handle and the other half integrated with the battery mount. I wanted to use RCA connectors because they are radially symmetrical, low-profile, inexpensive, and reliable. The problem was that I could not find chassis-mounted male RCA connectors. Fortunately, I saw barrel power connectors while searching, and they were promising for most of the same reasons, plus, I can easily connect power supplies with those universal power connectors. I ordered some battery terminals and mated power plugs.
GitHub repo for EleKSco.
The rest of the posts for this project have been arranged by date.
First time here?
Completed projects from year 1
Completed projects from year 2
Completed projects from year 3
Completed projects from year 4
Completed projects from year 5
Completed projects from year 6
Completed projects from year 7
Completed projects from year 8
Completed projects from year 9
Completed projects from year 10
Completed projects from year 11
Completed projects from year 12
Disclaimer for http://24hourengineer.blogspot.com and 24HourEngineer.com
This disclaimer must be intact and whole. This disclaimer must be included if a project is distributed.
All information on this blog, or linked by this blog, is not to be taken as advice or solicitation. Anyone attempting to replicate, in whole or in part, is responsible for the outcome and procedure. Any loss of functionality, money, property, or similar, is the responsibility of those involved in the replication.
All digital communication regarding the email address 24hourengineer@gmail.com becomes the intellectual property of Brian McEvoy. Any information contained within these messages may be distributed or retained at the discretion of Brian McEvoy. Any email sent to this address, or any email account owned by Brian McEvoy, cannot be used to claim property or assets.
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This blog, including pictures and text, is copyright to Brian McEvoy.
2026-08-12
The best solution was to use commercial electrical connectors. I planned to get a mated pair of connectors, with a socket mounted inside the handle and the other half integrated with the battery mount. I wanted to use RCA connectors because they are radially symmetrical, low-profile, inexpensive, and reliable. The problem was that I could not find chassis-mounted male RCA connectors. Fortunately, I saw barrel power connectors while searching, and they were promising for most of the same reasons, plus, I can easily connect power supplies with those universal power connectors. I ordered some battery terminals and mated power plugs.
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| Concentric battery plug concept sketch |
GitHub repo for EleKSco.
The rest of the posts for this project have been arranged by date.
First time here?
Completed projects from year 1
Completed projects from year 2
Completed projects from year 3
Completed projects from year 4
Completed projects from year 5
Completed projects from year 6
Completed projects from year 7
Completed projects from year 8
Completed projects from year 9
Completed projects from year 10
Completed projects from year 11
Completed projects from year 12
Disclaimer for http://24hourengineer.blogspot.com and 24HourEngineer.com
This disclaimer must be intact and whole. This disclaimer must be included if a project is distributed.
All information on this blog, or linked by this blog, is not to be taken as advice or solicitation. Anyone attempting to replicate, in whole or in part, is responsible for the outcome and procedure. Any loss of functionality, money, property, or similar, is the responsibility of those involved in the replication.
All digital communication regarding the email address 24hourengineer@gmail.com becomes the intellectual property of Brian McEvoy. Any information contained within these messages may be distributed or retained at the discretion of Brian McEvoy. Any email sent to this address, or any email account owned by Brian McEvoy, cannot be used to claim property or assets.
Comments to the blog may be utilized or erased at the discretion of the owner. No one posting may claim property or assets based on their post.
This blog, including pictures and text, is copyright to Brian McEvoy.
2026-08-12
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