How To Make A Aa Battery Pack Attached To A Weight Belt?

[Aaron W. 1]

Ok! You were all so brilliant on my 3 way switch wiring questions that I've got a NEW ONE for you!

 

At Disney, for one particular costume, we used to wear weight lifting belts that had a row of about 24 AA batteries attached to it, and that was the power pack for the whole costume. I'd like to slim down this idea and make the same type of battery pack attached to a weight lifting belt to power my highly-lit stilt walking costumes.

The costumes would have, let's say 200 white and 200 color lights (maybe all LED, or maybe mixed LED & incandescent) that would be switched between white and colors with a small rocker switch.

 

In my head, if I created a battery pack like this, I could wire 10 or so of the battery powered light strands together. OR maybe have an inverter and use standard wall plug-in lights. I don't know. I'm open to suggestions!

 

But basically, how do I CREATE the battery pack attached to a weightlifting belt that I can wire a string of battery operated LED's into?!

 

Thanks so much for your expertise!

[Justin Smith 0]

Hot glue the battery packs from your battery powered LED lights to a belt.

[DSE 4]

Take a look at this set up

http://www.lightsforalloccasions.com/p-2139-el-wire-lighted-flash-wire-32-mm-diameter-3-yd-battery.aspx

[Aaron W. 1]

That's an interesting video. They didn't show how the wires were connected to the batteries though. Does anybody want to get way out of the box with me and take a shot at how to make the belt I described up top?

[iresq 2]

Couldn't you attach the battery packs to the stilts? Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk

[Aaron W. 1]

Yes you could. That's not a bad idea, haha. I still don't know how to make the battery packs though.

[Bobby Menard 0]

check out li ion battery packs or maybe nimh packs from the rc racing hobby check out batteryjunction.com thats where I buy my race batterys

[cacoulter 1]

The first question is what is the voltage and amperage requirements?  That will determine how many & what size batteries wired in parallel and series.

 

Once you have that figured out, then you can look at battery holder.  Base on the battery holder you choose, you can decide to attach it to the belt.  You could look at using a fastener/rivet, Velco straps, elastic to create a bandoleer or pouches.  You may want to consider a fanny pack.  Attaching them to the stilts has merit too.

[Justin Smith 0]

Buy a premade battery pack purchased at your electronics store.  I recommend D batteries.  Hot glue it to a belt.

[Aaron W. 1]

These are great ideas, guys! Now I'm just trying to learn some basic electrical math. Who do you know what the voltage and amperage requirements of, say, 3 strands of LED battery powered lights, and how determine how many & what size batteries to use?

 

I'm sure this is electrical apprentice 101, but I've been researching and can't quite find the connecting facts I'm looking for to answer that question. Thanks for your help guys!

[Lee_N_the_NorthWest 10]

Most LED battery powered lights run on 4.5 volts DC.  Now depending on the type of LED determines the amount of current each will need.

Here are some at Walmart that say they will run 20 LEDs for up to 72 hours on one set of batteries. http://www.walmart.com/ip/Set-of-20-Battery-Operated-Pure-White-LED-Wide-Angle-Christmas-Lights-Green-Wire/23978531?action=product_interest&action_type=title&placement_id=irs_middle&strategy=PWVAV&visitor_id=54312621679&category=0%3A2637%3A633379%3A1025279&client_guid=d440f9d2-2a78-49c0-adb9-fa711da97991&config_id=0&parent_item_id=23864345&guid=e7401158-03ef-4e36-b862-2aaa217418a7&bucket_id=irsbucketdefault&findingMethod=p13n

 

I do not think you would get that many hours from 3 AA batteries, maybe the top of the line batteries.

 

Now using these figures you need 60 AA batteries to power your 400 LEDs for 72 hours.

Here is some info on the AA batteries. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AA_battery

[Aaron W. 1]

That's brilliant, Lee. Very helpful! Thank you!

[Bobby Menard 0]

Most LED battery powered lights run on 4.5 volts DC.  Now depending on the type of LED determines the amount of current each will need.

Here are some at Walmart that say they will run 20 LEDs for up to 72 hours on one set of batteries. http://www.walmart.com/ip/Set-of-20-Battery-Operated-Pure-White-LED-Wide-Angle-Christmas-Lights-Green-Wire/23978531?action=product_interest&action_type=title&placement_id=irs_middle&strategy=PWVAV&visitor_id=54312621679&category=0%3A2637%3A633379%3A1025279&client_guid=d440f9d2-2a78-49c0-adb9-fa711da97991&config_id=0&parent_item_id=23864345&guid=e7401158-03ef-4e36-b862-2aaa217418a7&bucket_id=irsbucketdefault&findingMethod=p13n

 

I do not think you would get that many hours from 3 AA batteries, maybe the top of the line batteries.

 

Now using these figures you need 60 AA batteries to power your 400 LEDs for 72 hours.

Here is some info on the AA batteries. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AA_battery

you would not need 60 batteries though since you are not going to run them for 72 hours strait each set of 20 leds needs 4.5V you need 20 sets of lites if you hooked them all up to one set of battery you would only get 3.6 hour out of them if the math work out but I would use an RC racing pack they are usually 9.6V then hook 2 sets of lites in series so you have 40 lites on the 9.6V that will be OK then keep adding sets of 40 I bet you can add all 400 leds and still get a couple hours on one RC pack then just recharge it for the next time

[Lee_N_the_NorthWest 10]

Bobby,

 

You are correct! I was only giving an example based on the numbers from the wiki. Aaron gave us no idea of the amount of time he would run the lights.

 

Cheers,

 

Lee