Metz hammerhead charger / batteries DIY help

KingRoach · Joined: 21 Dec 2013 Posts: 87 Location: United Kingdom

Hi everyone.

Just received a joblot of Metz hammerhead flashes that includes

Metz 45 CL-1 with Alkaline battery holder.
Metz 45 CT-3 with Alkaline battery holder.
Metz 50 MZ-5 with controller, 1xNiMH and 1xNiCD battery packs but no charger for either.

Metz charger for CL/CT series NiCD packs but I don't have any of these so this charger will be useless for now.
one bracket for all three flashes.

So the only drawback is the lack of power to even test them. I put some NiMH batteries in the Alkaline battery holders. The 45's turned on (continuous beep charging sound) but never charged up enough to turn on the LED or fire. I suppose it is a battery problem. I can easily troubleshoot that by getting some actual Alkaline batteries instead.

I am therefore left with the crown jewel, the 50 MZ-5 that came with no charger for either batteries. This flash is the reason why I bought the joblot.

I have a few options:

1- remove the internal cells, connect the intestines of the battery pack to an external battery holder in which I can use separate rechargeable NiMH or NiCD AA's accordingly, and a regular suitable AA battery charger. It should not be a problem to re-iterate the capacitor found inside the original pack in the external DIY holder if anybody knows if that's necessary.

2- DIY a charger for either the NiMH or NiCD PACK, but I need some info: original Metz charging unit voltage and current outputs, whether it is a smart or dumb charger, etc., because then I will be charging the entire pack of 7xAA's as opposed to charging single AA's in the previous solution.

3- Any other ideas you can give me.

Can anybody help with any info or suggestions? Basically anything except buying a Metz charging unit or batteries because as you well know their prices are ridiculous and I'm on a budget.

Many thanks in advance.

bernhardas · Expire: 2017-05-23

Edited

KingRoach · Joined: 21 Dec 2013 Posts: 87 Location: United Kingdom

Thanks a lot for the link. Very useful information there.

I cannot for the life of me figure out why there would be half a stop extra power when using alkaline batteries since all they should be doing is charge up the internal main flash capacitor, which at full power will only discharge its own capacity, which must not change based on the type of battery used to charge it up.

If I decide to slaughter one, I may choose to kill the NiMH (hey, I do not even know if it works, maybe the cells have lots of life in them!!) depending on whether the cell has any circuitry in it. This is in order to use NiMH external AA's as this is the type of charger than I own at home. I'm still looking around for options and was just told about an extremely versatile charger that can charge any chemistry whatsoever. This might change my plans a bit.

I have recharged my NiMH AA's up to full charge and put them back in the Metz 45's and indeed they both fired. Will need to find the manual to figure out how to set them up. I might sell them both anyway, depending on how useful I judge them to be. I already have a Vivitar 365 hammerhead which I really like, except these do not require a heavy external battery pack like the Viv.

I now have enough potato mashers to open a mashed potato business.

kansalliskala · Expire: 2016-12-30

I use normal batteries with my mezt 45 because there was some warning that rechargable batteries might overheat?

warning is in the manual, this is for CL-1