Hi, a few days ago someone was enquiring about batteries for the MD 161. Well, this is what I have found out. The handbook cautions about using NiCad batteries. There is no problem with using NiCads, despite what the manual says. You will have to charge them up externally. The MT161 from Comet, Dixon's, etc. is basically a MT 20 but without charger/power supply or rechargeable batteries. The MT20 is about �129; the 161 is below the magical �100 (by 1p). Sharp want about �17.00 for the rechargeable battery, the shops round here have absolutely no interest in supplying these accessories. The Sharp battery is basically two Nickel metal Hydride, AA size, cells, fitted together, and it supplies 1500mAh. However, It is possible to get industrial grade 1600mAh cells for about �2 each, and glue them together. Now, you will not be able to charge this made up pack in the player, since there is a small switch near the bottom set of contacts, which a protrusion on the Sharp battery pack operates. This switch is to prevent the charger trying to charge normal, single, non-chargeable alkaline primary cells. A small piece of plastic can be glued to the made up battery pack to operate this switch. (Hot melt glue gun is ideal for this sort of work). Once this is done, the MT 161 will satisfactorily charge the made up battery pack. The recorder will charge the batteries and run on 4.5V. I have been into 6 shops that sell these units - all were surprised when I told them of the lack of charger and batteries - none had chargers or batteries. Sharp and Willow-Vale, the UK service people, were most unhelpful, they could not or would not explain the caution re. the NiCads, they just want you to purchase their overpriced batteries, I guess. The only problem with Nicads in this type of application is their memory effect. However, the self discharge rate of nmH is far higher than NiCads. If you are capable of making up the battery, then you should be capable of removing the seven screws to take off the back to see how to fix the switch. Also, the ind. nmH cells do not have a raised button at the +ve end, so you will need to flip off the plastic shroud on the positive contact in the unit. I have also run the unit on 3V and 6V with no problems. I hope the foregoing is useful. Best wishes, Ray (of course if you do this you will invalidate any warranty, and don't blame me if you make a mess of it. If you have any special battery requirements, then contact me off the list, via http://www.rwc.cwc.net if you wish) ----------------------------------------------------------------- To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
