HP-41 82161A HP-IL Tape Reader - Doesn't work anymore - Help Needed

[Artur - Brasil]

Hi,

Have you really tested the batteries? You need to measure them when you turn on the drive. It drains a lot o current and Ni-Cd with no decent charging circuit is a real problem (the drive puts the large resistor beteween charger (and rectifying circuit) and batteries or nothing at all (on position) - such minimalist procedure kills battery vey fast and puts all drive under very high risk of getting too hot.
If voltage in batteries go down so much when turning on the drive, it will not work at all.
Let me know, ok?
As I did recently to my 41CX (put a celular phone battery and a decent charger circuit in it) I'm working on a larger batteries to my cassete drive, a larger step-up circuit and a charger. Even these larger and good batteries nad step-up circuit are having difficulties on supporting the turn on moments.