My original HP-25, ailing

[rprosperi]

(11-10-2023 02:22 PM)John Garza (3665) Wrote:  I've found the best way to update the Woodstock battery packs is NOT to cut off the back plate. Instead, cut out the middle plastic bar, when you are looking at the batteries. There is enough flexibility in the plastic to pop in batteries, rechargeables or alkalines. No need to replace the bar.

-J

You don't even have to remove the middle bar. Just cut the bar (e.g with an X-acto knife) at the end where the contacts are and you can still pretty easily replace the 2 AA cells (use flat top NiCD - alkalines will work but the extra length of the buttons make the pack very hard to remove). As John says, the plastic will flex enough to let you remove or insert batteries.

And if you forget polarity (which is very important for Woodstock), it's actually etched on the inside of the plastic pack, on the inner sides of the long upper portions that hold the cells inside.