You said in your first message
"I inherited a Minolta XK motor and have no instructions for it. I have
checked and read the auto-wind manuals available through your site and
none apply. I can't check out the camera because it needs power to
operate. It has a socket under the handle and a socket for batteries,
but neither are marked for voltage."

From the mir link at
<http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/minoltaxk/htmls/xkmotor\
.htm>
"Power Source:
Exposure control, 2 alkaline-manganese or silver-oxide batteries
(Eveready EPX-76/S-76 or equiv.) lever-lamp type checker on end of body
For Motor: Ten 1.5v AA batteries.

The mir link shows the camera with external battery pack attached.
However the marketing brochure shots do not show a battery pack
<http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/minoltaxk/xm1/index1.ht\
m>
<http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/minoltaxk/xm1/index3.ht\
m>
Therefore, it seems that the battery pack must not be required for
normal operation.

From Manual Minolta files, looking at the specifications for the
Minolta auto-winder G we see 4 AA alkaline or NiCad cells in series for
4.8-6 volts. Looking at the same for the motor drive MD1 we find 8 AA
alkaline or NiCad cells, also in series for 9.6-12 volts. The maximum
performance of the MD1 and XK motor are the same at 3.5 frames/sec.
Therefore, it would seem that the battery requirements and operating
voltage of the XK motor must be very similar to the MD1 and that the
batteries will be in series.

If we believe the brochure photos that a battery pack is not required
and the mir spec that says 10 AA batteries one must conclude that the
motor drive section of the XK motor must have provision for 2 1.5 volt
silver oxide batteries and 10 AA batteries. Comparing the motor drive
section on the XK motor with the MD1 it would appear they are of very
similar size and thus able to hold at least the 8 batteries of the MD1
and presumably 10 somehow. But maybe the extra two batteries are housed
in the handle.

Anyhow, I'm confused. As I interpret your first message it seems to say
you can't operate the camera without a battery pack. But as I review
the photos of the camera and specs for the MD1 it seems the camera alone
must be able to hold all the required batteries and the MD1 manual
should be a good guide to how at least 8 of them are installed and the
"socket under the handle" may be the spot for 2 more.

Did that help of have I misunderstood your questions?

Chuck Norcutt


John Troup wrote:
> Thank you so much!
>
> The link allowed me to at least see what a battery pack would look
> like. Do you know anything about replacing a battery pack? It looks as
> though they made a rechargeable pack also. Might someone have adapted a
> power pack from another camera? It would be interesting to me if anyone
> in the group has any ideas.
>
> Thanks, JT
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> --
> PLEASE share your Manual Minolta pictures in emails to the group and upload
them to our Photos section:
> http://ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/ManualMinolta/photosYahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>