Got the battery pack apart and the leaky pair of NiCds removed. I notice that one end of the batteries has been soldered together with a strip to connect + to - .
When I reload the pack with new batteries, is it necessary to have the new batteries similarly connected? In other words, will the tensioning spring at the foot (non-contact end) of the pack work as an electrical bridge between the two batteries by itself -- or must the strip also be attached to guarantee good electrical connectivity?
Second, if the connecting strip is needed, what's a good material to use? And is there a non-soldering way to attach it? I'm afraid of cooking the battery, since my soldering skills are about zip (last experience: a botched Heathkit roughly 40 years ago).
Third, what's a good solvent or cleaner for the contacts on the calculator itself? And also for the tensioning spring, which has picked up a bit of goober from the battery?
(Sorry for the newbie questions. At least I got the polarity business straight...)
Thanks!