Help jerry-rigging an air mattress

I am starting to pull together my camping needs for the mountain bike clinic next weekend and all seems to be in order...except I no longer appear to have the battery compartment battery cover. This wouldn't be a problem if half of the contacts weren't on it :eek:

I really don't want to purchase another air mattress, this is a perfectly nice one - does anyone have an idea of what I can do to replace that battery compartment cover? I've had this mattress for close to a decade...

We have so many skilled women on this forum I figure that if anyone knows how to do this it will be a TE member :cool:

well if you just need the contacts (metal), can you just tape a piece of metal over the open cover? If all you need is something to complete the circuits- would that work?

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Originally Posted by Tri Girl

well if you just need the contacts (metal), can you just tape a piece of metal over the open cover? If all you need is something to complete the circuits- would that work?

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This might work, it only needs to stay in place long enough to air the bed... Now to find some metal, pity aluminum wouldn't work :)

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Originally Posted by Catrin

Now to find some metal, pity aluminum wouldn't work :)

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Um, aluminum would work.

I take it that the pump has two stacks of D (or C, or AA) cells inserted in opposite directions - and that the cover bridges between the stacks?

Some possibilities: A screwdriver, a fork, a knife, a key, a SPD cleat, a quarter or other coin.

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Originally Posted by laura*

Um, aluminum would work.

I take it that the pump has two stacks of D (or C, or AA) cells inserted in opposite directions - and that the cover bridges between the stacks?

Some possibilities: A screwdriver, a fork, a knife, a key, a SPD cleat, a quarter or other coin.

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Cool! Shows you how much I know - though I was thinking of aluminum foil. Yes, your assumption is correct. And only two of the 4 D batteries need contacts, of course.

Thanks for the ideas! I need to pick up some tape tomorrow and start experimenting after my bike ride...

Aluminum foil will work as well. Since the batteries are Dsize, I would recommend that you fold the aluminum foil so that you have four layers of foil to make the contact.

You can also use a sewing needle.

Awesome, thanks!

I'm just curious here, because I think we have - counting the old beach mattresses, the not quite so old Thermarests, and the spanking new Exped mattresses - eight air mattresses in the attic, none of which use batteries :confused:
What is this "battery" of which you speak? :D

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Originally Posted by lph

I'm just curious here, because I think we have - counting the old beach mattresses, the not quite so old Thermarests, and the spanking new Exped mattresses - eight air mattresses in the attic, none of which use batteries :confused:
What is this "battery" of which you speak? :D

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My air mattress comes with an air pump that is built into the mattress. The battery pack is for the pump - and is the only way to air the mattress :)

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Originally Posted by Tri Girl

well if you just need the contacts (metal), can you just tape a piece of metal over the open cover? If all you need is something to complete the circuits- would that work?

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Originally Posted by laura*

Um, aluminum would work.

I take it that the pump has two stacks of D (or C, or AA) cells inserted in opposite directions - and that the cover bridges between the stacks?

Some possibilities: A screwdriver, a fork, a knife, a key, a SPD cleat, a quarter or other coin.

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Originally Posted by smilingcat

Aluminum foil will work as well. Since the batteries are Dsize, I would recommend that you fold the aluminum foil so that you have four layers of foil to make the contact.

You can also use a sewing needle.

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You gals are scary. Cool scary, but scary.

+ 1 to the above post. Awesome bunch here.

LPH, I'm glad you asked the question because I was scratching my head reading this and wondering what the heck is a battery doing in an air matress...I don't want to tell you what direction my mind was going in...:eek:

If the battery is to run the motor to pump the thing up, what about a bike pump? I'm sure you have one of those around somewhere :rolleyes: - do you have a fitting to allow the bike pump? The air mattress I used to have, seemed to connect to my bike pump pretty easily.

Me, I prefer a cot, with an egg-crate mattress, two actually. Air mattresses always manage to loose air during the night, and they smell funny.

paper clip.

you're the best darn bunch of MacGyvers I've ever seen.

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Originally Posted by bmccasland

If the battery is to run the motor to pump the thing up, what about a bike pump? I'm sure you have one of those around somewhere :rolleyes: - do you have a fitting to allow the bike pump? The air mattress I used to have, seemed to connect to my bike pump pretty easily.

Me, I prefer a cot, with an egg-crate mattress, two actually. Air mattresses always manage to loose air during the night, and they smell funny.

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The built in pump is the only way to air it. This is a great air mattress, it doesn't smell funny, the air doesn't leak out, and it is almost as comfy as my real bed :cool:

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Originally Posted by lph

you're the best darn bunch of MacGyvers I've ever seen.

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That is why I asked here :D