Mine appears to be dead...still on green after 8 hours, after last charge and 2-day gap it gave out one flash of light then died 🙁
It's one of the early ones (1 or 2 years ago?) rarely used and I think this may be cos it got charged using the wrong charger at 8v instead of 12 😳
Guess I'll search for a replacement. Delivery times the usual?
DealExtreme is cheapest but you take your chances with the delivery time. Around £18 I paid, about 3-4 weeks delivery.
Undervolting the charger shouldn't kill it? If you mean 18v I an see that may have been an issue 🙂
If you're keen, if the cells check out OK (around 3.7v each) it might just be the PCM circuit - I sourced a replacement off EBay for around a fiver, looked identical. Re waterproof it properly.
We've got them in stock - or if you don't want to pay the UK extra I can lend you one until you get yours from abroad.
Thanks Spokebloke, I'll try and sort it myself rather than inconvenience you.
brassneck I'll get the multimeter out and google "PCM" :S
Just got my replacement and it looks a bit more solid than the one i purchased earlier in the year. Not sure if mine died due to charging it wrongly or water ingress. I've been told a shaving socket is ok (its fits the american plug)
smudge built me anew one for about £25 ish
Can anyone comment if this would do it?
I've got a bag full of them that will work - send me an email.
Hmmm the pack appears to be 7.2V and its had been charged at 12V...that explains it!
Hmmm where to find a PCM...
Had the same problem. It was the protection board. The battery charges up ok, (and turns green), terminal voltage measures ok at >8 volts, but as soon as you put it under load, one side of the protection circuit switches a pair of the batteries out and the voltage dives to 4 volts. Depends how comfortable you are, but I've removed the circuit and just run direct. The board is there to limit current draw, over voltage and under voltage. The first two tend to happen in failure conditions (so you have bigger problems), the latter when the battery is run down. If you run the batteries below a critical voltage, there is a risk of damaging them. With the DX light, the head unit has voltage monitoring, just switch it off when the light on the back turns red and you should be fine.
Just one minor thing, I wouldn't trust either the DX batteries (regardless of protection circuit) or the cheap charger. Strongly suggest you don't leave for long periods unattended. I charge mine in the garage with a timer switch to shut it off after 3 hours, and I put the batteries in a fire proof box (well, a Quality Strret tin), while they are charging.
Spokebloke, don't suppose you've got any protection circuits for 3.7v?
*bumps*
Thanks spokebloke for sending a pcm foc.
