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My battery pack seems to have given up the ghost. Prob due to being left over summer doing nothing, flat.
Is there anything I can do to fix the battery pack. If not can anyone suggest a replacement pack.
Cheers
Ive got one of these - it doesnt have a threaded socket though so I just have to puch it in...seems to hold..
[url= http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00A8710UY?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00 ]here[/url]
mtbbatteries.co.uk - hands down best option.
Run by an STWer too, or at least he usd to be. Not seen him for a long time.
Cheers all....
sneaky Chinese buggers!
Stripped my battery pack down last night, to find only two of the batteries in the 4 pack were actually wired in! Buggers!
They must be just putting dead batteries in as fillers, to make you think you have a 4 pack!
I have heard that they are reworked laptop cells.. Whether they are second hand, recycled, or new ones that failed QC at factory is anyone's guess.
Mtbbatteries +1
mtbbatteries seem pretty pricey.
I know i know, pay for what you get etc etc... but my Chinese battery seemed fine until i left it uncharged over summer. Just didn't last as long as it should, but the above explains why. With another two batterys wired in parallel, it would have lasted twice as long, which would have been perfect.
Has anyone used torchy the battery boys, batteries? He seems to claim he sells brilliant packs. His 4 pack is only £20, so half the price of the above.
Cheers all 🙂
I suppose it's a little bit like amd tri-core cpu's, they are actually quad core chips that failed QC.
Except if you think you are getting 4 cells and receive only 2 good ones.. I might have to disect mine and have a nosey!
The 4 x 18650 cell holders looked a good option, giving the option of buying some good quality cells & a good charger, but was (IIRC), knocking on for £100.
MtbBatteries +1 had mine for a couple of years and only charged it twice.
Mtbbatteries for me too. Bought a bar and helmet setup from him about 18months ago and used at 24/12 last year, battery lasts way beyond the Chinese sized equivalent in terms of burn time and the actual units have been faultless even after my use and abuse for both Mtb and commuting purposes.
Buy cheap buy twice... And it's not like they are at the ridiculous end of the price spectrum when compared to hope/exposure prices!
my Chinese battery seemed fine until i left it uncharged over summer.
Mine seemed to die as well, wouldn't charge. I managed to borrow a better charger from someone which was a bit cleverer and seemed to kick some life into the new batteries, so they do still work. I have since bought some decent (Gemini) batteries, mainly to avoid the risk of fire. The chinese batteries just made me uneasy the whole time.
The trouble with the real cheapies is that by the time you buy a decent charger and battery they're not cheap any more. How happy are you with the light itself? £80 gets a whole new Magicshine 856, which is a very nice light but also comes with a decent battery and charger.
mtbbatteries seem pretty pricey
Lol. Someone is too young to remember the old days when a set of lights was £300. £40 is definitely NOT pricey for a Li ion battery! Try getting one for your laptop!
The cheap batteries are apparently often made from recycled cells from batteries people have thrown out. There really is no comparison. I bought a smudge battery in about 2010 and it's still fantastic.
Also the chargers probably won't burn your house down. Or give you an electric shock like the cheapo power supply I had from something else recently. Just a small luxury, but maybe worth considering.
Stripped my battery pack down last night, to find only two of the batteries in the 4 pack were actually wired in! Buggers!
Just a thought, but are you positive this was the case when you received it or could the wiring have somehow burnt out causing the battery to stop working?
Sorry if I'm way off here. I don't even know the procedure used for joining batteries.
Lithium batteries are easy to knacker if not treated right, and especially when not in use over the summer. Worst thing is to leave them fully discharged or fully charged, more so if left somewhere warm.
http://www.mtbbritain.co.uk/mountain_bike_lights_extend_Li-ion_battery_life.html
Of course it's worse when the batteries are knackered in the first place. These kind of batteries are one of the very reason why Chinese lights seem so cheap 😉 . If UK brands seem expensive, don't compare prices with duff batteries, compare with decent ones.
I bought two single 18650's from him. Good service, no problems, batteries have been fine.Has anyone used torchy the battery boy
Torchy is a good chap. He's just reselling but he's pretty picky about what he sells.
Has anyone used torchy the battery boy?
Yes, I've got one of his waterproof box efforts. Outstanding.
Can you buy the threaded connectors anywhere?
I bought a Gemini Xera light, as the chargers for my chinese lights broke. Will the charger for the Gemini battery work on the chinese batteries? And will the Gemini battery work with the chinese lights?
You can buy a case for 18650 batteries and then buy a charger and batteries.
The 4 battery waterproof case was around £7 delivered but the Panasonic batteries were around £18 and the U.K. LCD charger around £25.
I prefer to keep battery packs balanced.
Don't forget the plastic case has some electronics inside that draws power even when switched off. About 8mA which will discharge the batteries in a month. If the cells are unprotected, that will kill them.
The trouble with the real cheapies is that by the time you buy a decent charger and battery they're not cheap any more. How happy are you with the light itself? £80 gets a whole new Magicshine 856, which is a very nice light but also comes with a decent battery and charger.
The light itself is absolutely fine for what i need it for.
Just a thought, but are you positive this was the case when you received it or could the wiring have somehow burnt out causing the battery to stop working?
No def not, the batteries have just been shrink wrapped in to make it look like a 4 cell pack.
Lithium batteries are easy to knacker if not treated right, and especially when not in use over the summer. Worst thing is to leave them fully discharged or fully charged, more so if left somewhere warm.
This is what worries me, no matter how much i spend on a battery surely the same could happen again. The battery was ok when in use, its just that its been left over summer flat so now is dead and wont hold charge anymore.
Waterproof battery box and four quality batteries from torchy, job done!
Torchy is a good chap. He's just reselling but he's pretty picky about what he sells.
Think i'll give his battery pack a go then, as his 4 cell packs are only £20.
Cheers