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Rechargeable batteries with LED lights



 
 
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  #1  
Old March 14th 05, 07:32 PM
David Ward
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Default Rechargeable batteries with LED lights

Hi.

Has anyone experienced any problems with rechargeable batteries in LED
lights, other than reduced brightness?

I have a Cateye HL-EL200 front light and around the same time I
switched from non-rechareables to NiMH batteries, the lights now
frequently refuse to switch on or off. Disconnecting and reconnecting
a single battery sorts the problem.

The problem is independent of how much charge the batteries have.

Thanks.

David.
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  #2  
Old March 14th 05, 08:09 PM
Ron Hardin
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It sounds like a dirty contact problem.

Deoxit is almost always necessary pretty quickly on rechargeables
to keep them charging in the charger in any case; for some reason
the contacts oxidize or something.

http://www.partsexpress.com/webpage....7&WebPage_ID=3

I find the brush-on vial most handy for batteries but if you wanted
to get into a switch or something then perhaps the spray would work
better. The vial lasts forever.

Also solves the intermittent audio cable connection problem.

So if that's not your problem you can probably find some other use
for the vial, is what I'm saying.
--
Ron Hardin


On the internet, nobody knows you're a jerk.
  #3  
Old March 14th 05, 10:13 PM
Jacobe Hazzard
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Ron Hardin wrote:
It sounds like a dirty contact problem.

Deoxit is almost always necessary pretty quickly on rechargeables
to keep them charging in the charger in any case; for some reason
the contacts oxidize or something.

http://www.partsexpress.com/webpage....7&WebPage_ID=3

I find the brush-on vial most handy for batteries but if you wanted
to get into a switch or something then perhaps the spray would work
better. The vial lasts forever.

Also solves the intermittent audio cable connection problem.

So if that's not your problem you can probably find some other use
for the vial, is what I'm saying.


Lights refusing to switch *off* doesn't sound like dirty contacts to me.
Also cateye lights usually have pretty dependable, well-sealed switches
IME. More likely, the light doesn't like the lower voltage of the NiMH
cells (1.2V vs 1.5V).

Try switching back to alkalines and seeing if the problem disappears?
  #4  
Old March 15th 05, 12:10 AM
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i read:

"In fact alkaline batteries only supply 1.5V during the early stages of
their discharge and this drops to below 1.2V for most of their life.
NiMH batteries actually sustain a higher voltage than alkalines during
the bulk of their discharge."


So im surprised if its voltage. Maybe something to do with different
capacitnce / impedence of the batteries. My electronics is a bit rusty.

David.

  #5  
Old March 15th 05, 12:13 AM
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Definitely not a dirty contact problem. Its very predictable - happens
every time the lights have been left off for several hours.
Disconnecting *any* battery (without disturbing others) fixes the
problem instantly - no 2nd try needed.

Also the lights stay on sometimes.

Seems much more like an electrical problem.

  #7  
Old March 15th 05, 12:25 PM
David Ward
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Yes it's most likely a magnetic/no-contact switch, since pressing the
switch repeatedly toggles various different modes. It usually happens
after passing through the lift on the way out of work - lifts mast
have large magnetic motors.....

Sounds like I should take it back under warranty and if it happens
again I'll take it up with the CatEye.

Thanks.

David.

"Phil, Squid-in-Training" wrote in message ...
wrote:
Definitely not a dirty contact problem. Its very predictable - happens
every time the lights have been left off for several hours.
Disconnecting *any* battery (without disturbing others) fixes the
problem instantly - no 2nd try needed.

Also the lights stay on sometimes.

Seems much more like an electrical problem.


I think the Cateye model you're referencing is the type with a
magnetic/no-contact switch. My Pyramid 5-LED has this and has the
occasional hiccup with not turning on and off when requested. Look into the
switch assembly and take it to the LBS (after having it on for a while at
least).

 




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