Modifying Vistalights

"troyq" wrote in message
...
Hi Gags, Can i ask from where did you get the cells to re-pack the
nightstick? Was it difficult or not really? Im thinking of doing the
same thing...

From the dimensions of the battery pack, I'd lay a bet that they're "sub-c"
size. These batteries are commonly used in radio control cars and cordless
power tools, and are available from hobby shops or Jaycar.

Quite a while ago, I modified an old blackburn mini pump (after seeing the
visalight batteries) along the same lines. See
http://groups.google.com.au/groups?q....net.au&rnum=3

Regards,

Suzy (who will attack her vistalight battery tomorrow with the vice at work)

Suzy is right.....They are sub-C cells and you can get them from Jaycar for
about $9 each from memory (you need five for a nightstick). They have
solder tabs on each end so it is a relatively simple job to solder them up.
I didn't have any heatshrink big enough to put around the batteries before
slotting them back into the tube, so I ended up with a tightly wrapped layer
of electrical tape.

As for how to get the caps off......I have no idea......my mate gave me the
tube with the caps already off. If you are going to remove the caps, only
take out the top one (ie the one with the connector in it). I actually
replaced his connector too with one bought from Jaycar as his old one was
cactus.

BTW Suzy.....love the home made battery stick.......wonder if I could make
one out of a full size pump for a 12V battery.......now that would be a good
"dog stick".

Cheers,

Gags

"Suzy Jackson" wrote in message
...
"troyq" wrote in message
...
Hi Gags, Can i ask from where did you get the cells to re-pack the
nightstick? Was it difficult or not really? Im thinking of doing the
same thing...

From the dimensions of the battery pack, I'd lay a bet that they're
"sub-c"
size. These batteries are commonly used in radio control cars and
cordless
power tools, and are available from hobby shops or Jaycar.

Quite a while ago, I modified an old blackburn mini pump (after seeing the
visalight batteries) along the same lines. See

http://groups.google.com.au/groups?q...lr=&ie=UTF-8&o
e=UTF-8&selm=51Ay9.24750%245u4.75813%40news-server.bigpond.net.au&rnum=3

Regards,

Suzy (who will attack her vistalight battery tomorrow with the vice at
work)

Suzy is right.....They are sub-C cells and you can get them from Jaycar for
about $9 each from memory (you need five for a nightstick). They have
solder tabs on each end so it is a relatively simple job to solder them up.
I didn't have any heatshrink big enough to put around the batteries before
slotting them back into the tube, so I ended up with a tightly wrapped layer
of electrical tape.

As for how to get the caps off......I have no idea......my mate gave me the
tube with the caps already off. If you are going to remove the caps, only
take out the top one (ie the one with the connector in it). I actually
replaced his connector too with one bought from Jaycar as his old one was
cactus.

BTW Suzy.....love the home made battery stick.......wonder if I could make
one out of a full size pump for a 12V battery.......now that would be a good
"dog stick".

Cheers,

Gags

"Suzy Jackson" wrote in message
...
"troyq" wrote in message
...
Hi Gags, Can i ask from where did you get the cells to re-pack the
nightstick? Was it difficult or not really? Im thinking of doing the
same thing...

From the dimensions of the battery pack, I'd lay a bet that they're
"sub-c"
size. These batteries are commonly used in radio control cars and
cordless
power tools, and are available from hobby shops or Jaycar.

Quite a while ago, I modified an old blackburn mini pump (after seeing the
visalight batteries) along the same lines. See

http://groups.google.com.au/groups?q...lr=&ie=UTF-8&o
e=UTF-8&selm=51Ay9.24750%245u4.75813%40news-server.bigpond.net.au&rnum=3

Regards,

Suzy (who will attack her vistalight battery tomorrow with the vice at
work)

On Sun, 14 Sep 2003 22:11:46 +1000, Gags wrote:

It now runs straight from the "Nightstick" (that I recently
repacked for him using 3000mAh NiMh cells),

Can you give further details on this ?

What cells did you use ?
Can you still use the standrad charger ?

cheers,
-kt

On Sun, 14 Sep 2003 22:11:46 +1000, Gags wrote:

It now runs straight from the "Nightstick" (that I recently
repacked for him using 3000mAh NiMh cells),

Can you give further details on this ?

What cells did you use ?
Can you still use the standrad charger ?

cheers,
-kt

"kingsley" wrote in message
newsan.2003.09.14.22.46.16.2437@maddogsbreakfast .com.au...
On Sun, 14 Sep 2003 22:11:46 +1000, Gags wrote:

It now runs straight from the "Nightstick" (that I recently
repacked for him using 3000mAh NiMh cells),

Can you give further details on this ?

What cells did you use ?
Can you still use the standrad charger ?

cheers,
-kt

I used 3000mAh NiMh Sub-C cells with solder tabs attached that I bought from
Jaycar (They don't actually have a brand written on them). The standard
charger is no problems to use, you just need to allow longer if you have
discharged the battery further.

From memory, I think that the wall plug type charger that my mate has is
rated at 500mA........If you were to drain the battery completely (not
recommended as this shortens battery life, should turn off lights as soon as
you notice them getting dimmer), You would need 6 hours charge time to fully
recharge it. (ie. 6 x 500mAh = 3000mAh - that is assuming 100% efficiency
which doesn't happen). In reality, you should allow some extra charge to
make up for any inefficiencies in the charging process (heat mainly).

Also can do rough calculation depending on run time......10Watt light at 6V
draws 10/6 = 1.66 Amps = 1666 mA. So if you run this light for 1 hour, you
have used up 1666mAh of battery capacity and so I would then put battery on
charge for about 4 hours = 2000mAh, which should ensure that the battery is
fully charged without causing too much damage from overcharging.

The chargers provided are "dumb" chargers in that they don't sense when a
battery is fully charged. I am currently working out a design for a smart
charger that can basically charge a NiMh battery pack of any voltage using
an initial fast charge, that then switches to a trickle charge once battery
is fully charged. This will allow me to simply hook up my battery and leave
it connected until I am ready to use it next time. I am planning on using a
PIC as the basis of my charrger.

I know that you can buy chargers like this off the shelf (pretty expensive
though), but where is the fun in that????

Cheers,

Gags

"kingsley" wrote in message
newsan.2003.09.14.22.46.16.2437@maddogsbreakfast .com.au...
On Sun, 14 Sep 2003 22:11:46 +1000, Gags wrote:

It now runs straight from the "Nightstick" (that I recently
repacked for him using 3000mAh NiMh cells),

Can you give further details on this ?

What cells did you use ?
Can you still use the standrad charger ?

cheers,
-kt

I used 3000mAh NiMh Sub-C cells with solder tabs attached that I bought from
Jaycar (They don't actually have a brand written on them). The standard
charger is no problems to use, you just need to allow longer if you have
discharged the battery further.

From memory, I think that the wall plug type charger that my mate has is
rated at 500mA........If you were to drain the battery completely (not
recommended as this shortens battery life, should turn off lights as soon as
you notice them getting dimmer), You would need 6 hours charge time to fully
recharge it. (ie. 6 x 500mAh = 3000mAh - that is assuming 100% efficiency
which doesn't happen). In reality, you should allow some extra charge to
make up for any inefficiencies in the charging process (heat mainly).

Also can do rough calculation depending on run time......10Watt light at 6V
draws 10/6 = 1.66 Amps = 1666 mA. So if you run this light for 1 hour, you
have used up 1666mAh of battery capacity and so I would then put battery on
charge for about 4 hours = 2000mAh, which should ensure that the battery is
fully charged without causing too much damage from overcharging.

The chargers provided are "dumb" chargers in that they don't sense when a
battery is fully charged. I am currently working out a design for a smart
charger that can basically charge a NiMh battery pack of any voltage using
an initial fast charge, that then switches to a trickle charge once battery
is fully charged. This will allow me to simply hook up my battery and leave
it connected until I am ready to use it next time. I am planning on using a
PIC as the basis of my charrger.

I know that you can buy chargers like this off the shelf (pretty expensive
though), but where is the fun in that????

Cheers,

Gags

"Gags" wrote in message
...

"kingsley" wrote in message
newsan.2003.09.14.22.46.16.2437@maddogsbreakfast .com.au...
On Sun, 14 Sep 2003 22:11:46 +1000, Gags wrote:

It now runs straight from the "Nightstick" (that I recently
repacked for him using 3000mAh NiMh cells),

Can you give further details on this ?

What cells did you use ?
Can you still use the standrad charger ?

cheers,
-kt

I used 3000mAh NiMh Sub-C cells with solder tabs attached that I bought
from
Jaycar (They don't actually have a brand written on them). The standard
charger is no problems to use, you just need to allow longer if you have
discharged the battery further.

From memory, I think that the wall plug type charger that my mate has is
rated at 500mA........If you were to drain the battery completely (not
recommended as this shortens battery life, should turn off lights as soon
as
you notice them getting dimmer), You would need 6 hours charge time to
fully
recharge it. (ie. 6 x 500mAh = 3000mAh - that is assuming 100% efficiency
which doesn't happen). In reality, you should allow some extra charge to
make up for any inefficiencies in the charging process (heat mainly).

Also can do rough calculation depending on run time......10Watt light at
6V
draws 10/6 = 1.66 Amps = 1666 mA. So if you run this light for 1 hour,
you
have used up 1666mAh of battery capacity and so I would then put battery
on
charge for about 4 hours = 2000mAh, which should ensure that the battery
is
fully charged without causing too much damage from overcharging.

The chargers provided are "dumb" chargers in that they don't sense when a
battery is fully charged. I am currently working out a design for a smart
charger that can basically charge a NiMh battery pack of any voltage using
an initial fast charge, that then switches to a trickle charge once
battery
is fully charged. This will allow me to simply hook up my battery and
leave
it connected until I am ready to use it next time. I am planning on using
a
PIC as the basis of my charrger.

I know that you can buy chargers like this off the shelf (pretty expensive
though), but where is the fun in that????

Cheers,

Gags


Is this the battery? (May have to cut and paste URL...)

http://www1.jaycar.com.au/productVie...Max=&SUBCATID=

STOCK-CODE: SB1710 - Limited RRP: $12.95
Qty 1+ $12.95 Qty 10+ $11.35 Qty 20+ $10.35

4/3 A 3000mAH Ni-Mh

As used in laptop battery packs.
Size 67 (L) x 17 (dia)mm
Charging: Standard 600mA for 7 hours
Fast 3000mA for 1.2 hours
Supplied with solder tags


Are they 1.5V?

Thanks,

Tim

"Gags" wrote in message
...

"kingsley" wrote in message
newsan.2003.09.14.22.46.16.2437@maddogsbreakfast .com.au...
On Sun, 14 Sep 2003 22:11:46 +1000, Gags wrote:

It now runs straight from the "Nightstick" (that I recently
repacked for him using 3000mAh NiMh cells),

Can you give further details on this ?

What cells did you use ?
Can you still use the standrad charger ?

cheers,
-kt

I used 3000mAh NiMh Sub-C cells with solder tabs attached that I bought
from
Jaycar (They don't actually have a brand written on them). The standard
charger is no problems to use, you just need to allow longer if you have
discharged the battery further.

From memory, I think that the wall plug type charger that my mate has is
rated at 500mA........If you were to drain the battery completely (not
recommended as this shortens battery life, should turn off lights as soon
as
you notice them getting dimmer), You would need 6 hours charge time to
fully
recharge it. (ie. 6 x 500mAh = 3000mAh - that is assuming 100% efficiency
which doesn't happen). In reality, you should allow some extra charge to
make up for any inefficiencies in the charging process (heat mainly).

Also can do rough calculation depending on run time......10Watt light at
6V
draws 10/6 = 1.66 Amps = 1666 mA. So if you run this light for 1 hour,
you
have used up 1666mAh of battery capacity and so I would then put battery
on
charge for about 4 hours = 2000mAh, which should ensure that the battery
is
fully charged without causing too much damage from overcharging.

The chargers provided are "dumb" chargers in that they don't sense when a
battery is fully charged. I am currently working out a design for a smart
charger that can basically charge a NiMh battery pack of any voltage using
an initial fast charge, that then switches to a trickle charge once
battery
is fully charged. This will allow me to simply hook up my battery and
leave
it connected until I am ready to use it next time. I am planning on using
a
PIC as the basis of my charrger.

I know that you can buy chargers like this off the shelf (pretty expensive
though), but where is the fun in that????

Cheers,

Gags


Is this the battery? (May have to cut and paste URL...)

http://www1.jaycar.com.au/productVie...Max=&SUBCATID=

STOCK-CODE: SB1710 - Limited RRP: $12.95
Qty 1+ $12.95 Qty 10+ $11.35 Qty 20+ $10.35

4/3 A 3000mAH Ni-Mh

As used in laptop battery packs.
Size 67 (L) x 17 (dia)mm
Charging: Standard 600mA for 7 hours
Fast 3000mA for 1.2 hours
Supplied with solder tags


Are they 1.5V?

Thanks,

Tim

On Mon, 15 Sep 2003 22:28:54 +1000, Gags wrote:

BTW Suzy.....love the home made battery stick.......wonder if I could make
one out of a full size pump for a 12V battery.......now that would be a good
"dog stick".

A few months ago I was looking at the aluminium mouldings(?)
(extrusions?) in the hardware store. They have some fairly
neat alu pipe that might be ideal for a pump-sized battery.
Not sure how you would seal the ends though.

I wouldn't mind a battery that would last the week with the
15 watter. It's not the charging that's the problem, it's
remembering to do it. Funny the way the power always drops out
coming down the hill just before the pot-holes...

-kt