Battery question

On Wed, 12 Nov 2008 09:17:20 -0800 (PST), wrote:
On Nov 12, 10:41*am, Mike Rocket J Squirrel
wrote:
On 11/12/2008 6:56 AM Mark wrote:
wrote:
On Nov 11, 10:21 pm, Mark wrote:
Patrick Lamb wrote:
Daylight savings time ended, and my entire commute home is now dark.
So...
I've got a light set, 2 or 3 years old, with SLA batteries. *Never had
an issue before this year, but they're sagging badly. *The light's a
pretty dim yellow by the time I get home. *And it doesn't seem to be
temperature sensitive (happens about the same at 35F as at 55F).
So, is this something that might get better with a few more cycles on
the batteries, or is it time to spring for new cells?
New cells time. *Sounds like you might have run it dead or nearly dead
one too many times. *That "deep cycling" seriously kills an SLA's
ability to hold a charge. *AFAIK, there's no remedy short of
replacement. *(Some SLA's are advertised as "deep-cycle"; AFAIK, they
are only more tolerant of such use, not immune, and they cost much more).

I used SLAs for many years of commuting. *Periodically I would forget to
charge and let the battery get too low. *Usually needed a new battery
shortly thereafter.

why not switch to led lamps ?

Ummm, good idea, except that's a separate issue. *Type and state of
repair of battery is pretty much independent from type of lighting
device, yes?

In short, with led's, his battery still won't hold a charge.

True that. But with LEDs one needn't heavy SLAs, so a complete changeout
of the entire lighting system would be in order, which makes sense only if
the OP has the interest and the means to purchase a new lighting system,
and/or the skillset needed to cobble together a home-brew system from
hardware store parts.

I don't know if the op is trying to piece together a lighting system
on the cheap with odds and ends; I can't help with that; but I am
suggesting is to upgrade to led systems, I find they are 10 times more
reliable than halogen, a lot brighter, less weight and much more
compact.

Fascinating, and I may go that route. But, since I've gone three
years without a problem, you'll pardon me if I'm sceptical an LED
light will go 30 years without any problem.

Pat

Email address works as is.

On Wed, 12 Nov 2008 09:36:32 -0800, Mike Rocket J Squirrel
wrote:
On 11/12/2008 9:17 AM wrote:
On Nov 12, 10:41 am, Mike Rocket J Squirrel
wrote:
On 11/12/2008 6:56 AM Mark wrote:
wrote:
On Nov 11, 10:21 pm, Mark wrote:
Patrick Lamb wrote:
Daylight savings time ended, and my entire commute home is now dark.
So...
I've got a light set, 2 or 3 years old, with SLA batteries. Never had
an issue before this year, but they're sagging badly. The light's a
pretty dim yellow by the time I get home. And it doesn't seem to be
temperature sensitive (happens about the same at 35F as at 55F).
So, is this something that might get better with a few more cycles on
the batteries, or is it time to spring for new cells?
New cells time. Sounds like you might have run it dead or nearly dead
one too many times. That "deep cycling" seriously kills an SLA's
ability to hold a charge. AFAIK, there's no remedy short of
replacement. (Some SLA's are advertised as "deep-cycle"; AFAIK, they
are only more tolerant of such use, not immune, and they cost much more).
I used SLAs for many years of commuting. Periodically I would forget to
charge and let the battery get too low. Usually needed a new battery
shortly thereafter.
Mark J.
why not switch to led lamps ?
Ummm, good idea, except that's a separate issue. Type and state of
repair of battery is pretty much independent from type of lighting
device, yes?
In short, with led's, his battery still won't hold a charge.
True that. But with LEDs one needn't heavy SLAs, so a complete changeout
of the entire lighting system would be in order, which makes sense only if
the OP has the interest and the means to purchase a new lighting system,
and/or the skillset needed to cobble together a home-brew system from
hardware store parts.

I don't know if the op is trying to piece together a lighting system
on the cheap with odds and ends; I can't help with that; but I am
suggesting is to upgrade to led systems, I find they are 10 times more
reliable than halogen, a lot brighter, less weight and much more
compact.

Yep yep yep, I'm with you on all that. It really comes down to what the OP
has in mind. Perhaps he will surface and chime in on this.

I was thinking of picking up some replacement cells and soldering them
in, vs. a whole new system. Looks like they'd be about $30 from
nicdlady (with shipping). Cygolite, to their credit, has spare parts
available -- $40 for a new battery. No easy decisions here.

Pat

I'm the original poster, and I approve this message...

Email address works as is.

On Wed, 12 Nov 2008 14:01:48 -0600, Werehatrack
wrote:

On Tue, 11 Nov 2008 20:29:00 -0600, Patrick Lamb
may have said:

Daylight savings time ended, and my entire commute home is now dark.
So...

I've got a light set, 2 or 3 years old, with SLA batteries. Never had
an issue before this year, but they're sagging badly. The light's a
pretty dim yellow by the time I get home. And it doesn't seem to be
temperature sensitive (happens about the same at 35F as at 55F).

So, is this something that might get better with a few more cycles on
the batteries, or is it time to spring for new cells?

New cells time. In my experience, if you're riding in the cold a lot,
staying with SLA is going to be better than trying to swap to NiMH or
NiCd, both of which have rather poor low-temp performance.

True. Googling last night convinced me I'd prefer either an SLA or Li
-- and lithium battery systems are darned expensive!

Browsing around, some of the nice LED systems with batteries make an
LED with a Shimano/Peter White generator wheel look like a good deal.
SON is still too much to sell to the wife.

Pat

Email address works as is.