|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#81
|
|||
|
|||
Mag lights
|
Ads |
#82
|
|||
|
|||
Is there any good non-rechargeable headlights anymore?
On 5/10/2017 7:51 PM, Jeff Liebermann wrote:
Incidentally, 3 AAA alkaline batteries have the same capacity as 2 AA alkaline batteries: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AAA_battery https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AA_battery A AAA battery has about 1000 ma-hrs of capacity while a AA does about 2500 ma-hrs: AAA 3 cells * 1000 ma-hr * 1.5v = 4.5 watt-hrs AA 2 cells * 2500 ma-hr * 1.5v = 4.5 watt-hrs Your calculator is broken. AAA 3 cells * 1000 ma-hr * 1.5v = 4.5 watt-hrs AA 2 cells * 2500 ma-hr * 1.5v = 7.5 watt-hrs But the difference is even bigger when you look at NiMH cells, since the development of higher capacity cells has centered around AA cells. |
#83
|
|||
|
|||
Is there any good non-rechargeable headlights anymore?
On 5/10/2017 9:05 AM, DougC wrote:
snip Years back the rechargeables cost too much ($100+ just for the smallest systems). Now they're cheap enough, but they suck compared to the disposable-battery ones. That premise is incorrect. What there is is a limited number headlights with internal rechargeable batteries. There are many low cost headlights with external rechargeable battery packs that work just fine {though you may want to spend extra on higher grade batteries, or buy one where you supply your own 18650 cells). There are a few good headlights with internal rechargeable batteries for $100, though not many. One such light is the Lezyne Super Drive 1250XXL which is about $84 on sale http://www.artscyclery.com/Lezyne_Super_Drive_1250XXL_LED_Front_Light_/descpage-LZSD25F.html?crumb=RDMACCESS. Even the lowest power setting is not as low as the HL-EL530's highest setting, 25 hours at 150 lumens. The two internal 18650 batteries are much higher capacity than the four AA batteries in the HL-EL530. The next model up is the 1500XXL, which I have, but it was over $100, though not by much. While the batteries are replaceable, they are not field replaceable, they are sealed in because it makes it easier to waterproof the unit, much like most smart phones have now moved to non-field-replaceable batteries. The Cateye HL-EL530 is actually not very highly rated by users, and while Cateye doesn't specify the output, it's estimated at around 110 lumens. http://www.mtbr.com/cat/accessories/lights/cateye/hl-el530/prd_415454_130crx.aspx https://www.amazon.com/Cateye-HL-EL530-LED-Bicycle-Headlight/product-reviews/B000R5NR8K https://www.rei.com/product/745539/cateye-hl-el530-front-bike-light Still, there are times when a light that runs on AA batteries makes sense, i.e. on a tour through the middle of nowhere where you can't charge batteries, though in that case a dynamo light makes some sense. A high-end AA flashlight and a good mount is another option. Or as I, and a few others have pointed out, there are still a few AA powered bicycle lights being sold. If you can believe the lumen numbers, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06X6FXCLN sounds acceptable, and is much better than the old Cateye HL-EL530. The advantage of a flashlight is that there are still AA flashlights with the newer, more efficient LEDs, but it appears as if the bicycle light makers have not put any resources into new AA models with the more efficient LEDs. |
#84
|
|||
|
|||
Is there any good non-rechargeable headlights anymore?
On 5/10/2017 9:05 AM, DougC wrote:
A couple of my old headlights died due to batteries accidentally being left in them long enough to leak. The old lights were Cateye HL-EL530s, that took 4 x AA batteries. http://www.cateye.com/en/products/detail/HL-EL530/ tho mine wasn't that one, mine was the previous-generation that had a rectangular beam due to a second focusing cone inside the main reflector. I cleaned them up a bit with some vinegar and water, but they're probably toast. The reflector surfaces look pretty gray. So I'm shopping around for ANY kind of headlights that take 4 x AA batteries, and there is none. The best I can find is one that takes 3 x AAA, but that doesn't put out anywhere near what the previous lights did. If the issue is being able to buy disposable batteries, rather than just being able to use AA batteries, some newer bicycle lights can run off of two or four CR123A primary cells (8.4WH or 16.8WH) or one or two 18650 rechargeable cell(s) (about 9.6 WH or 19.2WH). CR123A cells are about $1 each. Look at the Fenix BC21R https://www.fenix-store.com/fenix-bc21r-led-bike-light/ and the Fenix BC30 https://www.fenix-store.com/fenix-bc30-led-bike-light/. You can charge the 18650 internally on the BC21R, but not on the BC40R. I remember when camera users were lamenting the lack of AA powered digital cameras, but they finally accepted the fact that Li-Ion batteries had such enormous technical advantages that it was worth the proprietary nature of them. The use of CR123R lithium primary cells is the compromise for those that want disposable batteries |
#85
|
|||
|
|||
Mag lights
On 5/14/2017 9:22 PM, Jeff Liebermann wrote:
On Sun, 14 May 2017 15:50:35 -0500, DougC wrote: ... Lead-acid battery guts eats aluminum too. That was the thing that ruined a few of my flashlights through the years... The battery would leak that acid dust, it would work its way into the front end somehow and eat holes in the reflector coating. Umm... I don't think anyone uses lead-acid batteries in modern aluminum flashlights. Methinks you mean alkaline batteries, which use potassium hydroxide (KOH) as an electrolyte. KOH doesn't really directly attack the aluminum metal, which is coated with a somewhat protective layer of aluminum oxide. The KOH first attacks the oxide coating, which exposes the base aluminum metal to attack by water (H2O). This article should explain how it works: https://stab-iitb.org/newton-mirror/askasci/chem07/chem07376.htm What I meant was what was common before alkaline dry cells: zinc carbon cells: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinc-carbon_battery As kids friends and I just figured that the paste stuff was acidic, since it would eat not only paint and most metals, but it would eat holes through a lot of textile materials also. |
#86
|
|||
|
|||
Mag lights
On 5/15/2017 5:24 AM, DougC wrote:
snip What I meant was what was common before alkaline dry cells: zinc carbon cells: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinc-carbon_battery Still a lot of carbon-zinc cells, sometimes called zinc-chloride cells, being sold, or given away. Harbor Freight routinely has 24 packs of those batteries for free with one of their coupons http://mylitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/free-batteries-harbor-freight.png. And of course the infamous Radio Shack Free Battery Club got you one free carbon-zinc battery every month http://images.dailytech.com/nimage/Battery_Card_Radio_Shack_Wide.jpg. |
#87
|
|||
|
|||
Is there any good non-rechargeable headlights anymore?
On 5/13/2017 4:52 PM, Jeff Liebermann wrote:
On Sat, 13 May 2017 16:33:40 +0000 (UTC), Ralph Barone wrote: "A thing of beauty and a joy to behold." Not quite... I beg to differ. The uglier it looks, the better it works. When I see a beautiful work of mechanical art, I suspect that something important has been sacrificed to gods of art and beauty. It might be a joy to behold, and simultaneously be pure hell to operate. It's much like concept bicycle designs, which (to me) are generally quite beautiful, but also impossible to ride. Form follows mal-function: http://802.11junk.com/jeffl/pics/bicycles/slides/bicycle-flashlight.html Incidentally, the Maglite in the photo is no more. I tried to use it last night and discovered that the D cells had leaked and are now corroded and firmly stuck in the flashlight tube. Sniff... Time to join the 21st century. Get yourself to Costco. |
#88
|
|||
|
|||
Mag lights
On 5/14/2017 7:22 PM, Jeff Liebermann wrote:
True. I retrofitted my various 2D and 3D Maglites with aftermarket LED conversions. The reflector design was obviously all wrong but worked well enough to be usable. There are now Maglite conversion kits which replace everything from the light bulb, to the entire head assembly. Convert your film camera to digital too: http://www.siliconfilm.com/ |
#89
|
|||
|
|||
Is there any good non-rechargeable headlights anymore?
On Mon, 15 May 2017 01:57:34 -0700, sms
wrote: On 5/10/2017 7:51 PM, Jeff Liebermann wrote: Incidentally, 3 AAA alkaline batteries have the same capacity as 2 AA alkaline batteries: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AAA_battery https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AA_battery A AAA battery has about 1000 ma-hrs of capacity while a AA does about 2500 ma-hrs: AAA 3 cells * 1000 ma-hr * 1.5v = 4.5 watt-hrs AA 2 cells * 2500 ma-hr * 1.5v = 4.5 watt-hrs Your calculator is broken. AAA 3 cells * 1000 ma-hr * 1.5v = 4.5 watt-hrs AA 2 cells * 2500 ma-hr * 1.5v = 7.5 watt-hrs Oops. My calculator is fine. I did the math in my head. Maybe I'll look into getting a brain transplant. But the difference is even bigger when you look at NiMH cells, since the development of higher capacity cells has centered around AA cells. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eneloop Using 4th generation numbers: AAA 3 cells * 800 ma-hr * 1.5v = 3.6 watt-hrs AA 2 cells * 2000 ma-hr * 1.5v = 6.0 watt-hrs -- Jeff Liebermann 150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558 |
#90
|
|||
|
|||
Mag lights
On Mon, 15 May 2017 06:16:07 -0700, sms
wrote: On 5/14/2017 7:22 PM, Jeff Liebermann wrote: True. I retrofitted my various 2D and 3D Maglites with aftermarket LED conversions. The reflector design was obviously all wrong but worked well enough to be usable. There are now Maglite conversion kits which replace everything from the light bulb, to the entire head assembly. Convert your film camera to digital too: http://www.siliconfilm.com/ $700. For that, I can buy a fairly decent digital camera. The sensor size is not specified, but I doubt it will cover the entire 36x24mm frame size. http://www.siliconfilm.com/faq.htm http://www.siliconfilm.com/fov.htm Resolution is 1.3 megapixles (1280x1024 in 36 bit color) but no clue if that's the sensor resolution or if it has been upscaled from a smaller sensor. Probably useful for someone who has a large investment in a compatible film camera system. -- Jeff Liebermann 150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558 |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Good website on bike headlights | [email protected] | General | 69 | May 18th 07 12:43 PM |
Good website on bike headlights | [email protected] | Techniques | 73 | May 18th 07 12:43 PM |
rechargeable lights | [email protected] | UK | 6 | July 30th 05 10:09 PM |
Streamlight Strion--Finally a good, easily available, 6W, 80 lumens,Adjustable Beam, Rechargeable Lithium Ion Flashlight | Steven M. Scharf | General | 0 | December 22nd 04 06:24 AM |
Streamlight Strion--Finally a good, easily available, 6W, 80 lumens,Adjustable Beam, Rechargeable Lithium Ion Flashlight | Steven M. Scharf | Techniques | 0 | December 22nd 04 06:24 AM |