Battery for UK400 torch
Jon Weaver
I recently invested in a NON RECHARGABLE version of the UK400, but this
weekend, dived with someone with the RECHARGABLE versions and frankly, I
am no longer impressed by my torch as the rechargable version is MUCH more
powerful.!.
On examination, the torches are identicle appart from the BLUB and BATTERY.
The bulb is easy to get, as is the charger (As I already have a 6V Lead
Acid Charger), but I am trying to find a battery.
The official battery is 50 odd quid, which is expensive for a small, 6V
lead acid battery, so I am wondering if the battery used is a standard
size.
Does anyone know of an alternative which may fix in this torch??
Any info appreciated
Regards
Jon
Tony Jay
The charger is a constant current charger (as opposed to a constant
voltage charger ??)
Do not fall into the trap of trying to make the cells yourself by buying
4 off the shelf and sticking them together. The UK400 uses 4.4 amp/hour
rechargeables 'off the shelf' rechargeables are 1.4 amp hours (the
difference between 1 hou and 20 min burn time)
The bulb is 18 Watts in comparison to the normal 6 watts for dry cells
The reflector's connection is different in the rechargeable (due to the
way the battery pack is made) but this should affect you if you make you
make your own batter pack.
> Jon
--
------------------------------------------------------------
Tony Jay
Vector Fields - Software for Electromagnetic design.
Email - a...@vector.demon.co.uk
WWWeb - http://www.vector-fields.co.uk/
Personal - http://www.soton.ac.uk/~tjay/
------------------------------------------------------------
Hugh Callaghan TOK
Jon Weaver (jwe...@newbridge.com) wrote:
: I recently invested in a NON RECHARGABLE version of the UK400, but this
: weekend, dived with someone with the RECHARGABLE versions and frankly, I
: am no longer impressed by my torch as the rechargable version is MUCH more
: powerful.!.
Yup, 18W versus 6 or 7W as far as I recall. You can draw far more current
from a NiCad battery than from an alkaline one. The burn time is severely
reduced (70 minutes for the UK400R as opposed to 4 or 5 hours for yours).
: On examination, the torches are identicle appart from the BLUB and BATTERY.
: The bulb is easy to get, as is the charger (As I already have a 6V Lead
: Acid Charger), but I am trying to find a battery.
Really? Do you mean that you just bought a UK400R bulb or did you find
another (cheaper!) source? The bulb was about 12 quid or so?
: The official battery is 50 odd quid, which is expensive for a small, 6V
: lead acid battery, so I am wondering if the battery used is a standard
: size.
It's not lead-acid - it's 4 NiCad cells shrink wrapped and soldered together
to form a 4.8V battery. You should be able to make one yourself but make
sure you buy high capacity (ca. 4Amp hour) NiCads and not the drivel that
is usually sold as a D-cell (more often than not, it's a padded-out C-cell).
One thing: you can certainly buy a lead-acid cell for this sort of job and
I think you'll find the sealed gel cells the best choice, but remember that
your bulb is tailored specifically for a 4 NiCad battery - it expects to
be able to draw about 3.75Amps of current. Lead-acid cells come in multiples
of 2Volts and I think their internal resistance is still small compared to
the filament resistance (1.3 Ohms hot, about). The bottom line is that if
the bulb sees too much current, you may blow it fairly quickly even though
these things tend to be self limiting to a degree, and if it sees too little
current, you'll get wimpy preformance (the bulb will last ages though! ;).
Try a DejaNews search - I posted a few articles on the modifications I plan
to carry out on the UK1200 I bought recently.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
--
Hugh Callaghan
Mike Gray
Tony Jay wrote:
>
> Jon Weaver wrote:
> >
> > I recently invested in a NON RECHARGABLE version of the UK400, but this
> > weekend, dived with someone with the RECHARGABLE versions and frankly, I
> > am no longer impressed by my torch as the rechargable version is MUCH more
> > powerful.!.
> >
> >
> > The bulb is easy to get, as is the charger (As I already have a 6V Lead
> > Acid Charger), but I am trying to find a battery.
> >
> > lead acid battery, so I am wondering if the battery used is a standard
> > size.
> >
> >
> > Any info appreciated
> >
> > Regards
> >
> the 400 has Nicads in, four D cells soldered together
>
> The charger is a constant current charger (as opposed to a constant
> voltage charger ??)
>
> Do not fall into the trap of trying to make the cells yourself by buying
> 4 off the shelf and sticking them together. The UK400 uses 4.4 amp/hour
> rechargeables 'off the shelf' rechargeables are 1.4 amp hours (the
> difference between 1 hou and 20 min burn time)
>
> The bulb is 18 Watts in comparison to the normal 6 watts for dry cells
>
> The reflector's connection is different in the rechargeable (due to the
> way the battery pack is made) but this should affect you if you make you
> make your own batter pack.
> > Jon
>
> --
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> Tony Jay
>
> Vector Fields - Software for Electromagnetic design.
> Email - a...@vector.demon.co.uk
> WWWeb - http://www.vector-fields.co.uk/
> Personal - http://www.soton.ac.uk/~tjay/
> ------------------------------------------------------------
My UK 400 R is lead acid, NOT NiCad
Suspect there are two rechargables out there?
Mike Gray
Hugh Callaghan TOK wrote:
>
> Jon Weaver (jwe...@newbridge.com) wrote:
> : I recently invested in a NON RECHARGABLE version of the UK400, but this
> : weekend, dived with someone with the RECHARGABLE versions and frankly, I
> : am no longer impressed by my torch as the rechargable version is MUCH more
> : powerful.!.
>
> from a NiCad battery than from an alkaline one. The burn time is severely
> reduced (70 minutes for the UK400R as opposed to 4 or 5 hours for yours).
>
> : The bulb is easy to get, as is the charger (As I already have a 6V Lead
> : Acid Charger), but I am trying to find a battery.
>
> another (cheaper!) source? The bulb was about 12 quid or so?
>
> : lead acid battery, so I am wondering if the battery used is a standard
> : size.
>
> to form a 4.8V battery. You should be able to make one yourself but make
> sure you buy high capacity (ca. 4Amp hour) NiCads and not the drivel that
> is usually sold as a D-cell (more often than not, it's a padded-out C-cell).
>
> One thing: you can certainly buy a lead-acid cell for this sort of job and
> I think you'll find the sealed gel cells the best choice, but remember that
> your bulb is tailored specifically for a 4 NiCad battery - it expects to
> be able to draw about 3.75Amps of current. Lead-acid cells come in multiples
> of 2Volts and I think their internal resistance is still small compared to
> the filament resistance (1.3 Ohms hot, about). The bottom line is that if
> the bulb sees too much current, you may blow it fairly quickly even though
> these things tend to be self limiting to a degree, and if it sees too little
> current, you'll get wimpy preformance (the bulb will last ages though! ;).
>
> Try a DejaNews search - I posted a few articles on the modifications I plan
> to carry out on the UK1200 I bought recently.
>
> Hope this helps.
>
> Cheers,
> --
> Hugh Callaghan
Are there two rechargables out there?
regards
m
David Price
Jon Weaver wrote:
>
> I recently invested in a NON RECHARGABLE version of the UK400, but this
> weekend, dived with someone with the RECHARGABLE versions and frankly, I
> am no longer impressed by my torch as the rechargable version is MUCH more
> powerful.!.
>
>
> The bulb is easy to get, as is the charger (As I already have a 6V Lead
> Acid Charger), but I am trying to find a battery.
>
> lead acid battery, so I am wondering if the battery used is a standard
> size.
>
>
> Any info appreciated
>
> Regards
>
Jon checkout http://www.mouser.com they have every size of good quality
gel cells (in US.). I get batteries for my lights there and have
designed different systems around them.
Dave Price
Barry Henline
Tony Jay wrote:
>
> Jon Weaver wrote:
> >
> > I recently invested in a NON RECHARGABLE version of the UK400, but this
> > weekend, dived with someone with the RECHARGABLE versions and frankly, I
> > am no longer impressed by my torch as the rechargable version is MUCH more
> > powerful.!.
> >
> > On examination, the torches are identicle appart from the BLUB and BATTERY.
> >
> > The bulb is easy to get, as is the charger (As I already have a 6V Lead
> > Acid Charger), but I am trying to find a battery.
> >
> > The official battery is 50 odd quid, which is expensive for a small, 6V
> > lead acid battery, so I am wondering if the battery used is a standard
> > size.
> >
> > Does anyone know of an alternative which may fix in this torch??
> >
> > Any info appreciated
> >
> > Regards
> >
>
> The charger is a constant current charger (as opposed to a constant
> voltage charger ??)
>
> Do not fall into the trap of trying to make the cells yourself by buying
> 4 off the shelf and sticking them together. The UK400 uses 4.4 amp/hour
> rechargeables 'off the shelf' rechargeables are 1.4 amp hours (the
> difference between 1 hou and 20 min burn time)
>
> The bulb is 18 Watts in comparison to the normal 6 watts for dry cells
>
> The reflector's connection is different in the rechargeable (due to the
> way the battery pack is made) but this should affect you if you make you
> make your own batter pack.
> > Jon
>
> --
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> Tony Jay
>
> Vector Fields - Software for Electromagnetic design.
> Email - a...@vector.demon.co.uk
> WWWeb - http://www.vector-fields.co.uk/
> Personal - http://www.soton.ac.uk/~tjay/
> ------------------------------------------------------------
these and the 18 watt bulb give me a good hour of burn time. They also
sell chargers for these batteries
Mike Gray
> Suspect there are two rechargables out there?
Sorry, goofed. Mine is a UK600 R, not 400. Lead acid and excellent light
nevertheless
regards
m
J Shepherd
jwe...@newbridge.com (Jon Weaver) writes:
>I recently invested in a NON RECHARGABLE version of the UK400, but this
>weekend, dived with someone with the RECHARGABLE versions and frankly, I
>am no longer impressed by my torch as the rechargable version is MUCH more
>powerful.!.
>On examination, the torches are identicle appart from the BLUB and BATTERY.
>The bulb is easy to get, as is the charger (As I already have a 6V Lead
>Acid Charger), but I am trying to find a battery.
>The official battery is 50 odd quid, which is expensive for a small, 6V
>lead acid battery, so I am wondering if the battery used is a standard
>size.
>Does anyone know of an alternative which may fix in this torch??
>Any info appreciated
>Regards
>Jon
You might have fun with the relfector - which is a different
design in the two torches, and the torch itself, which is molded
differently.
Best option, say to hell with it, and buy a 400R *as well*.
Great for wreck and shitty sphincter twinching dives, but crap on
wildlife hunting dives - the 400 with a 4W bulb is much more forgiving,
and forgiven, and you'll see more.
JMO.
Jason
Jon Weaver
>
> You might have fun with the relfector - which is a different
> design in the two torches, and the torch itself, which is molded
> differently.
>
> Best option, say to hell with it, and buy a 400R *as well*.
> Great for wreck and shitty sphincter twinching dives, but crap on
> wildlife hunting dives - the 400 with a 4W bulb is much more forgiving,
> and forgiven, and you'll see more.
>
> JMO.
>
> Jason
Thanks for the info, but I think I have the perfect solution now.
I have put the 18W bulb into my UK400 which means that I still have the
old 4W bulb in the spare holder, so I can take you advice when doing a
wildlife hunting dive.
Rather than use the NiCad 'pack' that UK supply, I have taken everyones
recommendations in investing in some 4.4 Ah D cells (four of them) which
will fit in the normal spaces in the UK400. A standard charger will charge
these.
I now have a torch, the same spec as the 400R (but without the rubber
cover) which will give me approx 1 hour at 18 W and 4 hours at 4W. I also
have the option to put Alkalines in it if necessary.
In hind sight, I think I have stumbled on a better solution than going for
the 400R in the first place. Now for less money, I get more features.
Perfect!
Thanks for everyones help
Regards
Jon
Bob Crownfield
> > Jon Weaver wrote:
> > >
> > > I recently invested in a NON RECHARGABLE version of the UK400, but this
> > > weekend, dived with someone with the RECHARGABLE versions and frankly, I
> > > am no longer impressed by my torch as the rechargable version is MUCH more
> > > powerful.!.
> > >
> > > On examination, the torches are identicle appart from the BLUB and BATTERY.
> > >
> > > The bulb is easy to get, as is the charger (As I already have a 6V Lead
> > > Acid Charger), but I am trying to find a battery.
> > >
> > > The official battery is 50 odd quid, which is expensive for a small, 6V
> > > lead acid battery, so I am wondering if the battery used is a standard
> > > size.
> > >
> > > Does anyone know of an alternative which may fix in this torch??
> > >
--
Bob_Cro...@QC.edu
Queens College, Computing and Information Technology Services
Photography, Diving, Flying, Delphi RAD addict
Jon:
Email me at crown...@megahits.com.
Somewhere at home I have a phone number for $18 gel cells. I have also
two lights that use gell cels, and will buy several cells.
Diving Long Island Sound in Fairfield County, CT
Andy Johnson
In article <3394C1...@worldnet.att.net>,
on Tue, 03 Jun 1997 21:12:39 -0400,
Mike Gray <omg...@worldnet.att.net> writes:
>Tony Jay wrote:
>>
>> Jon Weaver wrote:
>> >
>> > I recently invested in a NON RECHARGABLE version of the UK400, but this
>> > weekend, dived with someone with the RECHARGABLE versions and frankly, I
>> > am no longer impressed by my torch as the rechargable version is MUCH more
>> > powerful.!.
>> >
>> > On examination, the torches are identicle appart from the BLUB and BATTERY.
>> >
>> > The bulb is easy to get, as is the charger (As I already have a 6V Lead
>> > Acid Charger), but I am trying to find a battery.
>> >
>> > The official battery is 50 odd quid, which is expensive for a small, 6V
>> > lead acid battery, so I am wondering if the battery used is a standard
>> > size.
>> >
>> > Does anyone know of an alternative which may fix in this torch??
>> >
>> >
>> > Regards
>> >
>> the 400 has Nicads in, four D cells soldered together
>>
>> The charger is a constant current charger (as opposed to a constant
>> voltage charger ??)
>>
>> Do not fall into the trap of trying to make the cells yourself by buying
>> 4 off the shelf and sticking them together. The UK400 uses 4.4 amp/hour
>> rechargeables 'off the shelf' rechargeables are 1.4 amp hours (the
>> difference between 1 hou and 20 min burn time)
>>
>> The bulb is 18 Watts in comparison to the normal 6 watts for dry cells
>>
>> The reflector's connection is different in the rechargeable (due to the
>> way the battery pack is made) but this should affect you if you make you
>> make your own batter pack.
>> > Jon
>>
>> --
>> ------------------------------------------------------------
>> Tony Jay
>>
>> Vector Fields - Software for Electromagnetic design.
>> Email - a...@vector.demon.co.uk
>> WWWeb - http://www.vector-fields.co.uk/
>> Personal - http://www.soton.ac.uk/~tjay/
>> ------------------------------------------------------------
>
>My UK 400 R is lead acid, NOT NiCad
>Suspect there are two rechargables out there?
2 1/2 years ago. Don't s'pose it makes much difference 'though.
8664...@spamFUC.elink.EMEA.IBM.COM Andy Johnson
Brad Rehm
Jon,
It's been interesting following this thread, and I think you're
on the right track in just replacing the alkaline cells with
NICADs and upgrading the bulb. I've been diving with the same
configuration for over a year. Same bulb and, of course, same
batteries.
You may find, though, that you'll need a better charger. Standard
NICADs (as opposed to Quick-Charge and Fast-Charge NICADs) are
normally charged at 0.1C, or at .44 Amperes charging current in
the case of your 4.4 AH cells. (*C* is the current rating of the
batteries in Ampere-Hours.)
If you check the charger you've bought from a retailer, you will
probably find that it's only capable of a 0.1 Amp (or so) charge
rate. This means that you'll have to leave the batteries in the
charger for several DAYS to bring them up to a full charge. There's
a good chance that they won't ever achieve a full charge at the
lower rate.
In the end, I built a charger which tops off the batteries in the
recommended 15 hours. Burn time is right at the calculated 1 hr
18 minutes. Great light. I think this is the best way to get
a rechargable.
Good diving,
Brad
********************************
Brad Rehm Georgetown, Texas
KV5V
PDIC Diver
********************************
Mike Gray
> >My UK 400 R is lead acid, NOT NiCad
> >Suspect there are two rechargables out there?
> Hmmm, interesting. Mine is definitely NiCad; bought it 'bout
> 2 1/2 years ago. Don't s'pose it makes much difference 'though.
> 8664...@spamFUC.elink.EMEA.IBM.COM Andy Johnson
You missed my retraction - I phuqued uppe. Mine is the UK 600 R which is
an excellent, lead acid, light.
sorry
m