"1/2 A" (not amp) battery pack?

[Turbo DV8]

I just bought an "old-school" Energizer 3 watt Lux rechargeable flashlight for $10 on clearance. It comes with a "1/2 A" shrink wrapped NiMH battery pack labeled as 1 Amp / 3.6 volts. The capacity, name and appearance suggests they are basically AA cells cut in half, except the overall diameter is significantly bigger than an AA cell, but much less than a C cell. Is this a common battery pack size that should be relatively easy to find come replacement time, or should I consider this a "disposable" flashlight once the pack gives up? A pack I am sure would cost more than the $10 I paid for the light, but I SSC'd the light and now it rocks and I love the focusable head with few beam artifacts.

 

[TigerhawkT3]

There actually is an "A" size cell, but it's very rare. You'll find a bunch of 2/3A for RC use. I'm not quite sure about 1/2A, though. Check cheapbatterypacks.com. It might be possible to use a 17670 and a spacer.

 

[Flash_Gordon]

Not common. I have seen 1/3A, 2/3A and 4/5A. This is the first I have heard of 1/2 A. Are you sure it is a 2 and not 3? A 3x1/2A pack would be about 75mm in length while a 3x1/3A would be about 63mm.

You will have the original battery pack to decide if the light is worth keeping. You are probably looking at some type of mod to get another battery.

Mark

 

[Turbo DV8]

Are you sure it is a 2 and not 3?

Definitely a "2". I have two of the lights. The packs are 82mm long not including + nipple, and 85mm long with.

 

[Fallingwater]

First Google result.
That one's out of stock, but there are plenty more.

 

[2xTrinity]

Since this is 3.6V, My recommendation would be to switch the cell out for a 17650, or, if it fits, an 18650. Either one would give you about double the useful capacity of the NiMH pack. The only problem there would be that the charging mechanism wouldn't be correct. If it's the type of rechargeable light where you simply plug in an AC adapter with a standard socket on the light, you might be able to find an adapter that would fit it, perhaps a cell phone AC charger meant to charge 3.7V packs.

 

[mdocod]

if the total length is 82mm, then the cells contained within are most certainly 2/3A cells, which are about 17mm diameter x 28mm long. 3x28= very close to 82. The package is simply mislabeled or being misread.


[edit in]and it appears, based on the links provided by fallingwater, that there are some manufactures labeling this size cell as a 1/2A, but it is still a 17x28mm. Industry prefers 2/3A designation I believe.

 

[sysadmn]

If this is the light Target just cleared out, it's an "A" cell. There are a couple of threads on it. The consensus seemed to be that a 17670 would be a good upgrade.