cute light

telephony/spidey82
IMO-this is a terrific little keychain light for a measly $10. -I wonder what's supposed to be defective about it??
confused.gif
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by videocal:
telephony/spidey82
IMO-this is a terrific little keychain light for a measly $10. -I wonder what's supposed to be defective about it??
confused.gif
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Apparently, some of the first runs had a lot of defective batteries and had an abnormally high current draw (around 120 to 140mA).
That's a lot to ask of LR44 button cells yet still claim a 100 hour battery life.

Newer models probably have a small resistor and come with better quality batteries.
 
Re: L1
Of course, a 100 hour run time is just ridiculous
grin.gif
, but FYI, the one I have realistically runs strong for about 1 hour-(tested on G.E.lux meter)-which ain't bad for a keychain light!
smile.gif
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by videocal:
Re: L1
Of course, a 100 hour run time is justridiculous
grin.gif
, but FYI, the one I have realistically runs strong for abt.1 hour-which ain't bad for a keychain light!
smile.gif
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


After you run yours for a few minutes, yank out the batteries and meter them. See if one of them is sitting between 1.1 ansd 1.3 volts and the other three are at or maybe just above 1.5. That's how you weed out the bad cell and maybe get more usable life out of the L1.

Metering new cells won't do any good... the bad one won't reveal itself until the light's been on for several minutes.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by telephony:

After you run yours for a few minutes, yank out the batteries and meter them. See if one of them is sitting between 1.1 ansd 1.3 volts and the other three are at or maybe just above 1.5. That's how you weed out the bad cell and maybe get more usable life out of the L1.

Metering new cells won't do any good... the bad one won't reveal itself until the light's been on for several minutes.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Have you tried testing Each new cell with a 150ma load held on it for at least 10 seconds?
I think you'll find it revealing....
Btw- the silver oxide cells have proven to be much more consistent in quality than the L.R.44s
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>
Have you tried testing Each new cell with a 150ma load held on it for at least 10 seconds?
I think you'll find it revealing....
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

This method will also work, if you have a jig set up for this purpose.

I'd imagine you can use a 1.5 volt incandescent bulb as a cheap & dirty load, if you don't have or don't want to mess with finding the right resistor.

Any good ideas for test loads that will draw 150mA off a 1.5 volt source? Maybe something most of us have at home already, like maybe the speaker out of an old transistor radio?
I tried using some 3v flashlight bulbs, but they draw way too much.

Just looking for ideas here.
grin.gif

I'm more accustomed to working with higher voltages....haven't messed with any single-cell stuff (other than the Arc Flashlight) in some years.
blush.gif
 
I'm just using an old Radio Shk. battery tester-#22-031, set on 1.5v @ 150ma load-that's all. -simple as you can get......
 
Hey, that does sound simple...do they stll sell them ...how much are they?
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by KenB:
Hey, that does sound simple...do they stll sell them ...how much are they?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Ken,
The new model (#22-090) will do the same thing-just use the "AA" setting on the selector knob-$15 **Hey, thanks for that great tip on the Lux Meter on eBay-I'm really pleased with it and Still can't believe I got it for $15!!
 
Thanks Doug, I will look for it nwxt time I`m at Radioshack. I saw another meter on E-Bay but the dial did not look like it was in nice shape...is it usefull with our led lights or is it only for higher power lights?
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by KenB:
I saw another meter on E-Bay but the dial did not look like it was in nice shape...is it usefull with our led lights or is it only for higher power lights?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
This precison little meter (can't believe it was made in the 30's) is just ideal for measuring the light output for LED flashlights,because it's scale is for the lower light levels available in 1935.

Btw-do you happen to have the auction # of that other meter?
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by KenB:
www.ebay.com item #1232947371<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

That one looks kinda beatup, alright...
The only one I saw that might be worth having ( if it still works properly) is auction #1232787835 -10 hours left....
 
That does look nice...but I want one like yours...I think it`s neat...and might be more collectable... maybe worth $$ in the future...as well as functional now.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by KenB:
That does look nice...but I want one like yours...I think it`s neat...and might be more collectable... maybe worth $$ in the future...as well as functional now.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

When you do buy one of these meters, just make sure that it has a very LOW calibrated scale on it, or like you said, it just won't be of any practical use for LEDs.
Btw-this meter is only 2"x2"x1", but when you pick it up, it feels like it's made out of
lead
shocked.gif
 

Latest posts

Top