Installing PT Surge Batteries?

[James Van Artsdalen]

I got a PT Surge today and *tried* my very best to install the batteries.

I have succeeded but cannot believe that was the way to do it. After unscrewing the head the reflector came off but not the lamp. You have to squeeze two plastic tabs to release the battery holder, and ...

Here is the problem: how are you supposed to pull the battery holder out of the flashlight case? There's nothing to grab hold of and pull. I had one hand on the flashlight body holding it still, one hand squeezing the (smooth & slick) tabs to unlock the batter holder tabs from the body of the flashlight, and nowhere for my third hand to pull the battery holder out of the Surge.

Craig's review says "Design flaw: there's no ribbing on these prongs to grip onto, so it's a bit hard [...]" and that's a major understatement. I had been considering a couple of these as Christmas presents but there is absolutely no way unless there's something wrong with my attempt.

 

[Nerd]

Hmm... I manage to pull them out easily all the time. Here's how, push the 2 tabs, give the light a hard shake downwards so that the tube will fall out. If you did push the tabs hard enough, it should fall out easily. But don't break the tabs of course.

 

[FluffyGrunt]

Hmmm... I just squeeze the two tabs and pull, battery carrier slides right out, no shaking or frustration involved. I have seen a few other posts about this and am a bit confused as to why people are having trouble with changing the Surges batteries, at worst just hold the Surge upside down when you sqeeze the tabs, the battery carrier should fall out.

 

[Monsters_Inc]

The instructions it comes with are just as vague too.

But if I can do it with my fat stubby fingers, surely anyone else can:

Thumb and forefinger pinching the tabs inwards, at the same time putting as much of the "ball" of your fingertips as possible on the tabs (as though you're leaving your fingerprints on them). This maximises your grip on the tabs, and as Nerd mentioned, with the help of gravity it'll come out no sweat.

Note: patience is a virtue here. Keep in mind everything is plastic and likely to break easily.

 

[txwest]

I've been reading about this problem every since I first got my Surge, & don't understand it, then or now. I find changing batteries in the Surge only slightly more difficult than changing batteries in a Maglite. Even then, it's only because of having to take 8 batteries out of the holder. I guess I must be missing something here. TX

 

[lemlux]

I was one of the earlier fumble-fingered complainers.

It didn't occur to me to pull out the battery / bulb pack downward. I must have subconsciously rejected a method that threatened to send the exposed bulb to a direct hit on the floor. Accordingly, I opened mine with a pliers on one tab and fingers on the other.

It worked increasingly easily once I read the "hold it upside down, dummy!" posts on CPF.

My second Surge seems to be naturally looser than my first, so I suspect there are product to product differences.

Ssimilarly, I had a much harder time removing some DB4AA battery spacers from the chambers than I did with others.

 

[Lux Luthor]

There may be some variation in the stiffness. I remember mine being pretty tight at first. I recall having read about this problem on Craig's site before I bought it, so I knew what to do as soon as I got it. It does loosen up over time, so I would hang in there. As mentioned above, holding it upside down does help a lot.

 

[txwest]

Also, it's much harder (if you can call it that) to get out the 1st time because there are no batteries in it. After that, you'll always have the help of the battery weight to push the holder downward. TX

 

[James Van Artsdalen]

I just thought of another thing: my (new, empty) battery carrier was much lighter than when loaded. The carrier may well weigh enough to slide out by gravity when next I change batteries.

This may be a "one-time" problem only seen when new. But mine definitely had to be pried out on the first try - it wasn't going to come out on its own.

I may try to scuff the plastic tabs to make them easier to grip. I'd put stick'em of some sort on the tabs except that I think that part of the light may get very hot.

 

[txwest]

Originally posted by James Van Artsdalen:
I just thought of another thing: my (new, empty) battery carrier was much lighter than when loaded. The carrier may well weigh enough to slide out by gravity when next I change batteries.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Hummm....think I read that somewhere.

TX

 

[brightnorm]

I'll add myself to the chorus of initial strugglers/pliers users, who finally made sure my fingers weren't sweaty and "discovered" the upside down technique.

BTW, you probably know but I'll repeat: NEVER use lithiums in the Surge!

Brightnorm

 

[Monsters_Inc]

My Surge came with 8 Duracell batteries pre-installed, so that could be why I never had the initial problem.

James mentioned "scuffing the plastic tabs" - a few strokes of coarse sandpaper in 1 direction should do the trick.

 

[James Van Artsdalen]

Originally posted by txwest:
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Originally posted by James Van Artsdalen:
I just thought of another thing:

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Hummm....think I read that somewhere.

TX</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">OK, OK, that will teach me to eat before pushing Add Reply.

I did try to change batteries and sure enough it pops right out with the extra weight.

It does seem dimmer with NiMH batteries but is still VERY bright, and I like the price compared to the TigerLight, UltraStinger and others.

 

[txwest]

James,
I do believe that for the money, the Surge is the best value on the market today, & anyone used to Maglite only, should start with this one. TX

 

[Sean]

Originally posted by txwest:
James,
I do believe that for the money, the Surge is the best value on the market today, & anyone used to Maglite only, should start with this one. TX

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">100% agree.

I've also had no problems changing the batteries in my Surge.

 

[James Van Artsdalen]

Originally posted by txwest:
James,
I do believe that for the money, the Surge is the best value on the market today, & anyone used to Maglite only, should start with this one. TX

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">I agree. At $22.99 (Texas Tactical) it is a winner. I wish the bulb was better protected from bumps during battery replacements, and that said replacements were a little more straightforward, but the price makes up for all that.

More to the point, anyone spending >> $100 on an UltraStinger or TigerLight might want to consider just many Surge's and rechargeable batteries can be purchased for the price of one high-dollar light.

The Surge feels very solid compared to most lights. The switch works fine, although I have not tested the water-proofness of the light.

 

[budlight]

Just received my Surge last nite and it was delivered with Duracells. You have to rotate the batt pack 180 degrees to activate it the first time which I thought was a pretty neat way to ship a light. Very solid feel in the hand and quite bright. Battery pack removal took a few seconds to figure out without the aid of the manual but not a big deal. I initially thought the power switch was bogus until I discovered pushing it back and forth at the end with the tip of my thumb instead of pushing down on the switch while sliding it made for very smooth OFF/MOMENTARY ON-OFF/ON operation. All in all an excellent addition to my collection.

Mike

 

[Zeppert]

James Van Artsdalen, I'm looking for the least expensive place to buy the SURGE. $22.99 sounded like a GREAT price (at texastactical.com you said), so I went there and I have no clue where you buy the SURGE on that site!?!? Help me out here Thanks P.S. the best price so far(I found) is escapeoutdoors.com SURGE @ $23.95.

 

[e=mc²]

Thank you bud, I was just going to mention the fact that when purchased "NEW" the unit comes with batteries. I purchased my 2 surges from different retailers, Sports Authority, and Campmor and both were packaged in a sealed tube, and both were stocked with duracells. Where are people buying NEW surges without batteries? I even ordered one online for a gift and it too, came with batts.

Ed....

 

[X-CalBR8]

Zeppert: I just ordered a Surge from here: http://www.shopalert.us/ Just click on flashlights.

Their price is $25.25, but they have $1.00 shipping for orders over $25.00 which puts it's total shipped cost at less than anywhere else that I know of. Texas Tactical appears to be out of Surges at the moment. I just checked their site and there was not a single one to be found, not even the blue one that they had a few days ago. They also seem to no longer have the Surge replacement bulbs like they once did.