Lumapower Avenger - a mixed bag

[Alan F]

Yep, it's a 138 and has bays for AAA's.

 

[kooter]

Your in luck then mate. :thumbsup:

 

[Derek Dean]

Will the AW batteries charge on the UltraFire charger I just bought?

Alan, lithium-ion AAA batteries require a lower charging rate than other battery types (150 mAh I believe*). Most chargers not dedicated for AAA lithium-ion cells have a charge rate of 250 mAh or higher, and since these are unprotected cells, I felt it was smart to just get the best cells/charger combo available....... and that would be this (IMHO):

http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?t=79847

Of course the main thing when using these unprotected cells is to not let the voltage go below 3.0 volts, as that can (not always) render them unusable. Some lights have a flashing warning for low voltage, however the Avenger does not, but from my testing I found that if you stop using the battery just when the light begins dimming then the voltage should still be above 3.0 volts.

The way I deal with this is to just change cells every so often before they even get low (one a week usually) and then top off the used one. Heck, if you recharged each cell once a week, that would still give you over 5 years of service.

Just in case you haven't seen this:
http://www.batteryuniversity.com/

An excellent resource for all things battery related.

Edit: *After reviewing the information on AW's battery page, I can see that the WF-138 charger, which has a 250 mAh charging rate, can be used to charge AAA lithium-ion batteries. Sorry for any confusion on my part.

 

[Patriot]

Thanks for the review. I'm a little disappointed also. Usually LP offers a more solid and trouble free product. Hopefully they will improve this light.

 

[Alan F]

Battery Junction have offered to exchange my light but I would have to stand the postage in both directions so it would work out a pretty expensive torch, so it looks like I'm going to have to fix it myself.
One question. I'm pretty sure my problem is at the tale end. Now if there is a need for 3 different length pins to get the clicky to work does it not follow that 3 inserts should be made available when using the flat end?

 

[mudman cj]

AlanF - I had a similar problem with my Ultrafire 10440s. They are quite a bit shorter than my Eneloops. Try inserting a thin conductive spacer between the light and the "+" end of the cell. I am using a 0.46mm (.018") thick magnet that attracts to the cell. It is a good idea to insulate the edges of a conducting spacer such as this to prevent it from shorting the "+" end of the cell to the light body.

 

[Alan F]

I'm pretty sure my problem is at the minus end. When I screw the tail cap on with the longest pin the battery doesn't rise at all. Does anyone know if there is an even longer pin available or do I need to drop a spot of solder on the tip?

 

[Alan F]

Hah - sorted!!!
I cut a tiny circle of copper about half a millimetre thick and with the torch pointing down dropped it in the hole before screwing on the switch end. So what was really needed was an even longer pin than the ones supplied. Just hope the copper doesn't slip and fuse everything.

 

[gunga]

A quick question, are you sure your pin was fully seated into the plastic holder before you screwed it in? Mine needed a tiny bit of sanding of the plastic holder before the pin would seat fully into it.

It would not work until his was done.

 

[Alan F]

Yes, I had to file both spare pins before they would seat properly.

 

[Derek Dean]

I'm glad to see that you got it going Alan. Seems you were right all along about it being the length of that pin. I guess there really is quite a variation in the length of available AAA cells.

I'm wondering, however, now that you know what the problem is, if it might not be a better and more permanent solution to go ahead and put a dab of solder on the end of the contact stick, that way you wouldn't have to be concerned with the little copper piece dislodging. It might need a bit of filing once it is applied, but it would certainly be more secure.

 

[Dobbler]

I have to use a 1mm thick magnet to make my AW 10440's work.

 

[Alan F]

Yes, I think I'll go for the solder. The copper is bound to get lost one of the times I recharge the battery.

 

[mudman cj]

I agree that the problem would be solved by a longer contact stick, but I didn't think it would work to solder to Al like that. :thinking: Please let us know if that works.

 

[Alan F]

I agree that the problem would be solved by a longer contact stick, but I didn't think it would work to solder to Al like that. :thinking: Please let us know if that works.

Nope - can't get the solder to attach.

 

[kooter]

Im sorry some of you guys have had problems with your Avengers, mine has had no probs at all. Any cell i chuck in it lights up straight away. Another day playing with it, and its become my favourite light. Its taken some time, but i gotta admit i really do like it.

 

[Dobbler]

Not trying to beat a dead horse here, but the Avenger and Lummi Wee are the only lights in my collection (45 or so total) that do not use springs to secure the battery. The Wee is a specialty light that ships with its own Li-Ion rechargeable batteries. The Avenger uses AAA batteries that come in varying lengths. Maybe it should ship with 1mm thick magnets rather than these silly contact sticks???

 

[tvodrd]

I got 2 of them in the mail today. Only opened one and the 2-stage was non-existant with an alkaline at work. The clicky seems to be ON only despite multiple clicks.

I got home and loaded an L92 Energizer primary (I don't have any 10440's) and the 2-stage is flaky. but improving after some deoxit/progold! Function's getting better!

My ohmmeter rates the clicky tailswitch beyond flakey! Fit/finish are OK, and it might a "gift" light if it cleans up it's act further.

I'm almost afraid to open the other one!

Larry

 

[MikeLip]

I got 2 of them in the mail today. Only opened one and the 2-stage was non-existant with an alkaline at work. The clicky seems to be ON only despite multiple clicks.

I got home and loaded an L92 Energizer primary (I don't have any 10440's) and the 2-stage is flaky. but improving after some deoxit/progold! Function's getting better!

My ohmmeter rates the clicky tailswitch beyond flakey! Fit/finish are OK, and it might a "gift" light if it cleans up it's act further.

I'm almost afraid to open the other one!

Larry

Go for it. Your bad luck is all used up!

 

[tvodrd]

I did. Even with trying the longest tail switch pin, cant get the clicky to work. The "heads" on the pins are larger in diameter than the "stock" one and don't fit into the recess in the plastic retainer. (Yeah, I've got a lathe.) Two stage operation is for all intents and purposes, non existant on the 2nd light. All in all, I give it a :thumbsdow (And damn glad I wasn't planning on actually carrying one!)

Larry