Million candle spot question

[kestak]

Greetings,

We have a big land and we are using those 1 or 2 million candles (or is it lumens) rechargeable spots that we bought at Wal-mart.

The problem is that they are all falling apart after 1 year or the battery charge no longer last and the spot is dead after only a few minutes instead the 20-30 minutes we got at the beginning.

I do not have all the right terms, it must be why I can't find anything with Google. I need some help and information:

1 - I would like to buy a "million" candles spot that can work with the lantern batteries (I think those are 6v). Anyone can point me one?

2 - I plan to buy rechargeable lantern batteries. Those are 6 volts. The standard car battery charger (I have one and it is a Black and Decker) charge 12v batteries. How can I recharge those? Can I just put 2 6v back to back (serial) and use the 12v charger?

Any help will be very appreciated.

Thank you

 

[BlueBeam22]

They are rated in "candlepower" as it is a measurement of a light's beam intensity and throw. However, most manufacturers have highly inflated candlepower claims.

I would recommend getting something much more powerful and reliable such as the SunForce 25 Million candlepower HID spotlight. It absolutely blows away those 1-3 million candlepower rechargeable spotlights found at Walmart as it has a 40 minute runtime at full brightness and is many times brighter with many times the beam range. It is a very good and reliable light and I don't think you would have any battery problems with it like you do with the cheap ~$20 halogen spotlights. Just remember to always fully charge it and any other rechargeable spotlight before and after each use as this is important to keep sealed lead acid batteries in good condition.

It sounds like you need quite a powerful light, and no 1 or 2 million CP spotlight is going to be comparable to the SunForce.

This light can be both run and charged directly from its 12V DC car charger and also comes with a standard AC charger.

I believe those rechargeable lantern batteries are the same chemistry as the ones used in "x million CP" rechargeable spotlights. If you really want to have a rechargeable 6V Lantern type light then look at the Dorcy Industrial Rechargeable Xenon Lantern; it throws better than many of the 1 and 2 million CP spotlights and boasts a 4 hour runtime. It will not compare to the SunForce, though.

 

[kestak]

Greetings,

You sold me on that spot! I have a few other questions that you may be able to answer about it:

1 - Is there any replacement batteries for it? Is it easy to change the battery? My goal is that if the battery is dead, I can pick one that is fully charged instead of waiting. It was one of the reason why I wanted to use a spot that uses the good ol' lantern battery.

2 - Do you know how and which solar rechargeable system I could use (I don't care to have to make some wiring to plug into the spot) with that spot that would work? When we go out in the bushes for days, I would like to be able to recharge it. Right now, we use normal flashlights with AA batteries and this product (in fact we carry 3 of them) to recharge : http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001IMHFX4/?tag=cpf0b6-20

In fact for number two, I saw some of those setups, but reviews are mixed. If the battery is 12v, I guess I can use a normal 12v solar battery charger, but any experience with 6v?

Thank you

 

[BlueBeam22]

Sorry, I can't guide you with solar charging options. It sounds to me like you need a light with a very long runtime, and then some of your existing smaller flashlights for backup.

It is not easy to replace the SunForce's battery like it would be with a 6V lantern.

It might sound like an unusual recommendation, however I think a 2D or 3D Mag-LED flashlight from Lowe's or Walmart is just what you need. It has an incredibly long runtime on alkaline D cells (many hours) which are replaced in seconds, and its LED emitter has an unlimited lifetime and will never burn out from shock or use like incandescents and HIDs will. It is an extemely bright light and should be on par with the 1 and 2 million candlepower spotlights you had in terms of throw.

 

[Patriot]

In fact for number two, I saw some of those setups, but reviews are mixed. If the battery is 12v, I guess I can use a normal 12v solar battery charger, but any experience with 6v?

It's almost certainly a 12V. If not a single SLA, then it's going to be 2 x 6V batteries in series which also charge in series via the stock charger. You could use any 12-15V output solar charger with .6 - 1.0A charge rate. If you don't want to disassemble the light each time to charge it via solar, you'll have to make a harness with a 12V jack to the outside of the light case. Consult a local Radio Shack if you need help, they might toss some ideas your way...and it's not a difficult mod.

 

[kestak]

Greetings,

I am trying to find one of those spotlight that use one or 2 6v lantern battery that you can change fast and I can't find one.

Yesterday, I saw at lowes the Black & Decker (2 million) for 29$. It is 1/3 of the price of the sunforce, so I could buy 3 for the same price. I know the brightness is not as much as the sunforce, but it would do the job and I would have light for a long time...

I'll check those Mag-led again. I checked them and they are bright but the problem is the throw. They don't throw far enough...

Thank you

 

[Gunner12]

How far do you need them to throw?
Also, how much runtime per charge?

 

[kestak]

Greetings,

The throw most needed is 150 feet up to 250-350 feet.

Thank you

 

[Gunner12]

How well lit up at 350 ft?

The LED throwers don't have trouble lighting things up at that distance, but they ususally cost more then $30 and are usually cool white, not neutral white.

Also, those "XX million candlepower" lights (ex, 50 million cp) are lucky if they even hit 300,000 candlepower with a fresh battery. A "X million candlepower" light will have even less throw.

 

[Jason_Tx]

I know that brinkman QBeam makes a 12v rechageable spotlight that says its 3 million candlepower. The battery just pops out the back by pressing 2 tabs, like removing the battery on a 18v dewalt drill. I'm sure you could get extra batteries and make yourself a solar setup.

You might try asking over in the Spotlight section aswell

 

[kestak]

Greetings,

Are you talking about this spot?
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...10306&cm_ite=0070571519256a&_requestid=118968

Thank you

 

[BlueBeam22]

I know that brinkman QBeam makes a 12v rechageable spotlight that says its 3 million candlepower. The battery just pops out the back by pressing 2 tabs, like removing the battery on a 18v dewalt drill. I'm sure you could get extra batteries and make yourself a solar setup.

You might try asking over in the Spotlight section aswell

That is a very good light. It is extremely powerful, however the only drawback is that it has a runtime of 20 minutes. It is true that its battery can be swapped in seconds, however you will have to purchase spare batteries separately for it.

There is a comprehensive review on this light here: Link

Greetings,

Are you talking about this spot?
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...10306&cm_ite=0070571519256a&_requestid=118968
Thank you

The light your link goes to is not it. You linked to a 2 million CP spot only version, whereas the one from Walmart is rated at 3 million Maxpower and has a flood feature.

The Mag-LED Rebel, by the way, will easily illuminate an object at 350 feet. It actually has a visible beam range of well over 600 feet.