Note to UK ROP Users

[MikeSalt]

After three charge/discharge cycles of the Uniross 2600mAH D-cell batteries, I can confirm the runtime characteristics.

In a 6D ROP I am getting 35 minutes of consistently high power, then with quite a sharp tail to almost nothing for the next 5 minutes. I find this behaviour to be VERY satisfying because it retains near-maximum power for about 85% of the battery life.

The reason I mention these cells in particular is because they are readily available in the UK. You can get them from Argos for a 2 pack for £6.49. However, they are more expensive in B&Q, but you can use the price-match promise to get the cells for only £5.84 per pack...

...Just remember to take an Argos catalogue for proof of price.

 

[TigerhawkT3]

At only 2.6Ah, that sounds like a AA cell in a sleeve, which is basically how Energizer makes C and D NiMHs. You might be better off with cells that make more use of the available volume. Look for cells of about 10-12Ah at places like amondotech, thomas-distributing, etc.

 

[barkingmad]

Certainly does sound that way - just get some high capacity AA NiMH (or LSD - Eneloop or similar) and a AA or D adapter for the same thing!

 

[barkingmad]

... and if they are effectively just AA batteries you could instead get 2 x 3AA>1D converters (or 1 x 6AA>2D) - load them up with a total of 6 AA batteries and have the same as your 6D in only 2D?

 

[dulridge]

At only 2.6Ah, that sounds like a AA cell in a sleeve, which is basically how Energizer makes C and D NiMHs. You might be better off with cells that make more use of the available volume. Look for cells of about 10-12Ah at places like amondotech, thomas-distributing, etc.

Problem is that in the UK it is hard to find anything else and these things are heavy so shipping is far from cheap. The Ansmann 10Ah Ds are 20 dollars each - $17.19 each with postage for twenty of them about $20.

The GP 9Ah cells cost more than that. $21 each

Just discovered Vapextech 9Ah cells at $12 each (free shipping) which is a very good price by local standards. That's about the same as I paid in 1985 for the 4Ah NiCd cells I am still using (not that the capacity is all that wonderful but they do the job). In fact at that price I'll be getting several.

 

[barkingmad]

Buy from the US - with the exchange rate as it is it makes up for the higher shipping charges!

 

[dulridge]

Buy from the US - with the exchange rate as it is it makes up for the higher shipping charges!

If you remember that the package + shipping costs when over £18 are liable to import duty and VAT which adds 25% to the cost it is unlikely to be worthwhile. That said, I've rarely had to pay duty and VAT but Fedex will still charge you of the order of £25 clearance charges even if the Customs aren't involved. I've been bitten by this before.

It'd have to be a big order surface shipped to make it worthwhile - and I can't afford to do this.

Fedex international economy to me costs $64 for a 2lb package - given that high capacity NiMH cells are 6-8oz each that's 5 cells at approximately $12 each - so that's £62 for five plus clearance charges plus - possibly another 25% in import duty and VAT which makes the cells upwards of £20 each.

Light stuff ordered from overseas is fine - heavy stuff can get expensive fast.

 

[Doh!Nut]

Based in sunny Wales

www.component-shop.co.uk

10,000Ah for £5.95

whats four times 35 minutes?:lolsign:

:laughing:
Nick

 

[dulridge]

Thanks Nick

Bookmarked for future reference. Prices seem good and P&P reasonable. From my experience of Vapex cells ("2700mAh" AA's - average capacity of 16 of them 2400mAh, none of them better than 2500) they will actually be rather lower cpapcity than that - unlike the 23 year old NiCD D cells I have some of which are still 10% over their nominal capacity(4Ah). Still the price is good and the postage cheap (well below cost I'd guess) so I'll be ordering some from them shortly.

Thanks again

D.

 

[uk_caver]

A while ago, I got one of their 4-gang LCD display AA/AAA smart chargers and some Vapex AAs and AAAs.
AAs in the charger seem to get warm some time before the charger switches off, and one of the cells ended up gently bubbling away at the end of charge after only a few cycles.
There are some brains in the charger, since it will reliably reject some duff cheap 2300 cells that other smart chargers don't like either, but I'm now treating it as a fast charger that will normally cut off if I don't pull the cells once they're done.

Component-shop are reasonably cheap for Eneloops, and did send a pair of tiny battery testers as free gifts when I ordered a couple of packs. They also sent a free LED keychain light/compass, which does actually work as a compass now I've removed the steel keychain ring from the end.

They also have a fairly good selection of tagged single NiMH cells in their RC section, at pretty reasonable prices.

 

[barkingmad]

The £18 does not have to include the delivery charges - goods only AFAIK.

So order about US$35 at a time to avoid it and ask the vendor to state the 'goods' value not the 'total' value on the customs declaration.

Also if you have any order (i.e. higher value) sent normal airmail it usually arrives in a few days and if you do get stung for duty the post office is usually much cheaper.

 

[uk_caver]

Talking to a friend who's made a handful of international orders, the only one he got stung for VAT was one sent by a specially-rapid delivery. He also got ripped off an extra £13 for the privilege of Parcelforce doing nothing but sitting on his package until he'd paid.

Next order he amde from the same company, same value (~$200), sent by more regular airmail with a legit customs declaration came through without any demand for tax.
Either he was just lucky, or maybe someone seeing a company name on the label reckoned it'd be in his interest for him to sort out the paperwork, which it probably would be if he was a larger or more profitable business.

 

[soffiler]

... and if they are effectively just AA batteries you could instead get 2 x 3AA>1D converters (or 1 x 6AA>2D) - load them up with a total of 6 AA batteries and have the same as your 6D in only 2D?

I went looking for 3AA>1D converters around the 'Net recently and came up with many 1AA>1D and a single instance of 2AA>1D... but no 3AA>1D. Can somebody steer me in the right direction?

 

[boristhespider]

Just built myself my 1st ROP on the cheap:

Mag 6D from Ryness £22
http://www.ryness.co.uk/ProductDetails.aspx?CategoryID=768&Category4ID=1&ProductID=2816

AA to D converters from Maplins £2.09 for 4
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?C=SO&U=strat320&T=sitenew&ModuleNo=37379

Aluminium SMO reflector from Kaidomain $14.99 (incl shipping!...cheapest i've found, nice piece of engineering for the price)
http://www.kaidomain.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductId=1740

Bulb & glass lens from lighthound:
Pelican Big D Rechargeable Lamp Set FL-3854 Bulb $9.99
52.1mm Borofloat Lens for Mag C & D Size Flashlights $6.25
Shipping to UK $13
http://www.lighthound.com//Pelican-Big-D-Rechargeable-Lamp-Set-FL-3854_p_6-1506.html

Used 6 2700NiMh Uniross batteries. Works a treat for both Lo and Hi, although i suspect the batteries aren't really designed for the high load of the Hi bulb so i'm not planning on using it for that very often. The Lo is just great for me!

BTW, using AA to D converters not only keeps the price v cheep (compared to decent D cells) it also balances the weight out nicely...so too weighty. Can really recomend Lighthound & Kaidomain to international/UK buyers. They both put the item price only on the customs document and "gift" so you don't get charged tax this end.