Runtime Chart: Arc SLS2 - 2800mAH A NiMH

[monanza]

<font color="blue">RUNTIME GRAPH:</font>

Flashlight: Arc SLS2 #606
Accessories: UBH, Surefire SF-Z52 (LOTC-HA III)
Batteries: 2 x A @ 2800 mAH (Harding Energy - HEAY A 2800)
Charger: MAHA MH-C104FS (100 min cool charger)
Equipment: Wavetek Meterman LM631; RadioShack DMM 22-812 (PC Interface)

I have four sets of the A batteries that have been conditioned (4 cycles). On two sets the drop-off point occurs at 4:15 rather than at 3:50. Note that hump at the 4 hour mark. I have seen this repeatedly with these NiMH. Anyone have an explanation? Is it the LED cooling down perhaps?

<font color="red"> NOTE:</font> At the start of the measurement the meter was not held securely in place so it was slowly sliding away from the hotspot. I noticed this roughly an hour into the test and fixed it. The first hour really should show steady output at 289 lux. I will repost this once I have had a chance to run the test again.

<font color="purple">Charging:</font> The batteries are charged in a MAHA C104FS at the 300mA slow setting (they are still being conditioned). Due to their size I can only charge two batteries at a time in the MAHA. One thing to note is that when I put the batteries into the charger it sometimes signals (LEDs blink red), after a couple of minutes, that there is a problem with the batteries. I take the batteries out and then slide them back in and they charge just fine over the next 10 or 11 hours. I do not know yet what causes this. Perhaps it has to do with electrical contact with the charger.

<font color="green">Batteries:</font> Quest's OEM division (Harding Energy) for Cylindrical Cells. Cost $33.64 shipped for eight batteries.

<font color="green">UBH:</font> See Doug Speck's UBH II thread and his original UBH thread for details. Cost $60 shipped.

<font color="green">LOTC:</font> Cost $16 shipped.

Cheers.

 

[LEDagent]

Wow...Great runtime test monanza! Where did you find A cells? I'm interested on its size and specs. Did you opt for A cells over AA cells because of there capacity?

 

[monanza]

Thanks Laurence.

For more details on these batteries check Quest's OEM division (Harding Energy) for their
Cylindrical Cells. I ordered them by phone and received them within a few days. They offer these batteries with or without a soldered lead. The lead is a thin strip of metal not a nipple, The batteries will need a nipple to fit Arc LS heads that use the foam retainer (or the retainer can be removed). I got mine with the lead which I bend a couple of times to emulate a nipple. This works just fine on my SLS2. I understand that Sanyo has 2800mAH A size NiMH however I do not know were to get them.

I chose the A size NiMH for two reasons, the increased capacity and the fact that the UBH I got from Doug Speck can fit the A size (AA NiMH seemed like such a waste of space /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif).

I will edit the post above to reflect these remarks and to add some particulars on charging the batteries.

Cheers.

 

[LEDagent]

The standard 2AA pack from Arc will not accept A batteries will they? I was reading the specs on the A-cell battery, and it apears to be the same length, but the width of the battery is thicker than the standard AA by about 3.2mm.

Standard AA batteries produce significant rattle in the standard battery pack, so i'm wondering if the added thickness would reduce that.

 

[monanza]

I do not have a 2AA pack so I cannot help you. The A's I have are 17mm so they will likely not fit the AA. We should ask in the Arc forum (or email Peter) to be sure.

Cheers.

 

[JollyRoger]

Ledagent, you can get sanyo A nimh batts from a couple of places on the internet...just do a search.

Unfortunately, there isn't enough wall thickness on the ARC's 2AA pack to bore it out so it can fit A's. A's do have awesome capacity and aren't any longer that AA's, so I really like 'em. Plus the added diameter of these cells means the battery holder that takes them will fit more comfortably in your hand.

Check out the 3 123 power pack that dat2zip is selling on his shop. This fits 2 A's perfectly.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif