SL-60 is having some issues...

[tomcat017]

Hey everyone,

Well...I fired up my SL-60 today, several hours of the charger, and was extremely disappointed by the result. It's putting out about the same amount of light as my WE 9V D36, but it's more yellowish. I guess it has been getting gradually dimmer, but I really noticed it today. The output is normally blinding white photonic perfection. This is my only light with a hotwire bulb, so I don't know if this is normal. But it only has about 4 hours of runtime on it. I'm running the WA1160, with a 4Ah 5V battery pack (aero cells) from batterieswholesale. I heard several complaints about the pack, but up until now, it has been working perfectly--it only has about 4 recharges on it. Anyone experience anything similar? Any ideas what the problem could be? While I'm posting, I will take a minute to say what an excellent upgrade it is. JS does really nice work, and I can't wait to get the battery/bulb issue sorted out so that I have my light back :rock:

 

[Bullzeyebill]

What is the voltage off the charger? Takes a lot of hours to charge up the 4.0Ah Aero's on a stock SL charger. Take off the tailcap and do a current draw test with the switch turned on. You do have a DMM? Report your finding here.

Bill

 

[tomcat017]

Hey Bill,

Thanks for the reply. I have a pretty old analog meter, but it still seems to be accurate. Voltage of the charger is ~5.9V. I'm estimating b/c I charged it a few days ago, and have had it on for about a minute. Reading on the meter is 5.85. As for the current draw, its reading 2.95A. The light is really pretty yellow. Thanks again,

-Mike

 

[Bullzeyebill]

Five cells in the SL-60 battery pack. Should come off the charger at 7+ volts.

Bill

meant to say SL20X battery pack.

 

[tomcat017]

really? they advertise it as a 6.0V pack. But I guess with no load, off the charger, it should be considerably higher, like you said. It still seems way too dim though. I'm pretty sure I tested it when I first got it, and I don't remember it ever being much over 6V. Even after 30 minutes of runtime, it was still much brighter than this. I guess I'll try charging it some more, and see if the situation improves? Thanks again,

-mike

 

[Bullzeyebill]

No load 6 volts will not work for SL-60 good output. Your battery pack must show at least 7 volts off the charger for this setup to work well. Output should hold up for awhile and when no load voltage reads about 6 volts, that's it.

Bill

 

[js]

What Bullzeyebill said is correct.

Also, that current measurement is way too low. Should be around 4 amps draw against the 1160.

Almost certainly you have a bad pack. Get BWS to warrantee it for you.

Although . . . wait just a moment. Did you say it was a 4 AH pack? Those are old, aren't they? The newer ones were either 3.5 or 3.8 AH. If this is an old pack, it's quite possible that it has a bad cell in it. The 4 AH cells started having QC problems, which is why BWS stopped offering those packs. I myself have had a 4AH BWS pack go bad one me due to one cell dying.

On the other hand, if it was purchased just a month ago or something, definitely get them to warrantee it.

But, as long as your 1160 lamp isn't black or smoky or milky inside--as long as it is CLEAR--then it's probably your battery pack. And given the voltage and current values you measured, I would say it almost certainly is a bad pack.

Keep us posted and good luck!

 

[tomcat017]

Thanks js, bill!--sent an e-mail to batterieswholesale today. We'll see what they say.

 

[tomcat017]

update: just took another look at the light, and noticed that the envelope of the bulb has a very light brown coating on the inside. In other words, it isn't clear like it used to be, but the smoke is only barely visible. I'm wondering now if maybe it's the bulb? Though, as you guys pointed out, the voltage on the pack is still way too low. Could it just be that running the bulb for the few minutes with insufficient voltage has casued it to smoke up a bit? Thanks again for all the help,

-mike

 

[js]

tomcat017,

Running with a low voltage on the 1160 wouldn't cause any problems. It's rated to be used at 5.0 volts, actually, or something close to the IIRC. But even if it weren't, a low voltage won't cause a problem on a modern halogen lamp. It will extend filament life, actually.

 

[Bullzeyebill]

Jim, I think he is concerned with the light brown deposit showing on the lamp envelope. I would bet that running at full throttle would remove that slight deposit.

Bill