Ultrastinger, Bright, but not for long...Custom Battery pack question.

[V8TOYTRUCK]

I love the brightness of my Ultrastinger, but it doesn't last as long as I want it to. I was browsing the archives and read something about custom battery packs? Can someone tell me more information on this?
1) How much longer run time?
2) Cost?
3) Can I recharge the custom pack in the Streamlight charger?
4) Will it be brighter?

 

[dano]

Hello...A custom battery pack, as longa s it's made to fit in the light, will reccharge o.k. in the cradle, EXCEPT it will take longer, of course...The light uses "sub-c" cells, and these can be had upto 3000MAH in capacity...The best source fopr sub-c's are any of the R/C car web sites; electric R/C uses sub-c size almost exclusively, and the technology there is outstanding...


--dan

 

[Unicorn]

Isn't there a limit that the standard charger can handle?

 

[brightnorm]

dano,

Do you know of a specific battery pack that you can recommend. My main concern is saftey, and not jeopardizing the bulb or the charger. Also, can you estimate the increased run time from any battery pack you might suggest?

Regards,
Brightnorm

 

[Dennis]

Ok, here goes...

I have built custom battery packs for my SF 9N and new UltraStinger and have been using them for over 1.5+ yrs (9N) with no issues. However, they take some work to assemble and a special charger to charge. Some details:

- Sanyo RC2400 NiCd Cells $8 each (US=5 cells, 9N=3 cells)
- Approx 80-90 min constant runtime from both 9N and US
- Ability to fast charge with no issues
- No Bulb Issues
- Slightly Higher Perceived Brightness than regular pack
- Super tough, Super proven
- 9N pack was easy to build
- US Pack took a lot of work...

Charging:
Unfortunately, the US Charger puts out only 0.18mA, which will charge an empty 1800mAh battery in 15-16 hours. However, 1/10 rate charge is recommended for NiCd trickle charging so I don't know how this would work for the Sanyo 2400mAh batteries. At the very least it would take a lot longer to charge, as in a day or so. I don't know about cell damage by charging at such a low rate, but you never know. If you are going to invest in a super-battery, you might as well buy a correct charger for it. These can be had starting from $25 or so.

If you already have a RC car charger, then this will probably work for a US battery pack, just make sure it can handle the 2400 battery and 4 cell packs.

3000mAh NiMh batteries: I am not sure about how their discharge curves will work with a flashlight bulb. I would assume longer life with probably a less bright beam. Bad for the bulb? I don't know, maybe. However these batteries are getting better and also gaining more acceptance in RC circles so I may try a new super long life pack for my US sometime...

If anybody wants me to expound on the details of building a US pack, let me know and I'll see if I can remember.

 

[V8TOYTRUCK]

Seem like it will be less trouble to buy another steamlight battery pack.

 

[Gandalf]

I built a battery pack for my regular Stinger, and US using 2700mAH NiMH sub C cells. I get 1hr 40 min in the regular Stinger, using the NiMH cells (3 of them) light output is equal to the nicads. Burn time of a 6 month old nicad Stinger factory battery pack is about 55 minutes. The UltraStinger battery pack takes 5 sub C cells, and I get 1 hr 20 minutes, as compared to 59 minutes from a new factory battery pack. Light output from the NiMh pack is initially the same as the nicad pack, but drops off a bit after the first 5 or 10 minutes. Maintains light slightly less than the nicads for the rest of the time. Still very bright compared to a regular Stinger, of course. I've been charging them in the regular UltraStinger charger, for the UltraStinger, and the Stinger charger for the Stinger. So I'd say the NiMH work great for the regular Stinger, but isn't the best for the UltraStinger; at least with the batteries I used. I think the previously mentioned high capacity nicads may be better for the UltraStinger, although they require a special charger. A spare battery pack is likely more cost effective, at least for the UltraStinger. I like the burn time on my Stinger, but even at full output, right off the charger, it seems wimpy compared to the UltraStinger, now. I've been spoiled, as has everyone else who has one. For the money, they put out a *lot* of light. And lamps are only about $6, too. Grat light, but limited burn time, like all rechargeables....