geepondy
Flashlight Enthusiast
I received my replacement B90 batteries (Lot CL09) about four weeks ago. I charged and discharged each of them a couple of times and then let one of the fully charged batteries lay dormant for nearly four weeks. The good news is that they seem to run continuously for nearly the stated time. I never got 50 minutes from a charge but I get about 40 minutes or so from these replacements which is what I got with the first batteries when they were new. The bad news is that the one that lay dormant for four weeks would only run about ten minutes continuously before it died. When I then immediately charged it, I got the 40 minutes or so run time. I wonder why that is so. Isn't the nicad chemistry properties such that it should have at least 50 percent of it's charge after just four weeks? Could it be that because there are three cells in the pack, they discharge at uneven rates and feed into each other perhaps causing one or more of the cells to discharge prematurely?
Also I don't know if it's my expectations being skewed or not but the beam does not seem as bright or as white as when the first set of batteries were new. It may be me, I'm not sure. The 8AX was the first real light I purchased. The light output blew me away compared to previous lights. I then purchased E2's. Since then I have bought the PT Surge and the Brinkmann Legend LX. The Surge and LX both have whiter beams then the 8AX (or the E2s for that matter) and the Surge definitely has a brighter hotspot. I can't remember for sure but I thought the 8AX was equally as bright as the Surge and had a wider beam. It still of course has a wider beam but now the Surge's hotspot is brighter.
The bottom line is that this light will not really suit my purposes for an around the household light despite the nice beam characteristics. I need a light that either will hold a charge for a long time or can be left on the charger. I know the Stinger might be an alternative but reviewers have said the beam quality is not like that of Surefire. Perhaps an A2 might be in my future after all.
P.S. Has Surefire ever given an official explanation for not using NIMH technology? I know nicads can pump more current but for a household 100 lumen light I should think the NIMH's would be fine.
Also I don't know if it's my expectations being skewed or not but the beam does not seem as bright or as white as when the first set of batteries were new. It may be me, I'm not sure. The 8AX was the first real light I purchased. The light output blew me away compared to previous lights. I then purchased E2's. Since then I have bought the PT Surge and the Brinkmann Legend LX. The Surge and LX both have whiter beams then the 8AX (or the E2s for that matter) and the Surge definitely has a brighter hotspot. I can't remember for sure but I thought the 8AX was equally as bright as the Surge and had a wider beam. It still of course has a wider beam but now the Surge's hotspot is brighter.
The bottom line is that this light will not really suit my purposes for an around the household light despite the nice beam characteristics. I need a light that either will hold a charge for a long time or can be left on the charger. I know the Stinger might be an alternative but reviewers have said the beam quality is not like that of Surefire. Perhaps an A2 might be in my future after all.
P.S. Has Surefire ever given an official explanation for not using NIMH technology? I know nicads can pump more current but for a household 100 lumen light I should think the NIMH's would be fine.