Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets - Bar end lights poor battery life

I have some bar end lights like these (http://www.blt-lights.com/product/bar_end_lights/dropflash.php) but the batteries only seem to last about 10 hours (a weeks worth of riding) and it is getting expensive at $8 a time (4 batteries) to replace them. The above website seems to claim 100 hours battery life - in your dreams I say. I only use them on flashing mode not steady. I think the complete units with batteries already installed only cost about $10 from PBK on sale. Any ideas for longer battery life?

http://www.blt-lights.com/images/product/bar_end_lights/regular/308620.jpg

Buy cheaper batteries, you can get packs on ebay v. cheap.

Or rewire them to run on larger capacity rechargeables.

cheap batteries from dealextreme.com: http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.60 50 pack for $4, free shipping. enjoy :) (expect to wait about 3 weeks for delivery...)

Do you have a link to the product on PBK? I can't find it...

cheap batteries from dealextreme.com: http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.60 50 pack for $4, free shipping. enjoy :) (expect to wait about 3 weeks for delivery...)

You'll still have short runtimes.

Rewire them to run on 2 x 1/3 AA per side and you'll get the runtimes you are dreaming of....

Also you'll be rechargeable.

It wouldn't be nice to throw 4 of those batteries into landfill every week.

The pack of 50 will only last you 3 months, so that's 200 of the little buggers going to landfill per year.

:(

You may or may not want to know, but Soma version (http://www.somafab.com/roadflarelight.html) take AAA natively. It's probably less hassle than trying to re-wire the ones you have.

PS - If you can't find the Soma's the Trek version (http://store.trekbikes.com/jump.jsp?itemID=1531&itemType=PRODUCT&path=1,2,15,478,481&iProductID=1531&bShopOnline=1) also runs on AAA

I've got some Knog Tadpoles.

http://cn1.kaboodle.com/hi/img/2/0/0/90/9/AAAAApPi_68AAAAAAJCdHw.jpg?v=1195226995000

However they aren't really suited to drop bars and the bike I have with flat bars doesn't need to be any wider...so I've never fitted them.

10 hours on flashing? Dang. Mine (Serfas) last about 100 hours on flashing with same button style batteries, but when you get that many hours running I lose count. I just know I only replace them about once a year.

My bar end lights last the whole seasona dn I bike all through the winter which is most of my nite riding. something's wrong if you are only getting 10 hours of bike lights. How long per ride?

cheap batteries from dealextreme.com: http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.60 50 pack for $4, free shipping. enjoy :) (expect to wait about 3 weeks for delivery...)

Do you have a link to the product on PBK? I can't find it...

I ended up buying a pack of batteries (50) for around the same price from eBay (if they show up, the vendor looked a bit dodgy, but it's only a few $$ so no biggie really if they don't). I don't like using consumable one-off use batteries and throwing them out every week but I wouldn't know where to start to rewire them to run AAA rechargable, my level of electrical expertise stops at changing batteries!

The plugs were a clearance special from PBK and they no longer sell them.

Thanks for sharing this information here and I think you have to try ebay for purchasing such batteries because ebay offer most cheapest and long life betteries and If you are really interested in such shopping then you can check the link here (http://shop.ebay.com/items/_W0QQ_nkwZlongQ20lifeQ20batteriesQQ_armrsZ1QQ_fromZR10QQ_mPrRngCbxZ1QQ_mdoZQQ_sopZ1QQ_udhiZQQ_udloZ) and also I will suggest you that you have to go for rechargeable batteries to use.
_____________
Resumes Template (http://checkmateresume.com)
goji juices (http://cart.getgojionline.com)

I hear through the grapevine that Captain Carrot is getting some Knog Tadpole Bar End Lights.

I expect we'll hear if they are any good....

;)

Hated my Tadpole lights. I'm convinced bar end lights are strictly as an auxillary back-up.

Hated my Tadpole lights. I'm convinced bar end lights are strictly as an auxillary back-up.

How can you hate Tadpoles ?

What is there to hate about them ?

Thanks for sharing this information here and I think you have to try ebay for purchasing such batteries because ebay offer most cheapest and long life betteries and If you are really interested in such shopping then you can check the link here (http://shop.ebay.com/items/_W0QQ_nkwZlongQ20lifeQ20batteriesQQ_armrsZ1QQ_fromZR10QQ_mPrRngCbxZ1QQ_mdoZQQ_sopZ1QQ_udhiZQQ_udloZ) and also I will suggest you that you have to go for rechargeable batteries to use.


Thanks for your info but the link doesn't appear to have any batteries of the type I require. The ones I bought from eBay have turned up so I have enough to last me a while.

The Soma lights that jdmitch posted the link to look interesting, wish I'd seen them before I bought my current ones. I have emailed an Australian bike shop that is an agent for Soma requesting price and availability, I may buy a set anyway.

I do only use the bar end lights as an extra light, not as my only light.