Li-Ion battery Recommendation for rechargeable LED headlight?
09-18-12, 12:19 PM
#1
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Li-Ion battery Recommendation for rechargeable LED headlight?
Summary: How important is the mAh rating on a battery for a rechargeable LED light? Can you replace a 3.7v 1620mAh Li-Ion battery with a 3.7v 2200mAh? what about 1400mAh or 1600mAh?
I recently acquired a Canndondale "Raw" bike, which was their 2008 collaboration with the clothing company G-Star. It's basically a customized Bad Boy 8, and includes a rechargeable LED headlight called the "Headsight":
The Headsight is mounted on the front of the stem via an interesting 2-piece shim:
The battery sits inside of the hollow stem, and you plug the AC charger into the underside of the light.
I've done a lot of research online already and am going back-and-forth with the manufacturer, Exposure Lights, to get a new battery because the old one died. It's a 3.7v 1620mAh Li-Ion. I've also been looking online at battery suppliers and have found similar, but not exact, matches.
What I'm wondering is, can I replace the 1620mAh battery with one of these, or will it fry/underpower the LED? Any other considerations?
I recently acquired a Canndondale "Raw" bike, which was their 2008 collaboration with the clothing company G-Star. It's basically a customized Bad Boy 8, and includes a rechargeable LED headlight called the "Headsight":
The Headsight is mounted on the front of the stem via an interesting 2-piece shim:
The battery sits inside of the hollow stem, and you plug the AC charger into the underside of the light.
I've done a lot of research online already and am going back-and-forth with the manufacturer, Exposure Lights, to get a new battery because the old one died. It's a 3.7v 1620mAh Li-Ion. I've also been looking online at battery suppliers and have found similar, but not exact, matches.
- 3.7v 2200mAh - https://www.all-battery.com/Li-Ion186...ads-30027.aspx
- 3.7v 1400mAh - https://www.batteryspace.com/li-ion18...edwithpcb.aspx
- 3.7v 1600mAh - https://www.batteryspace.com/Customiz...-with-PCB.aspx
What I'm wondering is, can I replace the 1620mAh battery with one of these, or will it fry/underpower the LED? Any other considerations?
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Check out www.djcatnap.com for articles on vintage Japanese & French bicycle restorations, components and history.
Check out www.djcatnap.com for articles on vintage Japanese & French bicycle restorations, components and history.
09-18-12, 03:24 PM
#2
Senior Member
You will be fine with any of them. The higher the maH rating, the longer the charge will last. The voltage is what is important and all Li-ion batteries produce 3.7 volts, it is a property of the chemical reaction that is occuring. I believe that the LEDs themselves are tolerant of higher voltage and lower voltage, but the power draw remains the same at a given brightness.
09-18-12, 07:55 PM
#3
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Agree - more amp-hours will just give longer run time. The thing to look out for is dimensions. Thats a nice inconspicuous battery mounting system, but will limit your choice in batteries to what will actually fit inside the stem. You may have some leeway on the overall length, but probably not on the diameter. Your first two references are cylindrical, the last is rectangular. No dimensions are given for any of them.
Last edited by Burton; 09-18-12 at 08:01 PM.
09-19-12, 05:54 AM
#4
Senior Member
BTW, you should also consider that LED lighting has come a long way in the last few years. You'd be surprised at how cheaply you can upgrade your output with a new light, although I like the way this is integrated into the stem. Look into a drop in LED module, as these are actually fairly standardized around a few sizes. The Cree XM-L U2 is the latest and greatest, and the XM-L T6 is the next lower but more available type.
09-19-12, 08:57 AM
#5
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Thread Starter
Thanks Zacster and everyone else! My stem is 55mm deep and 30mm wide, so I'll find something that works within those dimensions. On the upgrade topic, I found a thread on another forum with similar advice. I'll quote it here in case this thread is helpful to others in the future:
I've been given the parts to a Cannondale HeadSight by one of my customers. From what I can gather, it's basically an Exposure Joystick MaXx in two parts - a battery and a head unit. The two have been pulled apart (a thief attempted to pull the light off before realising it was attached) so I've already done a bit of soldering to attach new cord and power connectors. He gave me the charger so I've tested it - it charges fine and runs fine, has two "on" settings (high and low) and a flashing setting.
I've taken the front off and the LED says "LUMILEDS" on the emitter side and this on the other:
TY0KW 0296914
0307LXHLLW3C
LUXEON
So it looks like a Luxeon LXHL-LW3C, a 3W LED. It would be pretty straightforward to unsolder the current emitter and solder in a new one in its place without changing the other electronics. An SSC P4 would be a quick and easy replacement to match with the stock optics. U3 bin are the brightest available I believe. This will be more than three times brighter.
I've taken the front off and the LED says "LUMILEDS" on the emitter side and this on the other:
TY0KW 0296914
0307LXHLLW3C
LUXEON
So it looks like a Luxeon LXHL-LW3C, a 3W LED. It would be pretty straightforward to unsolder the current emitter and solder in a new one in its place without changing the other electronics. An SSC P4 would be a quick and easy replacement to match with the stock optics. U3 bin are the brightest available I believe. This will be more than three times brighter.
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Check out www.djcatnap.com for articles on vintage Japanese & French bicycle restorations, components and history.
Check out www.djcatnap.com for articles on vintage Japanese & French bicycle restorations, components and history.
09-22-12, 10:25 PM
#6
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The 18650 battery is 69mm long so not likely to fit. There are shorter Li cylindricals available
with lower maH ratings. Just make sure they have the "pcb" to regulate the charging rate.
with lower maH ratings. Just make sure they have the "pcb" to regulate the charging rate.
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