opinions on my battery/bulb selection
10-25-07, 04:35 PM
#1
my legs are carbon
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Indianapolis
Posts: 159
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
opinions on my battery/bulb selection
I have an old vista lite and the SLA battery isn't cutting it anymore. I am thinking about replacing the bulb with a 6V 10W spot halogen powered by this new battery.
I figured about 1.5 hours of runtime, and I need at least 1hr.
Did I do the math correctly? Is this an adequate battery choice?
I figured about 1.5 hours of runtime, and I need at least 1hr.
Did I do the math correctly? Is this an adequate battery choice?
10-25-07, 08:48 PM
#2
Burning Matches.
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 9,714
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4077 Post(s)
Liked 1,002 Times
in
676 Posts
You may have done the math correctly, but the energy rating is dependent on the amp draw. I have a 2800 battery pack, if I recall correctly, and it lasts for ~90 minutes and then dies QUICKLY, probably not the best thing for the battery...
If you only need one hour you may be OK, but I would figure on about 3000 mAh or so to maximize battery life... I like the 18500 series Lithium batteries, or some of the polymer packs.
If you only need one hour you may be OK, but I would figure on about 3000 mAh or so to maximize battery life... I like the 18500 series Lithium batteries, or some of the polymer packs.
__________________
ElJamoquio didn't hate the world, per se; he was just constantly disappointed by humanity.
10-25-07, 10:28 PM
#3
Mad bike riding scientist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 27,378
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
Mentioned: 152 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6225 Post(s)
Liked 4,228 Times
in
2,372 Posts
I have an old vista lite and the SLA battery isn't cutting it anymore. I am thinking about replacing the bulb with a 6V 10W spot halogen powered by this new battery.
I figured about 1.5 hours of runtime, and I need at least 1hr.
Did I do the math correctly? Is this an adequate battery choice?
I figured about 1.5 hours of runtime, and I need at least 1hr.
Did I do the math correctly? Is this an adequate battery choice?
10W/7.2V = 1.38 amps
For a 2.2 Ah battery that should give you 1.6 hrs, theoretically. However that's the max you can get. YMWV. But I'd suggest that you spend $3 more and get this battery. The 3.3 Ah rating will give you 2.39 hours. You can always change the connector.
If you really want light, get the 3.3 Ah battery and a 15W bulb. Same run time as the 2.2 Ah battery but a whole bunch more light.
__________________
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
10-26-07, 10:42 AM
#4
my legs are carbon
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Indianapolis
Posts: 159
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Thanks for the info, I'll definitely go with the "bigger" battery.
Question about jacks/plugs/connectors. I will need to change the jack on the cord that plugs into the battery pack, with which I am comfortable. However, do I need to worry about polarity? Are halogen bulbs polarized or can I connect either wire coming from the bulb to the red or black? (The polarity IS important for the battery/charger connection correct?)
Thanks!
Question about jacks/plugs/connectors. I will need to change the jack on the cord that plugs into the battery pack, with which I am comfortable. However, do I need to worry about polarity? Are halogen bulbs polarized or can I connect either wire coming from the bulb to the red or black? (The polarity IS important for the battery/charger connection correct?)
Thanks!
10-26-07, 12:05 PM
#5
Mad bike riding scientist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 27,378
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
Mentioned: 152 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6225 Post(s)
Liked 4,228 Times
in
2,372 Posts
Thanks for the info, I'll definitely go with the "bigger" battery.
Question about jacks/plugs/connectors. I will need to change the jack on the cord that plugs into the battery pack, with which I am comfortable. However, do I need to worry about polarity? Are halogen bulbs polarized or can I connect either wire coming from the bulb to the red or black? (The polarity IS important for the battery/charger connection correct?)
Thanks!
Question about jacks/plugs/connectors. I will need to change the jack on the cord that plugs into the battery pack, with which I am comfortable. However, do I need to worry about polarity? Are halogen bulbs polarized or can I connect either wire coming from the bulb to the red or black? (The polarity IS important for the battery/charger connection correct?)
Thanks!
__________________
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
10-28-07, 04:48 PM
#6
my legs are carbon
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Indianapolis
Posts: 159
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
charger
Here is a pic of the old charger for the old SLA battery:
If I were to get this battery (thanks for the recommendation) could I use the old charger? The output voltage seems like it matches (7.5V), but it also says 300mA on the output. So does that mean it would take 11hrs to charge a 3300mAh battery?!?
Just curious to see if I can use this transformer/charger w/o having to buy a new one.
(also, in reference to my earlier question about polarity, I just saw the diagram on the transformer, now I know for sure which wire is which)
If I were to get this battery (thanks for the recommendation) could I use the old charger? The output voltage seems like it matches (7.5V), but it also says 300mA on the output. So does that mean it would take 11hrs to charge a 3300mAh battery?!?
Just curious to see if I can use this transformer/charger w/o having to buy a new one.
(also, in reference to my earlier question about polarity, I just saw the diagram on the transformer, now I know for sure which wire is which)
10-28-07, 09:14 PM
#7
Mad bike riding scientist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 27,378
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
Mentioned: 152 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6225 Post(s)
Liked 4,228 Times
in
2,372 Posts
Here is a pic of the old charger for the old SLA battery:
If I were to get this battery (thanks for the recommendation) could I use the old charger? The output voltage seems like it matches (7.5V), but it also says 300mA on the output. So does that mean it would take 11hrs to charge a 3300mAh battery?!?
Just curious to see if I can use this transformer/charger w/o having to buy a new one.
(also, in reference to my earlier question about polarity, I just saw the diagram on the transformer, now I know for sure which wire is which)
If I were to get this battery (thanks for the recommendation) could I use the old charger? The output voltage seems like it matches (7.5V), but it also says 300mA on the output. So does that mean it would take 11hrs to charge a 3300mAh battery?!?
Just curious to see if I can use this transformer/charger w/o having to buy a new one.
(also, in reference to my earlier question about polarity, I just saw the diagram on the transformer, now I know for sure which wire is which)
__________________
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
10-29-07, 05:09 PM
#8
my legs are carbon
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Indianapolis
Posts: 159
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
For a Ni chemistry battery, it's better to have a charger that will measure the change in voltage and the change in temperature. NiMH batteries spike in temp at the end of charge. That can quickly kill the battery. This charger would fill the need.
