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-   -   New Magicshine battery runtime (not impressed) (https://www.bikeforums.net/electronics-lighting-gadgets/732276-new-magicshine-battery-runtime-not-impressed.html)

buzzbee 10-28-11 05:20 PM

I have not seen a connector issue so far.
I have the green/red indicator version of the 900 lumen light from 2009, not the latest one with other colors of battery level.
I noticed when it was red, I could unplug it and it would be green for a long time.

I've concluded that my replacement Geoman battery is much worse than the original one recalled.
It does only 30-40 min on high after a full charge before the light and indicator were both off.
Must be a bad battery.

got out the old DVM: the orig charger is 8.48VDC open circuit, the newer one is 8.51VDC open circuit... similar.
Last evening, having run on low mode for >2 hours after the indicator first started going red, I unplugged the battery, it measured 7.35VDC open circuit. The next morning, after being plugged in all night powering the indicator only, the battery measure 1.4VDC open circuit.... It seems my battery does have 1/3 of the rated capacity.

I think I will buy a new battery from somewhere, ... don't know where, are there good options?

seeker333 10-28-11 06:27 PM


Originally Posted by buzzbee (Post 13425800)
....I think I will buy a new battery from somewhere, ... don't know where, are there good options?

As I stated over a week ago, send it back under warranty claim. GMG has a 12 month warranty on the battery:

http://www.geomangear.com/index.php?...age=page&id=23

If you want to buy a second one, I can recommend this one:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-WATERPRO...item4154fe4bce

Mine lasted 12 months (over 100 recharge/discharge cycles). A backup battery is a very good idea for all these 2s2p 18650 batteries, because they typically don't last more than 6-12months.

Don't be surprised if the replacement GMG battery behaves like the one you have now. I've had two of them, and neither one seem to work as well as the originals.

buzzbee 10-28-11 11:16 PM

Thanks for the advice.
Yes, now that I know it's a real battery capacity issue and not just a lower voltage causing the warning light to come on early, I need a new unit.
Are you saying that these new batteries are typically less than 1/2 the capacity of the originals like the one I have?

dougmc 10-31-11 08:26 AM


Originally Posted by buzzbee (Post 13426776)
Are you saying that these new batteries are typically less than 1/2 the capacity of the originals like the one I have?

I measured the capacity of my new pack when I got it with my R/C battery charger and got 4100 mAh or so. Now, the pack was officially rated at 4400 mAh I think, and the old packs were similarly rated, so while that does seem a bit low (good quality new batteries usually measure slightly over their rated capacity) it was pretty close, and sometimes batteries do better on their second cycling.

I haven't really used the light much, but at least as far as my measurement went ... the capacity was at least 90% of what it should be.

jrss13 11-05-11 05:13 PM

Geoman sent me a 3rd charger, as my original and the replacement one they sent me would not charge my battery. They tested the new charger with 3 separate batteries to ensure it worked. I received it quickly, charged it overnight, and tested the battery. It lasted 3 hours and 40 minutes before shutting down. The status light on the back of my light-head works now that the battery is charging correctly. I can't praise Geoman enough for their great customer service!

buzzbee 11-07-11 02:10 PM

I've used the MS light for 2 years now, this year, my battery was recalled, then I got a new one in the summer. I found out that the MS light running on low was not lasting as long as it should before I saw the red indicator light come on. I suspected the new battery replacement was defective, but I could have also had a light head going bad over time. In the end, the light head died after 60 minutes runtime on low, all lights out, tripped the battery protection circuit probably.
So, was the battery bad, or was the lighthead drawing too much current, making it look like a battery had a low capacity, or both? For me, it's too late to know.

I have a new battery now, and a new lighthead, so we'll see over time how it goes.
The next time, I would rather spend $200 on a light that is more reliable.

no motor? 11-14-11 11:17 AM


Originally Posted by buzzbee (Post 13464227)
I've used the MS light for 2 years now, this year, my battery was recalled, then I got a new one in the summer. I found out that the MS light running on low was not lasting as long as it should before I saw the red indicator light come on. I suspected the new battery replacement was defective, but I could have also had a light head going bad over time. In the end, the light head died after 60 minutes runtime on low, all lights out, tripped the battery protection circuit probably.
So, was the battery bad, or was the lighthead drawing too much current, making it look like a battery had a low capacity, or both? For me, it's too late to know.

I have a new battery now, and a new lighthead, so we'll see over time how it goes.
The next time, I would rather spend $200 on a light that is more reliable.

That sounds familiar. I used the original battery, charge and light head (MJ808) from when I got the light in 2009, and had the battery replaced under the warranty earlier this year. The indicator light on the lighthead never worked right with the replacement battery, but I got over 2 hours of run time before recharging (my commute is about an hour round trip). I upgraded to the XML driver (the MJ808CE) and really like the brighter light and better mount, but my first round trip ended with the orange light on for the last 1/2 mile. If this is going to be typical (the blue light came on after 20 minutes this morning), I've gone back to needing to recharge batteries after 1 trip, just like I did when my Fenix L2D was a big deal.

KLW2 12-06-11 09:29 AM


Originally Posted by ItsJustMe (Post 13411816)
I found that the connector on the new battery pack is not quite right. It mates with the light connector OK but not too well with the charger connector. It often doesn't make proper contact (and as you know, if it's not plugged in the light glows green). I'll look at it, it's glowing green, I wiggle the connector, twist it, pull it halfway out, etc, and it'll turn back to red in some position. Eventually after a few hours it'll charge to where it won't turn red anymore, then it's REALLY charged.

That was the one problem with the new pack.

I have the same issue with the charger and battery connection. I first thought it might have been the new battery/old charger. Asked Geoman and they quickly sent a new charger. (Boy, I sure wish everyone had customer service like Geoman......)

They said that some early chargers and new batteries had compatibility issues and that that might be my issue, but I have the same behavior with the new charger.

I fiddle with the connection and it shows a red light on the charger. Thinking about changing all the connectors to a different style.....


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