Advice - UK D8R

[jobrooksuk]

I have a UK D8R torch which stopped working at the weekend. By process of elimination (i.e. the battery was charged and the bulbs had not blown) I put it down to being an issue with the piece that holds the bulbs and rests on the battery......you may have guessed I am not too technical.

Anyway, I decided to unscrew this bit and 8 tiny little bits of lead (I assume they are lead) dropped out, when I re-assembled it (minus the loose lead) the torch started working!

Does anyone know, before I go in the water with it, whether these bits of lead have a purpose?

I look forward to your replies!

[Marky Mark]

It's not lead, they are there to absorb the gases given out when the battery is discharging, from memory they look like Zippo flints. You should put them back, I don't think they would stop the tourch working, probably just a bad connection.

ttfn
MM

[Adrian Kelland]

Jo,

Did you unscrew and then fix the battery contact springs as part of this process? If so, it was probably tightening up of the spring screws that fixed the problem. A common fault. Mine does the same from time to time.

Adrian

[MATTBIN]

What he said, I think also they are suppoosed to absorb any gas given off if the torch leaks water slightly as the gases become explosive.

The contacts bit (and I am being technical) is hopeless, it relies on friction etc to maintain contact betweeen the torch terminals and teh bulb contacts in the bulb holder part. The little silvery things arent soldered to the battery at all, its very easy for that black part to move slightly off and ruin the contact path. Do you have a big spring attached to teh back of your battery pack.

Incidentally if you manage to flood the battery pack (with fresh water) its possible to dry the batteries out and then re-make the contacts between the individual batteries with a soldering iron and some wire, the original "tangs" often break if flooded and left switched on. Beware also of leaving the torch on out of water, it will fry itself.

Other than that its a good torch. Pretty robust given the treatment mine has received.

Matt

[jobrooksuk]

Thanks guys!

I'll put the bits back and yes, I did tighten one of the springs in the process.

[ratcliffe]

Yes, I think it was the tightening that did the trick. Mine has done the same once or twice.
I like mine, its been knocked off bricks, boat seats and things several times, and appears to bounce well

[String]

Mine has done it too but its an easy torch to fix.

And yes the pellets are meant to absorb gas. Quite how effective they are after 4 years in the thing though i dont know

[Nick Kay]

On one occasions I did a surface swim out to a shotline and prepared to go down the line. Turned on the torch - absolutely nothing

Why wasn't it designed to warn you that you'd taken out the battery, stored it "back to front" (to stop it being turned on accidentally) and hadn't correctly inserted the battery and tightened it up before diving???

Bloody useless

[Finless]

Originally Posted by Adrian Kelland

Jo,

Did you unscrew and then fix the battery contact springs as part of this process? If so, it was probably tightening up of the spring screws that fixed the problem. A common fault. Mine does the same from time to time.

Adrian

And mine!

[KenM]

ok....I just got a d8r, so the flint like gas absorbtion things rattle around loose yes? which is why the bulb holder thing rattles.

and how do you know when the battery is charged, there isnt a little giveaway light on the charger and only once out of the 4 times ive charged it has the battery pack become warm during charging(as stated in the manual...well leaflet)

The first couple of times I thought I may have a faulty charger, but now just assume that after 12 hours charging it is ready.