D8R replacement battery and a warning.

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Anyone know where i can get a battery for the D8R ? Can't see it on websites.

Also a word of warning for anyone with one....

Planned to do NDAC night dive tomorrow, used torch for 10 mins last week so decided to give it a top up charge, got battery, plugged it in as usual, went back to doing other things.

2 mins later room filled with smoke. Thinking its one of the computers, TV, radios in here i turn all them off. Room now full of thick black smoke.

Look at battery and there are 8" flames coming out of either end of it and its set fire to my room carpet, skirting board and walls. Cant get near enough the plug socket to turn off due to the flames.

Managed eventually to kick it out of the connector and still burning kick the thing out of room, along hallway (burning wooden floor en route) and out of the front door (very lucky i live in bungalow).
The charger wires (low voltage side) have completely melted and fused to the box that was next to it, the battery is still outside, still smoking and still too hot to touch.
Neither battery nor charger have ever been damaged or caused any issue what so ever before in the 4 years ive had them.

Room and house still full of smoke, all doors and windows open, eyes burning and thick electrical smell everywhere.

Hate to think what would have happened if it'd done it 10 minutes later when i'd gone to bed.

So in short, i've not heard of any issues with these before but anyone with one be a bit cautious - i was very lucky that only minor scorching to carpet, skirting board, paintwork and i got it outside.

Anyone know somewhere i can get a new battery for this? It picked xmas week so i guess im screwed for a while. Suspect i need to cancel my NDAC night dive as well as i now don't have a primary light.

[Ricky2703]

Sorry to hear about your Fire, The LV side wiring on my Salvo battery pack is also fused together I will now check on this. For a battery try,Home they were happy to make a battery pack for an old dive rite torch for about £30 or Dive Force Limited ask for Terry he can get hold of most bits.
What about Santa for a new torch?
Ricky

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What about Santa for a new torch?

Sadly santa has already bought me a new drysuit.

And yes i am still up at 5am - still got doors and windows open trying to get rid of fumes.

I'll check those URLs tomorrow (er today) cheers.

Just found someone wanting £99 for the battery pack. Im sure i could buy some D8s and make my own for substantially less ?

[jackadam]

http://www.yorkshire-divers.com/foru...reply&p=177853

Originally Posted by jackadam

Hi - Thought I would just update the thread, I have just ordered a new battery pack for my D8R, from the company mentioned in a previous post called Strikalite Batteries UK - the battery specialists, 01543 683122. The cost of the pack is £52 + £6ish for P&P. I should get them later this week, I will update the thread on how the company and batteries perform.

Thanks

I am sure you could do it cheaper, but a few years back I used strikalite. turnaround was pretty good too.

[CotoChris]

Not a nice thing to happen. Try contacting UK or supplier and tell them what happened. I expect they will be interested to know this and maybe with goodwill they will give you a replacement. If you had tampered with it then that is another story.

(Your story reminded me of an episode in 1995. I was alone in the house one cold Januarty night. Before going to bed I placed more wood in the wood burning 'salamander' (A stove like piece to warm up the house. Went to bed and sometime later heard a plate fall. That was odd, so got up and opened the door to see the whole living room alight with the flames covering the ceilling. In disbelief I closed the door and opened it again to see if it was what I really saw. I got out from the window and called the fire brigade. Half of the house was burnt down. If I didn't suspect the cracking of a plate and went back to sleep I wouldn't be here today. So have Fire Alarms every darn place around the house now!)