UK D4R Torch - can't keep it up

[aclivity]

I've been suffering from torch envy on my last few dives - I always seem to end up diving with Jedi warriors and their undersea lightsabres. To add insult to shiny-thing envy, my torch has started losing it's charge really quickly. It will generally last about halfway into the second dive before everything goes dim.

Now I'm not doing hugely long dives - last two were about 47 minutes for the first dive, second dive was 38ish, but the torch went dim after about 25 minutes.

I've tried completely discharging the battery before a recharge, and that didn't seem to help much, and I even switch between the 9 watt and 18 watt bulb to try to reduce the load. Short of just leaving it switched off until it's really dark, what can I do about it? Is it possible to buy spare batteries for the UK D4R torch, or perhaps a cradle to hold 4xD cells? The battery is a NiCAD - can I get a NiMH battery instead?

All suggestions (other than "get a new torch"!) gratefully accepted!

Andy

[Darren27]

Sounds like your NiCad has finally given up the ghost. I have seen replacement UK batteries for sale at various dive shops. I'm sure you could get hold of one through your LDC.

However that wont easy your torch envy, what you really want is for someone to tell you to spent loads of cash on a nice shiny ali number, there by easing your conscience when the CC bill arrives a month later, he he he!

[beanie]

Originally Posted by aclivity

Is it possible to buy spare batteries for the UK D4R torch, or perhaps a cradle to hold 4xD cells? The battery is a NiCAD - can I get a NiMH battery instead?

you can get spare batteries and a cradle to hold 4 D cells

you could make a battery pack for it if you want cheap

[Dominic]

Most batteries really don't like being completely discharged - their ideal life is to be plugged in to a trickle charger and kept full until they fossilise

Something you COULD try if you're daring:

- Put the batteries in the fridge for a few hours.

- While you wait, get some jump leads and attach them to your car battery.

- Take the cold battery pack to the car.

- For the merest fraction of a second, connect the battery pack to the jump leads.

The idea is that the sudden surge from thr car battery 'shocks' the thingies off the Nicad wotsits, and thus restores them to as-new condition. Putting it in the fridge first cools them down to aid conducivity.

It's something I heard a while back, but never tried. So no idea if it works, fails, or makes the Nicads explode. But if it's kill-or-cure...

Failing that, get four new C-cell Nicads, cut open the current pack to see how they're wired up (dead simple) and solder the wires appropriately to the new batts. Hey presto, a new pack!

[Narked@50]

I have a couple of these torches and around 70-80mins on full power is what to expect, they will do around 2-3hrs on the lower bulb setting though.

I too get drawn in by the light saber crowd but have to keep reminding myself of the type of diving I do and just how often I could justify spending that much on a torch. The UK4R is cheap, light wieght(ish), and takes knocks well. It is good for all but realy dark or deep stuff and can still be used on holiday when you just look stupid with a greenforce at 20m in a dim overhang?

Try the car battery thing though, I have no idea if it works but it might be a laugh!

James

[aclivity]

I don't think I have the guts to try the car battery trick. If anyone does try it, could they post results (pictures if necessary) here?

The D4R was a birthday present from the GLW and as such I can't simply go out and replace it. One think I thought of was asking said GLW to revisit the dive shop and buy a second, identical torch (again using her feminine wiles to secure a decent discount) then I have a second battery for dive 2, and even better than that, I have a redundant spare in case something goes wrong with the rest of the torch?

It depends, I suppose, on how much a spare battery on it's own would be - the whole torch isn't that expensive.

It's a shame they don't sell after market NiMH batteries for it though.

Beanie, do you know where I might find spare rechargeable batteries for sale on t'interweb?

Andy

[Dominic]

On the eighth day machine just got upset, a problem man had not foreseen as yet
No time for flight, a blinding light, and nothing but a void, forever night
He said: Behold what man has done: There's not a world for anyone
Nobody laughed, nobody cried world's at an end, everyone has died

Surely the first day would be more appropriate to this thread?

In the beginning was the word
Man said "Let there be more light"
Electric scenes and laser beams,
neon brights the light abhorring nights

[beanie]

make you own from

MAplin order code L49AL (NiMH D cell)

order code FZ34M (NiCD D cell)

not sure if NiMH don't need different charger than NiCDs

or from sea and sea
sea and sea
UK19901 Rechargeable Nicad Battery for C4R £ 54.43

can't find the adaptor plates for normal D cells - might be worth giving them a ring or see you LDS

[aclivity]

Originally Posted by Dominic

Surely the first day would be more appropriate to this thread?

In the beginning was the word
Man said "Let there be more light"
Electric scenes and laser beams,
neon brights the light abhorring nights

my torch: "nothing but a void, forever night" (after an hour or so of being shiny, that is).