Recommend a supplier to make a replacement D cell rechargeable battery pack?

Skylark

Skylark

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As per title, I have a fairly powerful waterproof torch that has a rechargeable battery pack comprising 4xD cell giving 4.8v, 4.4Ahr.

I’ve had the torch more than 20 years and now the batteries no longer hold much charge.

Can anyone recommend a supplier who can take the pack, wave a magic wand and return it back to full capacity?

Many thanks.
 
Skylark said:
As per title, I have a fairly powerful waterproof torch that has a rechargeable battery pack comprising 4xD cell giving 4.8v, 4.4Ahr.

I’ve had the torch more than 20 years and now the batteries no longer hold much charge.

Can anyone recommend a supplier who can take the pack, wave a magic wand and return it back to full capacity?

Many thanks.
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Just buy a new LED torch. It will have better lithium batteries now and will recharge faster and work for much longer, no brainer really.
After 20 years its time to join the 21st Century.
 
harvey38 said:
A quick Google brings up these but depending on how attached to your torch you are, I,d look for a new one with an LED rather than heavy batteries and a power supping incandescent bulb.

1.2V 9000mAh D size NiMH Single Cell Battery with Tags Vapex
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Thanks for this. I use Components Shop for model aeroplane battery packs and I’d already noted them. However, I’m not overly keen on rebuilding the pack myself.

It’s a dive torch and proven waterproof to silly depth, unlike a cheap and cheerful LED light selling on eBay.

It makes me incandescent with rage that I’d have to throw away a perfectly good light simply because I can’t put new batteries in it ???

I was looking for recommendations of companies that make a buck out of my reluctance to diy. Google has found one or two but I was hoping for first hand experiences.

Not everything 21st century is worthy of ownership. Somethings are “good enough” and don’t need to be changed.

Greta would be proud of me ?
 
Skylark said:
Thanks for this. I use Components Shop for model aeroplane battery packs and I’d already noted them. However, I’m not overly keen on rebuilding the pack myself.

It’s a dive torch and proven waterproof to silly depth, unlike a cheap and cheerful LED light selling on eBay.

It makes me incandescent with rage that I’d have to throw away a perfectly good light simply because I can’t put new batteries in it ???

I was looking for recommendations of companies that make a buck out of my reluctance to diy. Google has found one or two but I was hoping for first hand experiences.

Not everything 21st century is worthy of ownership. Somethings are “good enough” and don’t need to be changed.

Greta would be proud of me ?
Click to expand...
I was going to recommend having a model shop make them up for you.
 
Skylark said:
Can anyone recommend a supplier who can take the pack, wave a magic wand and return it back to full capacity?

Many thanks.
Click to expand...
In relation to this last point I can tell you of the magic solution and also not to waste time trying it.

I had the same problem with a cordless drill battery. On the internet I found a way of reviving cells. First you need to identify the faulty cells, which are the ones that show a voltage well under the 1.2 volts that they should. So I opened up the battery and, using a multimeter, found that only one cell was faulty. You then apply 12 volts to the faulty cell for a few seconds, then charge at the usual voltage for an hour. I did that and the battery worked again. For about another few cycles of charging and discharge. After which it was completely useless.
 
LadyInBed said:
Diving Lights - Amazon.co.uk
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Thanks for the suggestion. I'd prefer to replace the battery pack in my 20+ year old torch than buy a replacement torch to be honest. I don't spend long enough underwater these days to justify spending a couple of hundred pounds on a quality product. Very few divers use <£100 LED lights and I suspect that there's a good reason. This is the culprit currently in the dock. It's served me very well over many years and I can't bring myself to throw it away, at least not without trying to find a replacement battery pack. It has two bulbs with different intensities. When new, with the lower power bulb in use I could get almost 2 hours, 2 x 1 hour dives, from a charge. These days I'm in the dark after 10-15 minutes ?

IMG_1758.jpg
 
Skylark said:
Thank you.
I found this company via a Diving Forum and sent them the query yesterday evening. I'm optimistically awaiting their response (but would still like to get at least 2 quotes)
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Is this thread a wind-up? You want to revive an obsolete torch of great sentimental value. And now you want different quotes!
 
penberth3 said:
Is this thread a wind-up? You want to revive an obsolete torch of great sentimental value. And now you want different quotes!
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Why do you think it's a wind-up:(

I'd describe it as obsolescent, not obsolete. Don't recall expressing sentimental value. To replace it with a similar quality LED lamp would cost several hundred pounds and I don't dive often enough to justify that to myself. What's wrong with wanting more than one quote?

Are you trying to wind me up........it's not working ;)
 
Skylark said:
Thanks for the suggestion. I'd prefer to replace the battery pack in my 20+ year old torch than buy a replacement torch to be honest. I don't spend long enough underwater these days to justify spending a couple of hundred pounds on a quality product. Very few divers use <£100 LED lights and I suspect that there's a good reason. This is the culprit currently in the dock. It's served me very well over many years and I can't bring myself to throw it away, at least not without trying to find a replacement battery pack. It has two bulbs with different intensities. When new, with the lower power bulb in use I could get almost 2 hours, 2 x 1 hour dives, from a charge. These days I'm in the dark after 10-15 minutes ?

IMG_1758.jpg
Click to expand...
Why not contact Underwater Kinetics to see if there's an official battery update? Conscientious manufacturers often offer such things on high value products like this.
 
Years ago I bought a rechargeable battery pack for an early cordless drill - found it via Google but I can't remember the company unfortunately. I've had a quick Google look and there were some who say they can supply such packs.
Try countybattery.co.uk or strikalight.co.uk
 
PetiteFleur said:
Years ago I bought a rechargeable battery pack for an early cordless drill - found it via Google but I can't remember the company unfortunately. I've had a quick Google look and there were some who say they can supply such packs.
Try countybattery.co.uk or strikalight.co.uk
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Thank you. I’ve already contacted strikalite and just now sent a query to countrybattery.
 
Overlander.co.uk do NiMh batteries 5ah but they only do SubC they could make up a pack and you would just have to pad the case out a bit but you would get the voltage and capacity you require.

Regards Clive
 
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