http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Laying up your rechargeables en Wed, 13 May 2026 01:57:43 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5670#post-60890 Tue, 13 Mar 2012 16:53:39 +0000 AKen 60890@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>OK, thanks for the advice. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5670#post-60853 Tue, 13 Mar 2012 15:11:21 +0000 steveo 60853@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>You can get lithium packs in the that size cheap enough, well actually more like 7.5v but the halogens can cope with a little over voltage. </p> <p>The biggest problem is stopping the battery from being over discharged and ruining it. I'm sure you can buy a "thing" to do this but the easiest thing would be to just keep the battery charged. Based on a single 10w light you'd get about 2.5hrs run time just remember and charge after 2hrs. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5670#post-60848 Tue, 13 Mar 2012 14:53:24 +0000 AKen 60848@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>Probably. Would depend on what the light was expecting. Post up some details, light make model and battery capacity and voltage.</em></p> <p>Light is one of these (Smart BL201):</p> <p><a href="http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=1387" rel="nofollow">http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=1387</a></p> <p>Don't think it's available any more but replacement batteries are 6V and 4.5Ah.</p> <p>Bought it about 6 years ago and has served me well (apart from the two new batteries and the flickering connection I had to repair last winter.) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5670#post-60715 Mon, 12 Mar 2012 23:48:28 +0000 Smudge 60715@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Best to leave them on the bike in case you're delayed at the <strike>pub</strike>... erm.. "office".</p> <p>You never know when you might have to ride home in the dusk/dark and if they're on the bike you can't lose them, you'll also see them daily to remind you to give them a charge now and again :-) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5670#post-60689 Mon, 12 Mar 2012 21:52:52 +0000 DaveC 60689@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Just keep using them. If they are D/C/AA/AAA etc.. pop them n something else. If they are proprietry them just charge them once a month. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5670#post-60685 Mon, 12 Mar 2012 20:58:47 +0000 alibali 60685@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>If your lead/acid battery is, like mine, attached to a halogen bulb (as opposed to those new-fangled LED thingies) beware of the slippery upgrade slope!</p> <p>Your SLA is a small part of your all-up weight, is cheap, robust, reliable and the light fades slowly as it discharges so you know it's happening! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5670#post-60679 Mon, 12 Mar 2012 19:36:20 +0000 Dave 60679@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"My knowledge of batteries (and electricity in general) is so limited that I'm never sure if leaving them upside down will let the power dribble out all over the floor." </p> <p>On the contrary, although you do need to avoid leaving the tops off though lest the power evaporates! ;-) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5670#post-60677 Mon, 12 Mar 2012 19:25:08 +0000 Uberuce 60677@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"My knowledge of batteries (and electricity in general) is so limited that I'm never sure if leaving them upside down will let the power dribble out all over the floor." </p> <p>I LOL'd. Good stuff, sir. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5670#post-60676 Mon, 12 Mar 2012 19:21:25 +0000 steveo 60676@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Probably. Would depend on what the light was expecting. Post up some details, light make model and battery capacity and voltage. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5670#post-60671 Mon, 12 Mar 2012 18:14:30 +0000 AKen 60671@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Ok, thanks for the advice. The battery is quite hefty. I view this as extra ballast to assist my downhill momentum.</p> <p>My knowledge of batteries (and electricity in general) is so limited that I'm never sure if leaving them upside down will let the power dribble out all over the floor. Assuming that I could get a compatible connection, could I simply get a lighter battery pack of a different type (but presumably same voltage) and connect it up to my lights? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5670#post-60670 Mon, 12 Mar 2012 17:35:28 +0000 steveo 60670@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>In that case get one of the above and realise some weight benefit ;)</p> <p>SLA should be charged to full and stored away from extremes. It is worth boosting the charge after a few months if possible as lead acid batteries don't like to be completely discharged but they self discharge more quickly than lithium. Fully charge them before use. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5670#post-60669 Mon, 12 Mar 2012 17:27:01 +0000 AKen 60669@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Battery is a sealed lead-acid type. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5670#post-60668 Mon, 12 Mar 2012 17:25:52 +0000 steveo 60668@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>NiMh are fine, stuff them in drawer somewhere protected from extreme humidity and temperatures, unless they are low self discharge, they'll be flat with in a month what ever your do. When You come to use them again, charge them fully (maybe slowly) and if you have the function discharge with charger and recharge.</p> <p>Lithium should be stored at about 50% charge, again away from any extremes. They shouldn't self discharge to a dangerous level in 6 months but it might be worth checking them with a multimeter if you have one to ensure the cell voltage doesn't drop below 3v. When you need them just charge them as usual. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5670#post-60665 Mon, 12 Mar 2012 17:19:27 +0000 steveo 60665@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>What chemistry are they? NIMH or Lithium. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5670#post-60661 Mon, 12 Mar 2012 17:12:11 +0000 AKen 60661@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Now that the light has returned to my evening commute, I'll no longer be needing my big lights with the rechargeable battery until October. What's best for the health of the battery - storing it fully charged or fully discharged? Or does it not make any difference? </p>