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Rechargeable AA pack question

Old 11-23-18, 10:03 AM
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sknhgy 
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Rechargeable AA pack question

This is the battery pack that goes with my old Dinotte 200L headlight. I don't like it. You have to remove and remount the individual batteries in order to charge them. I've also had to put a velco strap around the batteries in order to keep them from coming loose during a ride and disconnecting.
Is there a modern, one-piece rechargeable battery I can use for this light? Pretty sure it would be a 6 volt battery pack that would have the same connectors, same amperage.
Or, is there a charger that could charge this pack while it is assembled? That way I could tape it together and leave it that way.
Thanks.
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Old 11-23-18, 08:20 PM
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I meant for this to be posted in Electronics, Lights, etc. My bad.
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Old 11-24-18, 05:47 AM
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Here you go:
magicshine.us/product-category/bike-light-accessories/batteries/?orderby=price-desc
enerprof.de/shop/batteries/enerpower-kreuzberg-plus-battery-7-4v-8500mah-with-round-plug/
enerprof.de/shop/batteries/enerpower-adlershof-battery-7-4v-6800-mah-round-plug/
enerprof.de/shop/batteries/enerpower-pankow-battery-74v-3500-mah-with-round-plug-ga/
enerprof.de/shop/batteries/enerpower-moabit-battery-7-4v-3400mah-round-plug/
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Old 11-24-18, 08:51 AM
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Thanks. Ummm. I got a question. 7.4 volts equals 5 AA's. My battery pack holds 4 AA's. Wouldn't those over-run my voltage?
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Old 11-24-18, 09:26 AM
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Originally Posted by sknhgy
Thanks. Ummm. I got a question. 7.4 volts equals 5 AA's. My battery pack holds 4 AA's. Wouldn't those over-run my voltage?
They would certainly put out a higher voltage than your current pack. Whether that would hurt the light is another question and depends on how it is made. Since your original pack takes 4 NiMH cells it would be putting out just a bit under 5V, so any battery pack with a USB output would be a suitable substitute as long as you make an adapter for the physical connector.
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Old 11-24-18, 11:23 AM
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Lightbulb

Originally Posted by prathmann
Whether that would hurt the light is another question and depends on how it is made.
Any battery pack with a USB output would be a suitable substitute as long as you make an adapter for the physical connector.
Booth true.
Good idea with USB!
There are adapter cables from USB-A to DC5521 and others, so it could be you don't even need to tinker
startech.com/Search?search_term=USB2TYPE&sort=1&sort_dir=1&fq_field_product_facet_db_cable_length_ft=6.6
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Old 11-24-18, 12:14 PM
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Originally Posted by prathmann
They would certainly put out a higher voltage than your current pack. Whether that would hurt the light is another question and depends on how it is made. Since your original pack takes 4 NiMH cells it would be putting out just a bit under 5V, so any battery pack with a USB output would be a suitable substitute as long as you make an adapter for the physical connector.
I will look into this. I saw Amazon has shrink-wrapped 4 packs of rechargeables with various connectors.
Can you charge these off a USB port?
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Old 11-24-18, 01:37 PM
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Originally Posted by sknhgy
I will look into this. I saw Amazon has shrink-wrapped 4 packs of rechargeables with various connectors.
Can you charge these off a USB port?
I wouldn't recommend this. For charging you want a source that will initially put out a high current for fast recharging and then detect when the battery is nearing full charge so the charger shuts off and prevents an overcharge. A USB output port just supplies a constant 5V supply so it will initially charge slower than desired and eventually result in an overcharge.
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Old 11-25-18, 06:53 PM
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Would this, or something similar, work? Amazon has bunches of them, meant for RC cars.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D38V953/ref=sspa_dk_detail_5?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B07D38V953&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=f0dedbe2-13c8-4136-a746-4398ed93cf0f&pd_rd_wg=xhMDo&pf_rd_r=CW3VPMT6Q0KG9MX057T9&pf_rd_s=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_t=40701&pd_rd_w=tL8Fl&pf_rd_i=desktop-dp-sims&pd_rd_r=58b823b1-f115-11e8-a0b8-b3ecfb8dcc27
I can change/solder new connectors.
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Old 11-25-18, 07:24 PM
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Yes, you can use it directly but 700 mAH capacity isn't much for a bike light. I have a $5 100 lumen bike tail light that has a 650 mAH internal lithium polymer battery and my Blitzu Gator 300 lumen front light has a 1200 mAh battery. I took it apart to see what was inside so I know that value is correct. It was a Christmas gift I will never use so I wasn't worried about destroying it (which didn't happen). I prefer a simple XML-T6 focusable flashlight powered by a Panasonic 3400 mAH 18650 battery. It's brighter than the Gator and simple to switch out the battery should it get dim during a ride.
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Old 11-25-18, 07:27 PM
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Originally Posted by sknhgy
Would this, or something similar, work? Amazon has bunches of them, meant for RC cars.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D38V953...8-b3ecfb8dcc27
I can change/solder new connectors.
It would work, but not well. These cells are the older NiCd chemistry which only had about a third of the capacity of the NiMH cells you currently use. So your light would only run for a third as long. I didn't even know that NiCd cells were still being made. Poor capacity, some charging cycle issues, and very bad environmentally if not disposed of properly - so they've been replaced by NiMH and various Li chemistries.
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Old 11-26-18, 01:09 PM
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Lightbulb

Originally Posted by sknhgy
Would this, or something similar, work? Amazon has bunches of them, meant for RC cars. amazon.com/Guluman-700mAh-Ni-Cd-Rechargeable-Battery/dp/B07D38V953
Why not USB? Would be much more flexible and allows higher capacity.
lygte-info.dk/review/Review%20USB%20battery%20box%20Tomo%20M4%20UK.html
lygte-info.dk/review/Review%20USB%20battery%20box%20TLife%20Power%20bank%20TC-01%20UK.html
soshine.com.cn/a709.aspx
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Old 11-26-18, 02:25 PM
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Bless your heart, thank you. That gives me something specific I can go on.
Here's a picture of the light, BTW. It's an older model. But I might as well use it instead of just letting it sit around. It's a Dinotte 200L. Probably 10 or more years old. See those rubber bands on the battery pack? That's how much of a pain this thing is to use. Can you imagine assembling and disassembling this thing every time you use it?
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Old 11-26-18, 04:38 PM
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Maybe these links helps you too
banggood.com/Soshine-E3S-4-Slots-18650-Battery-Charger-Universal-Power-Bank-Battery-Case-p-1190165.html
banggood.com/search/18650-button-top-protected/0-0-0-1-4-44-0-price-0-0_p-1.html?direct=7
banggood.com/5pcs-DC-9V-Battery-Button-Power-Cable-Tieline-For-Arduino-p-962108.html
banggood.com/1_5m-Micro-USB-Power-Supply-Charging-Cable-With-ONOFF-Switch-For-Raspberry-Pi-p-1178158.html
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Old 11-26-18, 05:00 PM
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those battery holders are @ Radioshack (if one is left, near you)
snap connectors common to 9v batteries powering electric guitar Efx pedals ..

Can you Solder? that skill opens up a lot of DIY options .. inline power supply plugs
& batteries with solder tabs..
Then you can use things like wax potting the whole thing in a water bottle, or similar..
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Old 11-29-18, 08:36 PM
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Yup. I can even silver solder. I'm just trying to make this thing more user friendly. When it comes down to messing with that battery pack or grabbing a flashlight, the flashlight wins every time.
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