Who own's the PT Shockwave LED light? Questions

[D_B]

The one on the right looks like a classic halogen bulb to me

Just a thought: Are you trying "C" size rechargables, and not the more common "Sub C" size? (shorter/smaller than C)

 

[rottielover]

They are def. C size batteries, in fact I use the exact same rechargable C cells in my Pelican Recoil LED light (this is a 3 cell light), and that light works just fine with them.

I tried the standard flashlight bulb in the nemo and verified that it does fire and work with these rechargable's also, it's just the other bulb (the better one) that won't work with them.

My PT Shockwave's will be here today acording to UPS tracking, so when I get home from work tonight I have more testing too do

 

[rottielover]

Well I called Pelican again, and this time spoke with a specialist. It turns out that both lamps *should* work with rechargable's, but it will shorten the bulb's life. I ordered some replacement lamps and they are going to send me a new battery module just in case. We'll see what happens.

 

[CompuDude]

No comment on the Pelicans, but I know that battery makes CAN matter.

UK, for instance, recommends only Duracell, and specifically NOT energizer C cells for it's Light Cannon. The rechargeable NiMH C cells I use work well also. Apparently some fluke of construction with the Energizer alkalines makes them not work well in some lights.

Perhaps something similar is happening here.

 

[spectrum]

With 10-20 hours of burn time from Duracells in the PT ELED I can't see adding the $$ of rechargeables. It's balance between invectment, frequency of use and the expendability factor.

Pete

 

[CompuDude]

I agree, up to a point. For a primary light, I don't want to have to mentally track how many hours I have used the light, to determine whether I should toss what may be perfectly good batteries or not. I'd rather stick batteries in fresh off the charger every time.

For backup lights, OTOH, that get used rarely, Alkalines are the only way to go, especially with their negligible self-discharge rate.

 

[rottielover]

Agreed, since NiMH don't have the "memory effect" (or at least not as bad), I'll feel better "topping off" the charge on the primary lights each day after a night dive for the week we're in Bonaire, and I won't be worried about lugging 2 or more sets of extra's along with and then back again from Bonaire. This way I can pack 1 set and be done with it.

 

[rottielover]

I finally figured it out, and I feel like a dumb@*&

I finally figured out that the spring contact on the bottom of the battery compartment was too wide, and not touching the "button" on the top of the rechargable battery's (where-as the Alky cells have an all metal top on them, so it didn't matter where the spring hit). I just took some needle nose, and gently crimped the top ring of the springs to that it would touch the button. I can now use either rechargable's OR alky cells in my lights!!!

Pelican did advise me that they feel the rated burn time on the bulb would be reduced by 50% due to "the higher power that rechargables put out", so as a precaution I purchased a few extra bulbs. They weight a whole lot less than an extra set of 8x C cells!

BTW, I should also mention that I did purchase 2 of the PT Shockwave LED lights, but one arrived broken so I sent it back. I went ahead and kept the other, figuring that some fateful day I'll break or flood one of the Pelican's...

So, if anyone had been following along, just make sure your batteries are making contact (metal to metal), I didn't even think of that till sitting and staring at the lights for about an hour....

PS The C Cell rechargables that I got, have a plastic coating on the + side and only the "button" on top is metal, where-as with other batteries the entire top is metal.