Flashlight Charging

[mikie333]

i know there are many topics out there regarding flashlights, but this particular topic i have failed to find...

I know there are many flashlights out there, and i'm not here to ask which one is your preference, but i am wondering about the different methods of charging...i am interested in buying (most likly the big ed) and i want to know what is my best bet on a charger...

so could someone layout the difference between the ac and dc chargers (the pros and cons, etc)...

thanks!

[t13one12]

I know you aren't really looking for this answer, but some of the guys in my company had issues with the Big Ed and charging. Their batteries tended to shorten their lifespan along the year or so they had them. They were never left on the charger for more than 10-12 hours at a time.

[needlejockey]

well the biggest difference is what you'll be plugging it into. if it's going to be instation/at your house/etc. get ac, if it's going to be vehicle mounted, get dc. if you don't know some gets come with both.

[rfd599]

Mikie:

Consider a Big Ed 4C Alkaline. Most of our guys have gone this route to eliminate having to worry about charging the batteries and replacing it when they go bad. My recommendation would be to get an alkaline and carry spare batteries either in your gear or keep them on the truck.

Good luck,

rfd599
www.IllinoisFireStore.com

[needlejockey]

What I like is to have a streamlight survior attached to my jacket and a piggyback charger in my locker. I change the battery after every call that I use it and atleast once a week if I don't run any calls. Probably a bit excessive, but I'd rather know it's charged than to wait a bit for it to drain a little lower and then need that power later.

[rfdlou]

Got rid of my rechargeable lights after some bad experiences SCUBA diving. Rechargeable don’t give any warning they are going dead. They will be bright and then rapidly die. They self discharge during storage and don’t like “top off” charging or temperature extremes although the NIMH is better than NICAD. Alkaline lights will get progressively dimmer before they die. They will sit in a pocket for years and still work & best of all you can get new batteries anywhere inexpensively.

[mcaldwell]

The only thing about alkalines is that they are more prone to leaking and ruining the flashlight from the inside if not used frequently or checked. We used to issue alkaline powered pelicans and such, and invariably they would be ruined by leaking batteries within two to three years. We just didn't use or check them enough.

Now we use the Big Ed Rechargeables, and they seem fine so far...

[rfdlou]

The only thing about alkalines is that they are more prone to leaking and ruining the flashlight from the inside if not used frequently or checked. We used to issue alkaline powered pelicans and such, and invariably they would be ruined by leaking batteries within two to three years. We just didn't use or check them enough.

Now we use the Big Ed Rechargeables, and they seem fine so far...

Energizer/Eveready guarantee states: “We will repair or replace, at our
option, any device damaged by this battery if it is sent with batteries to Energizer.
Guarantee void if user or device recharges battery.”

[t13one12]

Energizer/Eveready guarantee states: “We will repair or replace, at our
option, any device damaged by this battery if it is sent with batteries to Energizer.
Guarantee void if user or device recharges battery.”

Gotta love legal jargon. Something tells me they might cite carrying batteries into a burning building as anything but normal use.

[mikie333]

well, not to spur off topic into which light, but if i did get a big ed, id get the rechargable one, then for an extra 8 bucks, get the c-cell tray, so i can either have rechargable or disposible

if i were to get the DC, it would work in my house (w. an adapter) and in my car, but if it is in my car, it would only charge when the car is on (i don't have (or want to use) a constant live 12v in my car for the light)

but is there a difference in charge between the ac and dc?

[needlejockey]

Not really. The batterys if memory serve are DC but if you go with an AC charger there is of course a built in converter. So... it all works out in the end.

[mikie333]

has anyone else had experiance in choosing a ac or dc charger?

thanks to all that have helped!