Foxing batteries

johngalway

Where are you guys getting your lamping/foxing batteries?

I have two, but one is definitely on the way out, which I'm none too happy about as I only got it start of the season last year.

I usually get an 18 amp one in Ivors in Galway, they're up around €75.

I don't want anything with a lower amp rating as it's no good to me. Consider anything from 18-30 or just above 30 amp.

Have we any suggestions?

shannonpowerlab

Radionics 12V 18Ah €40.42 ex vat and delivery. Rechargeable using auto battery charger.

Glensman

I'm going to get one in Ballymena on Wednesday. I'll let you know how I get on...

johngalway

Glensman wrote: »

I'm going to get one in Ballymena on Wednesday. I'll let you know how I get on...

Good man, if you see a bargain

johngalway

shannonpowerlab wrote: »

Radionics 12V 18Ah €40.42 ex vat and delivery. Rechargeable using auto battery charger.

Cheers Shannon, I already have two 800ma Deben chargers I'll check that company out.

Glensman

well I know a boy that works in the place so I can generally pick them up minus the VAT. If they're cheap I'll get two and send one down to you with the sister.

and if you don't want it- I'll keep it!

johngalway

Sounds good to me Sure send me a text before ya go buying anything, looking on that other site and am tempted by 24/25/30 amp batteries, just the thing for the hills.

Glensman

I don't see any batteries on the other site??

I don't think a lightforce will draw any more than 20Amps anyway, so anything more would have no benefit.... But then I was always one for overkill!

johngalway

I know we disagree on this but I am still of a mind that the amp rating is the power reserve, literally how much juice the thing will carry when fully charged in prime condition, so, to my thinking, the more amps, the longer the bulb will stay bright. Think we need Clivej to sort this one out lol.

Glensman

If you'd have asked me 7 years ago I'd have known for sure! I hat that you forget what you learn in school!

Just to make my position clear- I think an Ampere is the measure of the rate that power that can be fired down the cable.

(It'd be nice to know before I go buyin batteries on Wednesday. Although it's a safe bet my da knows!)

4gun

can you get LED foxing lamps
I have a DD cell mag lite wiht an led bulb its has a very bright spot when focused in, hardly uses the batteries at all was thinking that if you cauls get a light force with a similar bulb and Lit-ion batts. they nearly last forever:)

Terrier

John,
Brother picks them up in electrical wholesalers for me here in Galway, got 2 new ones for a steal last year but can i hell remember the price, defo wasn't over €50 for 2.

Give some off these a call
Flathery Markets, Peter Curren Electrical, Edmundson Electrical, (2 of them are on the same road as ivors)

johngalway

Cheers T I'll find their numbers and give them a buzz.

shannonpowerlab

http://radionics.rs-online.com/web/search/searchBrowseAction.html?method=getProduct&R=5375494


Can't go wrong with a good old lead-acid battery. Although it can be a bit heavy.:D

Vegeta

Hey folks this is how batteries work as far as I can remember

The bulb is 100 Watts (that's the Power it uses) in those Lightforce Lamp I think. The use a 12 Volt supply.

Power equals Voltage times Current

We know the Power the bulb uses, we know the voltage so we can get the current

So dividing 100 Watts by 12 volts gives us 8.33 Amps

Now the batteries are rated in Amp Hours. In other words a 20 Amp Hour battery can supply 20 Amps for an hour.

To figure out how long it will supply 8.33 Amps you divide the rating by this figure

SO

20 Amp Hour battery should last approx 2.4 hours
25 Amp Hour battery should last approx 3 hours
30 Amp Hour battery should last approx 3.6 hours

That's in theory though and I find they last a little less than the Maths would lead me to believe.

What I have found great for quick sessions are little 7 Amp Hour batteries. Sure they only last about 45 minutes but they'd fit in your pocket and are really light and portable compared to the big 20 Amp Hour beasts.

johngalway

I'm afraid they're not worth a penny to me Veg. We do sessions anything up to five hours a night, sometimes more if it's lambing and we really have to get that particular fox.

Re-reading that I think myself and my mate may be headcases, but anyway...

Two batteries in and around the 25amp rating seem to be the compromise I'm looking for.

shannonpowerlab

http://radionics.rs-online.com/web/search/searchBrowseAction.html?method=getProduct&R=0519371


Plus


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/mini-3-5-TFT-Color-LCD-Car-Reverse-Monitor-DVD-VCR-VCD_W0QQitemZ180422016669QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Audio_TV_Electronics_In_Car_Entertainment_GPS_In_Car_Audio_Players_PP?hash=item2a01fd7e9d

= DIY night vision Cornershot??? with 13.6 hour operation time???!!!???!!!


:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

patsat

would a motorbike battery be good enough for a lightforce 240 spotlight. jus wondering how much time i would get from using one?

johngalway

4gun wrote: »

can you get LED foxing lamps
I have a DD cell mag lite wiht an led bulb its has a very bright spot when focused in, hardly uses the batteries at all was thinking that if you cauls get a light force with a similar bulb and Lit-ion batts. they nearly last forever:)

It's a good idea that 4gun.

I also have a very bright LED torch, that would be brighter again within a Striker housing, and as you say it would not require a big battery at all.

Must be some reason ones' not been made.

CJhaughey

I use a small car battery in a backpack.
It is a little heavier than a bike battery but not too bad considering the amount of A/hrs you get out of it.
You could make a nicer version if you used one of the old aluminium pack frames and made a holder for the battery that fitted into it.

Glensman

It's looking like John was right on the Amp question. Although where I am I don't do much continuous lamping and I use a LED torch to find my way around...

John's demands would be a lot tougher!

clivej

Vegeta wrote: »

................
So dividing 100 Watts by 12 volts gives us 8.33 Amps
Now the batteries are rated in Amp Hours. In other words a 20 Amp Hour battery can supply 20 Amps for an hour.
To figure out how long it will supply 8.33 Amps you divide the rating by this figure

SO

20 Amp Hour battery should last approx 2.4 hours
25 Amp Hour battery should last approx 3 hours
30 Amp Hour battery should last approx 3.6 hours

Vegeta go to the top of the class all correct there with your calculations.

And the output is NOT a straight line graph as we all know, it gets dimmer as the power starts to drain away.
But the best way to extend the time is to use a dimmer switch so as not use as much power when you do not need to.

I use a 7ah (emergency lighting sealed battery pack) for the lamp on the gun, to take the final shot with, but a 12ah (motor bike sealed battery) for the 170 100watt lightforce to do the searching with. Both have in-line dimmers fitted to them.

We can get about 3 1/2 hours INTERMITENT/Dimmed use from the 170, as long as we don't spend much time looking for the shot fox in the field.

lucy333springer

patsat wrote: »

would a motorbike battery be good enough for a lightforce 240 spotlight. jus wondering how much time i would get from using one?

Patsat

yes motorbike/jetski, I ask in any of these shops for

used batteries, sometimes i'm lucky and get a good one

that keeps great light, when it's weak there's another

one on charge.:D

smallfry

I use two 7 amp/hr batteries in a back pack. I could really do with getting one of those in line dimmers though. Where do you get them..?


smallfry

meathshooter

wouldn't mind one of them new lit ion battery's had a look at one couple of weeks ago big difference in weight compared to the one I'm using definitely on my wish list has anybody used the in the field weight is obviously a great advantage but how long do they last say with a light force 170/240

welsummer

i'll get two and send one down to you with the sister.

i'll take a sister as well please

welsummer

>I have two, but one is definitely on the way out, which I'm none too happy about as I only got it start of the season last year.[/quote]


the secret to battery life is in the charging. i use a half amp trickle charge that as soon as the battery is charged its goes into maintaince mode. the higher the amps of the charger the more damage that can be done to the cells in the battery and it won't retain the charge for as long.
the slower the charge the better for the battery.
when i come in from lamping i just stick it on charge and and then take it of when ever needed.
you can buy them in halfors for about €40
A car battery charger will ruin a battery and shorten its life.
i get years out of my batteries