EL Battery life / dimming

[Reaver]

I hooked my recently made EL saber up to 2x 9v batteries (good quality ones), and it worked great and was quite bright, but after using it on and off for what would add up to about 2 hours in total, its started dimming quite rapidly.

I have not tried the 12 volt setup, but for who has, does that last longer? I am thinking now that its just a 9v battery feature that it does'nt last long, but I am not sure.

from experience with people with el sabers, how much battery life are you getting from your setup, and what batt type are you using?

cheers

[james3]

It has been my experence that the 9 volt batteries don't ever give good long term performance on anything needing higher output. I have the 8AAA 12 volt setup in a MHS EL saber and it has been used on and off for at least 4-5 hours. I also have a 8AA sink tube EL and I loaded up batteries when I built it and haven't changed them yet, by contrast, my kids sink tube EL's have been eating up 9 volts left and right like they were candy. They are all going to be switched to 8AAA since 1- they last longer and 2- I can get the mega 48 pack AA or AAA for what I pay for 8 9 volts. I know that it's six switch outs instead of 8 but for the longer life and significant brightness diff I 'll go that route.

<center>http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e370/Dadof3/James3sig.jpg</center>

[Do-Clo]

I use the 8 AA or 8 AAA batteries on el sabers they last much longer. 9 volt batteries have a lower mah capacity is why they don't last very long, you can try the rechargeable 9 volt batteries to help keep your cost down, but I would do as James suggested just upgrade to the 12 volt set up.

Do-Clo
Brotherhood of the Sith

Don't make me destroy you...

[jedijohnson]

Hmm,

You had brand name batteries ? just(2) nine volts, but at nine volts ? not 18 volts ?

How did you wire it ?

I run to 9 volts, and never seen the problem you mentioned in that short of time frame.

The kids still have the same batteries in there saber. we get about 4 to 6 hours on them with the two batteries. Still pretty bright.

But I only recently did the 4hz for some people, and would asume, you are looking at 1/2 that life, compared to the 2hz.

So I would most likely think, you get a good 40 to 50 minutes out of it.

If not, re check the wiring ? grounding out somewhere inside at all ? a tad ?

The inverter not working properly maybe ?

dont seem right to me, with what you mentioned

Jedi Johnson



http://home.insightbb.com/~jedijohnson/wsb/html/view.cgi-home.html-.html

[james3]

Dude if your getting 4-6 hours on 9 volts you need to start selling me batteries. I went out and got a fresh pack of batteries and I have one left. If reaver set it up for 18 volts he's not going to get any great life out of those puppies and it's been said a million times that the setup Tim sells is perfect at 12 volts. I can't say for Reaver but I shield my entire inside so there won't be any issues with grounding.

<center>http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e370/Dadof3/James3sig.jpg</center>

[Do-Clo]

Here are some battery specs to help put things in perspective

Eveready Alkaline Batteries

AA 2850 mah
AAA 1259 mah
9 volt 625 mah

The 9 volt battery has less than 1/4 the capaicity of the AA battery and about 1/2 the capacity of the AAA battery. So you can see which one is going to last the longest.

Do-Clo
Brotherhood of the Sith

Don't make me destroy you...

[jedijohnson]

I use just a generic battery from the battery store, installed 2 of them last summer. in each saber I built for the kids. They played with them all summer. And I adjusted for the on and off and so forth and around 4 hours.

But again it is just the 2hz inveter from coolight, the blue cube. 4 strands of el wire HB 2.5

2 (9) volts.

posted on my site how i made them, nothing fancy.

Ill soon see how long the 4hz lasts with 5 wires in each blade.

http://home.insightbb.com/~jedijohnson/wsb/html/view.cgi-home.html-.html

[james3]

Thanks for the info JJ, I do believe you will get a wicked sweet surprise when you try out the 4khz inverter. I ended up building five kids sabers, one MHS/custom EL saber and I am trying to finish up my Lowes special. I think you will get a kick out of the inverter and using the good wire[:D]

I have done like five LED sabers now and I love them too but there is just something about the EL I still am partial too.

<center>http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e370/Dadof3/James3sig.jpg</center>

[Do-Clo]

I have a fondness for El also and on my list of projects to do is build a custom El red saber for myself. I like the led sabers best but the El has that vintage look.[8D]

Do-Clo
Brotherhood of the Sith

Don't make me destroy you...

[Reaver]

yes actually I was running 2 x 9v wired up to put out 18 volts, using the 4khz inverter. those stats that do-clo put up are a good reference.

I am gonna put some AAA holders together and try this AAA system out. I can only just fit it into the 1.25" sink tube hilt, and cant fit the AA holders in unless I wanted to make a really long hilt.

anyone know the difference in brightness from the 12 vs 18 volts?

[Do-Clo]

I have not done a 18 volt setup but the brightness on the 12 volt is very good and it works well. I use a 1.5" hilt and I am able to put the 8 AA batteries in it, I get a long battery life with those.

Do-Clo
Brotherhood of the Sith

Don't make me destroy you...

[UltraSWG]

Stop using Alkaline batteries. Alkaline batteries were not designed to meet the high power demands of a power inverter. Alkaline batteries have a high rated capacity, but they can only deliver their full capacity if the power is used slowly. Inverters and Luxeons place a high power drain on batteries, so it is much better to use rechargeable NiMH or Li-ion batteries for them.

I would reccomend these:

http://www.thomas-distributing.com/ipower-500-9v-lithium-rechargeable-battery.php

They are expensive at first, but save you money in the long run.

http://www.ultrasabers.com
Corbin|Strydur|Ultra
The Holy Luxeon Trinity
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[informalmyx]

i figured running the setup of 2 9v would be draining so i except to buy batteries

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[GFORCE13]

Yes but luckily they have Sam's Club and Costco where you can get 48AA's for under $10.00 now that is a lot of hours of use. But I definitely think my next one will use a rechargable pack, I had even come up with an idea for a Solar Charging Station/Rack for when no power access is availible, just have to build it.[:)] Future Project

" I am a Jedi like my Father before me"
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c237/G-FORCE13/th_DCP_1240.jpg (http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c237/G-FORCE13/DCP_1240.jpg)

[Do-Clo]

An option to consider would be a 12 volt battery pack from a RC car for your saber, and they come with a charger and you can purchase a fast charger that will plug into your vehicle and you can be back in action in just a few minutes.

Do-Clo
Brotherhood of the Sith

Don't make me destroy you...

[informalmyx]

ah i havent had good luck with rechargeable only my mouse is chargeable and i still have troubles sometime with the charger not fully charging

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"Many claim to have found serenity, and through serenity to have overcome anger. Such arrogance is astounding."</center>

[Do-Clo]

Personally I don't like recharable batteries either but sometimes they are necessary. I use alkaline AA in my mouse change them every 6 months.[:D]

Do-Clo
Brotherhood of the Sith

Don't make me destroy you...

[LAN-ED-TUL]

mines corded but not a roller ball either. no batts in it. lol




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The Brotherhood Of The Sith

You dont know the POWER, of the dark side...

[james3]

I was over at Circuit City yesterday and I saw a package of Duracell rechargable batteries. The AA were 2500 mah so they may work out alright. I didn't pick them up but I may go back and get them after I research it a bit, we bought some rechargeables several years ago and I reckon everyone here knows how good those were.

<center>http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e370/Dadof3/James3sig.jpg</center>

[Do-Clo]

If they are lithium-ion batteries they will work great for you, avoid the ni-cad batteries too many problems.

Do-Clo
Brotherhood of the Sith

Don't make me destroy you...

[james3]

Don't I know it, Most of my cordless tools still use the Ni-Cad packs and it is a pain with the memory effect. I wanted to search around to verify they were Lithium-Ion.

<center>http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e370/Dadof3/James3sig.jpg</center>

[suit_man]

nimh batteries have worked well for me.

i am a nerd, if you don't like it, i will cut you with my lightsaber

[informalmyx]

arent rechargables less powerful or was i told a fib

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"Many claim to have found serenity, and through serenity to have overcome anger. Such arrogance is astounding."</center>

[Do-Clo]

Lithium-Ion batteries are great they have a high capacity rating can deliver high current and size is small, and you don't have to worry about the memry problem of ni-cads when recharging them.

Do-Clo
Brotherhood of the Sith

Don't make me destroy you...

[xwingband]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by informalmyx

arent rechargables less powerful or was i told a fib

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"Many claim to have found serenity, and through serenity to have overcome anger. Such arrogance is astounding."</center>
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

Not by amperage. They are a lower voltage though.

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