If anyone has the military SDU-5E distress marker light/strobe light and has been frustrated by the cost and availability of the batteries, I was recently made aware of a company that makes an adaptor allowing for the use of lithium CR123 batteries for a little over $9.00 plus shipping. I left the web site at home so I will have to wait untill tomorrow before posting it here. Before thinking things through, I bought a couple for my strobes. However, I started to look at the photo of the adapter on the web site and said to myself they look like the end of the battery itself. I took one of my old batteries, pulled the cap off the dry cell portion, and curled a 4-inch piece of stainless steel wire around a thick pencil, to make a spring. Popped a CR123 battery in the compartment, added the spring, screwed on the cap on and low and behold the light worked fine. You just have to make sure to bend the end of the wire so it makes contact with the + terminal. I wish I tried this before buying the adaptors, but oh well. I am not sure how long the strobe will flash on the CR123 batteries in comparison to the correct battery, but his is a great alternative. Also there is someone on Ebay selling the strobe with the adaptor for $ 22.50 plus $4.50 shipping. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=748865778. Pete

THese look cool. He also has the blue leans/case and IR cap for sale as well. Too bad I've spent too much money on myself this month <img src="images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> [color:"green"] [/color]

Yeah I just got one from him. Thanks Pete!!!!!! I'm creating a skiing/survival PSK/FAK that will fit into bottom of my pack and this is what I was missing.

Matt

I went ahead and got the strobe, IR lens, and blue filter/case. This will go perfect with my SAR gear. Plus, I use the same CR123A batteries for my Inova X5 Tactical light & Surefire M6 light/laser for my Glock 22C, so I already have tons of spares. Thanks for the link!

John McIntire

I hope it will meet your expectations. I sorry guys and gals, once again I forgot to bring the web site for just the adaptors. Maybe, it is the same person selling the complete units. Pete

Okay boys and girls here is the web site for the battery adapters. They also have a number of other adapters that may be of interest.
http://www.prc68.com
Also if someone who frequents the Candlepower's Forum could do an inquiry for me I would appreciate the effort, as I have misplaced my password. I am looking for a source or an alternative for batteries for a:
LIGHT MARKER DISTRESS SDU-30
10001/63A103D1-1
Thanks Pete

Found my password for CPF. Thanks Pete <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I just purchased one of these strobes from that guy on ebay. I hope it is worth it. I'll tell you guys how it is when I get it.

Frank

Has anyone gotten their strobe yet? What do you think of the set up?

Pete: Thanks for the link on adapters. I'm about to cry as I think of the radio gear I have passed up due to odd battery requirements. Oh well. I passed the info on to my buddy who is an ex DOD radio spook. Maybe he can use it.

Chris

I am expecting mine tomorrow. I will post a review and pics once I get it.

John McIntire

I just got mine. Well condition of the strobe has lot to be desired. It seems used yet not abused. Manufacturing quality of the cap for the new batteries is excellent. It even has a nice o-ring to keep it waterproof. I ordered a set of filters from him as well. Now here's a question for members who allready used one. I put fresh set of batteries in and turned it on. First couple of flashes were really strong and than they got dimmed and kept at the same level. Now they just vary in power. Is this normal? How strong the power output and how frequent it should be? How longs should the batteries last?

Matt

[color:"green"] Matt:
My first thought is that the capacitor is not working properly. In theory, the brightness should stay constant but the time between flashes should increase as the battery level decreases. I have a generic "D" cell life vest strobe that functions in this manner. Is the unit actual surplus? If so it may have been determined to be defective and auctioned off. On the bright side, the guy selling these units appears to know his stuff based on the other products he sells.. I would drop him a note and see what he says. [color:"green"] [/color]


Chris [/color]

Oh great, I hope mine (which hasn't arrived yet, by the way) doesn't have the same problem. I knew I should've just got the ACR MS-2000. <img src="images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Polak187, batteries are supposed to last AT LEAST 8 hours for any Coast Guard/Military approved distress signal strobe.

John McIntire

Chris,

yes I will conntact him today. Somehow the lamp seems to stabilize itself but I will run a comparison to my old regular strobe today (Princeton Tech Aqua). If I see a problem or any light strength variability I will request an exchange. I just want to have a reliable working piece of equipment since I'm putting together all around bail out/PSK/FAK bundle and it is taking me way too long already.

Matt

Ok. Please let us know. What you describe may be normal for that model of light. Although a strobe uses a fairly simple circuit there may be a warm up period for some of the components.

Chris

That ACR-MS2000 looks sweet, especially the Model 3994 Doublefly version with incandesent light too. I bet it costs a bundle, though.

I've got just the regular ACR DoubleFly, picked it up on some deal at West Marine for $13 with an ACR whistle bundled.

I'm interested to hear how your SDU5E's work out.

Chris,

Indeed I put them side by side and they worked about the same. I mean Aqua Strobe was little faster but a notch dimmer. SDU-5E performed fine. I guess it was just the initial warm up for the circuits that made me worry a bit.

Matt

Sounds good. The variance in intensity had me curious before. It probably just need the dust blown out of it (That's a joke <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />) Seriously though, it might have been cold from shipping which could have affected the components.

Chris

Well there is only one problem left. Yesterday I was trekking all over the place in 25 degree weather. Than I was driving around with my bag in the trunk. When I wanted to test the light out with a filter I had to wait for the batteries to warm up. Lithiums get cold and they loose the charge very quickly. I have had similar problem with my cameras. With photo equipment I always have a warm spare in my pocket and just alternate between the sets. Also after few days of carrying the strobe rear cap seems to loosen up all by itself.

Matt

Wow. Sorry to hear that you aren't have much luck with this thing. Maybe its time to return it and get another unit like the MS2000.

Chris

I will keep it since it's a battery problem and leave it in my car. But I'm getting the MS2000. I was planning to get it for a long time so now I have a good enough reason.

MAtt

This is an interesting Ebay Item I found. I didn't know something like that existed. I think that this power solution is a perfect thing for anyone who is doing a lot of work out of their vechicles.

Matt

I just got my strobe yesterday and it is great. Besides the $10 batteries it was a great price. But when I looked at the bulb it is black in one area. This usually means the bulb is burnt out but it seems to work good. Should this be something I should care about or is it something all strobe get after use?

Frank

I too decided to buy one of these strobes. Mine has case wear and the bulb clearly has been used, but the light works well. Also the brass adapters I purchased (not from ebay, but I think the same seller) work great with the strobes I already have. As to the batteries, check out ebay, I have bought (in groups of 10 and 20) batteries at much less than in the stores and they work great <img src="images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />. Here are of some of the current lisitings:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=706&item=1949240864

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=706&item=1949439714

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=15202&item=1949311836

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=15202&item=1949377174

Pete

I knew it would be used because you can't find new older made items that aren't surplus without looking really hard. What if the bulb burns out how do I replace that bulb?? I don't want to have to buy a new strobe, but it does work really well.

Frank

Here's what it looks like.







Should I be concerned about this even thought the strobe works?

Frank

Frank,

Yep, that's what mine looks like too. It doesn't seem to hinder the performance though...

John McIntire

That black mark looked awfully familiar, so I hauled out my ARC Firefly/4F - a unit that has seen a lot of use, mostly about fifteen years ago. It has a black band in the same location. I suspect that it is perfectly normal. My Firefly has had the black band for as long as I can remember, and it has never, ever failed me.

Now, if one of our informed tech types (Ayres, are you there?) could just give us the real skinny on this phenomenon, we could all rest easy.

I am happy this is normal and I now don't have to send it back to the guy on ebay.<img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Frank

Another option that I have used is the #523 photoflash battery. It is a 4.5 volt battery (closer to the original military battery voltage). I buy mine from a battery company in Phoenix. You have to remove an original battery from the brass cap, it is potted in, then drop in two pennies as spacers and reuse the cap. They seem to last as long as the originals.
Hudgens