Sure fire rechargeable batteries

Hello, everybody !!!
Everybody, hello ......

(I just hope I won't make too many mistakes for my first post ... ;o))

After reading thru the ETS web site and yours numerous posts on this forum, I have decided to prepare myself ....

Among the numerous things I have bought recently, are 2 Surefire 8NX lights, which came with B90 batteries.

I'm quite pleased with the powerful beam these lights give.
But I have a question, some of you might answer :
- the B90 battery is supposed to have a 50min run time with the normal light bulb assy.
I have timed my 3 batteries to 48 min for one, 35 min for another one and less than 28min for the last one.
I clocked this from the lighting of the 8NX to the moment where the output drastically decreased (about 2 min before total extinction).

Do you have any experience with those batteries ?? Are they dead (no the first one - 48 min is OK). ??

Thanks for your input...


Alain

Frenchy,

Welcome.

I have 3 B65 NiCad packs for the 6P SureFire with extension. I have never timed mine as exactly as you, but have found these packs to self discharge at a seemingly fast rate. My packs from 5 years ago will not hold a charge at all. My new packs are farily consistant in their performance, I am guessing their full discharge from a fresh charge are within +/- 10 minutes of each other.

You can try full discharge, then full recharge a couple of times to see if the performance improves. If not, I have found SureFire customer service to be exceptional. Give them a call and I bet they will replace the short run packs.

I do not depend on NiCad rechargables in my kit. I only use the Lithiums as their storage life is long. My B65 packs selfdischarge to uselessness in about 4 weeks. I only use the NiCads as my general use light. This saves loads of money. I carry Lithiums to replace the NiCads if needed.

Hi Frenchy,

Welcome to Equipped. Glad that you've found helpful information here.

Don't worry about making mistakes, there are many here for whom english is a second (or greater number) language. You're doing fine.

You'll find a lot of knowledgable folks willing to share information here.

Have you been to the CandlePowerForums.com website yet? They have several forums some of which are flashlight brand specific. Try going to the website, scrolling down to the "Cafe" and posting your question there as well.

Hope this helps.

Alain, welcome to the forum. I would also recommend a visit to candlepowerforums.com. From what i have read over there Surefire rechargeables have occasional problems. Surefire does have good customer service, if you are having problems give them a call. What is nice about the surefires is that you can have the same light using rechargeable and lithiums. But if you want just a rechargeable light, go for a Streamlight. Every four or five years you will have to change the battery pack, that is all i have done to mine. And yes i own Surefires too, just not any of the rechargeables.

Thanks to all of you ....

After visiting the recommended forums, I have discovered the SF batteries problems a little bit too late ..... <img src="images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> ....
I send an Email to SF customer service and am waiting for their answer .....
I'll keep you informed of their response.

Thanks again

Alain

I still think the rechargable systems are great if used as a daily light. I keep my rechargable 6P on my nightstand, recharge it about every 3 weeks or so and use it whenever I need to. The lithium batteries are too expensive IMHO to use as a casual flashlight.

I think you will have excellent response from SureFire. I purchased an additional module for the rechargable system for my old 6P. They had redesigned the body of the light and when I contacted them they sent me 2 brand new bodies for my 6P's for Free.

I carry a 6P with 120 lumen lamp on my belt everyday, but only use it if I have to. This is my fully charged building evacuation light so I would not rely on rechargables for it. I also carry 2 replacement lithiums and an E2 SureFire with 60 lumen lamp and a Streamlight Stylus. The Stylus is my everday-under-the-desk-where-did-it-go-hooking-up-wires-man-it-is-messy-under-here light. The other two are for assisting me and others in getting out of this 1914 brick earthquake trap.

Let us know how SureFire does for international customers.

Happy new year ......

I thought I would start this new year with new batteries from Surefire, but nope ....

I only get a message from Customer Service, about 9 days after my own message, asking for the lot codes.
That was at the very end of 2002.

Nothing happened since that time .......

Still waiting ...
"Patience et longueur de temps font plus que force, ni que rage"
as the good Monsieur de La Fontaine used to say
(Constancy and time are more efficient than power or rage)

Alain

Hello !!

A few days ago, I received a mail from Surefire Customer Service, asking for my postal address, in order to send me new batteries, free of charge.

Great !!!
I'm waiting for those to arrive in France (champagne is ready <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />....).


Alain