malewithatail
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Post by malewithatail on Jan 2, 2023 8:37:16 GMT 10
Our local tip is only open 2 days a week, and scavenging, whilst not allowed, is not discouraged.
I have picked up many items that either can be repaired, or repurposed for survival purposes.
The latest was a led lantern, quite solidly made, with a small solar panel and hand crank in the top. There is provision for a external 9 to 12 v dc input as well. All together, a useful STHF device.
The usual failure mode of this sort of equipment is a dead battery, usually a small lead acid type that had either dried out due to being overcharged, or sulphated from not being kept charged. This was no exception, as when I turned the handle, the leds lit up. Ah ha, dead battery, $25 at Jaycar and its usable again.
Not !
The base screwed on and was simple to remove revealing.....a small lead acid battery as expected. A closer look at the battery revealed not a standard 6 or 12 volt battery, but a 4 volt type, rated at 2.5 amp hrs.
So I hit the net and found that indeed, 4 volt battery's were available, but only over the net, Jaycar, Altronics etc didn't list one. I have had bad experiences in buying lead acid battery's from the net before, as they sometimes are flat and damaged because they haven't been charged since being made, and I don't think that the people in the warehouses realize that they need a booster charge every 6 months or so.
OK, what to do ?
A single Lithium cell is around 3.7 volts under load, so I will be pulling a cell from a old computer laptop pak and trying it. The capacity isn't as much, but the aim is to get a working light for emergency use. And if the battery dies after 12 months, plenty are available from such paks. The charging rate and voltages will be wrong, but I will be looking for a cell with an builtin BMS (battery management system) to enable it to charge properly.
Why the subject title ?
When one buys a device, like this, you wouldn't necessarily check the battery type in case it needed replacing in the future. I know its not something I would have considered. We usually look at the construction quality, turn it on, crank the charger etc, but perhaps we should be delving a bit deeper into the internals. And in this one, the base didn't need any tools to remove, the large plastic cap just screwed off by hand, so was easy to remove and check the battery type.
Do you check on the availability of spares when purchasing such items ? Should we be a bit more vigilant ?
Comments ?
Since we are defining things, a gun is a cordless hole puncher.
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Post by spinifex on Jan 2, 2023 8:48:22 GMT 10
Its a very good point.
Considering the repairability of items is a wise move.
Sadly ... nearly every new product now is Specifically designed to be much more difficult to repair than it should be.
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malewithatail
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Post by malewithatail on Jan 2, 2023 11:08:05 GMT 10
"Sadly ... nearly every new product now is Specifically designed to be much more difficult to repair than it should be."
Yup, deliberately so u have to buy a new one. We are destroying ourselves for profit, as we always have done.
I may look calm, but in my head Ive already slapped you three times.
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Post by Stealth on Jan 2, 2023 12:34:58 GMT 10
I think part of the problem is that the more technology advances the more we have to know and understand to make repairs to things ourselves.
We can't be specialists in every single thing but even more so as things become more complicated. For example fixing a car thirty years ago was something that you didn't need a specific computer to plug in to run a diagnostic. Most people could pick up a manual and a few DIY books and change a timing belt with a few curse words and probably far more time than a mechanic would take. But you could do it because you didn't need any specialised computers with diagnostic tools in them.
I'm not saying we should completely ignore old things and always throw them away. Far from it. But I also don't think it's as simple as 'people just don't want to use old stuff and are lazy' either. As technology advances the requirement for higher understanding to repair things starts to get more important and not everyone is wired for that information retention. It also means that having a good community of people around us with varied skills is pretty damn important.
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norseman
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Post by norseman on Jan 2, 2023 12:52:45 GMT 10
My secret has always been:- "Use enough technology to get the job done safely and efficiently and dump the rest"! In the past others have interpreted this as me being a dinosaur or luddite!
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bushdoc2
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Post by bushdoc2 on Jan 2, 2023 16:05:16 GMT 10
Its a very good point. Considering the repairability of items is a wise move. Sadly ... nearly every new product now is Specifically designed to be much more difficult to repair than it should be. Or not worth it. Planned obsolescence is a bastard of an idea.
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malewithatail
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Post by malewithatail on Jan 2, 2023 16:28:45 GMT 10
Or, do you even know what to look for ? For instance, did you know that a 4 volt lead acid battery is not readily available ? I knew, but didn't think Id ever come across one. Does the average prepper know whats likely to fail first in an appliance or device ? That takes experience and knowledge. And knowledge will be the currency of the future.
Do you even know where to look ?
Perhaps its too large a can of worms to consider with all that's happening at present. Buy it, when it fails, chuck away. This attitude may work whilst these appliances are easily available, but when TSHTF and they disappear, whats a wood gas generator worth when you cant buy petrol ? Invaluable. Whats a solar torch worth when the grid has failed, perhaps for ever ? Maybe a technical bod should be on every communities people needed list ?
Kindness is free, sprinkle that stuff everywhere.
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bug
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Post by bug on Jan 2, 2023 21:16:14 GMT 10
For an emergency light like that, the battery doesn't have to last long. As long as the hand crank works, you're good to go. I have a handheld emergency one like that. No working battery, but use the crank and it still makes light. The original pricetag is still on it. $20 from what must have been the early 1980s at the latest, so not cheap.
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norseman
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Post by norseman on Jan 3, 2023 5:42:21 GMT 10
The ability to innovate and improvise when under pressure is the greatest survival skill of all, it'll leave overly complex technology for dead every time!
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tactile
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Post by tactile on Jan 3, 2023 17:25:35 GMT 10
WES components sell Gates 2v, 2.5Ah lead acid batteries. Buy 2 and you're done, assuming the size is OK. Bought plenty of them before and they have a much better life (and shelf life) than a lot of generic SLA batteries.
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malewithatail
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Post by malewithatail on Jan 4, 2023 8:08:50 GMT 10
As does RS components, but at nearly $42 each, not gunna happen. Size is also the issue.
For me, prepping is a state of mind that is grounded in the core belief that YOU and only YOU are responsible for your own well-being.
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tactile
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Post by tactile on Jan 4, 2023 9:28:58 GMT 10
...or leave it at the tip.
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malewithatail
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Post by malewithatail on Jan 4, 2023 11:39:28 GMT 10
Not an option, 'cause at worst case, someone has to turn the handle to get light. An in a world without light, being able to see is a game changer.
Besides, I like repairing 'irreparable' items and adding to our preps. Basic engineering can sort out most things, and a knowledge of basic electrical principles can help here as well. Things like knowing what the open circuit voltages of various battery chemistry's are, knowing how to connect a small solar panel to a battery, and there's no excuse as the net is available and almost free. Take a intro to electronic course, knowledge is power.
Self-Defense Is Not Only Our God given Right; It Is Our Duty.
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malewithatail
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Post by malewithatail on Mar 1, 2023 10:29:08 GMT 10
Anyone remember 8 volt battery's for cars ? The theory was you replaced the 6 volt one with the 8 volt one, adjusted the voltage regulator and everything worked better, and indeed it did, until you blew light bulbs at a great rate. Another device relegated to the dustbin of history, good riddance too !
Black holes are where God divided by zero.
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Post by Stealth on Mar 2, 2023 14:35:39 GMT 10
My excuse is that I'm bad at math, engineering and general logic patterns. Actually, that's not an excuse. That's a reason. That's why I take advantage of friends who ARE good at it, and then reciprocate by assisting things that they're not good at. As the old saying goes, work smarter. Not harder. 😁
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malewithatail
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Post by malewithatail on Mar 2, 2023 14:54:18 GMT 10
Anyone noticed how the Chinese steel is soo soft, it melts almost before the welder torch touches it, so soft as well. Now I make sure I buy Aussie steel, even 2nd hand is much better quality than imported rubbish.
Battery packs for electric drills. Most times its only one or two cells that have failed. Luckily, Hitachi packs are easy to open and replace a cell or two. I don't really worry about the age of the cells, either the replacement ones or the originals, as I use cells removed from dead computer battery packs, 18650 is the usual size. The battery management system in the drill pack can do a reasonable job of balancing the cells, but it requires a few cycles to get its act together, so don't be disappointed if the pack acts as if its low on capacity at first, it will improve with use. A good hot soldering iron is needed to solder to the cell ends, and do it quickly. Its possible for the cell to experience a spontaneous disassembly, so don't try this at home, or anywhere else for that matter.
Rules that guys wish girls knew.
13) Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. All comments become null and void after 7 days.
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malewithatail
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Post by malewithatail on Mar 2, 2023 17:04:49 GMT 10
Rules that guys wish girls knew.
14) If something we said can be interpreted in two ways, and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other way.
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Post by spinifex on Mar 2, 2023 17:50:42 GMT 10
Anyone noticed how the Chinese steel is soo soft, it melts almost before the welder torch touches it, so soft as well. Now I make sure I buy Aussie steel, even 2nd hand is much better quality than imported rubbish. Battery packs for electric drills. Most times its only one or two cells that have failed. Luckily, Hitachi packs are easy to open and replace a cell or two. I don't really worry about the age of the cells, either the replacement ones or the originals, as I use cells removed from dead computer battery packs, 18650 is the usual size. The battery management system in the drill pack can do a reasonable job of balancing the cells, but it requires a few cycles to get its act together, so don't be disappointed if the pack acts as if its low on capacity at first, it will improve with use. A good hot soldering iron is needed to solder to the cell ends, and do it quickly. Its possible for the cell to experience a spontaneous disassembly, so don't try this at home, or anywhere else for that matter. Rules that guys wish girls knew. 13) Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. All comments become null and void after 7 days. Yep! And Chinese Stainless steel ... is nothing of the sort. It rusts. A lot.
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