On 11/30/2009 05:10 PM, [email protected] wrote:
I have a NiteRider Road Rat I got in 2000 and my most recent replacement battery is quickly declining. They don't make the replacements anymore, and they said the closest thing is a Trail Rat battery, for which I would have to buy a new charger -- which brings the cost up to where one should just buy a new light. However, it seems a waste to throw away a perfectly good headlight and two amazing taillights (they are way brighter than PB SuperFlash). Anyone have any suggestions for connecting these lights to another battery or battery pack?
I don't think I have a Road Rat, but I have a similar light that uses a 6-volt battery. Mine uses a water-bottle battery that died this year; until it did, I was using a DeWalt charger designed for one of their low-end drills. Simple to pop it open and solder in a cable with the right connector for the battery. My point is that you might be able to repurpose or dual-purpose an existing charger.
When my battery died, my decision was to retire the system because the day of the halogen bulb is over-- there are LED lights that are far more efficient, just as bright, and have a longer life. (You might not love the bluish light they produce for applying makeup, but it's good enough for what it's for.)
For example, the Minewt, also from NiteRider. An upside of that unit besides the light itself is that the battery is Li ion, which has very low leakage, and it can be charged from USB, which means you don't need a dedicated charger (though it includes one). Those are about $100, $80 on sale. Unfort Planet Bike doesn't seem to offer a mid-range unit like this, but you... ah... go to war with the army you've got.
Having said that, there are folks out there still selling the Road Rat. Art's Cyclery has it for $50. That's not just the battery but the entire system, which is handy because replacing those halogen bulbs isn't cheap. (Mine failed right before the battery, and I replaced it, so let me know if you want it. And the handlebar mount.)
Also, note that the battery on the Trail Rat is NiMH, not gel-- according to Art's, it's a better-- or at least lighter and cheaper-- battery than the Road Rat came with.
-- Scott Rose Vancouver, BC _______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [email protected] http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org
