Brinkmann swirl finder

[Danube]

Any input on charging this tool on a cigaret lighter socket, how long it takes and for how long the light can be used without recharging?

Asking all this is it comes with 120V wall charger, so not usable in Australia as we are on 230Volt. .. so the only option is charging thru cigaret lighter socket!

Thanks


:xyxthumbs:

[FUNX650]

Asking all this is it comes with 120V wall charger, so not usable in Australia as we are on 230Volt. .. so the only option is charging thru cigaret lighter socket!

Thanks


:xyxthumbs:

One option is to get yourself a voltage converter...A voltage transformer that has a:
Step-up/Step down feature. Something like these:

American 120v voltage converters (http://www.airlinktransformers.com/cat7/13/american_120v_voltage_converters.html)

There must be electrical supply houses "Down-Under!


:)

Bob

[Mike Phillips]

I've never charged one using the cigarette lighter plug in a car because I've always had access to a 110v electrical plug-in.

That said, here's my review of this tool with lots of information on the light itself plus the important information about charging the first time.

Brinkman Maxfire Dual Xenon Rechargeable Spotlight - Review and How-To (http://www.autogeek.net/brinkmann-swirl-finder-light-review.html)






First things first - Fully charge after removing from package
After you remove the light from the packaging, the first thing you want to do is charge the battery until the light goes off, this may take up to 8 hours but less than 12 hours.

Don't leave it plugged in longer than 12 hours per manufacturer's instructions.





Do you have any long trips planned?


:xyxthumbs:

[Danube]

One option is to get yourself a voltage converter...A voltage transformer that has a:
Step-up/Step down feature. Something like these:

American 120v voltage converters (http://www.airlinktransformers.com/cat7/13/american_120v_voltage_converters.html)

There must be electrical supply houses "Down-Under!


:)

Bob


There are many such shops, but wanted to avoid buying step-down transformer for the sake of a single device, thus my question.

Anyone with experience with charging the Brinkmann on a cigarette lighter socket?



Im the MAN

[LSUFAN]

Other than the first time I charged mine it's been charged with a cig lighter in my truck that pulls the detail trailer. Haven't noticed any changes in battery life or brightness. I do try to run my dead as possible before recharging

[FUNX650]

There are many such shops, but wanted to avoid buying step-down transformer for the sake of a single device, thus my question.

Anyone with experience with charging the Brinkmann on a cigarette lighter socket?

Im the MAN

-In order to preserve my vehicles car-batteries...
I've charged/kept charged many devices (e.g. cell phones, cameras)...While my vehicles are traveling down the road... So the vehicles alternators will perform as they are designed to do so.
Imo, then, any "Brinkman" would be charged/kept charged per: the same 'principle'.



Do you have any long trips planned?

:xyxthumbs:


-If your Brinkman looks like this (three devices):

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/Brinkman2.jpg (http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/42432)

-I personally wouldn't think it be such a bother to purchase one of these convenient voltage-step-down devices to plug in an existing outlet at the house to charge/recharge a "Brinkman", or other 130/110v equipment, including battery chargers.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/Step-down.jpg (http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/42433)

-Would seem better than driving around all the time trying to keep any equipment charged.
This is just my opinion.


Bob

[Kaban]

get some extra light bulbs if you haven't ordered the light already. Mine went out after a few uses...

[Rix6]

Other than the first time I charged mine it's been charged with a cig lighter in my truck that pulls the detail trailer. Haven't noticed any changes in battery life or brightness. I do try to run my dead as possible before rechargingActually I think these Brinkmans use SLA (sealed lead acid) batteries rather than Ni-Cd's (I don't own one, otherwise I would be sure). If they use SLA batteries then you don't want to run them down all the way, in fact ideally you would want to charge the battery back up after each use. The inexpensive SLA batteries used in these kind of devices are just like any other lead acid battery in that they give the longest service life when they are stored in a fully charged state. Deep discharging them will reduce battery life.


Using the lighter socket cord will probably charge the light up faster than the AC adapter, depending on what resistors they put in the 12-volt cord. What's the output rating of the AC adapter? I'm guessing it's something like 300 mA and it's probably charging the battery at about a C/8 rate. The 12-volt car cable might be rigged to charge it at a C/4 rate or maybe a little faster (twice as fast to reach full charge compared to the AC adapter). Don't leave it plugged into a 12-volt source for too long (an hour or two tops) after the charging light goes out because it sounds like the light doesn't have smart charging circuitry.

[FUNX650]

how long the light can be used without recharging?


Brinkman states: The Dual Xenon will burn for approximately 40 minutes if using both beams, or approximately 85 minutes if using only one beam.

Don't know the testing protocol used by Brinkman, or their 'test lab' of choice, to determine the approximations above.

:)

Bob

[Danube]

Ok guys, I've ordered the Brinkmann thing.

My Q is: is this adapter gonna accommodate the US plug (sorry, never been to the US)?!?

Thanks



:xyxthumbs:



http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss32/draganc_photos/HN236-5h.jpg

[ShinyRex]

Yes it will work.

[Rix6]

Ok guys, I've ordered the Brinkmann thing.

My Q is: is this adapter gonna accommodate the US plug (sorry, never been to the US)?!?


Since you haven't been to the US, there are some good pics and descriptions of our electrical connectors on wikipedia. Search for NEMA Conneectors
(I've spent about 15 mibutes trying to link to it and even just show the plain URL. AG is automatically trashing my wikipedia references)

The topmost 2 pictures in the upper right say it all. The Brinkman charger will be NEMA-1, a 2-prong connector.

[Danube]

I've recharged the Brinkmann swirl finder for exactly 12 hours as per instructions, but the red light on the unit was still red.

Continued charging today for about 4 hours and the light doesn't go off.

Thoughts please.

[Rix6]

I've recharged the Brinkmann swirl finder for exactly 12 hours as per instructions, but the red light on the unit was still red.

Continued charging today for about 4 hours and the light doesn't go off.

Thoughts please.It's not a smart charger. If they added circuitry to turn that light off when it reaches full charge, they would just as easily be able to drop the current down to a trickle charge. Do the instructions say the light turns off when full?

[opie_7afe]

just get a 12v battery charger for cheap and wire in a cigarette lighter female end into it or clip it onto the leads of the female cigarette lighter plug. or just clip charger leads directly to the 12v adapter for the brinkman, post on top is positive(red) side posts are negative(black)