NightWatcher recharging problem help!

[Woody Girl]

NightWatcher 9 Watt-540 Lumens
Rechargeable, powerbank torch.
It's been recharging fine, as long as I have a bit of power left in the battery.
Last night it ran out of charge altogether, and now won't recharge at all. This is the second one I've had, and this happened with the first one too. Took it back to the shop and they replaced it with this one. Now having the same problem. Shop is gone, so can't tale it back again.
Any experts able to tell me, a )what the problem is , and b) how to sort it so it will recharge again.
It seems to be a sudden failure . I havnt used it much to be honest, so it's taken longer this time for the problem to show up again. Cheers.

 

[Nice65]

I don’t trust Amazon info, but it’s the only place a quick google told me the battery type. If it is a Lithium ion then they really suffer from being allowed to run out of power, they’re best kept topped up or at least at about 2-3v.

I have managed to ‘wake up’ stubborn ones by turning off the charger for a few minutes and then switching it back on and keep repeating this process a few times, but it doesn’t always work.

 

[Woody Girl]

It's a blue battery 26650/3.7v li ion 4000mAh. Is t'internet the only place to get a new one? Its not much good to me if this is gonna happen every time it runs out. I had one before, and exactly the same thing happened and the shop...now defunct,.. replaced it with this one.
I got it as it was bells and whistles power bank aswell. Brilliant beam which I was very happy with, but I can't be doing with this malarkey.

 

[Nice65]

It's a blue battery 26650/3.7v li ion 4000mAh. Is t'internet the only place to get a new one? Its not much good to me if this is gonna happen every time it runs out. I had one before, and exactly the same thing happened and the shop...now defunct,.. replaced it with this one.
I got it as it was bells and whistles power bank aswell. Brilliant beam which I was very happy with, but I can't be doing with this malarkey.

Yeah, you won’t find one of them on the high street unfortunately. I use Fogstar, shop on Fridays for 15% off. Might be worth grabbing a couple and a stand-alone charger. Phone Fogstar and check those fatties fit before buying, they have great telephone customer service. If you’ve got a debit card then you can probably make the transaction over the phone without any fear.

https://www.fogstar.co.uk/collections/batteries/Size_26650

I’d do it for you, but I’m skint, unemployed, homeless and keeping most of my life as hassle free as I can just now while I sort my shit out.

 

[Woody Girl]

Thanks for that Rich, don't worry, I'll do it myself. I can't believe you are still in such a pickle. I hope you find somewhere very soon, and can start putting things back together.
Big hug emoji 🤗 keep your chin up. wish I could offer you help. If I lived nearer, I'd offer you both my spare room, but its full of junk, and the other end of the country. I could sort the junk, but can't move it any nearer.

 

[MaC]

How much does the battery cost you, Annie ?

Amazon have a pack of 4 just now for twenty pounds.
Pretty sure one of the boys still has Amazon prime and they'll deliver where ever they ask, if that would help ?

M

 

[Nice65]

Thanks for that Rich, don't worry, I'll do it myself. I can't believe you are still in such a pickle. I hope you find somewhere very soon, and can start putting things back together.
Big hug emoji 🤗 keep your chin up. wish I could offer you help. If I lived nearer, I'd offer you both my spare room, but it’s full of junk, and the other end of the country. I could sort the junk, but can't move it any nearer.

You’re kind, and thank you. We’ll be ok, I’ve had to take a step back for a while, simplify my life, take a break from being in survival/fight or flight mode. Can’t fix anything if I’m on a poor foundation myself type thing, so we’re just taking things easy, us two, and letting ourselves alone.

Might be up that way in the van late Feb for a decent Indian meal on my birthday at Elaichi in Glastonbury, best Indian food ever! No firm plans, I’ll let you know.

 

[Nice65]

How much does the battery cost you, Annie ?

Amazon have a pack of 4 just now for twenty pounds.
Pretty sure one of the boys still has Amazon prime and they'll deliver where ever they ask, if that would help ?

M

No offence or anything M, but 26650‘s ought to cost more than a fiver each. They’re big old batteries, cheaper ones have been known to catch fire or explode and they’re best bought from a reliable source that really know their stuff like Fogstar. Personally I don’t buy even branded lithium-ions from Amazon or EBay because there are so many fakes and still a shortage of good quality raw materials as part of the Covid legacy. There have been many branded fakes exposed on the torch forums and a general lowering of quality seen recently.

 

[MaC]

No offence or anything M, but 26650‘s ought to cost more than a fiver each. They’re big old batteries, cheaper ones have been known to catch fire or explode and they’re best bought from a reliable source that really know their stuff like Fogstar. Personally I don’t buy even branded lithium-ions from Amazon or EBay because there are so many fakes and still a shortage of good quality raw materials as part of the Covid legacy. There have been many branded fakes exposed on the torch forums and a general lowering of quality seen recently.

None taken, the batteries were these ones.
18500 Rechargeable Batteries, JESSPOW IMR 18500 Rechargeable Li-ion Battery 1600mAh 3.7V [ for Flashlight, Solar Garden Light ] with Button Top (4 Pack)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rechargeable-Batteries-JESSPOW-Battery-Flashlight/dp/B09684G1F2/ref=sr_1_19?crid=3PJ8OGWWA86PH&keywords=26650/3.7v+li+ion+4000mAh&qid=1675814771&sprefix=26650/3.7v+li+ion+4000mah,aps,92&sr=8-19

There were cheaper ones, but I gave up buying super expensive batteries because they all die. I don't care what you pay for them, they lose power and they die.
So, fair price that I don't mind putting into the re-cycle when they start not being efficient, and they do fine.

Just looked on Fogstar, £7.45
I don't think that's that much more expensive. If fair adds up though if the blooming things keep dying though.

 

[Nice65]

Ah, them’s the wrong size, 26650 are the width of a C cell but longer. Pretty hefty batteries for long use application and big enough to use as a powerbank to charge a phone without draining down the torch too much.

See if this pic works or not. Edit, nope.:cautious:

Here.

 

[MaC]

Ah, them’s the wrong size, 26650 are the width of a C cell but longer. Pretty hefty batteries for long use application and big enough to use as a powerbank to charge a phone without draining down the torch too much.

See if this pic works or not. Edit, nope.:cautious:

Here.

I was sure I'd copied/pasted that into the Amazon thing....sod it.
Too late, and I'm not paying enough attention.

Sleep well

M

 

[Nice65]

I was sure I'd copied/pasted that into the Amazon thing....sod it.
Too late, and I'm not paying enough attention.

Sleep well

M

You did, 26650 is in the general catch-all description of the ad. It’s deliberately misleading.

The only tech sheet description of the torch itself says it’s 9v when it’s actually 9 Watt and 4.2v. It’s all confusing.

 

[ElThomsono]

If you're a bit of a cowboy you can usually get enough voltage into the cell to make the charger accept it by connecting it to a healthy one first, probably a fully charged 18650 from something else?

Grab a couple of bits of wire, teaspoons, whatever you have and connect positive to positive and negative to negative, give it five or ten seconds then immediately put the duff cell on to charge. Generally that gets them going again but I'd expect it to have taken some damage from getting discharged below the lower threshold.

Not ideal but it's a zero cost option?

 

[BorderReiver]

No offence or anything M, but 26650‘s ought to cost more than a fiver each. They’re big old batteries, cheaper ones have been known to catch fire or explode and they’re best bought from a reliable source that really know their stuff like Fogstar. Personally I don’t buy even branded lithium-ions from Amazon or EBay because there are so many fakes and still a shortage of good quality raw materials as part of the Covid legacy. There have been many branded fakes exposed on the torch forums and a general lowering of quality seen recently.

Cheers, Rich, that's a useful heads up.

 

[Woody Girl]

Sod all that kerfuffle! It's up for grabs if anyone wants it, or else it's going to the charity shop.
I'll stick to my mag lights. I know where I am with them, and how to repair them.
Not a good intro to "modern tech " yet again . I'm not into babying a torch, no matter how good the light, and it is good, I'll admit.
Just let me know if you want it, though I'm not getting any post notifications like I did with rof, so not sure if pms will work. Rich has my phone number tho, so if you can get hold of him, you can txt me if I don't seem to get back to you., or go through bcuk with a pm.

 

[Nice65]

Not a good intro to "modern tech " yet again . I'm not into babying a torch, no matter how good the light, and it is good, I'll admit.

You must consider the fact that to replace the battery with something of decent quality is £7.50 and that the whole torch with battery costs £9.99. It’s not the modern tech, it’s the quality of it that’s poor. If you leave your magilights with a couple of Duraleaks in there for a year unused they will likely either be flat or have leaked. It’s a quality and maintenance issue, these batteries simply do not like being run right down. Most batteries don’t.

 

[MaC]

I'm still using an Ikea dynamo torch I bought yonks ago. Ljusa. Bright red, easy to hold and to use and it's a really good light. Well under a tenner when I bought it, and I don't need to change or charge batteries. Just caw the wee handle

M

 

[Saint-Just]

I'm still using an Ikea dynamo torch I bought yonks ago. Ljusa. Bright red, easy to hold and to use and it's a really good light. Well under a tenner when I bought it, and I don't need to change or charge batteries. Just caw the wee handle

M

Excellent until your joints start aching...

 

[MaC]

Excellent until your joints start aching...

Well mine do :sigh: but this wee torch sits at the back door, and when I need it, it's always ready. It only takes a few turns and it's alight.
It's actually meant for children, so it's really easy to use, really well balanced, etc., and even my aching joints manage it.

I have had the squeeze type dynamo torches and those are just awful on sore wrists and hands.

M

 

[Saint-Just]

I thought it was the squeeze type. I have one somewhere that has been in the family since WW2. If anything, it's not bright but it was good enough at the time I suppose. It's not stealth either as it is also rather loud.

 

[MaC]

This one is a kind of whirr noise, but honestly, if they still sold them I'd have bought one and put it in Annie's Christmas present
I reckon if I can use it, then it would be fine

 

[Woody Girl]

This one is a kind of whirr noise, but honestly, if they still sold them I'd have bought one and put it in Annie's Christmas present
I reckon if I can use it, then it would be fine

Bless you Mary, I'm fine with torches,
I have many! I'm quite a fan of pocket led torches, and have them everywhere, I bought a job lot when our electrical shop closed down, and even after sending many as Xmas presents, still have 6 left. Plus my two mag lights, minni and a big 2d cell thing, 5 head torches and a great little pocket led car inspection lamp that lights up the room like daylight! Then there are several camping lanterns and oil lamps galore. Both antique and modern feurhands.
I'm happy wandering around my little town, and environs without a torch or headlamp when I go on my night walks, tho I do have one with me.
It's not that I need a torch!
I do have a wind up one, but it is saved for total armogedden! 😀

 

[MaC]

Give it a wind up every so often; it just keeps it in trim

 

[Saint-Just]

I found this one https://www.amazon.co.uk/superpow-R...WMMBRY2/ref=psdc_319530011_t1_B08Q7QL2DD?th=1

There are some under a tenner but this one looks more powerful for not much more money.

 

[MaC]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/18568469...26ICuZcYEs73kF_LYmELtJi12X7_WABRoCMVEQAvD_BwE


£18 + £5 postage ?????

I'm sure I paid under a fiver.

https://www.ikea-club.org/cache/zoo_images/9/9a0414bc18ba6dcc3c887efcd310f0ee.jpg