I've only gone through one charge on my light and got less than an hour at the bright setting. Now it just cuts out after a few seconds. I presume that means it's out of juice, but my other LED lights get dim when the battery is dying. Wondering what is normal for the lights.
HF Braun light -- how well does yours work?
- Thread starter jacked_72
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It’s normal. The battery management is trying to prevent you from lowering the voltage to low so you don’t ruin the life of the battery. If you need more time I would suggest picking up more batteries and swapping them out as needed. Can buy the charger and batteries off Amazon for not a bad price.
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Snakebyt
Well-known member
or you can hit up any vape shop for some 3000MAH batteries and a charger
donpauli2
Well-known member
If it's a lithium battery that is normal. NiCad batteries will dim as they discharge
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I don't own the Braun (yet), but I predict this flashlight will be the gateway drug into the world of 18650 powered flashlights for many of its users, which is a good thing. Buy some high quality, higher capacity 18650's on Amazon and never go back to low output flashlights again.
But is it a battery or charger issue or is the light broken? The whole advantage with this light is you can get a cheap fast charger and a couple of hi capacity 18650s and swap out batteries almost as easy as a power tool. If it is the light, itself, that is another story.
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Moparman390
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This is a violation of Harbor Freight Rule #1: Don't buy anything with a cord.
emeraldcoupe
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VinceG
Well-known member
mine work fine lasts about 2hrs on high and already has seen quit a bit of use. I will be upgrading the battery soon. I also have the Braun under hood light its battery last 3hrs but it can be plugged in while in use.
KnurledNut
Well-known member
Im getting about two hours on high from full charge to cutout.
So far it has been a great light.
I added a water bottle holder, the stretchy o-ring with carabiner type. This allows me to clip to belt loop if needed.
Mine stays attached to a 4" round parts tray. Gives it a little more versatility for fasteners and easy to pull off when needed.
It also has been a makeshift paper towel roll holder a couple times. ;-)
So far it has been a great light.
I added a water bottle holder, the stretchy o-ring with carabiner type. This allows me to clip to belt loop if needed.
Mine stays attached to a 4" round parts tray. Gives it a little more versatility for fasteners and easy to pull off when needed.
It also has been a makeshift paper towel roll holder a couple times. ;-)
Thedave1164
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I get about 2 hours on a full charge, I am very happy with it so far.
shawndp
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Bought mine at New Years, so not a lot of hours on it. Light is good for a day's usage - maybe 90 to 120 mins of on time. I have lots of 18650 batteries for my other lights that I just drop in when I notice the button start to go red. I really like the light and keeping pesky hands off it is the only serious problem I have.
I used mine daily for couple months now. works fine, lasts maybe 100minutes+ on standard battery so think OP may have a less than perfect one .
I got 2 lights and both fine and have samsung 30Q batteries and offboard charging, they getting probably 5hrs on usage a day since had them, dropped few times and no dramas yet.
Have added a small hook which useful but besides that they perfect for 19.99 .
I got 2 lights and both fine and have samsung 30Q batteries and offboard charging, they getting probably 5hrs on usage a day since had them, dropped few times and no dramas yet.
Have added a small hook which useful but besides that they perfect for 19.99 .
Yours gives you a red button warning when the battery is low? Mine sure doesn't.
shawndp
Well-known member
The button has a bulb symbol that lights up green initially and will go to red. I have a bit of a fear of running lithium batteries low, so I keep a few on hand and swap once I see red.
I used mine this past weekend changing a water pump on a BMW and it worked great. I could stick it on some metal and get the light where I needed it. It lasted about 2 hours and I took a break while it charged before I finished. A BMW has an electric water pump and is crammed under the engine and a pita to change incase someone was wondering why it took almost 4 hours to change.
Moparman390
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except for it's battery powered
mine is holding up fine, still works great.
So the battery charges magically without any use of cords?
rlitman
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Mine didn't go red.
I'd used it for an hour or so. Then left it in my cold garage.
A few weeks later, I stuck it to my snowblower to use as a headlamp, and within a few minutes, it just shut itself off. No red. Green, then off after a few seconds. I'm sure it was related to the fact that the battery was quite cold (around 20F).
I took it inside, and let it reach room temperature before recharging, and it seems fine now. But because of that, I'm now keeping this inside, and I've picked up a few extra 18650 batteries.
It 5v usb standard, pretty basic electrical item and at 19.99 not a massive risk.
I'm using 2 daily in a shop and no drama in 2 months.
How long leds and button lasts will be interesting but as we normally damage led housin/break them from dropping or crushing with something heavy, I be more than happy if get 12 months from them.
I mainly charge offboard in a 18650 charger but sometimes at least 1 of the lights gets charged via usb and it works perfectly fine.
couple spare 30Q 18650's make these last all day in the shop for me .
How consistent quality will be and if battery/led spec alter at times who knows but ones I got more than worth what I paid .
Just told him this.
His repsonse
"I bought this because it was $20, not so I could go find a bunch other stuff to buy to make it work well"
Sounds like he got what he paid for.
xin
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SILVERPLATE
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Very happy with mine so far. Has been used for two hours straight and I charged it because I went to lunch. Was still going fine. Recommend highly.
Motown
Well-known member
I picked up a second one this past weekend. The articulating joint is a little loose, compared to my first one. The detent joint has a lot of play in it.
True but higher end flashlights use a protected 18650, by the looks of it the 18650 in the HF looks unprotected. Vaporizers are also unprotected.
The 18650 in the HF is protected. Unprotected cells are flat top and not button top like the HF. Also you can see the PCB on the top and bototm through the wrapping.
I tested and it has over charge, overdischarge and overcurrent protection.
I tested and it has over charge, overdischarge and overcurrent protection.
emeraldcoupe
Well-known member
yup. plop it in the battery charger, problem solved.
JimH74
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Slightly off topic....I would like to buy a couple extra batteries and a charger. Can someone point me to a better battery and reliable charger? Thanks so much!!
rlitman
Well-known member
Well, I just bought this for $14.99 (it looks like it has gone up a dollar in the past week). Can't say how good it is yet though:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B014867612/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Motown
Well-known member
Get some of thesebatterys, in the link below. And Nitecore makes some nice chargers.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2-PANASONI...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649
JimH74
Well-known member
Thanks rlitman and motown!
fordgasm
Well-known member
I have 3 and they all work as advertised so far.
Did you try tightening the screw? Mine was actually a little too tight, so I loosened it a little. Go figure. I think a little lube on the joint will improve it even more. It seems pretty dry out of the box.
Moparman390
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Moparman390
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That's funny, the picture on the HF website shows it charging with a cord.