4 Leds + 1

[Norm]

I noticed that DollarTree had new type of LED lights so I got 3 of them
to test out the 4 LEDs  are in a diffusion lens and light up a 12ft. radius
quite nicely. .....but with 3 AAA batteries alkaline run time would be expensive
and short lived.
Originally I thought of using 3 D size alkaline in series instead of the 3AAAs
and using a small wind turbine stepper motor in parallel .
For a total cost of $3 for the LED lamps and $3 for the 9 D size alkaline batteries.
and 3- 56 ohm resistors that I put in series with the 4 LEDs I've had them on for
about 6-8 hrs. every night for over a month now.
One set of batteries reads....4.06 ....next 4.08 and last one reads 3.78 volts.
All were originally 4.8 volts....the last one is lower because it was the first one
I tried and was without a resistor for a couple of nights.....it was just a little
brighter but didn't justify the much higher drain.......
I'm almost astonished that they've lasted this long and might even last another
month.

[zap]

D size alkaline? ? ? ? ? ?  This can't be the same Norm
Have you run out of NiCds?

[Norm]

No I haven't ZAP but most LED lights Like these were designed to
run on Alkaline batteries as they have a higher internal resistance...
so they tend to run the LEDs on a constant current without all the
electronic drivers that NiCads seem to need.
You do understand don't you ZAP ? 

[Bruce S]

ZAP ;
  I was worried I had missed a request from Norm 
Then noticed this was only a test!!
Norm;
Nice and bright too!! Haven't been to Dollar tree for a while, looks like I need to make another trip.
How would they look with a sub-C pack and resistor?

[zap]

ZAP ;
  I was worried I had missed a request from Norm 

Yeah... It just surprised me a little to see him using alkaline.

I still have a few boxes... was thinking of making a pack for the Currie mtb since the LifePO4 I picked up used started to swell last year.

[Norm]

Zap and Bruce especially.....
ARRgh !
   Why am I having such a sucess with Alkaline?
    I started out thinking about using these batteries
because the LED lights are designed to use alkaline batteries
low drain higher internal resistance than NiCad.

    Okay my original thinking was to power a LED light like the
4Leds + 1 with a small stepper motor run by a windmill that
is capable of lighting the 4Leds + 1 light quite easily and
parelled with the D size alkaline batteries.
     Even with a 5 mph wind/breeze the stepper could/can put out 4.5 volts
at the required milamps.
     More wind and the alkaline would easily clamp down on
the voltage and take a slight charge.
     Less wind and the batteries take over and keep the light
lit at full brilliance.....day or night.....you could have no wind
even for a couple of days straight would be all right but usually
there is a breeze around here off and on even on the worst days.
     
gotta go for now but  to be continued later today .......

Norm.