replacement batteries

So... i got this 15W 6V bulb...

The best source for batteries if i don't want to spend the $130 on a stupid new battery pack from Niterider (6v pro pack NiCad) is batteryspace.

There i can get a lead acid battery (6V 4.5Ah) with charger for $26 (before shipping).

But with a 15 W bulb that will give me just barely over 1 hour of usable light. I could change the bulb (get a 10w or something) and it'd be a lot better burn time. But that adds cash.

The Lead acid battery is two pounds. not insignificant.

Another option would be to get 4 D cell Ni-Cd batteries. And stuff em inside the current waterbottle and use the old school charger (or get a new one). Assuming the combination is linear that would yeild 20,000Ah. With a wee bit of solder work (and the assumption i can use the charger i have) i'm in buizness and i'd have a wicked GD long burn time with the current light. Assuming i can stuff 4 D cells in a waterbottle. Hell i could cobble together a second battery pack (have one charged and ready to go) for not a lot.

Yet another option would be to go a slightly more expensive route and get a wicked bright LED thing they got. The $70 one looks interesting. Add $25 for the 8 AA NiMH + charger and that's kinda pricey. Go with the helmet mount one and its alot more. But it gets me closer.

But if i'm eventually going to hook up with a Dyno hub like the shimano one... maybe i don't wanna get all goofy and toss good hard $$ at a whole lighting system until i have the commuter set up. But then, i wonder, how many watts can that hub generate... hmmm (shimano's site seems to be unavailable).

The nice thing about that $70 set up is the freaking burn time... 9 hours. That's almost a whole commuting week day and night. easily should last a whole week without battery replacement/charging. and those 2500Ah AA would be nice to have kicking around the house.

Making a waterbottle battery is cake... a wee bit of soldering, tape or heatshrink the pack together - stuff in there... spray some Great Stuff in there to keep it in place... done.

In the mean time i've picked up a nice white blinky thing... it can clip on the front strap of the messenger bag in a pinch.

ah well... anyway...

there goes gewilli - introspection man - over intellectualizing everything...

i should mention, i had meant to replace the battery on this light last year, but never got around to actually making a decision.

anyway - after laying it out it seems getting the NiCd D cells is the way to go if they'll get recharged with the charger i have (will have to check the rating on it). I wager it'll be more than 12 hours to charge the Ds, esp if the batts in the bottle now are Cs.

peace

WOOPS...

i'm off on the conversion of Ah to Wh seems maybe 5Ah = 30Wh (at least for a NiMH 6V pack with C cells).
and i left off one option:
The 6V with charger from the above mentioned place. Not quite plug and play but much simpler than doing the whole fab the battery together thing. many fewer amp hours tho...

Them D cells pack a freaking WALLOP.

or i go with this one... D Cells in flat pack but with charger...

see - i think its clear then i go confuse the hell outa myself all over again...