Magic Shine waterproof

bentes
bentes Posts: 286
edited October 2010 in MTB general
Hi guys!

I'm a happy owner of a MagicShine bike light. I'm quite happy with it except for the battery. It just looks like 4 batteries stuck together with tape, wich is fine if you're riding in the dry summer, but what happens when the weather starts to turn? It doesn't look very water / mud proof.

How do you isolate it?

Thanks!
Bentes
«1

Comments

  • cee
    cee Posts: 4,553
    I also have one...

    I wrap mine in a plastic baggie, before putting it in the little pouch....and strapping it under my top tube...
    Whenever I see an adult on a bicycle, I believe in the future of the human race.

    H.G. Wells.
  • bentes
    bentes Posts: 286
    Hi Cee!
    Thanks for the reply.
    That's a good idea, I was thinking about buying the helmet adaptor so I would carry the battery on my backpack. I usually overcomplicate things... :oops:

    Thanks! :D
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    What voltage are the batteries? I used to race RC cars years ago, and the 7.2V battery packs never had a problem even with massive waterlogging. The voltage just wasn't high enough to cause any major shorts.

    See, Water isn't actually a conductor, it's just a bad insulator, if you see what I mean.
  • bentes
    bentes Posts: 286
    I don't really know...
    I googled it a bit and this is what the battery pack looks like:

    140.jpg

    Wich I guess internally is something like this:

    wetbat.JPG

    Wich I guess again it's 4 of these:
    18650.jpg

    http://www.batteryjunction.com/2600pcb-18650.html
  • wordnumb
    wordnumb Posts: 847
    Sounds like a job for an old goretex jacket + some needle and thread.
  • moggy82
    moggy82 Posts: 726
    Silicone sealant, look on MTBR forum theres plenty of threads with pics showing what other people have done! and even shows the battery in a glass of water with the light on and a timer showing it lasted half hour! Cheapest and least labourous way of doing it!
    http://moggy82.pinkbike.com/album/lights-and-beam-pics-etc/
  • merlie
    merlie Posts: 276
    what do you use to recharge ithe unit ?
    09 Rockhopper Comp
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/9150062@N05/3371548932/

    road bike
    http://s451.photobucket.com/albums/qq23 ... 042625.jpg
  • bentes
    bentes Posts: 286
    Looks like I'll have to get into craftsmanship... or just bag it and tape it. :)
    Thanks for your answers! 8)
    merlie wrote:
    what do you use to recharge ithe unit ?
    The supplied charger:
    250-3_750.jpg
  • merlie
    merlie Posts: 276
    ok .....

    any users in the UK ?

    its got some 2 pin thingy
    09 Rockhopper Comp
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/9150062@N05/3371548932/

    road bike
    http://s451.photobucket.com/albums/qq23 ... 042625.jpg
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    merlie wrote:
    ok .....

    any users in the UK ?

    its got some 2 pin thingy
    Adapter for a few bob from argos?
  • bentes
    bentes Posts: 286
    yeehaamcgee wrote:
    merlie wrote:
    ok .....

    any users in the UK ?

    its got some 2 pin thingy
    Adapter for a few bob from argos?

    Actually I got mine from http://magicshineuk.co.uk and it's got the uk plug. I have to use an adapter so I can charge it with decent wall sockets. :P
  • BorisSpencer
    BorisSpencer Posts: 786
    I've been out it some very torrential rain with no additional water proofing and never had a problem.

    I shove the two pin plug into a shaver socket at 240v to charge it, I first tried it at 110v but the LED didn't change colour to show that it was charging.
    Northwind wrote: It's like I covered it in superglue and rode it through ebay.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Hang on, Hang on.
    So it still takes 240V, but just has a funny plug?
    Why the flinking blip don't you just cut the plug off, and stick a normal one on it then?
  • BorisSpencer
    BorisSpencer Posts: 786
    Because it's not just a plug, it has an indicator LED on it to show when it's charging and when it's finished.
    Northwind wrote: It's like I covered it in superglue and rode it through ebay.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Ah, gotcha. I thought it was like the one I got for charging the P7 batteries, where there's a mains lead, with the wrong plug.
  • merlie
    merlie Posts: 276
    BorisSpencer wrote:
    I've been out it some very torrential rain with no additional water proofing and never had a problem.

    I shove the two pin plug into a shaver socket at 240v to charge it, I first tried it at 110v but the LED didn't change colour to show that it was charging.

    .. so did it charge successfully using the shaver plug ?
    09 Rockhopper Comp
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/9150062@N05/3371548932/

    road bike
    http://s451.photobucket.com/albums/qq23 ... 042625.jpg
  • BorisSpencer
    BorisSpencer Posts: 786
    Yeah, used it all last winter. There were a lot of reports of chargers going pop but I've had no such problem.
    Northwind wrote: It's like I covered it in superglue and rode it through ebay.
  • CFS
    CFS Posts: 124
    I had 3 chargers blow up before I got one that worked.

    I cling filmed my battery pack during the snow and that seemed to work ok as a quick fix short term answer.
    Shot by both sides...
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Has anybody tried using the batteries in the rain and snow WITHOUT wrapping them in something?
  • BorisSpencer
    BorisSpencer Posts: 786
    yeehaamcgee wrote:
    Has anybody tried using the batteries in the rain and snow WITHOUT wrapping them in something?
    Yes.
    BorisSpencer wrote:
    I've been out it some very torrential rain with no additional water proofing and never had a problem.
    Northwind wrote: It's like I covered it in superglue and rode it through ebay.
  • cee
    cee Posts: 4,553
    I have also run the light with no waterproofing.....the case was sodden when i got home, so i decided to put it in a baggie....but that is probably paranioa....

    it was fine on the night.
    Whenever I see an adult on a bicycle, I believe in the future of the human race.

    H.G. Wells.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    BorisSpencer wrote:
    yeehaamcgee wrote:
    Has anybody tried using the batteries in the rain and snow WITHOUT wrapping them in something?
    Yes.
    BorisSpencer wrote:
    I've been out it some very torrential rain with no additional water proofing and never had a problem.
    Ah, right, I missed that, sorry Boris.
    That's just what I suspect though, the voltage shouldn't really cause any problems with water.
  • bentes
    bentes Posts: 286
    Cool.

    If it's good enough for the wet weathered brits, it's surelly good enough for me.
    (but I'll still wrap it on a bag or something.. ;) )

    Thanks guys.
  • andyrr
    andyrr Posts: 1,823
    I've asked on the road forum but will ask here as I think at least as many off-roaders use these as on-roaders !
    My Magicshine light (as pictured in this thread, id 25149) has a duff charger - well pretty sure it's the charger anyway.
    CRC had a Nuke Proof charger that I'm lead to believe works on these batteries and is 'smart' so protects the batteries and I reckoned would be worth the cost. In stock on their website so I ordered it n Sunday. Tues am I get an email saying they DON'T have one - great !
    I can probably source it somewhere else but so far haven't found one actually in stock. Question : is there another 'smart' type charger that I can source for the Magicshine batteries, the LUU one that P-X sell has been suggested and it's a bit cheaper.
  • BorisSpencer
    BorisSpencer Posts: 786
    This?:
    http://magicshineuk.co.uk

    Go to bike lights accessories and look at the replacement charger, it's uk specific.
    Northwind wrote: It's like I covered it in superglue and rode it through ebay.
  • andyrr
    andyrr Posts: 1,823
    Cheers - their charger for MJ-808, MJ-816 and MJ-818 would suit but don't think it's particularly 'smart'
  • mattyboy199
    mattyboy199 Posts: 627
    the mj816 comes with a waterproof aly canister which the battery sits in. Check out ebay someone is selling to be put simply a water bottle which works as a waterproof battery casing.
    Show me your green bits i might buy them !
  • antfly
    antfly Posts: 3,276
    What about one of these.
    http://www.mtbbatteries.co.uk/5.html
    Smarter than the average bear.
  • slimboyjim
    slimboyjim Posts: 367
    I put my battery pack in a condom (I figure they are pretty waterproof and deal with heat a bit better than a plastic bag). I twisted it round the wire and wrapped it back on itself. 1 waterproof battery! I then put it back in the fabric bag and no-one has noticed yet! Except my secret's now out :-)

    Cue jokes about always being prepared on the trail and using a ribbed one for better cooling/grip!

    :D :shock: :lol:
  • slimboyjim
    slimboyjim Posts: 367
    Andyrr - I've got the Nukeproof charger and it does what it says on the tin. Just be aware it doesn't come with the plug - you need a plug from an old radio or something. You'll probably have one somewhere but just in case...

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