Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I need a new battery pack for my stubby, they don't make the one I had before. Any suggestions?
Later
Rick

You can get 12V 7Ah batteries just about anywhere. I use Powersonic. Any deer feeder store will have them.

My problem is, I lost the chargers for my old battery pack and can't find another. One had a male cigar liter plug on each end and the other had an ac plug on one end and a male cig plug on the other. How do you charge the ones for deer feeders?

>>My problem is, I lost the chargers for my old battery pack and can't find another. One had a male cigar liter plug on each end and the other had an ac plug on one end and a male cig plug on the other. How do you charge the ones for deer feeders?

I use the same thing Damon is talking about for mine. Just buy a terminal charger from wal mart and use a slow trickle 12v charge. Works like a champ!
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HCU
Snakes of Hudspeth County, Texas

I just use one of the smaller car emergency jump starters. They usually have a 12v lighter socket on them and they come with a 110v and 12v recharger plug. If they have cables, I open the box and remove them.
They weight a tiny bit more than just the battery itself, but considering the weight of the battery, it isn't a big deal. I carry them in a small backpack.
The waist pack battery packs are smaller and possibly more convenient, but I can replace my whole setup at walmart.
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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas

Battery Pack? Why?

This was discontinued, but I have one and it is great: https://www.fenix-store.com/product_info.php?cPath=48&products_id=315

I also wear this head lamp: http://www.zebralight.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=184

I do not even know what it weighs, but I know it is a heck of a lot easier than carrying around a bayco and a car battery jumper deal from walmart.

Next year or the year after I plan on upgrading to this handheld: https://www.fenix-store.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_55&products_id=358

and this head lamp: http://www.zebralight.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=187
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South Texas Herps

I am with you LED headlamps and flashlights have come a long way and the stubby days are over for me. With a LED headlamp and flashlight getting light from two different angles on the rocks and ground it tends to wash away the shadows. Plus the light is easier to focus your eyes with and you can get it to be useful at more distance if you need it.

And it is a lot less to carry around at night.

Find a 3WATT headlamp and flashlight with large array of smaller LEDS, it is a very nice mix of spot and flood that way.
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___________________________
Herp Conservation Unlimited

If people really learn from their mistakes, I should be like the smartest guy in the world

PRINCETON TEC APEX PRO 3 Watt, runs on double A's. You will love it. You can even use this by itself to leave your hands free.

Stubby days are over... My days of looking like Egon from Ghostbusters are done!

Good Luck my friend.

StevenX

when coleman has a 100 lumen headlamp that costs 24 dollars. I bought 2 of them. It has a real hotspot, but the corona is so bright that you can easily see anything.

100 lumens from Coleman and 150 lumens from Princeton Tec are two different beasts. Most second tier manufacturers typically use bulb lumens which are optimal measured lumens at the emitter. That Cree model has tested to be around 60 actual lumens on NiMh batteries. Princeton Tec, while not as conservative in their estimates as companies like Surefire, tend to be more realistic and try to estimate OTF or out-the-front lumens... the actual light leaving the light. Also... the regulated circuitry in the Apex is worthwhile. Regulated lights have consistent output over time instead of constantly diminishing output.

It depends on what you find sufficient. I unfortunately can't help myself when it comes to lights so I end up trying them all LOL.

.

I really like the Zebra Lights, they are dedicated "flood" style headlamps, they have no hotspots. I have walked cuts many times with just my zebralight headlamp. And like Damon said, you get what you pay for. The zebralights are regulated and do now slowely get dimmer, they will just turn off. I always carry a couple extra cells in my pocket and switch it out and I am back to looking for inverts.
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South Texas Herps

It gives you a steady light output for more usable time behind the light. Without it you may have a brighter light to start with but it quickly starts to fade. Regulating that output so it is steady goes a long way to making them better, you can get a good hour or two extra off those AA's in a good light instead of just a bright one.
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___________________________
Herp Conservation Unlimited

If people really learn from their mistakes, I should be like the smartest guy in the world

>>PRINCETON TEC APEX PRO 3 Watt, runs on double A's. You will love it. You can even use this by itself to leave your hands free.
>>
>>Stubby days are over... My days of looking like Egon from Ghostbusters are done!
>>
>>Good Luck my friend.
>>
>>StevenX

1 on the Princeton Tec Apex. I love mine and rarely use the stubby any more. Not to mention, its a very herper freindly company! They take care of us
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HCU
Snakes of Hudspeth County, Texas

I feel like you get a much smaller swarm of flying bugs on the LED vs the Stubby. I can only assume that the light spectrum on the Stubby is something they can not resist. Also the LED lights are more white or bluish on the rocks and do a good job of letting you make out every small detail there.

My stubby is retired for good....
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___________________________
Herp Conservation Unlimited

If people really learn from their mistakes, I should be like the smartest guy in the world

Alright, alright! I just ordered the Princeton Tec Apex Pro!
REI is shipping today. Steve Owens, send me your phone # on my e-mail.
Steveb1950@windstream.net.
Thanks,

Steve

>>Alright, alright! I just ordered the Princeton Tec Apex Pro!
>>REI is shipping today. Steve Owens, send me your phone # on my e-mail.
>>Steveb1950@windstream.net.
>>Thanks,
>>
>>Steve

You'll wonder how you ever got along without it..promise.
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HCU
Snakes of Hudspeth County, Texas

I usually just grab a pigtail splitter from Radio Shack and wire the male plug to the charger (usully available wherever the batteries are sold) and solder the female plugs to the battery terminals.

I also swapped out my stock bulb for 41K and 65K full spectrum bulbs and get much better color rendition. Reds, yelows, and ORANGES don't pop under cool white the way they do under high CRI bulbs.

There are a lot of good LEDs out there too. I have an arsenal of flashlights and headlamps but prefer to still use the Stubby while walking. I also carry either a Surefire U2 or a modified Surefire KL4/E2DL combo for looking beyond the range of my fluorescent. I have Petzl's new Myo XRP headlamp too but tend to not use it as much. I hate getting hit in the face by moths. LOL.

My house looks like a flashlight/headlamp museum. I have tried most of them but if I plan to walk any length of time, I always go back to the Stubby for several reasons. I did order an Olight M30, 700 Lumen, should be here Thursday.
Where do you get the upgrade bulbs?
Thanks for all the advice.
Later
Rick

Any of the PL-S II bulbs will work, but you need to cut off the very end of the plastic base of the bulb and use wire cutters to clip out the resistor so that it works with a 12V power source. I'll post some pictures this afternoon so you can see what I mean. The replacement bulbs are only about $5 and you can typically get them at Home Depot.

I also modified my Stubbies by disassembling them and applying aluminum tape to the inside of the plastic tube where the label is. It cuts down on the glare that comes back from the bulb and limits eye strain.

I just checked out a review of this light on another forum, wow, nice. I think the diffuser will really help when using it walking.
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South Texas Herps

Rick, Do they make a light spectrum to help you observe the "females" only????

LOL

Sorry I had to make a small jab...

I hope all is well and you are able to get back out soon.

Best Wishes,

StevenX

LOL,If they did it would be priceless.