John Dirks Jr Posted January 9, 2009 Report Posted January 9, 2009 How long does the battery last on an Ultra Stinger? I don't mean how long between charges. I mean, how long before it gets lame and you have to buy a new one?
Terence McCann Posted January 9, 2009 Report Posted January 9, 2009 Originally posted by John Dirks Jr How long does the battery last on an Ultra Stinger? I don't mean how long between charges. I mean, how long before it gets lame and you have to buy a new one? I had mine 3 years and it was still OK. I replaced it though, didn't want any surprises. I carry a backup Maglight just in case.
Jim Katen Posted January 10, 2009 Report Posted January 10, 2009 Originally posted by John Dirks Jr How long does the battery last on an Ultra Stinger? I don't mean how long between charges. I mean, how long before it gets lame and you have to buy a new one? It seems like I got about two years out of my first pair. I now cycle through 4 of them -- those four should last quite a while. - Jim Katen, Oregon
Mark P Posted January 10, 2009 Report Posted January 10, 2009 I have been thinking to ask the same question. I seem to get around 1.5 years before I notice a decrease in power. I have 2 that I cycle through.
caryseidner Posted January 10, 2009 Report Posted January 10, 2009 I got about 1 year out of my first battery, but I made the cardinal sin of trying to use it after the beam started to fade one day. After that it wouldn't hold a charge. I replaced the battery and bought a second ultra stinger. I rotate them a little, but I still use one of them as my primary. No problems with either of the batteries in 3 + years of use.
Inspectorjoe Posted January 10, 2009 Report Posted January 10, 2009 I get 3+ years out of a battery, rotating three of them through two flashlights. I keep the third battery in a plastic tube in my bag. About once a month I put the spare into a flashlight, then put the freshly charged one that I took out, into the tube for a month of 'spare battery duty'. Don't let the battery discharge completely. My wife once borrowed one and left the switch on. It wouldn't charge at all after that. My heart sunk when I saw it was the battery that I had bought less than a month before. Luckily, the owner of the police supply store where I bought it replaced it at no charge, even after I told him what happened. Once one discharged completely in my bag after something pressed against the switch. For some reason, that one recharged and has been OK ever since. Maybe it's because I got it on the charger fairly soon after the the discharge.
Chad Fabry Posted January 10, 2009 Report Posted January 10, 2009 I have three ultra stingers and I've come to the conclusion that I'm not too fond of them. The battery "on" life is about 40 minutes, so I need the three I have plus I tap into my LED back-up before the inspection is done. The switches fail at an alarming rate and the new ones aren't any better than the original ones. No improvements are being made. I have functioning push button switches in my home that have been in daily use since 1927. I apologize if you bought one of these lights based on my recommendation. Honestly, I have a 30 dollar two cell AA 5 watt LED and it's on more than my Stingers. I now use the Stingers for the Gestalt view only. Assuming that someone's hired me to do an inspection. Geez, it's slow.
SonOfSwamp Posted January 10, 2009 Report Posted January 10, 2009 I'm still using one that's at least 12 years old. Whenever a light would start going dim, I'd just buy a couple extra batteries from Gall's. Every day, when I'd get home from work, I'd drop two lights into their chargers. Streamlight refurbed two lights for free. Lenses, switches, etc. WJ
RichNSpect Posted January 10, 2009 Report Posted January 10, 2009 Mine made it about 1.5 years then it went bad. Never ordered another battery. I use the smaller Strion. It's plenty enough light for inspecting and easy to carry in my tool pouch (5.3 inches).
homnspector Posted January 10, 2009 Report Posted January 10, 2009 I'm with Chad, I have 3 stingers and an ultrastinger and very rarely use them. I have pretty much switched to the 5 watt led's, 2 for $30 at costco. The batteries last a long time and no recharge hassles.
John Dirks Jr Posted January 11, 2009 Author Report Posted January 11, 2009 I just got my first stinger. I still think it's pretty amazing. It lights up the very tops of the tall trees in my back yard at night. In a dark room inside the house, I shine it at the ceiling and it lights up the whole room with the reflection. If you shine it at the wall and look at the spot it will almost burn your eyes. I couldn't imaging what it would be like to look directly into the beam. I'm not gonna try. I need to get an extra battery and a couple of extra bulbs. Where is the cheapest place to get em?
Jim Katen Posted January 11, 2009 Report Posted January 11, 2009 Originally posted by John Dirks Jr I just got my first stinger. I still think it's pretty amazing. It lights up the very tops of the tall trees in my back yard at night. In a dark room inside the house, I shine it at the ceiling and it lights up the whole room with the reflection. If you shine it at the wall and look at the spot it will almost burn your eyes. I couldn't imaging what it would be like to look directly into the beam. I'm not gonna try. I need to get an extra battery and a couple of extra bulbs. Where is the cheapest place to get em? I suggest the local police supply shop. It won't be cheap buy you'll get to look at the cool cop stuff while you're there. (Some of my favorites: polypro tactical underwear; special pens that you can use to write speeding tickets in the rain; and the new lightweight body armor. ) Stay away from cheap batteries on e-bay. - Jim Katen, Oregon
John Dirks Jr Posted January 11, 2009 Author Report Posted January 11, 2009 Thanks Jim. I guess it's important to know what to avoid as much as what to seek.
Bill Kibbel Posted January 11, 2009 Report Posted January 11, 2009 Originally posted by John Dirks Jr I guess it's important to know what to avoid... Jim comin' at ya in his tactical underwear.
Jeremy Posted January 11, 2009 Report Posted January 11, 2009 John, I had good results with www.copsplus.com.
Bain Posted January 11, 2009 Report Posted January 11, 2009 Originally posted by John Dirks Jr I just got my first stinger. I still think it's pretty amazing. It lights up the very tops of the tall trees in my back yard at night. In a dark room inside the house, I shine it at the ceiling and it lights up the whole room with the reflection. If you shine it at the wall and look at the spot it will almost burn your eyes. I couldn't imaging what it would be like to look directly into the beam. I'm not gonna try. I need to get an extra battery and a couple of extra bulbs. Where is the cheapest place to get em? Exactly, RE the 295 lumens produced by the UltraStinger. The run times stink, but nothing else lights up dark spaces as well as they do. If we can't see it, we can't tell our peeps about it.
Scottpat Posted January 11, 2009 Report Posted January 11, 2009 The last battery I purchased at a Battery Plus store has lasted 3 years. I do run two of them. I keep one in my truck on the charger 24/7 and one at home on the charger. They get swapped out from time to time simply by use. When I have an inspection I take both lights. When I come home, one goes inside and one stays in the truck. The factory battery lasted a little under 2 years on both lights. I get about a full hour of run time to a charge. But, I never leave the light on. I just mash the button when I need light and then turn it back off. Had the on/off button replaced once (for free)on one of might Ultra-Stingers.
John Dirks Jr Posted January 13, 2009 Author Report Posted January 13, 2009 I just had my first bulb go bad. It made a pretty loud pop. I was holding it still when it went. So how long do the bulbs usually last. This one that came with the flashlight didn't even make through two battery charges. I see the importance of having spares on hand. Click to View 49.74 KB
Terence McCann Posted January 13, 2009 Report Posted January 13, 2009 I'm not sure I could give an estimate regarding the life of the bulb. One minute they work and the next time you turn it on it's dead. I do carry 4-5 spare bulbs in the van however. Expensive little buggers.
Bain Posted January 13, 2009 Report Posted January 13, 2009 Don't get despondent, John(Which I only say 'cause the photo for some reason renders your post a sad one). The bulbs last a reasonably long time. Another important lesson I don't want you to learn the hard way--like I did--is that you should never use the butt end of the flashlight to whack a stubborn furnace panel (or anything else) back into place if you're in an attic or crawlspace. The jarring can cause the bulb to suddenly fail.
Bill Kibbel Posted January 13, 2009 Report Posted January 13, 2009 It can happen if you get oils from your skin on a xenon/halogen bulb. I own and love several Streamlight products, but I still think Ultra Stingers are useless for building inspections.
tbird Posted January 13, 2009 Report Posted January 13, 2009 My streamlight ultrastinger has been through it all. The worst I remember was rolling off a 15 foot high roof and smacking the concrete walkway below. I thought for sure that I had destroyed it. The trusty light worked fine, only the housing received a few more nicks. I am on my second battery; currently running one year (first one lasted 3 years). I have probably gone through about 7-8 bulbs. I do keep a small LED backup for when the battery goes dead. You sure can't beat the amount of light the ultrastinger puts out!
caryseidner Posted January 13, 2009 Report Posted January 13, 2009 Originally posted by inspecthistoric but I still think Ultra Stingers are useless for building inspections. Bill, Why, and which light do you prefer?
Brandon Whitmore Posted January 13, 2009 Report Posted January 13, 2009 It can happen if you get oils from your skin on a xenon/halogen bulb. I used to go through Mag lite bulbs like crazy until I found this out. My bulbs now last much longer.
davidlord Posted January 13, 2009 Report Posted January 13, 2009 IMHO the US is a great product. I've had one of mine for over 10 years. I cycle 2 lights and seldom need more than 1 on any given inspection.
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