pegasus bridge Posted March 1, 2011 Report Share Posted March 1, 2011 (edited) i brought a deben lithium battery at the shooting show - 14ah. just as the adverts read - its lightweight, the case feels 'tough' , its got a useful led display to check how much charge is left.. the only fly in the ointment for me is the plug arrangement - it comes straight out of the top - this would be fine with a right angle plug connector - which would give the socket some proection from movement, as it would exit from the side of the bag opening at the top - but apparently these plugs are specific to deben and dont come in a right angle version, to my mind this is a definite weak spot - has anyone else got one of these? what do you think? (it seems a bit of a design flaw to me) (i will try and put a pic up in a bit so this makes sense..) Edited March 1, 2011 by pegasus bridge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pegasus bridge Posted March 1, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 1, 2011 a couple of pics to hopefully show you what i mean ; the issue is that any movement of the cable is not being tempered before it gets to the socket on the battery - if it was a right angled plug - and the cable ran on the top of the battery (under the protective carry case) before exiting on from the opening at the top, any movment in the cable is going to be significantly reduced before it gets to the socket on the battery (less likley to become damaged in use) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kit Monster Posted March 1, 2011 Report Share Posted March 1, 2011 I've just used mine for the first time as well and discovered exactly the same thing. Chuffed with the battery (lasted 4 hours) but I'm concerned that there will be too much strain on the lead and it'll break over time. It might not of course but I like your idea of a right angled connector. I wondered if that on the belt pouch, they could've put on another loop at right angles to the first, so you could carry the battery horizontally. That might reduce the strain...but then again it might pop the lead out? Time will tell... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pegasus bridge Posted March 1, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 1, 2011 ive spoken to Deben - explained the issue to someone - they dont make a right angled plug at the moment - but may 'look into it' - i think everyone with one of these (expensive!!) battery packs should ask them - hopefully they will sort it - its a cheap and easy fix for this - if it was a cheap £10 lead acid job - i wouldnt mind it lasting 12 months before needing replacing - but wont be happy if i have to replace this! what did you think of the belt pack? IMHO its too big for a belt bag - i prefer a shoulder bag - so i'm in the process of attaching some handle clips to it - another small touch Deben might consider... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kit Monster Posted March 1, 2011 Report Share Posted March 1, 2011 Thought the belt pack was fine to be honest. Maybe a tad small but that'll probably stretch. Didn't even notice I was carrying it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apache Posted March 1, 2011 Report Share Posted March 1, 2011 Can you post a picture of the plug removed from the socket? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sundaybain Posted March 1, 2011 Report Share Posted March 1, 2011 I've just used mine for the first time as well and discovered exactly the same thing. Chuffed with the battery (lasted 4 hours) but I'm concerned that there will be too much strain on the lead and it'll break over time. It might not of course but I like your idea of a right angled connector. I wondered if that on the belt pouch, they could've put on another loop at right angles to the first, so you could carry the battery horizontally. That might reduce the strain...but then again it might pop the lead out? Time will tell... Yes the connection is a major problem,everyone who has one of these should contact deben by phone or email them and maybe if enough people complain they might do something about this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salop Matt Posted March 1, 2011 Report Share Posted March 1, 2011 What is the cost of these lithium batteries ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pegasus bridge Posted March 1, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 1, 2011 (edited) i paid £165 for the battery - 14ah here are the pics - they are apparently unique to Deben ; Edited March 1, 2011 by pegasus bridge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pegasus bridge Posted March 1, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 1, 2011 i have just sent Deben an email reiterating the issue - along with a link to this topic - its a shame that such a good product is let down by a simple issue - lets see what Deben are going to do!! http://www.deben.com/contact.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salop Matt Posted March 1, 2011 Report Share Posted March 1, 2011 £160 :o :o :o :o :o Cricky, by lead acid is only worth £14.02 new and they seem to give around 4-5 years good service ! I wont be rushing out to buy one of these then ! Lets hope this is just a teathing issue that they will put right for you ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pegasus bridge Posted March 1, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 1, 2011 £160 :o :o :o :o :o Cricky, by lead acid is only worth £14.02 new and they seem to give around 4-5 years good service ! I wont be rushing out to buy one of these then ! Lets hope this is just a teathing issue that they will put right for you ! i know - it took me a few months to get over the mental block of paying that much for a battery - but i have doubled the capacity and more than halved the weight - a lot of my permission is not driveable; and the pain of lugging round a lead acid battery that would start to lose juice towards the end was irritating me no end, - but i suppose my expectations for the quality and operation of it are in proportion to the price!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emmsy Posted March 1, 2011 Report Share Posted March 1, 2011 connector looks cheap to me. id be inclined to open it up and fit something else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pegasus bridge Posted March 1, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 1, 2011 well - i got a prompt email back from Deben tonight ; 'I have put this to our engineers for consideration and they agree it is possibly a better solution for future products. Conversely, we have sold many thousands of these lithium ion packs over the last 2 years and to date you are the only person who has cited a problem. I have checked with our service department and we have had zero returns on this issue. I will keep you posted if we decide to launch a new lead.' i would suggest anyone who does feel this is an issue - please make your voice heard, my experience with Deben has always been good - and i would hope they would listen if we make enough noise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minghis Posted March 1, 2011 Report Share Posted March 1, 2011 I find it quite annoying that the customer always has to bring these design faults to the manufacturers attention. Simple fact is they don't test their products in the real time situations they'll be used in. And then they are shocked when their customers point these things out - bloody wrong I reckon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apache Posted March 1, 2011 Report Share Posted March 1, 2011 i paid £165 for the battery - 14ah here are the pics - they are apparently unique to Deben ; That's a pain! Thought you might have been able to find the connector elsewhere and make an adaptor up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin lad Posted March 1, 2011 Report Share Posted March 1, 2011 i know - it took me a few months to get over the mental block of paying that much for a battery - but i have doubled the capacity and more than halved the weight - a lot of my permission is not driveable; and the pain of lugging round a lead acid battery that would start to lose juice towards the end was irritating me no end, - but i suppose my expectations for the quality and operation of it are in proportion to the price!! i got one of these batteries and found rather than carry battery in bag or on belt i strap mine to the butt of my gun its that light it hardly makes a difference colin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sundaybain Posted March 2, 2011 Report Share Posted March 2, 2011 Email sent Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave-G Posted March 2, 2011 Report Share Posted March 2, 2011 For what its worth, Deben will supply replacement or custom length power/extention leads with the connectors fitted for about a fiver. I'd like to see a slightly smaller flatter one for use with my Atom tactical lamp that will in the butt sock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pegasus bridge Posted March 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 2, 2011 (edited) For what its worth, Deben will supply replacement or custom length power/extention leads with the connectors fitted for about a fiver. I'd like to see a slightly smaller flatter one for use with my Atom tactical lamp that will in the butt sock. i would be quite happy to pay for one - but sadly Deben dont currently make a right angle plug, and as it is unique to Deben ive hit a dead end.- ive been carrying mine in a game bag, wrapped in a rag, with the cable secured to the handle to prevent movement. not ideal - but i hope deben listen and produce a right angle plug soon. the battery itself is superb, it was like having an empty bag with me ; just wish the issue with the plug is resolved so i dont even need to carry it in the bag. Edited March 2, 2011 by pegasus bridge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zilon Posted March 19, 2011 Report Share Posted March 19, 2011 The smaller battery 6 or 8 ah,, cant remember now does have a better conecting lead when i changed to the bigger batt i thought the conector would be a problem , but have only pulled it out once , my concern is rain getting in to the conection being as its poibting vertical, so yes i to would prefer a lead coming off the batt to conect to!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deerstalkerlunt Posted March 19, 2011 Report Share Posted March 19, 2011 I hate the deben lead connectors and there is too many, one from the battery which is then connected to a connector out of the lamp really fiddly, never really stay in long if your on foot, its a pain in the **** to reconnect especially in pitch black. Although I like the idea of a smaller, lighter battery as I hate carrying round the enormous battery. Who ever came up with the idea for the belt loop must not have even tried it out, if your lamping on foot with a ginormous battery attached to your pants, they end up by your ankles. Pain in the **** so I dont use anymore just found a gate bitch/battery carrier lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gimlet Posted March 19, 2011 Report Share Posted March 19, 2011 I find it quite annoying that the customer always has to bring these design faults to the manufacturers attention. Simple fact is they don't test their products in the real time situations they'll be used in. And then they are shocked when their customers point these things out - bloody wrong I reckon. I had one of the old style Deben lithium packs, with a short length of fixed lead coming out at the side. 3 months out of warranty it developed an intermittant fault. I traced it to the junction of the cable and the pack. I sent it back but Deben would have none of it, insisted it was fine. But there was no doubt about it- flex the cable by the pack and out went the light. The cable was faulty somewhere inside the battery and now I've got no lamp. £130 is a lot of money for a kit that lasted a year. I know I'm not the first to have problems with the leads on Deben lamps but I'm afraid the company don't like having faults pointed out. Beware. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sundaybain Posted April 29, 2011 Report Share Posted April 29, 2011 I am know on my 3rd bullet connector had a fox coming in last night and light went out wish they would sort this out as soon, as meanwhile its back to the old sealed lead acid batt heavy but reliable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bullet boy Posted April 29, 2011 Report Share Posted April 29, 2011 I love mine.It's an excellent bit of kit IMO!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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