Discussion: MagicShine Battery Recall Brewing

Great find Todd. And good news--although from the in depth knowledge of the forum users, sounds like Geoman is trying to force the Chinese widget manufacturer to balance the cells and install smart board. That could take a while I imagine. In the mean time I grabbed a few more units from deal extreme.com and plan on charging them on my tile mud room floor away from flammables.

These lights are great - I got one recently and have been very impressed. A lot of folks in the UK have them too, judging by the Tinto Twin a few weeks ago. So I'll be watching out for a fix but can't bring myself not to use it these dark Scottish nights!

Despite the defects, I will have to order up another battery to get me through long dark winter.

Buying another defective battery to replace the original defective battery might send the wrong message to the manufacturer.

The message I'm taking from this discussion is that the warnings about Li-Ion batteries should be taken seriously. I have started storing my batteries in a small toolbox that I also charge them in.

I think I should be doing a better job monitoring the batteries to determine if/when they go bad. Without taking the battery pack apart, I presume the main indication of individual cells going bad is an overall reduction in battery life. I should test the battery packs periodically to see how long they last (e.g., with the light on High or Medium).

Brian, this video is from the linked thread:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQjudHKh-bI&feature...

A toolbox is a good start, but you probably shouldn't leave it alone while charging and keep a sand bucket nearby.

I was expecting a little more "explosion" on the video. Wasn't as dramatic as I expected. Granted, any time something can spontaneously catch fire, it's worth being careful.

6 X AA nimh pack might work well if you don't need all those hours of burning time on high. Safe chemistry and slightly more lighter than the original one. 1,5 h burn time on high I guess.

I have been considering getting one of these lights, so contacted the UK distributor following the reports about battery safety. I received a reply yesterday (within 6 hours), which I have copied below.

"..I've been in touch with the manufacturer and been told there are no known safety issues on lights provided to the UK. My conversations with other UK supplies backs this up. If I hear anything to the contrary I would let you know."

I wonder if these lamps are being supplied with different batteries in UK? Any other thoughts?

The linked explosion video shows a Lithium Polymer cell hissing and popping. The MagicShine battery packs are Li-Ion.

AFAIK there has been nothing forthcoming from the manufacturer regarding safety or quality issues. The linked thread cites an extremely reputable US MagicShine reseller that is has experienced problems with the products and is now refusing to sell them. How the manufacturer will respond, only time will tell.

Perhaps all the good batteries are going to the UK!

Interestingly, I notice on the magicshineuk.co.uk that the MJ-808 is now shown with a 'New Improved Battery' (waterproofing I think), and in the tech specs is has a bullet point for battery overcharge protection.. Raises the question about possible spec differences between the UK and US versions perhaps?

Interesting- I just sent out a message to my buddies that got the night lightning sets with the Li-Po batteries from Batteryspace.
As always, the batteries don't like full discharge, they don't like to be stored warm, and they need the charge to be topped up every few months, even during the "off" season. I suggest storing them in a metal cookie tin, and charging them in the tin or in the sink, just in case.

These Batteryspace Li-ion and Li-po all have decent protection boards, and aren't being charged backwards, so an explosion isn't likely. They don't have individual balancing boards or balancing chargers with special charge-sensing ports, but they are "smart Li-ion" chargers, for what that's worth.

The magicshine had problems with cheapo cells and crummy protection boards from the get-go.