A quick update on the new battery system. This will be available for retail in the middle of November. The reason for the delay is it is being manufactured as we speak and the lead time for delivery is 20 days. I decided to give a few details of the system for those that are interested in the concept.

I have been asked over the years to develop something like this and until now I was more or less not overly impressed with firstly the Lithium battery systems we have been marketed and due to a complete bulls up 3 years ago with the Lithium Polymer batteries size, it stopped me from going ahead with the first lithium product. I have been using the samples I received then until today and they have outlasted all other systems on the market, that is not to say the other systems are not working but when you do a comparison on the battery pack themselves you will find that the Li-Ion cells are down quite considerably in actual capacity whereas my Li-Poly batteries are still at over 90%. The major difference in the chemistries between the 2 batteries is that Li-Ion start to deteriorate the very moment they are manufactured even before the first use. Li-Poly doesn't suffer from this to that point providing the cells are matched. Li-Ion is generally cheaper because the packs are not matched to the degree that Li-Poly are. This is one of the reasons for the delay in production as the batteries I am having made require 7-10 days to assemble and then 7 days of stringent testing. So in all up to 20 days for the first packs to be released from the manufacturer. Also the batteries are Japanese/US joint development of the cells.

The major features of my system, which I have pre-named the "Little Ripper" is firstly high capacity Lithium Polymer battery pack (7.4V 8500mah) I cannot give an exact specification as all packs will differ slightly in capacity due to the batteries having a general capacity of a minimum 8400mah to a maximum of 8500mah. The time that a detector will run constantly without a break is 10 hours. the formula I use is Detector current draw / total capacity of battery, in this case 840mah/8400mah. If I was to use a 11.1V 8400mah battery then this would be longer due to the higher voltage x current drain gives an actual larger capacity. For instance, I use my sample 11.1V 8000mah regulated to 6.9V and it lasts 12 hours minimum in fact it lasts up to 14 hours so if we divide 8000mah by 12 we get a current drain of 667mah yet the detector we know is actually drawing 840mah so the voltage does matter in this instance. As the major Lithium Battery systems are all based on 7.4V except for Reed's they are 11.1V the actual detecting time can be worked out with the above equation (total mah/detector current drain in ma).

The next major feature is that it is completely wireless, no wires from headphone to battery on detector at all. This means you can put your detector down without removing your headset or stretching cables. The system comprises of 2 parts one is a battery transmitter that attaches to the detector and according to my battery specifications will only weigh around 290 grams and no more than 300 grams, the box that attaches to the detector is 130 x 68 x 41mm. This will have 1 cable coming out which plugs into the detector power socket and another very tiny one with connector for charging. On the box is a push button and 2 switches. These will be detailed at a later date.

The next part will be a box that is the same size of the average enhancers that you get (54x83x30mm) on this will be a headphone / speaker socket a push button and again 2 switches plus another small charging lead (this has a small 980mah Li-Poly battery in it also) and a volume control. This box is attached to your harness or even placed in your shirt pocket.

That is all that the system consists of except for the charger. The charger is a multi-chemistry charger that works from 12VDC - 18VDC (I have yet to decide whether I will add the AC Adapter for it) It can charge: Li-Ion/Li-Poly and LiFe lithium battery packs from 2 cell to 6 cell, NiCd and NiMh cells from 1-15 cell packs and lastly even your SLA/Lead acid (Pb) batteries from 2-20V the maximum charging current is from 0.1 - 5 Amps. It is menu driven and you can set everything regarding the charging and even save the settings so you don't have to set up the charger every time you use it, this way you can set it the charger to charge my system batteries quickly say 4 or 5 amps for the detector battery and 980ma for the headphone box. This gives the advantage of when you come back to camp you can charge the system at a high rate to give the maximum daily detecting time where as all other systems on the market at the moment, especially those using the Camera batteries, take a long time to charge due to the low charging current output of the chargers. As an example take the Camera battery system, the maximum those charge at is 800mah but most are 600mah output. So let's say you have been out for 4 hours and come back to camp and put it on charge. You have already used 3360ma from the battery which is close to 50% so you stay in camp for 1 hour the battery is now up to 3960mah capacity roughly just over 4 hours left of detecting, whereas with mine you could pump back 5000mah in 1 hour. A big difference. Also Lithium batteries do not charge exactly that way so as the battery nears full charge the chargers throttle back in current output. I had a 6600mah camera battery and to charge from 20% flat took over 11hours with a 600mah charger.

I will be posting pictures of the unit when I have the first setup properly designed and tested in the next week or so. Below is a comparison of the known Lithium systems on the market today and the major features:



I will keep you all informed. Oh BTW I would like suggestions of a name for the system so please feel free to post any suggestions (PROPER ONES!!) and any dealers who are interested in resale of the system please feel free to contact me via email. The system's key compliance is already World wide and FCC approved so no worries of FCC approval or other international compliance issues.

The last thing is due to unforeseen issues I have made the initial release price of AUD$295 this is a special price after the first month will increase to a maximum of AUD$375. Prices for International will be more due to the higher cost involved in freight. I have already tested the system reasonably thoroughly but as with everything sometimes manufacturing processes and components tolerances could change and present an issue. However I have been doing R&D for an awful long time and I have never had any product that has been manufactured after prototyping change from it's design specifications.

Thought I'd add that as a precaution for the price. You all know that my first concern is never profit but quality and I put my reputation behind this product as normal.

Hi mate,
Put me down for one, please?
Dennis

I will do Dennis, you and quite a few others. It looks like the first batch are all but sold out! Due to the response I have had, if you are interested then you better add your name to the list if you want one from the first batch. The next batch should be available in December and I will probably double the manufacture.

Hi Ismael.
Just a couple of questions,

any interference problems being wireless?
Compatable with a B&Z booster?
No lag time being wireless as per some wireless headphone setups?
is there a list or just add your name here?
I'll take one if the answers to the above are in the positive

Cheers,
Steve

Hi Steve, there is no identifiable delay that I can see or measure. The latency in the wireless modules is stated as <3mS so you wouldn't be able to notice it at all. So far the only obstacle I have found is that my Wireless Access point made the module give a clicking noise. So that may be the only problem if you were in or close to 2.4Ghz wireless. Funnily enough none of my other 2.4Ghz devices caused a problem but my AP is actually rated at twice the normal power output than a normal one. I modified my access point when I was playing with long range wireless internet access. It should be compatible with every system but the reason for the amp is really only for Headphones as the gain of the system without amplifier is not enough to run Headphones (volume output is too low) the actual gain is 1:0.7 (1 in .07 out).

thanks mate!
I'll take one!

I have been notified by one of the members that the charge time for a Reed's battery system is much less than I put. I was informed that after 6 - 9hours of detecting it only takes less than 2.5 hours to charge. I don't know whether this is because the Reed's battery packs are 11.1V and therefore do not loose capacity as quick as a 7.4V or that the batteries have lost capacity and therefore charge up quicker. If anyone has a Lucky Lark can you look at the charger and see if it has the output voltage and ampere written on them. This makes it easier to work out. The information was given to me by a owner of a brand new pack and that is what I used as a benchmark. I apologise to Reed's if the figures used are incorrect.

Hi Ismael,Will this system have yhe grunt to run an external speaker?
I'd like a system mounted completely
on the detector.
I've noticed that some amplifiers dont give enough volume for an external speaker.
cheers, Tim.

Hi Ismael,could you give an expected life of battery setup. thanks ,Peter

Well if it is anything like my original batteries (LiPo) I am still using them after 3 years and as I said in my post above it still lasts a full 9+ hours. As we are using a balance charger system I would expect the batteries to be in better condition as my originals have very seldom been put on a balance charger. I only did that recently when running tests to see whether the cells would reach full capacity and they did. but I would honestly say that one cell was slightly lower than the other but as mentioned it was just charged with a normal unbalanced Lithium charger all its life.

As to running an external speaker I am about to run a test on a amplifier design tonight and will let you know for sure tomorrow but that is my intention. The RF side is made for using a amplifier for speakers and not headphones but either will work. I only run an audio amplifier in my set ups and as I mentioned an amplifier has to be built in for those that want to use a headset I will however have a bypass so you can use any external amplifier you wish.

Hi mate,
I will grab one next time I see you, if that is OK?
Cheers,
Dennis
A nice 13C here in drab Scotland and raining

Hi,
You can put me down for one of your WIRELESS BATTERY SYSTEMS .Do you use the standard headphones UR-30 KOSS? ,also what happens with the curly cord of the headphones ,what do they plug into?
thanks pedro

The system uses 2 boxes, one attached to the detector that plugs into the detector power plug via a small cable at one end, the other box attaches to your harness or belt or even in your pocket. This has a headphone socket and amplifier built in, so you can use your headphones, extension speaker or even bypass and plug your own external amp into it.

The batteries are being manufactured now and should be delivered in 2 weeks. I will have all the other electronics made before they arrived so all I need to do is put the batteries into the boxes and that's it. The batteries actually took longer to design than first thought as they are not something you can buy off the shelf and are being manufactured to my size and weight. The total weight of the 8000mah is 225gm and the 980mah (in the receiver box) is 28gms. I will be posting the photo's of the boxes in the next few days I hope, I have just finished all the amplifier circuits and such so all is complete and working well. The last thing is to get the labels manufactured and that's it.

I will keep updating as to the progress. Thanks all for the massive support and pre-sales inquiries I have had. I have all but sold the first batch.

sounds good mate...looking forward to it!

Hi Ismael,
Can you tell me if the battery power output plug will have the option of a 4 pin connection as for the SD series or a 5 pin as per the GPX series or both?
This question has not come up yet so I'm sure those who have put an order in will need to know this.

Cheers

Ted

Please put me down for one too.
Cheers
Curley

any pics ?

I would like to purchase one as well. Please add my name to the list
Thanks,

Driller.

Hi All, just a quick update, I will be delaying the release for around 2 to 3 weeks as I have sold my house and I am moving over the next 2 weeks. I have to be out by the 9th December so I need the time to pack and find a house to rent in Perth. Hope you all understand but I didn't expect this to happen so quickly. All the parts have arrived with exception of the batteries but they have been manufactured and are undergoing the testing procedures. Due to my move I have told the company to make sure they test properly and they meet my specifications as they have plenty of time now.

I will keep you all informed and once they are available I have the list. I have tested the new parts that I received and all is fine so it is only a matter of getting the batteries and putting it all together. All the RF and amplifier devices are functioning properly so this delay is only because I do not have the time to put it all together.

I Hope you all understand.

Ismael, for your new Wireless Battery, some name suggestions:> ESPower or ESPeeper (ExtraSensory Perception) <or:> Air Sound <or:> Sound Air <or:> Air Power, Air Beeper, Reaper Beeper, Deeper Beeper, Air Leaper Beeper, Sleeper Beeper, Jeeper Beeper, Keeper Beeper, <or:> Peeper Beeper.

Do you have a photo-picture of it please, as I still cannot get my head around how it will look. So a picture will say a 1000 words, thanks!

P.S. You may think of marketing it around the world in the future, to people and dealers especially in North America, then in Latin America, Europe, Asia, and Africa.

I'd call it the "DOWN UNDER WONDER" a name for the wireless battery system, by Grubstake

The IJ MMX
or just the MMX

I.J obviously being your initials and MMX being Roman numerals for 2010

or maybe EMEMEX

or

Ismael's you-beaut booster thingie!

Hi
Do you have any further info on your new battery system a photo or 2 would help, please explain the wireless part, sounds good jsut need more info to make an informed decission.
cheers
Lee

Just read the update Ismael, sounds brilliant and looks better than I thought.
Looking forward to the production model.

cheers!

Hi all, the battery is ready now I left the name as little ripper but if you guys can take a vote on what to call it from the suggestions above or even new I am open to change.

So far on this thread we have 6 people that want one. They are:

Dennis P
Madtuna
Pedro
Topcat
Curley
Driller

If you guys above can email me if you still want one so I can make sure that you get one I would appreciate it.

Later tonight or tomorrow I will be posting the manual for the system but it is simple to use.

Okay I will email the guys above also to double check in case you don't read this post right away...

Hi
I am very interested in this new battery system, can I use it in conjunction with a "hear it all" signal enhancer from coiltek on SD2200d? Is it simple to use? What is the cost, warranty etc, what is the expected life of the battery & will replacements be available if you stop doing mods as mentioned?
It all looks great, as long as cost is not prohibitive I'd like to put my name on one,
cheers
Lee

Hi Lee, it can be used with any enhancer that can plug into the headphone socket. It does come with an enhancer though. It is very simple to use and quite cheap considering the current prices of alternate plain non wireless systems. Until the end of this month the price is $295 after which it will be $375. Replacement batteries and mod backup will always be available. Please email me if you want me to keep one for you.

Hi Ismael
I just had a look at the manual for the little ripper, I noticed it runs @ 6.7 or 8.4 v, I have an SD2200d & thought that they would shut down @ 8v ? other lith ion systems run @ 7.3v, can you explain for the non technical/electrical minded like me, thanks. Is the 8.4v setting the optimal setting for the SD2200d.
If there is no problem running the SD2200d with this system then put my name on one & I will round up the cash b4 the end of the month many thanks
Lee

recieved mine yesterday, haven't yet tried it out but what an impressive well constructed and well thought out quality bit of gear!

Just one question Ismael, running a duel speaker set up, can I now do away with my BZ booster and just use the recievers inbuilt amp?

many thanks Ismael!