Ikelite Lithium Batteries

Hello all.

I've been offered a killer deal for some Ikelite DS161 strobes. They have not been used in many years, and have lithium ion battery packs. i have read some negative things about the lithium battery packs online, but nothing concrete about what to look for or how to know the longevity of these batteries. I don't really want to spend a large sum upgrading to Nimh if I don't have to right off the bat. 

Any suggestions on if I should still purchase these strobes(they are allowing me to test them out), and suggestions of how to determine if the lithium batteries will be usable for the long run? Or any other valuable information!

Thanks

Michael

There are lots different opinions about strobes. I've used Ikelite DS161 strobes for nearly ten years and produced excellent images. The strobes are well-made and robust. The design of the strobes greatly reduces potential flooding issues.

Mine originally came with lithium ion battery packs. I never had issues with those original battery packs. Ikelite eventually decided to stop making the lithium ion battery packs and offered a trade-in program to exchange lithium ion packs for nicad packs. I did the trade-in program back in 2016. If you're interested in switching to the Nimh, you can check with Ikelite and see if they are still offering the exchange program. The cost of the exchange was not huge.

I occasionally run into photographers who are still using their lithium ion batteries on their DS161 and DS160 strobes. None have indicated encountering any problems with charging. Ikelite told me they switched back to regular nicad battery packs because they were having problems getting the resources needed to continue building lithium ion packs.

I do monthly maintenance on all my strobes regardless of whether or not I get to go diving. Those 2016 nicad battery packs are still performing very well. I closely monitor charging all of the nicads I use. Should you ever need the strobes serviced, Ikelite's service department is excellent.

A lot of people probably did the exchange program in 2016. I picked up a couple of used DS160 strobes this past summer and the nicad packs were made in 2016. Another photographer I dive with also picked up some used DS160 strobes during the summer and his had nicad packs made in 2016.

I run other brands of strobes on some of the camera systems I've assembled for student use. I've got some Sea & Sea and old Nikonos strobes. These lack the robust build of my Ikelites.

If you're interested in seeing what you can do with Ikelite DS161 strobes, take a look at my website: www.cortezbluephotography.com.

-Tinman

Assuming you are happy with condition of the strobes themselves and the reputation, size, performance etc. -  I would suggest buying on the basis that you will need to buy two new battery packs.  Li batteries are slow to self discharge but will eventually reach a state where you can't recharge them. Sitting idle is the biggest concern.  In another words set the price on the basis you may need to buy new battery packs.   

This article talks about the issue:  https://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/low_voltage_cut_off

If they turn on the above is not a problem.  This article discusses ageing in Li-ion batteries and may be a useful read as well.

https://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/how_to_prolong_lithium_based_batteries

It's probably worth noting that all recharagable batteries eventually reach a point where recharging isn't possible. This is true regardless of whether the batteries are lithium ion or regular nicad.

The manufacturer of the rechargeable AA nicad batteries I use in my Sea & Sea and Nikonos strobes predicts that their batteries can be recharged 2100+ times. Personally, I think that's a bit optomistic. But, I'll be happy if their prediction is correct. Reduced battery life is the primary reason that I trade in my cell phone every few years for a new one. It's also the reason I've got a couple of old notebook computers stashed in a closet. The computers work when plugged in, but the batteries are dead.

Eventually, I will have to replace my long-lived Ikelite DS161 battery packs. I wouldn't let the Ikelite lithium ion battery packs be a deal killer. This is especially true if the strobes and lithium ion battery packs are working.

My monthly maintenance routine on my Ikelite strobes and battery packs includes exercising the strobe capacitors and putting a fresh charge on the battery packs. Both parts of this routine are easy.

Exercising the capacitors requires hooking the strobes to a camera via a housing, firing the strobes and allowing the strobes to recycle. Like rechargable batteries, capacitors can deteriorate with age and stop working it left sitting for prolonged periods of time. 

Putting a fresh charge on the Ikelite battery packs involves draining the batteries by placing the assembled DS161 in a bucket of ice water, turning the strobe's video light on and leaving it on until a check of the power indicator lights  show that the strobe is low on power. For me, if all of the power indicator lights are off, it's time to recharge the battery. I do not discharge battery power until the video light stops working.

If you decide not to purchase those DS161 strobes, please drop me a PM. I may know some people who are looking for a good deal on some used DS161 strobes.

-Tinman

The current Ikelite battery backs are NiMH.  They did use NiCad many years ago, but switched to NiMH with the exception of the brief experiment with LiON.

If Ikelite is still offering the replacement of LiON for NiMH I would take advantage of that. If a manufacturer is going to that much trouble to swap them out I would take the hint.

Great points Dave!

I tend refer to any rechargeable batteries that aren't Lithium-ion as NiCd (nicad) and NiMH batteries aren't the same as NiCd. I undoubtedly need to use correct terminology when tossing my opinions out there. Thanks for providing correct information.

It's good to know that Ikelite is still doing the exchange program. At the time I exchanged my battery packs, I didn't consider the out-of-pocket expense unreasonable for new battery packs and chargers.

-Tinman

Thank you all for the responses!

Ikelite is still doing the exchange program, but only for models 2016 and after. Unfortunately these strobes are older than 2016.

Waiting to see if the price will drop, to help lessen the sting of buying new batteries!