Several broken battery packs for DS125 and DS160 strobes have been traced to a material inconsistency. Battery packs produced between Sept '07 and Nov '08 are subject to this flaw in the central black plastic mounting piece.

A date code with the format MM/YY is etched on each pack opposite the product number #4066.5. Packs produced after Nov '08 or which have been returned to Ikelite for any reason since Dec '08 have been updated to a newer style toggle pawl. This appears to have corrected the issue.

We recommend the updating of these battery packs as a preventative maintenance measure. If you have a broken toggle pawl or a battery pack within the above date range in its original condition, toggle replacement kits are available. Within the U.S., Canada and Caribbean please contact the office at ikelite@ikelite.com or 317.923.4523. Overseas customers please contact your local Ikelite Distributor. Please have the date code(s) of your battery packs ready when calling or e-mailing.

As always, battery packs may be returned directly to Ikelite for updating with no prior authorization required.

Newer Smart Chargers can be used on both NiMH and NiCad battery packs. The #4066.1 Smart Charger may be used with NiMH or NiCad batteries for Substrobes DS125, DS160 and DS200. The #1403.4 Smart Charger may be used with NiMH or NiCad batteries for our Pro Video and SpD Lite systems.

Older Smart Chargers #4063.1 and #1403.1 should NOT be used with newer NiMH packs. The older chargers may appear to be compatible, but use will cause irreparable damage to the NiMH cells.

The Substrobe Smart Charger #4066.1 is NOT interchangeable with the SpD/Pro Video Smart Charger #1403.4.

Yes! Our newer NiMH battery packs can be used in place of your old NiCads.

#4063.5 Substrobes 200, DS200
#4066.5 Substrobes DS125, DS160
#1400.8 Pro Video Lite II, 3, SpD Lite

The #1400.8 battery pack also requires a #1401.1 pouch and #1401.4 mount kit or #1401.3 tank strap for attachment to an existing system. See the Component Parts page for more details.

Always store your packs in a dry location at a temperature of less than 30°C (86°F). You will not damage your pack by storing it for long periods of time without charging it. Approximately 20-40% of the packs capacity will drain when left idle for a month. This is normal and unavoidable. The lost capacity will be recovered after two or three charger/discharge cycles.

You may wish to charge your battery pack every couple of months to maintain its capacity for peak performance on the first few uses your next dive trip.

Ni-cad batteries will loose approximately 2% of their charge per day. Recharging after thirty days will assure a full charge before use. The pack should be charged at least every three to six months if not used. Do not leave a pack completely discharged.

NEVER is the best single word answer. This awful recommendation is an old misconception. Complete discharge may allow one of the cells to reverse polarity, and it may cause the cell to vent and/or cause permanent damage. Batteries should NEVER be subjected to a complete deep discharge. In defense of the complete discharge theory, it may be a necessary procedure for a pack that is not operating correctly.

All Ikelite battery backs are supplied with the finest industrial grade cells available. We receive regular reports of ten year old packs that operate fine, but this is not a realistic expectation.

Newer NiMH packs have an expected lifetime of approximately 700 charge cycles. Older NiCad battery packs have an expected lifetime of approximately 300 charge cycles.

We can perform a load test on your battery pack and offer a reduced exchange price if replacement is recommended. Old battery packs and/or cells will NOT be returned in the case of replacement at a reduced rate.

Please refer to the section on Smart Chargers to determine whether your charger should be returned at the same time.

We did! See: 4067 Battery Pack for DS125, DS160 and DS161 Substrobes.

The center contact of the receptacle into which you plug the charger has a split pin that can get squeezed together preventing good electrical continuity. Take something like a small screwdriver and spread the center pin slightly so it provides a snug fit with the plug. The socket is diode protected to only allow electricity "in" so you do not need to worry about a short circuit if you touch the side of the socket.

This style charger is less tolerant of voltage fluctuations and does run hotter with 50 cycle input. Unstable input encountered by the traveling diver can cause failure in this style charger. These are sealed units that can not be repaired. We no longer have new #4052 units available for replacement.