resurrecting old LED lights

[confusedcyclist]

Hi guys,

My parents garage is full of old bikes with accessories ripe for harvesting. Among the bounty so far I have scrounged bike pumps, perfectly good tyre repair kits, spare inner tubes, a saddle bag, pannier rack. Yet the reason for my post this fine afternoon are several sets of LED lights which might save me a few more quid.

These have been stood for 6-8 years with old batteries left in, I've replaced with batteries that I know work and none of the 3 sets worth harvesting are working. I have cleaned the battery contacts of any grime from the old batteries (some yellow deposits, presumably battery acid?) but none of them seem to be working. Is it likely they are beyond repair, there's little in the way of damp down there so its unlikely that has damaged them. This might have been better posted in an electronics forum, but thought I would see if any of you savvy folks have any tips to bring one of these sets back to life?

 

[classic33]

Hi guys,

My parents garage is full of old bikes with accessories ripe for harvesting. Among the bounty so far I have scrounged bike pumps, perfectly good tyre repair kits, spare inner tubes, a saddle bag, pannier rack. Yet the reason for my post this fine afternoon are several sets of LED lights which might save me a few more quid.

These have been stood for 6-8 years with old batteries left in, I've replaced with batteries that I know work and none of the 3 sets worth harvesting are working. I have cleaned the battery contacts of any grime from the old batteries (some yellow deposits, presumably battery acid?) but none of them seem to be working. Is it likely they are beyond repair, there's little in the way of damp down there so its unlikely that has damaged them. This might have been better posted in an electronics forum, but thought I would see if any of you savvy folks have any tips to bring one of these sets back to life?

The corrosion caused by the batteries may well have worked its way along the wires, causing a break. If the contact is made directly to the circuit board then the damage may well have bee passed straight onto it. IF you're able to access the innards check the contacts and and leads coming of them. If the board has been hit then I'd say you'd waste more putting them right than you would on a new set.

 

[RebornBumbler]

LED technology has advanced considerably in the past few years, and I suspect they would bear comparison with an acetylene coach lamp from a century ago even if you got them working!

 

[fabregas485]

If they are cheapie lights your best off throwing them. If not, I would open them and check for any visible corrosion anywhere. Change any small wires etc and if resolder any solder joints to remove the possibility of having dry joints. If they still do not work, you can then use a multimeter and work your way around.

 

[TheDoctor]

TBH, when you can buy a decent LED light in Poundland i wouldn't bother resurrecting old ones.
The contacts will be corroded to fark, so they'll never be any good.

 

[Crankarm]

Don't waste your time, just bin them.

 

[TheDoctor]

Crankarm is right, it's not worth spending the time on them, they'll never work reliably.

 

[Crankarm]

You happen to agree with me …………….

 

[TheDoctor]

Yes. Because you're right

 

[confusedcyclist]

Chucked them!
I only need cheapo replacements in case I get I unexpectedly get caught in drizzle/unexpected poor visibility. As you say. Not worth the unreliability...