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Backcountry Battery Connections — Ortovox, Black Diamond — Beacons, Headlamps

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Headlamps for backcountry skiing./></td> </tr> <tr> <td class=Black Diamond Ion Headlamp crosses the species barrier.

The Ortovox beacon recall got me thinking about battery connections in the different electronic devices we use for backcountry skiing. Alkaline batteries have are dense and heavy — when subjected to shock loads they move with significant force(presumably that’s at least part of the reason for the Ortovox problems).

I’ve had 2-way radios quit after a day of jiggling bent the battery contacts, and have also had the problem with many flashlights and headlamps. Our favorite smaller headlamp is the Black Diamond Ion. One iteration of the Ion headlamp had this problem as well — and was quietly fixed by Black Diamond. Props to BD for an effective and subtle redesign! Details in photo below.

Internals of Ion headlamp to left show new battery holder design, with a nice spring to absorb shock and fatigue. Headlamp to right is older design, the small metal tabs in the battery compartment would fatigue and compress, and had to be modified by gently bending them back out and placing small chunks of cardboard behind them.

Posted by Lou on September 28, 2005 | Filed Under Misc Gear Reviews 

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Welcome to Louis (Lou) Dawson's backcountry skiing information and opinion website. Lou's passion for the past forty years has been alpinism, climbing, mountaineering and skiing -- along with all manner of outdoor recreation. He has authored numerous books and articles about backcountry skiing and is well known as the first person to ski down all 54 of Colorado's 14,000-foot peaks, otherwise known as the Fourteeners! Books and free back country information here, and tons of Randonnee rando telemark info.

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