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#181579 - 12/30/13 11:47 PM Re: Steripen experience? [Re: Rick_D]
lori Offline
member

Registered: 01/22/08
Posts: 2801
Originally Posted By Rick_D
That's pretty cool!

Katadyn makes smallish RO units. Not cheap, not small, not light, but they'll do in a pinch. Maybe kayaking in Baja, or something like that?

Katadyn Survivor


A steal at $1195!
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#184855 - 05/05/14 12:08 AM Re: Steripen experience? [Re: bobito9]
bobito9 Offline
member

Registered: 01/25/08
Posts: 408
well, since my last posting, I had an excellent string of good luck with my steripen...until a couple weeks ago! Actually it wasn't the pen itself itself, but rather some brand new batteries straight out of the plastic wrap that were defective. Very irritating, seeing as how as I was in the backcountry. I boiled water...til my fuel ran out. Oy! But it was a great trip all the same. And I still like my steripen.

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#184856 - 05/05/14 12:13 AM Re: Steripen experience? [Re: bobito9]
Rick_D Offline
member

Registered: 01/06/02
Posts: 2939
Loc: NorCal
Super-picky about batteries. A definite point of caution with any of the CR132 UV units I've used. Some cells simply do not work.

Get a CR132 flashlight for your rejects, they'll work fine there.
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#184885 - 05/05/14 07:16 PM Re: Steripen experience? [Re: Rick_D]
bobito9 Offline
member

Registered: 01/25/08
Posts: 408
Actually, I didn't give quite the whole story. I figured that perhaps only one of the new pair was defective. As it turned out, this must've been true and I was able to take the one good new battery and combine it with one of the old used-up batteries and make the pen work for about a day.

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#185001 - 05/09/14 05:59 PM Re: Steripen experience? [Re: bobito9]
BarryP Offline
member

Registered: 03/04/04
Posts: 1574
Loc: Eastern Idaho
Would you share with us the brand of bad battery? Inquiring minds want to know.
Thanx,
-Barry

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#185003 - 05/10/14 12:02 AM Re: Steripen experience? [Re: BarryP]
bobito9 Offline
member

Registered: 01/25/08
Posts: 408
Sure. I bought them at Grainger, the building and maintenence materials supply house. It is packaged under there house name, don't know the manufacturer. Lithium CR123A type (some steris use other battery types). Interestingly, when I was buying them, I noticed another pack with obviously corroded batteries inside. However, despite my problem with them, I'm going to keep buying them I guess, because I get a huge discount through my company, 90% off. I pay 80 cents apiece, and generally they have done fine (my headlamp also uses them)
That said, what brands are truly the most reliable? There are times when reliability is of the utmost importance

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#185011 - 05/10/14 03:42 PM Re: Steripen experience? [Re: bobito9]
OregonMouse Online   content
member

Registered: 02/03/06
Posts: 6799
Loc: Gateway to Columbia Gorge
I buy brand name batteries (Everready or Duracell), generally, or at least supposedly, more reliable. I gave up on Steripen a few years ago--couldn't get it to work even with the directions along and my electrical engineer son helping, My summer headlamp (Petzl e+lite) and my bathroom scale also use the CR123 batteries. I'd rather pay more and risk less than get the cheaper generic or house brand batteries.

IMHO, your water treatment system should have a backup when taken into the wilds. Katadyn or Aqua Mira chlorine dioxide tablets weigh next to nothing, certainly a lot less than the extra fuel and fuss required to boil water if your electronic gizmo or filter give out. I've had both happen!



Edited by OregonMouse (05/10/14 03:50 PM)
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