Thread: TRAXIDE Dual battery Kits, URGENT Notification

Hi folks, this is to notify any potential customers that I am only manufacturing a limited number of Dual Battery kits for the Discovery 3 and Discovery 4. There will be no other kits produced for the foreseeable future.

The reason for this decision is that late last year I was notified by a couple of my Micro Processor suppliers that the manufacturer of this chip was moving all production from China to the Philippines.

The version of the chip I use was no longer being produced and when the existing stock runs out, there would be no more.

The type of chip I was using is known as a Through-Hole or DIP type chip.

The plant in the Philippines manufactures the same chip but it would only be available in the much smaller sized Surface Mount type or SMD type.

So I purchased a large amount of DIP version and just 20 of the SMD type.

The small number of the SMDs were purchased so I could develop a new Printed Circuit Board ( PCB ) to accommodate the SMD version.

While the program is identical for the two chip types, assembling SMDs is somewhat more difficult and I would needed to acquisition of a very expensive Pick-n-Place machine and additional associated devices.


Over the weekend I decided to do a total cost analysis of both the new equipment and the new PCB.

I was checking the cost of the SMD version of the chip when I discovered that there were none available anywhere in the world and all suppliers, about 30 of them, stated it would be at least 52 weeks before more were available.

Thanks to buying a large quantity of the chips last year, I am left with three options.

1. I just wind the business up ( not happening )
2. I continue manufacturing all the versions and if no new chips became are available, I will run out in about 12 months time.
3. I produce just the main stream kits that have been the backbone of my business for the last 15 years.

This last option will keep me in business for at least the next 2 to 3 years and by that time chips will be available and I will then produce all the kits and Isolators I have been making up to now.

NOTE All Headlight and Driving Light kits are still being produced.

Sorry for any inconvenience these changes may make, but I have no choice.


Also Note, my website is temporarily closed while the new info is being prepared.

Regards, Tim ( aka drivesafe )

Originally Posted by Graeme

A couple of months ago I was faced with not being able to obtain the ICs for 12 months from my regular supplier but then found suppliers on AliExpress. After purchasing the 1st batch to confirm that they were genuine I went to buy more but the supplier had increased the price from around US$4 to US$40 due to the shortage.

Similar happened to me.

When I realised there would be some long lead times, I bought a large quantity, but at near double the normal cost. And it did not matter which supplier I would have used, they all had raised their prices.

Happy with what I did get but wished I had bought a lot more while they were available.

Isn't hindsight great!