GarageBoy
Flashlight Enthusiast
Should I be running alkys or eneloops in my graphing calc. I burn through a set of Alkys each semester. Not sure if its "high drain" enough
AAAs for graphing calculators...NiMh or Alkys?
- Thread starter GarageBoy
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2xTrinity
Flashlight Enthusiast
Regular NiMH cells won't work -- they will self-discharge over the course of months. Low self-discharge (LSD) cells such as Sanyo eneloops should work. If you're going to use rechargeable cells for anything, I'd recommending buying a whole bunch of AA and AAA eneloops and a multi-bay charger. With the introduction of those kinds of batteries it's possible to use them to run all your devices and never need to buy disposables again.
SilverFox
Flashaholic
Hello GarageBoy,
If you went with the Eneloop AAA cells, you would probably have to recharge mid-semester, and at the end of the semester. If you can live with that, go for it.
Tom
If you went with the Eneloop AAA cells, you would probably have to recharge mid-semester, and at the end of the semester. If you can live with that, go for it.
Tom
GarageBoy
Flashlight Enthusiast
No use running Lithiums?
kongfuchicken
Flashlight Enthusiast
Not unless you plan on using it in extremely cold climate...
Mr Happy
Flashlight Enthusiast
Let's say it costs you $1 a semester to feed your calculator with alkalines. That means it is going to cost you $2 a year, or about $8-$10 over the entire time you own and use the calculator. There is no way to save money by using other batteries with such a small running cost. If you already own a charger, then $10 on a set of NiMH cells like Rayovac Hybrids or Uniross Hybrios might save you a few pennies.
Is it really worth the effort of worrying about it?
Is it really worth the effort of worrying about it?
Do you loose any settings or programming when changing batteries? If so the less often you change the better.
2xTrinity
Flashlight Enthusiast
A coin cell is usually included to keep the memory powered while changing batteries.
NeonLights
Flashlight Enthusiast
I've had a TI-83 and TI-85 for going on ten years now, used them in school at first, and now I use them around the house almost daily as I like the multi-line display better than regular single-line calculators. At least one, if not both of them came with the rechargeable "Renewal" alkalines that were on the market some years back, I ended up getting a charger and using the Renewal cells for a few years, but have since just switched to regular alkalines. With my use I change each of them once or twice a year, not worth the hassle of rechargeables in this instance IMHO.
On a TI-84 If you change the batteries with the calculator on, it clears the RAM (meaning you lose the history of calculations, variables stored, programs and y= on the graph menu, the apps are not deleted). As someone said bfore, the button cell prevents the memory from clearing when changing them.
Bones
Enlightened
I have a cordless mouse that used to burn up a set of Duracell Ultra AAA alkylines every six months or so.
Thinking it would discharge Eneloops at about the same rate, I conducted a test discharge on a pair after almost 5 months in the mouse.
I was pleasantly surprised to note they still had over 700mAh of capacity remaining, which indicates they will easily go for six months, and perhaps even a year in the mouse before actually 'requiring' a charge.
I have been using Eneloops in all my low drain devices, and although it's only been seven months or so since I started, I have yet to test one that is even close to being discharged.
I say go for it and save yourself some money in the long run, and better yet, toss a lot fewer alkylines in the 'recyle' bin in the process.
Notwithstanding the dismal longevity of the typical 2500mAh NiMH cells, I have four 1700mAh Sanyo Twicells dated 02 2003 that are still going strong.
I don't think it's unreasonable to project an equivilant livespan for the sturdy Eneloop.
jzmtl
Flashlight Enthusiast
Even my TI 92+ barely use any power, and a set of alkaline last a long time. The trouble/cost of rechargable is not worth it, stick with alkaline.
I take it you never owned a HP graphical calculator. You wont see the end of the _first_ month with a battery charge on my hp48g.
All graphical calculators that use batteries as big as AAAs (opposed to coin cells) are not that frugal in their power requirements.
So i would use NiMh.
Even though it isn't exactly on-topic: My oldest set is a set of Sanyo Twicells 1600mAh which I got in 2000 or thereabouts. That set is still close to 1500mAH capacity, with fairly low self- discharge, much lower than, for instance, my sets of Sanyo 2700mAh.
Hans
GarageBoy
Flashlight Enthusiast
I'm running an HP50G...I swap the batts in it 2x before I do it in my Ti83. (sure, I use the 50 more, but jeez its power hungry)
Mr_Light
Enlightened
I have switched over to Eneloops in everything. One additional factor is that I have had at least four alkaline cells leak in the last year in various devices (mostly off brand). I understand that the NiMH cells almost never leak (different chemistry) which was the final deciding factor in my switch over.
LEDninja
Flashlight Enthusiast
Alkalines tend to leak if left in a device too long.
NiMH including Eneloops tend to die quite abruptly so recharge them long before they are fully discharged. See Silverfox's advice post 3.
NiMH including Eneloops tend to die quite abruptly so recharge them long before they are fully discharged. See Silverfox's advice post 3.
TorchBoy
Flashlight Enthusiast
I would personally say alkalines because they'll last so long there's probably no economic advantage in using Eneloops in it - and a bummer if they suddenly die - but I've never had major problems with leaking alkalines destroying equipment.
Probably, TI's aren't that power hungry, at least the TI-84 isn't
