Are you concerned the availability of batteries?

[Centropolis]

With a lot of our flashlights using 'specialty' rechargeable batteries, like 10180s, 17670s and 18650s….is anyone worried about the fact that some day, these batteries will not be produced in the future? That you will not have batteries to run the nice expensive Drake and Wee Ti you have in 5 years after your original batteries become useless?
Does this affect your purchase decisions?

 

[moldyoldy]

With a lot of our flashlights using 'specialty' rechargeable batteries, like 10180s, 17670s and 18650s….is anyone worried about the fact that some day, these batteries will not be produced in the future? That you will not have batteries to run the nice expensive Drake and Wee Ti you have in 5 years after your original batteries become useless?
Does this affect your purchase decisions?

Well, the AAA (Micro) and AA (Mignon) formats are sold all over this planet, including in the Middle East and Far East. Those sizes are more popular than the C and D cells. The CR123 size is widely used by military and law enforcement because of the 3volt with good capacity in a small size. The 18650 or variations thereof are the common cell inside of laptop batteries - some disassembly required.... The CR123 and 18650 cell have the same voltage. Coin-cell lights are of the 2016 thru 2032 persuasion.

Products available in the last couple years have focused on the availability of higher current draw resulting in the need for Ni-MH rechargeable or lithium-something cells, so those sizes are stable. The real problem starts with the rechargeable batteries used in cameras and cell phones. Because of consumer demand for a small size and light weight, that drives the designs to use custom rechargeable batteries. The is no attempt at compatibility, except maybe w/in a brand.

However, batteries are dependent on usage. While I have observed some cell phones in Germany using AA cells, most cell phones have a custom battery. Laptops and cameras normally use custom batteries. There are some specialty devices such as night-vision lights, but this really leaves only flashlight usage as the driving factor for cell sizes. I have flashlights accepting AAA, AA, CR123, and 18650 cells. I prefer the single-cell lights due to size and EDC'ability. My living experience in Europe/Germany indicates that EDC'ability without looking like you are carrying a flashlight is highly preferred. That preference strongly favors single cell flashlights.

To directly answer your question - I use primarily AAA/AA/CR123 sized flashlights. I have complete confidence that I will have cells and batteries available in 5 years for the flashlights I currently have - although given the LED advances, I will probably have other much higher output flashlights in 5 years. For custom devices, check out Amazon.com or eBay or ... not much hope there.

 

[moldyoldy]

Added comment - I have complete confidence that there will be chargers for the rechargeable AAA/AA/RCR123 cell sizes available in 5 years as well.

 

[gswitter]

With a lot of our flashlights using 'specialty' rechargeable batteries, like 10180s, 17670s and 18650s….is anyone worried about the fact that some day, these batteries will not be produced in the future? That you will not have batteries to run the nice expensive Drake and Wee Ti you have in 5 years after your original batteries become useless?

18650's are ubiquitous, so I don't worry about those. I doubt 16340's will be a problem either. I do worry about other sizes.

Does this affect your purchase decisions?

Absolutely. To date, I've only bought one light that requires Li-ions other than 18650's (and I sort of regret that one exception). I will buy parts to take advantage of other Li-ion sizes, but not complete lights that are dependent upon them.

 

[Centropolis]

To directly answer your question - I use primarily AAA/AA/CR123 sized flashlights. I have complete confidence that I will have cells and batteries available in 5 years for the flashlights I currently have - although given the LED advances, I will probably have other much higher output flashlights in 5 years. For custom devices, check out Amazon.com or eBay or ... not much hope there.

I agree with you that I don't think AAs, AAAs, and CR123s are going away any time soon. I was thinking more about the batteries we use in a Wee or a 18650-based flashlight.

 

[Black Rose]

I only purchase/use AA, AAA, D, and CR123 based lights.
Those battery types are very common and I don't expect them to disappear.

I considered getting into 18650 lights, but didn't want to have to get another charger and have to order cells online.
I have not purchased RCR123 cells because I currently do not consider them to be worth it for my usage, at least until they can get the capacity closer to primaries, so I only use CR123 primary cells.

 

[paulr]

While I have observed some cell phones in Germany using AA cells, most cell phones have a custom battery.

(OT) I have been looking all over for a phone that uses AA cells. Do you happen to know if any of the ones you saw in Germany are still in production? Who was the manufacturer? Thanks.

 

[Bones]

Oops...

 

[lctorana]

(OT) I have been looking all over for a phone that uses AA cells...

My old analog Motorola MicroTac took 5 AAs..

 

[Illum]

I'm constantly paranoid about the availability of CR2s so I try to stock up where ever I can find them.

Batteries like BR435, A544, ER14505 would be what I'd consider the first to disappear

 

[etc]

No, I have enough cells for a long time...


It does however introduce a logistical nightmare at times.

I mostly use variations of AA size (NiMH, L91, etc.) but often enough 18500 and 123 as backup to it.

the other day I had with me:
Canon digicam (4xAA), Garmin GPS 60CSx (2xAA), a Uniden radio (3xAA) and also Surefire 9P with M60 conversion as well as 18500 body, with 2x18500.

I had spare 123 cells and 18500.
Of course the Digicam decides to deplete its Eneloop cells.
check my pockets, no spare AA cells.

Had to deplete the GPS and the radio to get the cells for the camera. That's the good thing about using the same cell in everything, you can shift resources.

 

[Burgess]

Well, i certainly know what you mean . . . .


40 years ago ( ! ), i got a device called

the Burgess Safari Light.


Took a very specialized, unusual battery ( 2 at a time ),

which became harder and harder to find, as the years went by.

Also became more and more Expen$ive, over the years.


Eventually, you could only locate them by Special Order.


Then, alas, they were no longer available At All !

:sigh:

_

 

[lctorana]

And?

What was the battery? You can't leave a story there!

 

[moldyoldy]

(OT) I have been looking all over for a phone that uses AA cells. Do you happen to know if any of the ones you saw in Germany are still in production? Who was the manufacturer? Thanks.

Hmm, when my older daughter was studying at the University in Graz, she had a low-cost Handy (cell phone) that used AA or AAA cells. It was a pay-as-you-go Handy on either E-Plus or O2. It was an inline Handy, not a flip phone. She thought it was too cheap with dubious reception, but it was functional. I did not open it up, she told me that it used conventional cells. I assumed AA or AAA cells.

Also in Sommer 2004, just as I exited the U-Bahn in Frankfurt late afternoon, I noticed a woman stopped to swap out cylindrical cells in her Handy - AA or AAA cells I did not notice. also an in-line cell phone.

To my thinking, the idea is good - no worry about running down an Akku/rechargeable cell with no Mains outlet (240VAC) in sight. The issue is that in Germany, Mains outlets in public areas are not common. Try to find a Mains outlet in the public areas of the Muenchen Hauptbahnhof! (Main Train Station). Now the modern digital cameras nearly all use custom batteries - on a trip, at least one charged spare is highy advised.

This information seems old. Since the last sighting in 2004 I have not noticed any cylindrical battery-based cell phones in Germany, Austria, or Switzerland. I suspect that all cellular phone designers converted to custom batteries because of higher capacity. Sorry.

 

[Burgess]

For those of you interested in the Burgess Safari Light,

here's a link to the wonderful FlashlightMuseum website:


http://www.flashlightmuseum.com/Bur...ld-Burgess-Yellow-Label-2-69V-646-or-246-1965


It is (or was) a Fluorescent-tube, handle-carried light,
which required two 69-volt batteries !

The Eveready number was # 646.


Ridiculously big and heavy, by modern standards, i admit.


_

 

[LuxLuthor]

For those of you interested in the Burgess Safari Light,

here's a link to the wonderful FlashlightMuseum website:


http://www.flashlightmuseum.com/Bur...ld-Burgess-Yellow-Label-2-69V-646-or-246-1965


It is (or was) a Fluorescent-tube, handle-carried light,
which required two 69-volt batteries !

The Eveready number was # 646.


Ridiculously big and heavy, by modern standards, i admit.


_

It seems likely that a rechargeable replacement could be made to fit in that old battery model's space. In any case, once a light or any other device reaches a point of being obsolete and unsupportable, that is what museums and landfills are for.

 

[lctorana]

In any case, once a light or any other device reaches a point of being obsolete and unsupportable, that is what museums and landfills are for.

Ohhh!

Wash your mouth out with soap!

 

[LuxLuthor]

Ohhh!

Wash your mouth out with soap!

OK, correction: That is what museums and third world countries' landfills are for.

 

[Illum]

Ohhh!

Wash your mouth out with soap!

the truth hurts, and Lux is quite effective at times of emphesis:nana:
To the economist, clinging to something that require high opportunity costs to yield a little little marginal benefit is just scrap spent sentiment

still..I can't think of a reason why a florscent lamp would require 2 69V batteries...unless the battery weighs a ton its probably got a capacity rating in the 100ths of mah

 

[baterija]

Then, alas, they were no longer available At All !

Check the bottom of the comments on the flashlight museum page ...sounds like batteries plus can get them. I have an image of a youtube video where someone cuts one open and 46 AAA batteries in series fall out..