Automobile emergency kit requirements requested

[txmatt]

Saildude, what is you maintenance/recharge regime on those Eneloops?

I've had a walkie talkie kept in the car with Eneloops be completely dead when I went to use it, even with no use. I don't think it spent more than 4-6 months without charging, which should be well within the Eneloop self-discharge horizon. I'm guessing the temperature swings, or more specifically time spent at high temperatures here in Texas, sped up the self-discharge. As such, I now use lithium AA's only in any stored-in-car device that I might need to rely on.

 

[saildude]

I put the lights in the car in December so this is at the start. My thoughts are to run a form cycle every 6 months oh a MaHa C800S or C9000.

I am in Seattle so the temperatures so far have been mild. I had not thought about early discharge because of environment. Maybe I will hang a couple of cells in the air from the furnace register and see what happens.

Does the radio use maintenance current? A marine stereo I have uses a small amount of current to keep the station settings and clock running - not a problem if the battery is charged every few days like an automobile is but a problem if the radio is left turned off but with power to it.

Maybe SilverFox has done environmental testing of the Eneloops - of post the temperature question in Batteries etc.

mb

 

[txmatt]

I don't recall having issues with the same radio in the house becoming discharged when not used.

These obersvations are by no means scientific or controlled and I don't even know for sure how long it was in the car. It's just that you might want to check the state of charge periodically to make sure they hold a charge as long as you'd like. Nothing worse than having dead batteries when you need to use something.

 

[Buck91]

What about something like the 1W ROV Sportsman Extreme? Its not the most impressive light out there, but advertised 5hrs runtime on 2AA powering a LUX1 (IIRC) and it has always struck me as a stout light. I believe its right at $20 most places. Or how about a 2 or 3 AA minimag led? I don't know pricing on those off the top of my head though.

 

[cgiammarco]

What about those rayovac 3aa headlamps that costco has for around $15 and you can buy some of those lithium aa's for them? they even have a little flashing red led on the battery box on the back of your head and they include 3 aa alkalines in the package... I know an average person wouldn't know what to do with a headlamp, but if they're smart enough to change a tire themselves i am sure they can figure out how to use a headlamp effectively...