Battery Replacements

[Phaetos]

I went through all my lights, including whatever crappy ones I could find today to see what batteries were required and to see how many I had. I have found that I have entirely too many crap lights and not enough good LED lights. I really hate yellow incan lighting, blah. But that's not my dilemma. I can run out and go buy bulk packs of Energizer or Duracell or Rayovac and probably get the same performance and life across the 3 brands, but it seems that can get expensive. Are there good replacement batteries out there for the standard sizes that give more juice and life? I'm looking for AA, AAA, C, D, and the ever expensive CR123. I looked over at battery junction, but their bulk pricing isn't any better than buying it at a B&M. Suggestions?

 

[LukeA]

Sanyo Eneloops or Ravovac Hybrids + a charger for AA/AAA. C/D need a charger that can accomodate them and there aren't any low-self-discharge rechrgeables, just regular NiMH, but those are easy enough to find online. NiMH cells are rated at 1.2V, but operate at 1.4V or so. The rechargeable CR123A is called RCR123A or 16340 (IIRC), and is rated at 3.7V, and operates at 4.2V.

 

[REparsed]

try:

http://www.batteriesandbutter.com

and

http://stores.ebay.com/Battery-Central

 

[Phaetos]

Thanks for the suggestions. I have tried rechargeables before, but they don't seem to last or something. If I charge them and leave them sitting, they are dead before I need them or charge them and put them in something, they still go dead fairly quickly. Maybe newer rechargeables are better.

 

[REparsed]

Thanks for the suggestions. I have tried rechargeables before, but they don't seem to last or something. If I charge them and leave them sitting, they are dead before I need them or charge them and put them in something, they still go dead fairly quickly. Maybe newer rechargeables are better.

I had the same problem with Some Sanyo 2500 NiMh AAs, about 24 of them. From what I've learned there was a problem with that particular batch that made them self discharge much faster than normal.

I continue to have very good luck with a batch of Energizer 2300 NiMh AAs that I picked up at Big Lots about three years ago.

 

[WildChild]

Thanks for the suggestions. I have tried rechargeables before, but they don't seem to last or something. If I charge them and leave them sitting, they are dead before I need them or charge them and put them in something, they still go dead fairly quickly. Maybe newer rechargeables are better.

Yes newer rechargeables are a lot better! NiCd don't have much capacity and they are also hit by self-discharge which explain that they are dead when you need them. They lose 20% of their charge every months. NiMH are newer technology with higher capacity, better than alkaline but they are hit by a 30% self-discharge rate. Worst, usually, highest capacity NiMH (2500 mAh and more) are often hit by higher self-discharge rate and are more prone to fail. Did I discouraged you?

I have a lot of 2500 mAh NiMH cells but yet, self-discharge has only been a problem with Energizer 2500 mAh, made in Japan, known to have problems... They self-discharged completely in 3 days. All other 2500 mAh and more that I have don't have any problem yet... And usually, I empty them within at least 1 month so the 30% of self discharge is also not a problem.

The good news! Like someone said, there are newer NiMH with lower self discharge rate. Look at the Sanyo Eneloop or the Rayovac Hybrid (there are a few other brands). Eneloop are advertized with a 15% self-discharge rate per year. YES, PER YEAR! Yet, they have been tested with approximately a 15% self-discharge rate after 6 month. I have a few and yes, they retain their charge for a longer time. I use them for my camera and they are always ready to use. Also, my girlfriends mother had a lot of problem with her camera with older NiMH. When she had to use it, batteries were always discharged. I bought her some Eneloop and no more problem! She's really satisfied by them.
The "downside" is that the capacity of the Eneloop is only of 2000 mAh. I still think it's a decent capacity for the benefits they bring. Rayovac Hybrid have a 2100 mAh capacity but their self-discharge rate is slightly higher than the Eneloop (advertized at 15% after 6 months).

By the way, I'm sold to rechargeables! I use almost no primaries except in a few lights that last a long time on them or in remote controls and clocks.

I hope it helps you!

 

[Eugene]

Thanks for the suggestions. I have tried rechargeables before, but they don't seem to last or something. If I charge them and leave them sitting, they are dead before I need them or charge them and put them in something, they still go dead fairly quickly. Maybe newer rechargeables are better.

I had the same problem.
#1 the older batteries did have a self discharge issue, a couple years they fixed that with low self discharge batteries such as sanyo eneloop, rayovac hybrid. etc
#2 get a good charger. the retail store chargers are crap, order a MAHA or similar.

I had gave up on rechargeable for a few years and finally gave the new LSD a try a year ago and they do work.

 

[Phaetos]

Ok .. I may look into rechargeables again. What about "smart" chargers? I assume there are ones that detect when the cells are recharged and shut themselves off to prevent overheating of the cells? Do those come from the same manufacturer or should I look at a 3rd party charger?

 

[Phaetos]

GADS! Why didn't someone warn me to sit down before looking at the prices for those Eneloops?!?!! $6 for a 2 pack?!!?!?! You gotta be kidding. Any other suggestions?

 

[SilverFox]

Hello Phaetos,

It sounds like you are not quite ready to make an investment into rechargeable cells. It is expensive to get started, but it pays for itself quite rapidly.

Let's see, $6 for 2 cells... The Eneloop cells are supposed to be good for 1000 charge/discharge cycles, but let's cut that in half. With 2 cells you can get 1000 charge/discharge cycles. $6 divided by 1000 works out to $0.006 per cycle.

Wow, that is expensive... considering that if I purchase 1200 cells at a time I can get Alkaline cells for 30 times that cost and Carbon Zinc cells for 14 times that price, I think you are better off sticking with Alkaline cells... NOT!!!

Tom

 

[Phaetos]

Somewhere in that last post I sense quite a bit of sarcasm, which I wasn't asking for. I'm looking for an economical way to get all these lights powered without having to spend $200 on batteries, may pay for itself in the end of come out even somewhere along the line, but that's ridiculous. Some of us live on budgets and can't justify paying that for batteries. Guess I will stick to 24 pack's of Duracell or Energizer.

 

[NA8]

GADS! Why didn't someone warn me to sit down before looking at the prices for those Eneloops?!?!! $6 for a 2 pack?!!?!?! You gotta be kidding. Any other suggestions?

Oh, they're just joking.

Try here:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000LNI5VC/?tag=cpf0b6-20

Costco has a good deal on Eneloops also at their stores. Couldn't find it on the website. Just bought one the other day. 8 AA and 4 AAA for about $26. They throw in a slow charger and some C/D adaptors too.

Target carries the RayOVac Hybrid batteries which are the same low self discharge kind of thing, 4 for $10. I've got some of them also and they work fine too.

Don't forget a charger:

AA/AAA:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817355012

AA/AAA/C/D:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817355001

 

[WildChild]

GADS! Why didn't someone warn me to sit down before looking at the prices for those Eneloops?!?!! $6 for a 2 pack?!!?!?! You gotta be kidding. Any other suggestions?

6$ for 2 pack?? Lucky... They are 30$CAD for 4 here in store, in Canada! You may try to find the Rayovac Hybrid at Wal-Mart. Here they are 15$ for 4, cheapest price you can find NiMH here in store.

 

[SilverFox]

Hello Phaetos,

You are wrong... My post did not contain a "bit of sarcasm," it was totally sarcastic - except for the first sentence.

I apologize.

I still stand by my first sentence. It does not sound like you are ready to invest in rechargeable technology.

The problem with trying to get into rechargeable batteries on a shoestring budget is that you will have a tendency to put price ahead of value. You will then have a similar experience to your flashlight purchases. You will end up with a drawer full of crap cells and crap chargers and have a bad taste toward rechargeable cells.

Get yourself a small batch of Alkaline cells, and try to save up enough to get something like the Eneloop pack that Costco is carrying. That would give you a great introduction into rechargeable cells.

Tom

 

[Phaetos]

Silverfox, no harm taken. I do understand sarcasm when I see it. I can hang with the 8 pack link that was given. That is a good price, but when I saw $6 for a 2pk, and I need at least 12 AA's, . I will make the attemp to give some Eneloops a shot and see how they work out. I do thank you all for the information given.

 

[gromit]

I was very reluctant to purchase the eneloops with the bad experience I had with Energizer rechargeable, threw away probably $50 worth this year. I bit the bullet and purchased a set with a "smart charger" found a great deal on a La Crosse. So far so good, great shelf life and last a LONG time, many times better than the Energizers ever did in my lights and remotes. I purchased another 2 sets of "open box" sets from Amazon.

 

[Phaetos]

Can someone explain why I need a $90 charger for $20 worth of batteries? And don't say anything about reluctant to plunge into rechargeables, I already heard that one

 

[Eugene]

Most any NiMh charger is a smart charger, its just that most are not as smart as the better ones.
Do you have an HHGreg store near you? They have the best price on eneloop batteries. I've bought almost 4 dozen this year alone at $7.99 a pack of 4. Spread out over a several months its not that bad, the most I bought at one time was 4 packs.

 

[JamisonM]

I went through all my lights, including whatever crappy ones I could find today to see what batteries were required and to see how many I had. I have found that I have entirely too many crap lights and not enough good LED lights. I really hate yellow incan lighting, blah. But that's not my dilemma. I can run out and go buy bulk packs of Energizer or Duracell or Rayovac and probably get the same performance and life across the 3 brands, but it seems that can get expensive. Are there good replacement batteries out there for the standard sizes that give more juice and life? I'm looking for AA, AAA, C, D, and the ever expensive CR123. I looked over at battery junction, but their bulk pricing isn't any better than buying it at a B&M. Suggestions?

Phaetos, may I ask what kind of lights and how many you're buying batteries for? I'd like to hear the details of the lights before I start making any recommendations.

 

[Phaetos]

I got 2AA MiniMag with 3LED upgrade, Dorcy Metal Gear 1W, 2D Mag LED 3W, some 2D offbrand junkers, a couple offbrand multi-led that use 3AAA carriers(actually good little lights), spare radio that uses C cells, Coleman lantern that uses 4D, another Coleman that uses 4D. And that's just a few of them. I really need to get some more good LED's, but I don't have money for those that I really like and see on here. The ones I'm most wanting to get batteries for are the minimag, Dorcy, and 2D Mag and the multi-led 3AAA's. The rest are old incan bulbs or some crappy yellow krypton bulb.