Best batteries for my use

[lovenhim]

Hello everyone. I am trying to determain if I should buy primary or rechargeable batteries for the way I use a flashlight. I need to purchase batteries. I have AAA and CR123 lights. I am not a hardcore user. I do not use my Quark 123 regular or Preon 2 for an hour a day. I use my lights to spot check mainly so they run a few minites at a time or for a few seconds. For this application would i simply be better off with primary batteries? Which brands do you think are best suited for me? I see CR123's for $1 each and some for more, so is it worth paying more for ZXY brand, or just get the cheapies? Should I use alkiline or lithium AAA"s? In my case do you think rechargeables are worth the investment?

 

[lightwait]

For the AAA, I vote for eneloops. I would not put alkalines in any quality light and leave them for possible weeks or months. Emergency, sure, but I would not store the light with alkalines installed. I haven't played with AAA lithiums in a light. Try a pack if you want and see how long they last. If you get what you consider good hassle free value, then that might be better than worrying about charging. No alkalines.

As for the Quark 123, I say buy 10 or so primaries and then decide. I would go with cheap ones. It's a big step to get involved with lithium rechargeables. I have a number of them and have been using them for awhile. No doubt, its great to not give a thought to 'wasting' the battery. I had some primaries sitting around for a couple of years so 2 months back I put one in my Quark for a change. I use my light for a number of tasks everyday and 2 months later its still going strong. So I'm rethinking the lithium rechargeables for my present usage. With low usage, it might be harder for you to judge how much you have used the cell, so you will be swapping out batteries every few weeks just in case. You really don't want to run them dry and if you do, the light goes out, no warning. With primaries, you will know when to change the cell and I'm betting you will be happy with your mileage.

 

[jasonck08]

AAA definitely go with eneloops.

For the 123 light, go with primaries if you think you will replace the batteries only about 10x a year. If your going to replace them more often then that, you might want to invest in a charger and some RCR123's.

 

[lovenhim]

OK so it looks like for my use primaries are the way to go for CR123, now next question and a search shows me that this has been beat to death, so I will ask it again. Is a battery tester/DMM worth having to make sure my primaries are ok for use.....or just keep a spare on you and do not worry about it? Also I see battery testers can test under a load to check the life left vs. just telling a voltage, so again is it worth the extra $15 or so to know? Where is the best place to get CR123 batteries from? I see good prices at some places but when you add shipping you end up with a price close to other places that are offering free shipping, etc.