D-cell NIMH question

[lightseeker2009]

I've received my Osram Crosser 3-LED spotlight yesterday. When comparing its output to my Fenix TA21 it is a little brighter so I would put its lumen rating at between 225 and 280 lumens. More than enough what I will use this light with.

The only thing that dissappoint me about this light is the batteries it uses. D-cells.
I dont have a problem with D-Cells but I thought this light will operate with a Lead-acid like all the other spotlights, including other LED spotlights I own. So I had to buy Alkalines just to test it. I want to get D-size NIMH's for it but I've spotted a potential problem.

On this light even on the positive tab there is a spring. That spring is bigger than the positive tab of a battery. The D-cells I've bought works as there is metal from the possitive tab to almost at the sides of the battery. But looking at NIMH D-cells I dont see this metal. This means the rechargeble batteries won't make contact at all.

Have anyone had a problem like this before? How did you fix it?

I only paid something like $4.00 for the set of 4 D-cells so I could continue to use them but I prefer rechargebles as I dont like using throw away batteries.

I've been looking at Titanium 12000MAH's how are they? Could they hold a charge for lets say 3 months?

 

[Sub_Umbra]

Perhaps a rare earth magnet in the shape of a thin washer would help.

I've done well with lower end 10 mAh NiMH in D, but I think three months is stretching it.

 

[Groundhog]

You could take an Xacto knife and carefully cut away some of the little plastic insulator around the + terminal. Don't score the metal underneath at all. That probably wouldn't be good. Haven't tried it myself. You could maybe even ditch the whole plastic washer if you can sneak it out from under the wrapper.

I've gotten 3 months out of my Powerex 11000 mAh D's in a 3-D MagLite that is rarely used.

I don't have an analyzer so I can't share any graphs or anything. I also paid a small fortune for my Maha cells so I can't say I'd suggest them for everyone. I got burned once buying an off brand so I stick with Maha for C and D sizes.

One thing I've noticed is fewer companies label C and D cells with lot #'s. I wouldn't advise a 'buy a few now, buy a few later' plan. If you have an analyzer you can do a good job matching cells. If not, I'd buy the lot at once and hope they are all similar.

 

[lightseeker2009]

I thought three months would be possible.
I once tested 2000mah AA Energizers in my TK40. I left them inside for 3 months and then run the light in turbo mode for 10 minutes at a time. It ran for about 48 minutes before going to a lower mode.

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm going to get the 8000mah LSD batteries from Batteryjunction. Blister pack of 2 for $16.00. I believe its a very good price for LSD D-Cells

 

[Sub_Umbra]

That looks like a good choice. Be sure to post again with your impressions of them. :D