wquiles
Flashaholic
No, not a challenge, nor a political statement. Just asking how green are you, specifically, with non-rechargeable batteries?
Thanks to the forum I got interested in the Joule Thief circuits, enough that I built my own small boards to play with. I started "saving" all of the non-rechargeable cells (mostly AA's) from my kids toys, and after a couple of months I had 49 AA cells. Since this circuit can turn a 3W LED with as little as 0.8 volts or so, I wanted to see what was possible - not to have a super bright LED light, but something useful enough for night navigation, taking the kids to bed at night - just an useful LOW level.
So I decided to make a couple of small flashlights to take advantage of whatever energy was left in those cells. I made a custom XM-L P60 drop-in, and using a Solar Force L2M, I made a custom AA to 18650 adapter. I also had some really old (green tinted!) 3W LED's, so I took one of my custom 1xD's and made a custom 3x LED version with 3x of my own little Joule thief boards (one per each LED) and a difuser film (not using reflectors), so now I have a host that can take 1x D Alkaline cell, all the way to 3x "depleted" AA cells.
To start I segregated the "used" AA cells with my trusty ZTS battery tester:
and I got them into these plastic bins (don't even work is exactly what it means - the voltage is so low that the tester does not even "try" to figure out what is left):
So that you don't have to count them:
- 60-80% energy left: 12 cells
- 20-40% energy left: 18 cells
- 10% energy left: 4 cells
- less than 10% energy left: 12 cells
- does not work!: 3 cells
As a point of reference, I figured it would be "fair" to use an off-the-shelf LED light designed to run on a single AA cell, so I am using the Icon Rouge:
The Rouge worked (you can get non-flicker output) down to cells with 20%, but it would constantly flicker with 10%, and less than 10% - totally useless. Still, that is a good circuit in the Rouge, since it can use the cells to fairly low levels. Not bad!
Next was my Solar Force wt XM-L LED - I can get steady output with cells at less than 10%. Granted, it is a VERY low output, but more than perfect for night adjusted vision. Awesome!
For my 1xD (a Frankenstein of left over LED's/parts!), I can get output with 3x cells at the less than 10% level, but it starts flickering a little - in fact in this photo one of the 3x circuits is having a tough time with a particular LED (top left), while the bottom LED is slightly dimmed, and the top right is OK:
As soon as you put 10% (or higher) cells in the 3xAA battery adapter, it then gives you a low output. Given it is 3x LED's, each with its own driver, and each getting power from 3x cells, the output of this 1xD is significantly higher than with the single XM-L light. Too bright for night adjusted vision, but perfect to taking the kids to sleep
These circuit boards work great with "used" CR123 cells as well (higher output of course!), so if I remove the extension on the Solar Force and use a "depleted" CR123 cell, I can also use those cells for a good while longer. I have found that the Malkoff LL (LOW LOW) dropin "also" seems to work great with depleted CR123 cells. The other light that works great is McGizmo two-level PD Mule (sporting a Clicky tail for a great combination of PD "and" Clicky action!).
So, what is how "I" try to get more life out of my AA cells. What do you guys do?
Will
Thanks to the forum I got interested in the Joule Thief circuits, enough that I built my own small boards to play with. I started "saving" all of the non-rechargeable cells (mostly AA's) from my kids toys, and after a couple of months I had 49 AA cells. Since this circuit can turn a 3W LED with as little as 0.8 volts or so, I wanted to see what was possible - not to have a super bright LED light, but something useful enough for night navigation, taking the kids to bed at night - just an useful LOW level.
So I decided to make a couple of small flashlights to take advantage of whatever energy was left in those cells. I made a custom XM-L P60 drop-in, and using a Solar Force L2M, I made a custom AA to 18650 adapter. I also had some really old (green tinted!) 3W LED's, so I took one of my custom 1xD's and made a custom 3x LED version with 3x of my own little Joule thief boards (one per each LED) and a difuser film (not using reflectors), so now I have a host that can take 1x D Alkaline cell, all the way to 3x "depleted" AA cells.
To start I segregated the "used" AA cells with my trusty ZTS battery tester:
and I got them into these plastic bins (don't even work is exactly what it means - the voltage is so low that the tester does not even "try" to figure out what is left):
So that you don't have to count them:
- 60-80% energy left: 12 cells
- 20-40% energy left: 18 cells
- 10% energy left: 4 cells
- less than 10% energy left: 12 cells
- does not work!: 3 cells
As a point of reference, I figured it would be "fair" to use an off-the-shelf LED light designed to run on a single AA cell, so I am using the Icon Rouge:
The Rouge worked (you can get non-flicker output) down to cells with 20%, but it would constantly flicker with 10%, and less than 10% - totally useless. Still, that is a good circuit in the Rouge, since it can use the cells to fairly low levels. Not bad!
Next was my Solar Force wt XM-L LED - I can get steady output with cells at less than 10%. Granted, it is a VERY low output, but more than perfect for night adjusted vision. Awesome!
For my 1xD (a Frankenstein of left over LED's/parts!), I can get output with 3x cells at the less than 10% level, but it starts flickering a little - in fact in this photo one of the 3x circuits is having a tough time with a particular LED (top left), while the bottom LED is slightly dimmed, and the top right is OK:
As soon as you put 10% (or higher) cells in the 3xAA battery adapter, it then gives you a low output. Given it is 3x LED's, each with its own driver, and each getting power from 3x cells, the output of this 1xD is significantly higher than with the single XM-L light. Too bright for night adjusted vision, but perfect to taking the kids to sleep
These circuit boards work great with "used" CR123 cells as well (higher output of course!), so if I remove the extension on the Solar Force and use a "depleted" CR123 cell, I can also use those cells for a good while longer. I have found that the Malkoff LL (LOW LOW) dropin "also" seems to work great with depleted CR123 cells. The other light that works great is McGizmo two-level PD Mule (sporting a Clicky tail for a great combination of PD "and" Clicky action!).
So, what is how "I" try to get more life out of my AA cells. What do you guys do?
Will
Last edited: