Lifespan?

[JamisonM]

Does anybody know what kind of lifespan a decent charger (Maha MH-C808M) and betteries (Accupower Evolution) might have? I plan on switching over all, but my plastic drawer lights to D cell NiMH's. The way I figure it, it's going to be around $100 for the batteries and another $100 for the charger. It's not much in the grand scheme of things, but I'm looking at this as an investment. Accupower says you can recharge them 1000 times. I don't use my lights much, but using simple devision; if I charge them at the end of every month they should give me 83 years of service (I don't know if that time frame can get any rougher). Now, I can't say if I'll still be kickin in 2091 (I'd be 107), but I have no doubt that by that time something new and better will have come along. Until then, what kind of lifespan do you think modern chargers and NiMH batteries have? As much as I use my lights, I'm hoping to get around 10 years of use out of them.

 

[SilverFox]

Hello JamisonM,

I have found chargers last a lot longer than batteries.

I have seen a few references from NiMh battery manufacturers stating that NiMh batteries are good for 2 - 3 years. I believe this is in reference to storing the batteries after they are manufactured. In daily use, they seem to last longer.

If you don't use your lights much, you will end up basically storing the batteries inside your lights. Unless you commit to a program of periodic maintenance, your batteries will not give you good performance.

The exception to this is NiCd chemistry. You can abuse the heck out of NiCd batteries and they will often come right back after a few charge/discharge cycles.

I think rechargeable batteries make the most sense when the equipment using them is in constant use.

Tom

 

[nerdgineer]

As an "investment" nimh chargers and batteries may or not make sense given how much you use your lights. My nimhs seem to have a 3-4 year life span (nowhere near 100 charges) before they start to lose capacity; so it may, depending on your use, actually be cheaper to buy primaries. However, psychologically, many CPFers (me among them) like the sense of self-sustainment ("guilt free lumens") that nimhs provide, even if they do actually cost more. Your costs are already sunk so you might as well go out and play...

An exception would be the high current AA/AAA wonder-lights which don't work well on alkies and require either E2 lithiums (which cost roughly 8X more than regular alkies) or nimhs to work well. If you use those, then nimhs probably do make analytic sense if you use your lights much at all.

My one counter CPF establishment view on this is in my choice of charger. I've used a $10 Rayovac PSP for years now. 4 fully independent AA/AAA channels with separate indicator lights and utterly reliable. It's a little slower (overnight usually), but it's great and all that you'll ever need - which can affect your "investment" equation vs. more expensive chargers. With LSDs, it's no problem having a bowl full of ready batteries all the time.

For the record, I've got a fancier charger, I just don't hardly use it as the PS1 works so well...

 

[Raymond]

D-cells don't fit in your PS1

I get the sense that the batteries in your lights die more from old age, than actual use. I don't think rechargeables make sense with such a usage pattern.
Like Firefox said: rechargeables make sense where the light is in use and not stored for that one time when you might need (where the rechargeable will actually have self-discharged, unless you invest in $12 LSD D-cells)

 

[JamisonM]

Thanks for the replies guys. I want to think I use these lights enough for them not to be stored. My idea of charging them at the end of every month was from usage I know they will get; from walking the dog every night. The current light I use for this is a 4D maglite with one of Gene's drop-ins installed. I'm guessing It gets around five minutes of use, sometimes more, during her walk and at the end of the month, I feel like it would be a good time to recharge them. Soon, I plan on replacing it with one of the ElektroLumens P7 modded maglites. With the same usage, I think charging at the end of the month will be a priority or risk the light not working when I need it to. That may sound a bit extreme, but these lights aren't used only when walking the dog.

 

[etc]

How many cycles does Powerex 2700 mAh last?