Lithium AAA

[bluegreen]

I recently bought Ray Mears new book Bushcraft and while reading though it came across a picture of a Pitzl Tikka, which he says is really useful around camp. What struck me as odd about the picture is that it is shown alongside Energizer Lithium AAA batteries! Unless I've not been paying attention I was sure there wasn't any (yet). Looking at the Energizer website didn't bring any joy on the matter.

I'll get the picture scanned and put it up here for you all to see.

Anyone know anything more about this?

 

[bucken]

One of our local batteries-r-us type places was talking like they had a source for all kinds of oddball batteries, including lithium AAA's. Unfortunately, their source is in Israel, and they can't get anything from them as long as the fighting is going on. At least this is what they told me.

 

[bluegreen]

Here's the picture as promised. I'm pretty sure it's not trick photography.

Page 14 of the book if you want to check for yourself.

Actually, I've just realised this isn't really the best place for it. Can anyone tell me how to move a thread to another topic...

 

[Brock]

moving over to the battery section.

 

[vcal]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by bluegreen:
Here's the picture as promised. I'm pretty sure it's not trick photography.

Page 14 of the book if you want to check for yourself.
Actually, I've just realised this isn't really the best place for it. Can anyone tell me how to move a thread to another topic...<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
You'll be forgiven this time-for that interesting picture.

After hearing rumors the last 2-3 months from friends, it's my bet that we'll be able to buy those batteries pictured, in June or July.
p.s.-I'll take at least a half a dozen right now!

 

[Brock]

Oh I hope so, I would like to feed them to my Arc, lighter and brighter

OK now who is going to have them first on line for us to order?

 

[rigormootis]

agreed...I (too) have been waiting for such news for a LONG time!!!

 

[Tree]

If these do exist would they be too much for a Rage/Attitude?

 

[Mr Ted Bear]

Yes they do exist!!!!! I called Energizer this morning, and they denied it.... until I directed them to the photo in this thread!

Three houurs later, and more thatn a half dozen phone call later, I was promised an e-mail by the end of the week with full details, specs, availability etc.

This time, I kept the phone #s and names of each and every idividual person that I spoke to etc, so I can "bug" them at the end of the week if I need to

 

[Darell]

Man, I like the way you get things done, Jeff. Can't wait to hear the results. I keep an Arc AAA in each car's glove box for backup, and a lithium in each one would be fantastic!

 

[PhotonRanger]

Way to go on wading through the maze. I got the following from the Bunny when I tried e-mail help:

Dear Energizer Customer,

Thank you for visiting Energizer's Web site and also for your inquiry.

Unfortunately, the AAA lithium batteries are not available at the current time.

We don't have any information on when or if they will become available.

I apologize for the inconvenience.

Once again, thank you for visiting our Web site. Should you have further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Hal
Energizer Consumer Relations
--------------------------
Let's bug 'em till they ship!!

 

[Willmore]

I, too, called and emailed then and got the 'no info at this time'. They even went a bit further and said that they wouldn't give out such information before a product launch as it may compromise their strategic planning.

Hmm, okay. Don't most companies have roadmaps and such showing their anticipated product delivery for years in advance? Apparently the computer biz and the battery biz are quite different.

Good luck Mr. Bear.

If these were available they would be great!

 

[Mr Ted Bear]

Hi Guys,

Actually I'm out of town till Tuesday, and the *#$% hotel's phone lines are so bad, I can't even get online.


So, I am at pool side using this guys wireless laptop, just checking in. So far, no emails, but I got their phone number, entension, and name, and they will be called first thing MONDAY!!

 

[Mr Ted Bear]

Got less that a "satisfactory" reply from Eveready today.

...at this time, the Lithium AAA in currently being evaluated on extreemly limited basis by handfull of OEM maufacutures...

The email goes on to say that there is no intended production for the retail market at this time blah blah blah... thankyou and check back in six months....

 

[Willmore]

Any news on this front, anyone? I called and got the normal "don't have it and don't talk about future products to little people" speal.

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

I wonder why you are all craving for this new lithium AAA ... do you really see a big advantage over well designed alkalines? From comparing AA lithiums and alkalines, I would say by far the biggest advantage of the lithium is it's much higher price (for the manufacturer, that is ...)

A good alkaline AA has 2600 to 2700mAh, the lithium has 3000. That's abot 11 to 15% more, but it costs more than 200% more than even the best alkalines (at least here in Germany). Is that really worth it?

In my opinium, only the "real" lithium cells, with 3 or 3.6V cell voltage, are worth any premium. 123s may be expensive, but they offer the energy content of a good AA alkaline in half the volume.

If I overlooked something, please correct my picture!

wus

 

[hotfoot]

Wus,

I think these are the reasons for lithiums:

- They are up to 30% lighter

- They have a longer shelf life (10 years typical), great for buy-it and forget-it-til-you-need-it emergency lights.

- They have flatter discharge curves for more consistent light output

- They perform and store better under temperature extremes, hot or cold.

- Lower internal resistance for less voltage drop under load = brighter light!

Could be a few more, but those are why I put out extra for them.

 

[lemlux]

Hotfoot:

An important additional feature is that Alkaline capacities also drop far more rapidly as drain increases than does Lithium.

 

[hotfoot]

Thanks, Lemlux - that's a new fact to me too!

Even more reasons now to want lithium AAAs (I really really want 'em for my twin-Luxeon 9V direct drive mod)...

 

[Willmore]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by wus:
I wonder why you are all craving for this new lithium AAA ... do you really see a big advantage over well designed alkalines? From comparing AA lithiums and alkalines, I would say by far the biggest advantage of the lithium is it's much higher price (for the manufacturer, that is ...)

A good alkaline AA has 2600 to 2700mAh, the lithium has 3000. That's abot 11 to 15% more, but it costs more than 200% more than even the best alkalines (at least here in Germany). Is that really worth it?

In my opinium, only the "real" lithium cells, with 3 or 3.6V cell voltage, are worth any premium. 123s may be expensive, but they offer the energy content of a good AA alkaline in half the volume.

If I overlooked something, please correct my picture!

wus<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I want them for the previously metioned performance reasons, but also because I have lights that take them (should have been obvious.

'normal' lithium cells are more expensive per unit of power than Li-Fe cells are--retail. Sure, they're larger, but they're meant to drop in replace alkaline cells. They provide almost all of the benefits of normal Li cells but do so in a more useable form factor which lends itself to use in a wider range of applicaitons.

And, I for one, am about as much of a battery nut as I am a LED nut.

IMHO, this is what you truely overlooked.