Lithium vs alkaline

[Brian321]

Ok so ive been going caving alot and im not sure if i want to keep buying lithium AA's so i figured i would do a poll to see what you guys use.

So which one do you guys use, And do you always use this or only sometimes?

 

[Larbo]

Given the choice I would grab a handful of Lithiums first.

 

[Ragiska]

the obvious choice would be neither. NiMH are far cheaper in the long run, and provide excellent performance.

 

[Lynx_Arc]

nimh with lithium as backup

 

[vizlor]

Yes, but you can't throw them away while hiking etc. I find places to throw away used batteries more often than I find a place / time to charge NiMH's.

the obvious choice would be neither. NiMH are far cheaper in the long run, and provide excellent performance.

 

[Ragiska]

Yes, but you can't throw them away while hiking etc. I find places to throw away used batteries more often than I find a place / time to charge NiMH's.

i made the asumption of short hikes and day hikes related to car camping. long distance hikes where every ounce matters, lithium would be the better choice.

 

[John_Galt]

Alkalines tend to leak, and don't perform well in harsh conditions, such as temperature extremes/swings. Ni-MH are better, but are still beat by Lithium primary. Expensive as they are, Lithium are definitely worth the money in high-output/extreme temp situations, or where your life may depend upon them...

 

[Larbo]

Expensive as they are, Lithium are definitely worth the money in high-output/extreme temp situations, or where your life may depend upon them...

Also you can leave a few inside the back pack for extended periods without worrying about them being fully charged.:thumbsup:

 

[Kestrel]

nimh with lithium as backup

+1 on both counts :thumbsup:

(Eneloop NiMH's BTW - I think that having a few 'user' sets of Eneloops that had already earned my confidence in the field could be as reliable or even possibly more reliable than new-in-package top-quality primaries that haven't been tested - any new battery can turn out to be defective, and this might be unknown until when it really counts.) :shrug:

Of course, I'd still carry a few sets of Energizer Lithium AA's for backup - backup.

 

[don.gwapo]

I'll go with lithium coz it's better than alkaline in all cases. A little bit expensive though.

 

[RaVeN38571]

How do you throw away your batteries while hiking/caving?

 

[SilverFox]

Hello RaVeN38571,

You carry them to the nearest recycling center...

Tom

 

[Lynx_Arc]

the biggest advantage of nimh is knowing they are fullly charged vs a lithium that has seen some use. If you go caving and use up half the batteries then you either have to put them aside for fresh ones next time and keep piling up half used batteries or use nimh and just top them off each time before you go.... voila! fresh batteries.

 

[45/70]

the biggest advantage of nimh is knowing they are fullly charged vs a lithium that has seen some use. If you go caving and use up half the batteries then you either have to put them aside for fresh ones next time and keep piling up half used batteries or use nimh and just top them off each time before you go.... voila! fresh batteries.

Good points Lynx. :thumbsup:

I don't really use alkalines in anything at any time, with the exception of a few button cells, so NiMH/Li-Ion mostly, and lithium primaries in a couple of emergency lights.

Dave

 

[fisk-king]

the biggest advantage of nimh is knowing they are fullly charged vs a lithium that has seen some use. If you go caving and use up half the batteries then you either have to put them aside for fresh ones next time and keep piling up half used batteries or use nimh and just top them off each time before you go.... voila! fresh batteries.

I assume you still carry lithiums for a backup right :thinking:

 

[Brian321]

Dont nimh have less capacity of primaries or is that only RCR123's that dont have as much capacity as CR123's?

 

[Ragiska]

Dont nimh have less capacity of primaries or is that only RCR123's that dont have as much capacity as CR123's?

they have more than alkalines by far

 

[BlueMarble]

nimh with lithium as backup

Me too.

 

[Lynx_Arc]

I assume you still carry lithiums for a backup right :thinking:

I could carry an extra set of nimh and a set of lithiums so chances are I won't use the lithiums at all. I don't know about you but 8 AA nimh are not that heavy to me vs spending $10-$20 on lithium primaries every time I turn around.

 

[Lynx_Arc]

Dont nimh have less capacity of primaries or is that only RCR123's that dont have as much capacity as CR123's?

depends on the current level needed. At higher current rates nimh start becoming equal to lithium and alkaline become very poor performers but at low current levels alkalines are first followed by lithiums (really low current levels).