Low temp AAA?

[Frangible]

I have a Garmin GPS that takes AAA batteries. Unfortunately, Alkalines don't work very well here in Montana during the winter, as cold temperatures makes their performance kind of tank. The GPS thought my AAA alkalines were dead, but after it heated back up to room temperature, it then thought they were at 75%. Go figure.

The Garmin manual recommends lithium AAAs. Unfortunately I can't find these anywhere.

Anyone know of a good low temperature AAA cell, whose capacity isn't a lot worse than an alkaline? Thanks.

 

[Doug S]

Rechargeable NiMh AAA cells should do the trick.

 

[SockMan]

NiMh AAA cells will do. You just have to remember to top of the charge every once in a while or else they will discharge. I don't know how fast NiMh cells discharge in cold weather though.

 

[Doug S]

[ QUOTE ]
SockMan said:
NiMh AAA cells will do. You just have to remember to top of the charge every once in a while or else they will discharge. I don't know how fast NiMh cells discharge in cold weather though.

[/ QUOTE ]
Self discharge is much lower at lower temps. If I recall correctly, rate of discharge roughly doubles for each 10C rise in temp.

 

[Frangible]

Alright, thanks. Bought some NiMHs, the 800mAhs were only about $2/each anyway. Unfortunately normal AAAs are 1150 mAhs so I'll take a 30% capacity hit in doing so.

Too bad they didn't make the GPS run off a single DL123 instead of 2xAAA. Oh well.