Most powerful/longest lasting AAA needed for my alarm..

[guiri]

Guys, I have a Viper alarm in my truck and the remote eats batteries quite a bit. It does better on alkalines but not well on the eneloops and I hate throwing away batteries.

What should I get that'll last me longer that I can recharge?

How about those powergenix 1.6v's or whatever?

Thanks

George

 

[TorchBoy]

What should I get that'll last me longer that I can recharge?

Last longer than what? You don't say how long your Eneloops last. When your Eneloops stop working are they only partly used? Does the remote like the higher initial voltage of alkalines? If so, you could go for NiZn cells, but why doesn't what you've got last anyway? An alkaline 12 volt A27 battery lasts ages in my car alarm remote, and they're tiny.

 

[Battery Guy]

Guys, I have a Viper alarm in my truck and the remote eats batteries quite a bit. It does better on alkalines but not well on the eneloops and I hate throwing away batteries.

What should I get that'll last me longer that I can recharge?

How about those powergenix 1.6v's or whatever?

Hi Guiri,

You are not giving us much to go on. How long do the alkalines last compared to the eneloops? This would give us an idea of discharge rate.

That being said, if alkalines last a lot longer than eneloops, I suspect you probably need a AAA cell with high energy. That means that if you want longer life, you might need to go with a primary (non-rechargeable) AAA Energizer lithium cell.

Cheers,
Battery Guy

 

[guiri]

It's hard to do tests because I only use the remote when I start the car and open the doors and I don't drive much so this can take a month...

 

[TorchBoy]

So you use the remote to start the car? Not just to unlock it? That could certainly flatten AAA cells quickly. :thinking:

 

[guiri]

I do use it quite a bit and the remote has a decent size screen which also shows what's on and what's off and also transmits back to the remote verifying that something HAS happened.

It is powerful. I've started my car when it's been WAY out on a walmart parking lot and I was inside when I did it.

I've also done it from inside an elevator and of course, inside the shaft.

 

[Battery Guy]

I do use it quite a bit and the remote has a decent size screen which also shows what's on and what's off and also transmits back to the remote verifying that something HAS happened.

It is powerful. I've started my car when it's been WAY out on a walmart parking lot and I was inside when I did it.

I've also done it from inside an elevator and of course, inside the shaft.

From your description, it sounds like this is a relatively high power, intermittent discharge for the batteries. Given that, I am surprised that the alkaline cells outperform the Eneloops. It might be that your remote has a relatively high voltage cut-off, and if that is the case then the PowerGenix cells might help.

You might try the Duracell PowerPix cells. These have the same chemistry as the PowerGenix (zinc-NiOOH), so they operate at the same high voltage, but they are constructed like a conventional alkaline cell. The Duracell PowerPix cells are not rechargeable, but if they last longer than conventional alkaline cells, then it would be a good bet that the PowerGenix cells would also work well for your application.

So to summarize, I would say that you have the following options to improve performance:

Duracell PowerPix (non-rechargeable)
Energizer e2 Lithium (non-rechargeable)
PowerGenix NiZn (rechargeable)

Let us know what you try and how it works.

Cheers,
Battery Guy

 

[core]

I do use it quite a bit and the remote has a decent size screen which also shows what's on and what's off and also transmits back to the remote verifying that something HAS happened.

That sounds like a heckuva remote! Now I understand why it's using so "much" energy. You said it would take a month to drain a battery? That seems completely reasonable to me... charging a cell once a month can't be that much of a pain? Plus keeps them in tip top shape.

Regarding the NiZn alternative being tossed around... when did PowerGenix start making AAA's? Did I miss the announcement???

 

[Battery Guy]

Regarding the NiZn alternative being tossed around... when did PowerGenix start making AAA's? Did I miss the announcement???

Doh!

I believe you are correct. PowerGenix currently does not sell a AAA. Can't believe that I missed that!

In that case, I think that the only options for beating the alkaline for this application are going to be the Duracell PowerPix (a NiZn chemistry) and the Energizer e2 Lithium, neither being rechargeable, unfortunately.

I'm still surprised that the alkaline outperforms the Eneloop in this application.

Cheers,
Battery Guy

 

[45/70]

I'm still surprised that the alkaline outperforms the Eneloop in this application.

Yeah, that is rather peculiar. Usually alkaline cells will only outperform eneloops when the device is voltage sensitive. When you have a device that draws as much current as guiri's remote apparently does however, alkaline cell's voltage will usually drop so bad under load, that eneloops will work out better. I suppose if there are enough cells in series though, that might not be the case, and it's possible that the eneloops can't "fool" the remote into working because of their lower OC voltage.

Also, PowerGenix as I remember does mention AAA cells on their site. Somewhere it also says though that they have not been released yet, so I guess they will come out sooner, or later.

Dave

 

[guiri]

Well, and so the story continues...we'll see what happens and I'll keep you updated..

Thanks

George

 

[guiri]

Well, I stuck an alkaline in there today (energizer) and the thing showed full charge whereas the eneloops barely even showed a charge at all.
Bottom line, I'd like to try the powergenix anyway so here's my excuse.

Guidance needed for good price and so on. I need mainly some AAA's but also a few AA's to try and DO I need a charger?

I have the BC-900, will it do the trick?

Those ARE the highest voltage AA and AAA's, right?

I'm also getting some of these in C's and maybe D's for a light I bought here recently http://www.batteryjunction.com/accuevolution-c-4500-nimh.html

Again, advice on prices, chargers and so on?


Should I go for that big maha or powergenix charger or what?

THanks guys

GEorge

 

[TorchBoy]

When your Eneloops stop working are they only partly used? Does the remote like the higher initial voltage of alkalines?

Well, I stuck an alkaline in there today (energizer) and the thing showed full charge whereas the eneloops barely even showed a charge at all.

So in answer to the second of my questions there: Apparently so. That being the case, I'll substitute the first question with: When your alkalines stop working are they only partly used?

I'm pretty sure that to charge NiZn cells you need a charger that supplies the right voltage for them.

 

[guiri]

Yeah, I think they don't like the missing .3 volts.

Now what? Powergenix with their charger? Which and where to buy at a good price?

Thanks again

GEorge

 

[core]

Bottom line, I'd like to try the powergenix anyway so here's my excuse.

I need mainly some AAA's but also a few AA's to try and DO I need a charger?

I have the BC-900, will it do the trick?

Those ARE the highest voltage AA and AAA's, right?

As has been mentioned in this thread, PowerGenix goes not make any AAA cells currently. To my knowledge nobody makes rechargeable NiZn cells in AAA at the moment. If you do happen to pick up some AA's just for fun though, yes you definitely need _their_ charger. Do not attempt to charge them on anything else. There isn't even an affordable hobby charger that will charge them.

As for the highest voltage AAA's, Battery Guy answered that a few posts ago:

In that case, I think that the only options for beating the alkaline for this application are going to be the Duracell PowerPix (a NiZn chemistry) and the Energizer e2 Lithium, neither being rechargeable, unfortunately.

Not rechargeable and more $$ unfortunately.

 

[guiri]

Aw, crap! Back to the drawing board I guess. Sorry but my attention span and reading comprehension is down to about zero these days.

Thanks

George

 

[mzil]

I have a Viper alarm as well. To maximize battery life go into the program mode (on mine that's pressing and holding all four buttons simultaneously) and turn off as many remote control features as you can live without:

- self-vibrate
- self-illumination
- 2 way paging if it has it (Heck, if the car is parked in your drive way and within earshot if the alarm trips anyways, it's silly to redundantly have the remote control part constantly keeping its RF ears on listening for the same thing. Being constantly turned on 24/7 and listening is a huge power sucker.)

Instructions for programming different models can be found here:

http://www.viper.com/Support/

look for "support" and "guides"

 

[Battery Guy]

If you do happen to pick up some AA's just for fun though, yes you definitely need _their_ charger. Do not attempt to charge them on anything else. There isn't even an affordable hobby charger that will charge them.

The PowerGenix cells are charged with a CC/CV profile similar to lithium-ion cells, but with a different voltage cut-off. Therefore, if you have a power supply that can limit the voltage to 1.9V, then you should be able to charge the PowerGenix cells without too much problem.

Definitely do not charge these cells as if they were higher voltage NiMH or NiCd. They do not seem to have the same oxygen recombination capability, and therefore are extremely susceptible to overcharging.

Cheers,
Battery Guy

 

[core]

Therefore, if you have a power supply that can limit the voltage to 1.9V, then you should be able to charge the PowerGenix cells without too much problem.

Certainly. All you need is a 1.9V (!) regulated power supply which is current limited, preferrably adjustable so I can dial in 1250mA or whatever. I'm fresh out of those. I think it must be in a box somewhere along with my 'battery oven'!

They do not seem to have the same oxygen recombination capability, and therefore are extremely susceptible to overcharging.

They seem to be extremely susceptible to moderately deep discharges, too. Or _something_. And I've got several wrecked cells to prove it. But I guess that is the subject for another thread.

 

[Battery Guy]

Certainly. All you need is a 1.9V (!) regulated power supply which is current limited, preferrably adjustable so I can dial in 1250mA or whatever.

Well, a tunable power supply would work, it doesn't have to be exactly 1.9V.

But I get your point. My apologies. All I meant to say is that the PowerGenix cels are actually very easy to charge if you have a tunable constant voltage power supply.

I'm fresh out of those. I think it must be in a box somewhere along with my 'battery oven'!

Now you are making me feel bad. :mecry:

They seem to be extremely susceptible to moderately deep discharges, too. Or _something_. And I've got several wrecked cells to prove it. But I guess that is the subject for another thread.

Really? Susceptible to deep discharge? Now that is interesting. I would be willing to run a few tests on this. What exactly have you observed that makes you think they are susceptible to overdischarge? Loss of capacity, leakage, other...?

Cheers,
Battery Guy