Nearly lost a 3C M*g to Energizer Alks.

[PlayboyJoeShmoe]

It stays in the door pocket of my truck. I can not believe it's been even 3 months if that since I opened it up and changed the positions of the 3 Cs.

The end one leaked. It took two big pliers to get the tail cap off.

I did manage to save it, so now the question is:

Two or three Lith AA against a 3 cell M*gled or three LSD Nimh?

I'm going with AA so there will be some plastic pipe between the batteries and the M*g.

OR how about two 123s against a 4 cell M*gled?

I AM NOT going to use ALKs in a vehicle again!!!

 

[BigusLightus]

I'm using Eneloops + adapters in my 2C Mag LED and have been pleased. However, I've not subjected my Eneloops to temp. extremes. Might be an interesting test though.

Just the other day I found an old Mag 3D in the garage with an old batt stuck in it. I soaked it in HOT soapy water then placed it in the freezer over night. The next day I used a one inch diameter dowel and a one pound sledge hammer to get it out. That ***** was stuck real good. It took 50 or 60 hits to make it fall out. The batt turned out to be from Radio Shack.

 

[john2551]

If you use the light often i'd go with 3 C size LSD nimh. If you use the light only in a rare emergency i'd go with enegizer lithiums in adapters & you won't have to worry for the next 15 years. I had the same thing happen to a 2D maglite with 2 Duracell alk. about 2 years ago that was left in the glove box. I only could save the head for parts.

 

[PlayboyJoeShmoe]

Okay, two Lith aa for if I need to run it for a while or will three be okay with the "thermal throttle" a M*gled has?

 

[john2551]

3 is fine. I just looked at one & it says 1.5v right on the battery. We know from CPF that some "test" out @ 1.7v but under load that will drop down to 1.5v.

 

[Power Me Up]

Only about a week ago, I pulled out the 4C Maglite that I keep in the door pocket of my car to check it - wouldn't turn on. Alkalines had leaked in it for the second time! :scowl:

Although it still works with new alkalines, it's pretty messy inside, so I'm planning to order a new maglite and use it with 4x Eneloops in adapters and a Terralux TL-6EX drop in - should give almost as much runtime as alkalines with the incandescant bulb, but be a heap brighter - and without the worry of being damaged by leaking cells...

On the subject of using Lithium AAs in adapters - although their voltage will drop under load to below their initial 1.7 volts, it'll still be quite a bit above what the alkalines would be providing - Mag Instruments may have designed the circuitry with the expectation of the normal voltage drop with alkalines in mind. They certainly recommend against using rechargeables but I'm not sure what their recommendation is regarding using lithiums. Although I think that lithiums would be far more likely to cause problems than rechargeables, I wouldn't actually expect them to cause a problem, but I guess that there is still a chance that they might...

 

[john2551]

Now that Accupower sells LSD (Evolution) in C & D size, you no longer need to fuss with eneloop AAs & adapters:

http://thomasdistributing.com/shop/products_new.php

 

[Power Me Up]

Now that Accupower sells LSD (Evolution) in C & D size, you no longer need to fuss with eneloop AAs & adapters:

Although I was considering them, I think I'm going to stick with AAs and adapters due to the excessive cost of those cells.

I don't use my Maglite too often, so AAs should give me more than enough run time for my use and I've always got spare Eneloops in my car anyway...

Of course YMMV - if you use your C or D cell flashlight a lot, then the full size cells may well be worthwhile.

 

[lctorana]

NiCads.

 

[PlayboyJoeShmoe]

It is back together and working with 3 seasoned Energizer Lithium AA.

I made the comment just this morning that I'm giving up some runtime by ditching the C cells, but what good is runtime if the batteries leak.

And it hasn't even been THAT long since I had the light open!

 

[Power Me Up]

NiCads.

Nicads are still far inferior to Eneloops when it comes to self discharge and a NiCad C doesn't have much more capacity than an AA Eneloop, so I don't see much point in that recommendation...

 

[Power Me Up]

I made the comment just this morning that I'm giving up some runtime by ditching the C cells, but what good is runtime if the batteries leak.

Exactly!

I forgot to mention that all of the cells that I pulled out of my 4C Maglite were reading about 1.55 volts - including the one that leaked!

I'd say that heat is a killer for alkalines - probably increases the rate at which the can is eaten by the electrolyte and also increases the pressure within the can as well...

 

[PlayboyJoeShmoe]

Heat almost HAS to be the killer. Extreme heat gave me a bit of trouble with some LSD NimH, but it very well might have been charging trouble as well.

I need some more Lith or LSD NimH as a found two AA lights in the truck with ALKs and they can't be trusted!

 

[john2551]

I agree heat is the killer. I had the 2D mag in the glove box for one summer season & they leaked while i had a 3D w/ 3 alks. in a basement, cool & dry for 7 years (i forgot about the light), when i found it in a closet, the batteries didn't leak but when tested were low in capacity.

 

[mcmc]

So I take it, LSD batteries (like Accupower D's) will weather it in a hot car ok (or at least much better than alks)? What about regular Nimhs?

I will probably be leaving my 2D Nimh Quad Cree in my new truck ('04 F150 FX4 - first car I bought > $3000!) all the time, and I was worried about batteries exploding...then in searching about Nimh D's saw that Accupower had D sizes out now, and was pretty stoked.

 

[TorchBoy]

I was wondering when I read the first post what sort of heat it might have to put up with. I think I've wondered aloud about using a solar powered cooling device, but I think we discounted that because they take about 4A.

 

[PlayboyJoeShmoe]

My truck is maroon (I bet that's not how to spell it) but it is a dark red.

I have a little thermometer in an AC vent to keep up with how AC is working.

I have gotten into the truck and seen 140+ on that therm! 120ish is common.

I'm not 100% sure Alkalines aren't just hinky, temp be d*mned.

But my GPS sits up on the dash with LSD NimH. Only twice have LSD NimH not lived up to my expectation, and that was A: on the hottest days and B: Before I steadied up on my current charge regimen.

Also there are a couple Lith AA powered lights in the same door pocket that have been there even longer. No issues of leakage have appeared.

So my advice is take a hit on runtime and adapt to Lith AA or LSD NimH for vehicle lights.

Alkalines work fine indoors.

I mean to get vent shades so that I might leave my windows cracked open. Because we get rain with VERY little notice....

 

[TorchBoy]

I recommend placing a heat-reflective shroud over that GPS, Joe from Tx. The heat on dashboards can be extreme.

 

[etc]

I _lost_ a Mag to leaking cells, Duracell alkalines I think they were.

I since then do not store cells inside the lite. Simple. Keep them in a separate bag near the light. I use EDC or else if I need more power, just insert the cells into the lite.