Primes Vs. Rechargables.......
- Thread starter Doug
- Start date
The cost in the longrun is the reason I switched my lights over to rechargeables. I noticed on primaries I would always grab my 'weakest' light so I wouldn't kick myself for using up the expensive batteries. Now I can grab my most powerful light whenever I want! I never really enjoyed my lights with primaries because I felt so guilty for spending so much on CR123A's.
Of course, I still keep a small supply of primaries on hand for emergency backups for camping, power outages, etc.
Of course, I still keep a small supply of primaries on hand for emergency backups for camping, power outages, etc.
Long John
Flashlight Enthusiast
I'm too. And in the case of Alks vs. nimhs you will have a flater discharge curve, can pull out more amps and holds longer stabile voltage on the nimh site.
Best regards
____
Tom
Best regards
____
Tom
I just received some rechargable 123's and CR2s, and one of the 1st things I did was put my B42XRGT on high, and let it sit there :> ..... funny, it's not that 123's are that expensive ($1 at cheapest), but there is just something "wrong" with "wasting" one, you know? I do feel a little more "free" to use my lights now with theses rechargables ... now if I could just get a charger than can do 2 123's at once, or, say, a 123 and a CR2 at the same time! :)
Yes, keeping primes around for "backup" seems like it will work great! Also, the bump in voltage you get with 123's is nice ;)!
Yes, keeping primes around for "backup" seems like it will work great! Also, the bump in voltage you get with 123's is nice ;)!
andrewwynn
Flashlight Enthusiast
the main advantage of primaries is their shelf-life.. the main disadvantage is cost.. example.. a surefire M6 costs $30-100/hour to operate on primary CR123 cells.. but running the same light from a rechargeable solution brings the hourly cost down to a penny or maybe half a penny at most. (not including the lamp which still costs maybe $3/hour to operate).
One of my very favorite lights uses 9xAA Lithium primary in series and i first made the light back in march or so.. haven't replaced the battery pack yet and i've used it quite a lot. Every rechargeable light i have has been charged at least a few times, some a dozen or more times since then.
-awr
One of my very favorite lights uses 9xAA Lithium primary in series and i first made the light back in march or so.. haven't replaced the battery pack yet and i've used it quite a lot. Every rechargeable light i have has been charged at least a few times, some a dozen or more times since then.
-awr
Hiker
Newly Enlightened
Rechargables are better environmentally.
andrewwynn
Flashlight Enthusiast
they absolutely are in most cases.. a very low drain device, probably better to use Lithium primary.. i.e. remote control.. i replace the cells about every 5 years in my TV remote using AA lithium.. i won't use anything else.
-awr
-awr
Low self-discharge NiMH have basically made moot the last reason to use primary batteries. As soon as the prices drops a bit on those I don't see that I'll have any use for primary batteries at all. I've long used rechargeables exclusively in devices with high current drain. Clocks and remotes are the last bastion of primary batteries in my house, and their days are numbered even here.
andrewwynn
Flashlight Enthusiast
it'll be high-maintenence compared to even alkaline to use the lowesst self-discharge NIMH.. even LiON won't touch alkaline for self-discharge.. primary lithium is definitely the way to go for remotes and clocks... write the date on the cell when you put it in.. you'll be amazed.. sometimes it's a different decade when i pull them out for replacement!
-awr
-awr
wasBlinded
Flashlight Enthusiast
Another good reason to use rechargeables is that it is easy to know where you stand. Not sure how much of the battery's charge you have used? No problems, pop them back in the charger for a top-up. With primaries, you will often be left wondering how close to depletion you are.
andrewwynn
Flashlight Enthusiast
that is especially valid when talking about LION cells.. since they don't mind topping off as much as the other chemistries.
Andrew, I think that I'll try the Lithiums in my remote too, I have been using NIMH and change them out every month. During the winter months I use mostly LI ION cells or lithium in my lights because they always work when its bitterly cold while hunting or just outdoors.
VidPro
Flashlight Enthusiast
my opinion of primary Vrses Rechargables , is as it always is.
if your going to USE it often, and your tossing out bateries left and right, then try and find Any possible way to go rechargable.
If its just Parked, then rechargables are not as practical.
and
you do have to know a microbe more to use and be completly satasfied with rechargables, after all you have to put them on the charger, such a strain :-)
if your going to USE it often, and your tossing out bateries left and right, then try and find Any possible way to go rechargable.
If its just Parked, then rechargables are not as practical.
and
you do have to know a microbe more to use and be completly satasfied with rechargables, after all you have to put them on the charger, such a strain :-)
My only use for primaries is remotes and clocks. Alkalines are cheap enough that replacing them every 3 years or so doesn't bother me.
Also the lithiums in my backup E2E, and the ones in my 9P(T). Those aren't used very often though. The E2E spends a lot more time in a pocket than in my hand, especially after I got my Strion, and the 9P is for mounting on my AR15 (and was my weaponlight when I was deployed).
Now if/when my health situation allows me to deploy again, then most likely I'll be using primaries for most everything, but that is a slightly different situation. And even then, it might be possible to use rechargeables depending on location and mission.
Also the lithiums in my backup E2E, and the ones in my 9P(T). Those aren't used very often though. The E2E spends a lot more time in a pocket than in my hand, especially after I got my Strion, and the 9P is for mounting on my AR15 (and was my weaponlight when I was deployed).
Now if/when my health situation allows me to deploy again, then most likely I'll be using primaries for most everything, but that is a slightly different situation. And even then, it might be possible to use rechargeables depending on location and mission.
