Question about battery usage

[mikekoz]

I know that NIMH and lithium cells work a lot better than alkalines in high power lights. I use almost exclusively AA NIMH cells in all my AA lights. Here is my question: If I am constantly using an adjustable light in a low or very low setting, will I get better performance in that light using alkalines? Since the NIMH cells do better at a higher current drain, will they give me no advantage when the drain is much lower? All opinions are welocme! :wave:

 

[ChrisGarrett]

I know that NIMH and lithium cells work a lot better than alkalines in high power lights. I use almost exclusively AA NIMH cells in all my AA lights. Here is my question: If I am constantly using an adjustable light in a low or very low setting, will I get better performance in that light using alkalines? Since the NIMH cells do better at a higher current drain, will they give me no advantage when the drain is much lower? All opinions are welocme! :wave:

The way I understand the niche' for alkalines, it's in very low drain devices like TV remotes, maybe wall clocks, things like those. I guess a low setting on a light would fit the bill, something like my V10R on full moon mode, or slightly above? What's the typical quality alkaline capacity-- ~2600 mAh? That does beat the LSD cells I guess, but you still have the HSD Sanyo 2700s, PowerEx 2700s and the AccuPower 2900s to consider.

The other big factor is that you can walk into just about any store and buy AA/AAA batteries, so they're ubiqutious. The downside is is that once they're dead, they dead for the most part, so you don't get to recoup any startup costs through recharging.

I've got a Marantz/Philips Gen 1 Pronto LCD remote that takes a pack, or 4 AAs. With the screen it's probably a bit higher drain than my dozen other gizmo remotes and I use NiMH now, since the pack is a dozen years old. Now, I've taken to removing any of the OEM alkalines from those remotes, so they don't drain, but I can sill pop them in once in a while.

Even in a low drain application, I don't see where alkalines will be all that more efficient, as to offset their cost vs. NiMH cells. I understand that there may be a reason for running them in a pinch, but they're more emergency backups for me, the ones I have left, at least.

Chris

 

[czAtlantis]

will I get better performance in that light using alkalines?

No you won't. Alkalines have high capacity in low drain...but "low drain" is relative term. Speaking about alkalines, low drain means you discharge the battery in 2weeks and longer. In very low drain applications they can have up to 3000mAh - so they are moreless good choice for wall clocks, thermometers, remotes etc (but I am personally using rechergeables even in those low drain devices everywhere possible) In higher discharge rates, Ni-Mhs are better. If you need maximum runtime buy Lithium cells or Eneloops XX.
Also using Alkalines (and Lithiums) is not economical neither ecological!

 

[TEEJ]

If you have an expensive light, when the alkaline cell leaks and ruins it, it can be sad.

 

[Wrend]

It also depends on the minimum operational voltage level of the device. NiMH cells, while they typically don't start out at as high of a voltage level, will hold their voltage better at higher drain rates and for longer in general relative to their full capacity potential. The voltage discharge curve of NiMH cells is more of an S shape, holding a steady voltage for longer, while for alkaline cells it is more linear.

 

[apagogeas]

I could also add a problem I faced with alkalines in a TV remote. No matter what alkalines I put in (new, used whatever), quite often the remote stop working for no apparent reason. I have to take them out and re-insert them to function. It is not the voltage, all alkalines used have 1.5V+. I really don't know what was the problem but since I used NiMH in that, this never happened again. I doubt the remote was designed specifically for NiMH (it came with Alkalines) so to consider the higher voltage causes the problem. Any ideas??

 

[mikekoz]

Thanks everybody! I guess I will just keep the alkalines around as backups.

 

[reppans]

I guess "performance" means runtime of the purposes of this thread.

You won't be able to beat Lithium primaries, period.

Alks beat NiMh in your scenario - ie, very low modes like moonlight and 3 lumen lows. From what I've read here, it seems the crossover point is around a 20 lumen medium where NiMh take over.

Take a look at this thread.... 470 hours on a Quark AA moonlight while NiMh runs 250-300 hrs, for example.

http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/sh...ght-Run-Time-Testimonials-real-world-testing!

I wouldn't worry too much about Alks leaking....provided a) you don't store the battery in the light for long term, b) you don't use them in a light which is known to inadvertently turn on (eg, Zebralight), and c) you test the light occasionally on the higher modes - the higher modes cut out as you run down.