Rechargable D cells

[Mike M]

Hello, I'm looking for some rechargable D cell sized batteries and wanted to ask around here. I've seen everything from the Energizers at Walmart to 12,000 mah CTA's. Although the CTA's look good they are $11/ each.

The batteries will be for elektrolumens drop in 3X P7 light so I want some power. I found the CTA's at a certain site, $11 for 12,000 mah. They have some other brands that are within a dollar or two but have 10,000 mah. I guess what I am getting at is how good are these batteries and is 12,000mah going to knock the socks off of say 8,000?

Any recommendations on D cells and a charger?

Thanks

 

[DM51]

Please post in the correct forum. Moving this to the Batteries section.

 

[gswitter]

Not the most budget-conscious options, but I like the AccuPower low-self-discharge D cells (10,000 mAh) and the Maha C808M charger.

 

[Optik49]

I bought this one and it came with four D cells. It's been working great. I have a Mac Customs 3D P7 and WOW what a big difference with these cells. It will also take primaries as a backup. I would highly recommend this light. It the brightest flashlight I have seen and great run time a must have especially LE.

 

[Sub_Umbra]

Whatever cells you end up buying you might consider buying a spare or two at the same time. If you drop a cell onto a hard surface at some time in the future or kill one in some other fashion it's a real bummer to no longer have a full set, even if all the rest are still going strong. To make matters worse, if you buy some 12,000 mAH Ds this year and try to buy a replacement for one cell next year you may find that the same company may then only be selling 12,100 mAH Ds.

My oldest NiMH Ds are ~7 years old but I have a different ordering strategy these days. I try to order cells for a few devices at once for a given cell type so I'll be sure to have spares for a while. As an example, when I want a set of 6 Ds for my boombox I'm more likely to order 9 -- 6 for the boombox, 2 for a 2D light and 1 as a spare. Even if I mess up 2 of them (not likely) I may still break up the 2 in the light to keep a full set working for the boombox.

If you get a good charger that maximizes your cell life having spares may be even more important.

 

[Russel]

Not the most budget-conscious options, but I like the AccuPower low-self-discharge D cells (10,000 mAh) and the Maha C808M charger.

I'll second that. I've had good results with Accupower D cells and a C808M charger.

Russ

 

[metlarules]

I haven't found a better bargain than Ni-Cad D cells. They last forever and are capable of high current drain. I use the generics that can be found here. http://www.batteryjunction.com/nicd-d.html . I don't think you can get better dollar/mah than these.

 

[Juggernaut]

I haven't found a better bargain than Ni-Cad D cells. They last forever and are capable of high current drain. I use the generics that can be found here. http://www.batteryjunction.com/nicd-d.html . I don't think you can get better dollar/mah than these.

Do you own the 7,000 mah or the 5,000 mah:wave:?

 

[Benson]

I haven't found a better bargain than Ni-Cad D cells. They last forever and are capable of high current drain. I use the generics that can be found here. http://www.batteryjunction.com/nicd-d.html . I don't think you can get better dollar/mah than these.

Guess it depends how you define a bargain -- if all you want is Ah/$, that might be it (although I think the Titanium 4.5Ah NiMH C cells are better yet ), but I'm willing to pay more to have 10Ah in my light, instead of 5 in my light and 5 in my pockets (or worse, forgotten at home), and more yet to have LSD. So to me, the Accupowers are a better bargain.

 

[metlarules]

I have the 7000mah d cells. Anything that I use d cells in is pretty much stationary(Home or Camp use)so having spares is not a problem.

 

[rmteo]

I use these NiMH D cells:
http://www.batteryspace.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=711

They tested out to a true 10000mAH discharge capacity at 3.6A. At $44.12 for 8, they work out to $5.52 per cell.

 

[metlarules]

I use these NiMH D cells:
http://www.batteryspace.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=711

They tested out to a true 10000mAH discharge capacity at 3.6A. At $44.12 for 8, they work out to $5.52 per cell.

Thats not a bad deal at all!!!!

 

[Sub_Umbra]

I haven't found a better bargain than Ni-Cad D cells. They last forever and are capable of high current drain. I use the generics that can be found here. http://www.batteryjunction.com/nicd-d.html . I don't think you can get better dollar/mah than these.

I've been using those yellow 7 AH NiCD Ds since before MattK bought Amondotech -- at least a couple years. They are a killer deal and being NiCD they hold a charge very well.

I had a feeling I was missing some of mine and I couldn't find them until I needed to replace the 6 cells in one of our GE Superradios that we use every day. I had put them in there so long ago I forgot that they were powering it.

NiCDs are also great for bright, high draw security flashlights that don't see much day to day use -- I just discharge and charge them a 2-3 times a year and they're always good to go.

 

[Sub_Umbra]

I use these NiMH D cells:
http://www.batteryspace.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=711

They tested out to a true 10000mAH discharge capacity at 3.6A. At $44.12 for 8, they work out to $5.52 per cell.

I bought my first NiMH D Powerizers from Batteryspace back when they were only 9AH cells. I'm still using about 15 of the 9.5 AH cells that they carried later. They are still going strong after years of service. If the Powerizers they're selling now are as good as the ones I've bought from them before I'd say that they are a good value for the money.

A good charger will get the most out of them.

 

[nmos]

Re: the C808M charger. It looks like it has only 2 charge rates, 1 & 2A . Is that really safe for older AA and AAA cells? In my Lacrosse bc-900 some cells get pretty darn hot at 700ma and 1A settings.

 

[gswitter]

From memory (take with a grain of salt)... the 2A (rapid) and 1A (soft) charge rates are for D/C/AA cells. AAAs are charged at 700mA (rapid) and 350mA (soft). And, they don't recommend charging any cell above 1C.

 

[Sub_Umbra]

Re: the C808M charger. It looks like it has only 2 charge rates, 1 & 2A . Is that really safe for older AA and AAA cells? In my Lacrosse bc-900 some cells get pretty darn hot at 700ma and 1A settings.

The C808M is a little iffy with old AA cells. The charger may be set at the 1A rate for the old cells but the unit defaults at 2A so if the power blinks out for even half a second your old cells will be getting the full 2A charge -- no matter what you programed. The C808M is often touted as a "professional" charger but it's really not professional grade for anyone who works in the Third World, or even for many locales in the Second World with flaky power distribution.

 

[Russel]

Re: the C808M charger. It looks like it has only 2 charge rates, 1 & 2A . Is that really safe for older AA and AAA cells? In my Lacrosse bc-900 some cells get pretty darn hot at 700ma and 1A settings.

There is more to the charger than that. Here is a link to an excellent source of information on the Maha C808m charger:

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=102682

 

[Mike M]

Thanks for all of the replys. I've been super busy with work and a new baby so I haven't checked back here in a while. Looks like I might try the Battery Junction combo and maybe get some extra cells. With the new baby all of the little vibrating rockers we have for her run on D cells and we've been replacing them often. Looks like I can use the baby as an excuse to get this set up. Thanks.