rechargeable batteries and chargers
- Thread starter armallard
- Start date
Help Support Candle Power Flashlight Forum
If you want to use rechargables for infrequent use then I would definitely recommend low discharge batteries such as eneloops.
I use a Maha 801D charger and have had good results.
You may want to check out this Combo Deal on a LaCrosse BC900 plus eneloops at Thomas Distributing:
http://www.thomasdistributing.com/s...ml?SP_id=67&osCsid=2pppr0oboecr9jthmrlgk9p2j5
I use a Maha 801D charger and have had good results.
You may want to check out this Combo Deal on a LaCrosse BC900 plus eneloops at Thomas Distributing:
http://www.thomasdistributing.com/s...ml?SP_id=67&osCsid=2pppr0oboecr9jthmrlgk9p2j5
Howecollc
Enlightened
What sizes of batteries are we talking about: AAs, 123 lithiums, etc?
Howecollc
Enlightened
armallard
There's always been a significant downside to using rechargeable batteries over alkalines. Even when not being used, just sitting around in your remote, flashlight, or even just on the shelf, rechargeables will lose their charge very quickly when compared to the roughly 5 year shelf life of alkalines . The old-school ni-cad rechargeable batteries will hold a charge for roughly 3 months. Regular NiMH batteries (the type of rechargeables that Walmart and similar places have been selling for years) only hold their charge for about a month before you have to recharge them. The Sanyo Eneloops, however, will hold their charge for better than a year, due to a fairly new technology that they created. There's a definite reason that everyone here at CPF is recommending the Eneloops. They were the first to come up with the "low self-discharge NiMH" batteries, and are still pretty much the best brand out there. Here's a long term review praising them.
The best price for the Eneloops seems to mostly be at Amazon, once you take into account their free shipping. They sell AAs in 4 packs, 8 packs, 2 pack with charger, 4 pack with charger (although seems to be a bad deal), and a starter pack with 8AAs/2AAAs/charger/and some handy adapters for using the AAs in yout electronics that use Cs and Ds for $35.00. The best price I could put together for 8AAs and 2AAAs was $29, so for $6 more you get the adapters and the charger (which I think may be easier to use with the Eneloops than the charger you already have). You can always go back later and get a 4 pack of AAAs for $10.98 if you end up needing more than 2.
While on the subject of chargers, you've undoubtedly noticed a few people mentioning getting a better charger than that which you have, or than the one that comes with the Eneloop packages. That's just the nature of a forum like this where most are using their Eneloops under much more demanding conditions than yours, and everyone is "tweaking" for maximum results. It seems to me your primary goal is to save money by not buying any more alkalines. With that in mind, just keep things simple and inexpensive by going with the standard Eneloop charger, or even your V2833 if you decide to buy just the batteries.
Below are a few links to some of the various packages I mentioned.
- http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00198BF9W/?tag=cpf0b6-20
- http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000IV2WAW/?tag=cpf0b6-20
- http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000IV0RD6/?tag=cpf0b6-20
- http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00181WPJE/?tag=cpf0b6-20
There's always been a significant downside to using rechargeable batteries over alkalines. Even when not being used, just sitting around in your remote, flashlight, or even just on the shelf, rechargeables will lose their charge very quickly when compared to the roughly 5 year shelf life of alkalines . The old-school ni-cad rechargeable batteries will hold a charge for roughly 3 months. Regular NiMH batteries (the type of rechargeables that Walmart and similar places have been selling for years) only hold their charge for about a month before you have to recharge them. The Sanyo Eneloops, however, will hold their charge for better than a year, due to a fairly new technology that they created. There's a definite reason that everyone here at CPF is recommending the Eneloops. They were the first to come up with the "low self-discharge NiMH" batteries, and are still pretty much the best brand out there. Here's a long term review praising them.
The best price for the Eneloops seems to mostly be at Amazon, once you take into account their free shipping. They sell AAs in 4 packs, 8 packs, 2 pack with charger, 4 pack with charger (although seems to be a bad deal), and a starter pack with 8AAs/2AAAs/charger/and some handy adapters for using the AAs in yout electronics that use Cs and Ds for $35.00. The best price I could put together for 8AAs and 2AAAs was $29, so for $6 more you get the adapters and the charger (which I think may be easier to use with the Eneloops than the charger you already have). You can always go back later and get a 4 pack of AAAs for $10.98 if you end up needing more than 2.
While on the subject of chargers, you've undoubtedly noticed a few people mentioning getting a better charger than that which you have, or than the one that comes with the Eneloop packages. That's just the nature of a forum like this where most are using their Eneloops under much more demanding conditions than yours, and everyone is "tweaking" for maximum results. It seems to me your primary goal is to save money by not buying any more alkalines. With that in mind, just keep things simple and inexpensive by going with the standard Eneloop charger, or even your V2833 if you decide to buy just the batteries.
Below are a few links to some of the various packages I mentioned.
- http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00198BF9W/?tag=cpf0b6-20
- http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000IV2WAW/?tag=cpf0b6-20
- http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000IV0RD6/?tag=cpf0b6-20
- http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00181WPJE/?tag=cpf0b6-20
Last edited:
KiwiMark
Flashlight Enthusiast
Wow - that is a great deal! Why consider anything else? I suggest you buy this and go from there.
I have bought from Thomas Distributing a few times - they are excellent.
I have 2 of the LaCrosse BC900 chargers - they are also excellent.
The Eneloops are the best way to go for NiMH rechargeables.
That deal also includes 4 x AAA and 4 x AA rechargeables (as well as the 8 x AA eneloops). They are normal NiMH, this means they will lose their charge over time - but if you recharge them not long before using them then they are pretty good. e.g. Charge the 4 x AA 2600mAh cells the night before going to an event where you will take a bunch of photos, put those in your camera and also charge some Eneloops and put them in your camera bag. Take as many photos as you feel like, when the batteries go flat you have spares with you. For casual digital camera use the best bet is to keep Eneloops in the camera and a spare set of charged Eneloops in the camera bag - that way you are always ready to go.
BTW
The LaCrosse BC-900 charger is great to use. It can charge AA or AAA and you can mix any combo you like - each of the 4 bays is an independent charging channel. You can even set the charging rate to charge the batteries faster - also settable on each of the 4 channels individually. You can also pop 4 batteries into the charger and leave it to charge them up - simple as anything!
