Stupid battery question

[Phaserburn]

What would happen if you filled a Mag 3D with 1 3-to-D holder with AA's and 2 D cells? What would the voltage and current look like, and what would the ramifications be? On the surface you'd get 7.5V, right in the middle of 5W range. This is probably a no-no, or someone else would've mentioned it by now. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Empath]

If the 3-to-D holder runs the AA cells in parallel, you'll still have 4.5 volts. If it runs them in series you'll have 7.5 volts just like a 5 cell. What you'd eventually have would likely be a Mag 3D filled full of corrosion and chemicals oozing from the damaged cells. Don't mix different battery chemistries, sizes, or varied states of charge. Instead of the cells working together, they work on each other to the detriment of the individual cells.

 

[Brock]

Yup, you want to keep the same size and kind of battery in the series parallel configs. With the 3-to-D in a two-cell light you should be able to get any voltage by using dummy cells. So 1.5, 3, 4.5, 6, 7.5, and 9v. Or 1.25 and so on for NiMH's. I got a batch of those dummy AA cells from CCrane for like $1 a piece, they should come in handy with these holders. Oh I can't wait /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif