Use Recharge or Alks?

[jayflash]

Depending on lamp wattage I've had varying success with using rechargeables. I'm guessing they're better in AA applications because NiCd & NiMH cells can dump more current into heavy loads than alkalines. Alks do have higher voltage for awhile but is it a worthwhile?

Pelican offers a different lamp to use with the Stealth Rechargeable. They and Streamlight don't recommend using reachargeables to replace alkalines. Just ignore that?

What do you experienced users (and abusers) recommend?

 

[paulr]

At high currents, rechargeables work a lot better. At lower currents, what to use depends mostly on how often you use the light. If you use it a lot, rechargeables provide significant economy. If it's once in a while (e.g. a light you toss in your glovebox and use once a year), rechargeables' self-discharge rate will leave the cells flat just when you need the most.

 

[Empath]

[ QUOTE ]
jayflash said:
They and Streamlight don't recommend using reachargeables to replace alkalines. Just ignore that?


[/ QUOTE ]

Ignoring Streamlight's suggestion has been done; and damage has occurred.

 

[jayflash]

Empath, please educate me - what sort of damage. Short lamp life, melted reflectors, compromised hazardous atmosphere use, loss of warranty protection?

 

[Empath]

The problem experienced is overheating and damage to the lamp. Initially, Streamlight failed to provide the warning to use only alkaline cells, and the damage from sustained high current from lithiums and rechargeables were damaging them. That's the reason they started including the warning. Advising that people ignore the manufacturers suggestion isn't in our best interest. A suggestion that rechargeables can be used, qualified with a warning of possible damage from the sustained flat-curved current capabilities may be okay and quite useful information. But a suggestion to ignore the manufacturers warning without such a qualifier is not.