With rechargeables, have you ever....

[Stress_Test]

Have you ever wanted to just say screw it and buy a huge pack of alkalines and be done with it???

I mean, I like the reusable nature of the NiMH, and the capacity is great, but I hate having to wonder about whether they've self discharged already or not.

It'd be especially bad if I charged them and put them in my light, then when I needed it a week later "POOF" dead batteries.

I do use NiMH in my main light, but I carry a backup with an alkaline cell, plus an extra alkaline set for the primary light.

Anyway, that's my rant for tonight!

 

[lasercrazy]

Buy yourself some eneloops and you wont have to worry about that anymore.

 

[Marduke]

Definitely look into LSD (Low Self Discharge) NiMH cells which old onto their charge MUCH longer. Eneloop for example maintains 85% of it's charge after one full year of storage. There are other brands like Rayovac Hybrid which maintain 80% after 6 months.

 

[NA8]

+1 go with LSD NiMH. They have been performing very well for me compared to the older style NiMH.

 

[Eugene]

I was where you are a few years ago. Every time I tried to use something the batteries would be dead so I'd charge them on a 1 hour charger and pull them hot off the charger for use and still the run time wasn't as good as it should be.

Get some low self discharge as others have said, then a decent charger, a maha 401 will be sufficient if you don't want to spring for a c900. Even the 401 made a big difference in my old non lsd batteries.

 

[Stress_Test]

Definitely look into LSD (Low Self Discharge) NiMH cells which old onto their charge MUCH longer. Eneloop for example maintains 85% of it's charge after one full year of storage. There are other brands like Rayovac Hybrid which maintain 80% after 6 months.

I've got some energizer e2 batteries that are marked on the pack as holding charge "40% longer" or something. I don't know if these are actual LSD cells, but in the relatively short time I've owned/used them, they seem to hold charge longer than the duracells I've got.

 

[mighty82]

No, that's not lsd cells. Lsd cells will hold the charge many times longer than normal nimh, nothing like 40% longer.

 

[Wattnot]

Yes, alkalines are great! It's like having a built in battery meter! You put fresh batteries in, then from only minutes after turning it on, you watch the light slowly dim right before your eyes. You know you have about 1/2 the life left because you have 1/2 the light . . . and they keep going, and going, and going . . . :devil:.

Just this evening I was bitching up a storm over how sick I am of alkalines. I didn't have my Eneloops when I got my LOD so I stuck an alkaline in there. I'm waiting for the stupid thing to die . . . I can see the light getting dimmer and dimmer each time I use it but I don't want to waste it and throw it away. They're fine for some things but light's aint one of em!!!

 

[mdocod]

Keeping a stock of cheap Alkalines is never a bad idea, especially for emergency preparedness, but since finding eneloops and li-ion I am in rechargeable bliss.

 

[Fallingwater]

Have you ever wanted to just say screw it and buy a huge pack of alkalines and be done with it?

No, but I did say "screw it" while dealing with alkalines and bought a pack of rechargeables.

Besides, you can't always just use alkalines. High current applications always work better with rechargeables.

 

[Burgess]

Been a "flashlight enthusiast" for nearly half-a-century now.


Here's one i got, back when Eisenhower was President:

(my post is # 86)

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=150257



How far we have progressed, eh ? Truly Amazing.



These are indeed very exciting times to be a Flashaholic. :thumbsup:



But, in MY humble opinion . . . .


For ME . . . .



The two Biggest, Most Exciting Technology Advancements are:


Powerful Light-Emitting Diodes


- and -


Low-Self-Discharge NiMH Batteries



These totally beat Alkalines in flashlight usage.


No longer do you hafta' wonder:

"Should i try to use these cells a while longer, or just throw 'em away now ?"


You can easily "Top 'em off" anytime you want.


No memory effect to contend with.


And a Very Stable discharge curve.



Oh, be sure to check out the Wonderful document:

"1.2 Volt vs. "1.5 Volt" Batteries​

by Roy Lewallen


You'll hafta' search for it. I'm unable to find it, sorry.


Can someone else locate this PDF file by Roy ?

_

 

[drmaxx]

Here you go: "1.2 Volt vs. "1.5 Volt" Batteries by Roy Lewallen(PDF)
Thanks for the tip.