Ive got some 1200 mAh nimh 1.2v energizer rechargeable batteries and a charger, and I want to get some higher capacity batteries, but would those batteries work in my current charger? It takes a while to charge, but it works fine and can charge AA, AAA, and 9 volts. Pretty nice compared to what im seeing on newegg...
nimh batteries and chargers
- Thread starter wazzledoozle
- Start date
I've got an older charger that I use 2400 mAh batteries with
you'll never use those 1200 mAh batteries again
you'll never use those 1200 mAh batteries again
Originally posted by: wazzledoozle
They will be good for clocks and tv remotes
Nope, NiMH is terrible for slow drain devices as they'll completely run out of juice in a short time due to leakage.
Originally posted by: vegetation
Originally posted by: wazzledoozle
They will be good for clocks and tv remotes
Nope, NiMH is terrible for slow drain devices as they'll completely run out of juice in a short time due to leakage.
o rly.... damn
I have aaa nimhs in the remote in my bedroom and they lasted more than six months before needing to be recharged. I also have some aa nimhs in my tivo remote that have been there for quite a while so go ahead and use them in your remotes as they should last a good amount of time.
Interesting... But I wonder if there's ever a problem with them being only 1.2v as opposed to the 1.5v of alkalines. ?
Jeff7
Lifer
- Jan 4, 2001
- 41,596
- 20
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If there is, you'll know immediately - the device simply won't work.
Only thing with NiMH in low-drain devices like that: yes, they will drain more quickly than alkaline, but they still last awhile simply because the device uses so little power in the first place. But when the batteries do go dead, they do it without warning. So maybe just take them out every few months and charge them up.
Hi, Rechargables are terrible in some devices that were designed for Alkaline batts. Rechargable batts start a about 1.3 volts per cell, drop very rapidly to 1.2, hang there through the entire live of the batt then drop rapidly all the way down. Alkalines start at 1.6 Volts per cell and drop gradually for their entire life. The device shuts off at about 1.2 Volts per cell which is where the Rechargables like to be so you don't get but a tiny bit of their life. If the device has no auto shut off then they work great. Some types of chargers only time the charge so will not fully charge larger capacity cells with one cycle. You would have to run them another cycle and shut it down when you know they are fully charged. Some really intelligent chargers should do a good job. The Dollar stores in my area have Everready, 2.4 Amp Hour MiMh batts with the correct charger for $10.00. Hope this helps a little, Jim
Edit: The general concensus seems to be that Rechargeables self discharge rapidly. True, but the above points out that it's not really the self discharge but the fact that most devices are not designed for rechargeables. Run a set down in a Camera and then test with a known drain and you will find that the batt still has most of it's charge available. One of my many cameras does not shut down but only indicates when the batt is down. It takes over 100 more flash shots at highest res after the batt is "Dead".
Jim
Edit: The general concensus seems to be that Rechargeables self discharge rapidly. True, but the above points out that it's not really the self discharge but the fact that most devices are not designed for rechargeables. Run a set down in a Camera and then test with a known drain and you will find that the batt still has most of it's charge available. One of my many cameras does not shut down but only indicates when the batt is down. It takes over 100 more flash shots at highest res after the batt is "Dead".
Jim
Cerb
Elite Member
- Aug 26, 2000
- 17,484
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- 86
You might use the charger, but chances are, it's a timered one, so it won't fully charge higher capacity batteries. Ideally, you want a smart charger with single cell charging (can do odd numbers of batteries). Amondotech.com and thomas-distributing.com should have several reasonably priced chargers and combos.
Can you give more details on the charger? Some keep charging until you turn them off, some use timers and others use -dV or +dV sensing to detect when the battery is full.
RoD
But even if they discharge 200mAH/month, 1200mAH's will still give you 6 months juice. (I know it's not linear, but they do last for months in devices like remotes and wireless doorbells.)
Nearly all devices are fine with this. Also, due to the low internal resistance of NiMH's (compared to rechargeable), the voltage drops less when connected to a load that it does with an alkaline, so the difference is usually actually less then 0.3 volts.
RoD
I use to read magazines on www.homepower.com
Their magazine is all about Solar Power and it always had all kinds of power and charger related articles.
Their magazine is all about Solar Power and it always had all kinds of power and charger related articles.
I hate to tell you but many rechargeables discharge much faster than that. Most of the lower capacity NIMH batteries will last maybe a few months between charges but the newer ones will be luck to last a few weeks. I have 2 packs of Energizer 2500mAH batteries and they self discharge within like 2 weeks. I'm dead serious, I have 5 year old batteries that self discharge slower.
Cerb
Elite Member
- Aug 26, 2000
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Those are either not being fully charged, are crap cells, or are damaged. I got some AAAs made in China...problematic. Japan, great (IIRC, Japanese Energizer = Sanyo). A good cell should be around 50% at 3 months on its own.
Still, bad for long-term uses!
Still, bad for long-term uses!
The charger I have can charge 4 AA's at the same time, and has 2 led's that indicate its charging. Im not sure if its on a timer or not, ill have to drain some batteries slightly and charge them to see.
I didn't say all NIMH batteries self discharge that fast. It's mostly the newer ultra high capacity ones that are the worst. There are plenty that can last a few months between charges.
Well both packs die in about the same amount of time and they were bought from different places (Best Buy and Newegg) at different times. I have charged them in at least 2 different smart chargers and have confirmed they are getting fully charged with my battery analyzer. I believe it's just the cost of having very high capacity batteries.
Cerb
Elite Member
- Aug 26, 2000
- 17,484
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