Why would someone NOT use rechargeable batteries??

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
When 4 AAs cost $12, there is no sense whatsoever in buying alkalines for anything other than remotes and smoke detectors. And I think Nimh has long surpassed alkaline for power capacity.. Of course no one publishes mah ratings for their alkalines.

NiMH batteries don't last worth sh*t in an SLR flash. There's a big difference between 6 volts (4 times 1.5 volts) and 4.8 volts (4 times 1.2 volts) when you're feeding a large flash unit.

ZV

Both alkalines and NiMh AAs start out around 1.5 volts and drop pretty quickly to 1.2 volts. Compare NiMh graphs to alkaline graphs.

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Interesting. My old Contax TLA30 only lasts about half as long with my 2250 mAh NiMH batteries as it does with lithium "photo" batteries.

ZV

I've heard others with similar experiences with Honeywell Strobonars. These are quite old lights.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: MS Dawn

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
NiMH batteries don't last worth sh*t in an SLR flash. There's a big difference between 6 volts (4 times 1.5 volts) and 4.8 volts (4 times 1.2 volts) when you're feeding a large flash unit.

ZV

Our speedlites get far more flashes and recycle time is MUCH faster with NiMH cells. Alkalines suffer from sloping voltage discharge and higher impedance. That 1.5V/cell advantage fades quickly under high load.

Interesting. My old Contax TLA30 only lasts about half as long with my 2250 mAh NiMH batteries as it does with lithium "photo" batteries.

ZV

Well lithium is a different story:
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=64660 (ctrl-f and search for lithium)

 

[uberman]

I was night diving off Catalina Island in the Pacific, in about 65 feet of water. My light went out, Poof! I mean instantly. Ni-Cad batteries don't gradually dim. They just stop delivering power. I think this is a good reason not to use them.

 

[OrganizedChaos]

only thing have regularly use that takes batteries is my tv remote and the transmitter for my car alarm. my car alarm transmitter takes a 12V photo battery. tv remote was supose to take AAs but 2 years ago i soldered in some C cells and haven't had to change them since.

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: OrganizedChaos
only thing have regularly use that takes batteries is my tv remote and the transmitter for my car alarm. my car alarm transmitter takes a 12V photo battery. tv remote was supose to take AAs but 2 years ago i soldered in some C cells and haven't had to change them since.

C cells in a remote? How BIG is that thing? :Q

 

[Itchrelief]

Originally posted by: OrganizedChaos
only thing have regularly use that takes batteries is my tv remote and the transmitter for my car alarm. my car alarm transmitter takes a 12V photo battery. tv remote was supose to take AAs but 2 years ago i soldered in some C cells and haven't had to change them since.

With the added bonus that it's so freakin big you will never really want to pick it up so it never gets lost.

If it gets under the couch cushions, just a quick glance to find the bulge will yield the goods.

 

[Staples]

There are some down sides such as them losing charge pretty quick and their voltage not being as high but I have used only rechargeable batteries for 15 years.

 

[Thraxen]

Originally posted by: Jeff7

Originally posted by: Thraxen
You guys act like rechargeable alkaline batteries don't exist. I have a bunch and they are what I use in remotes and other low drain devices. The best thing about them is I can charge them all up and once and them drop them in a drawer for later use months, or even years, down the road.

Does anyone make them anymore? I haven't seen Renewals for quite some time now.

You can still buy rechargeable alkalines: Link

 

[OrganizedChaos]

Originally posted by: MS Dawn

Originally posted by: OrganizedChaos
only thing have regularly use that takes batteries is my tv remote and the transmitter for my car alarm. my car alarm transmitter takes a 12V photo battery. tv remote was supose to take AAs but 2 years ago i soldered in some C cells and haven't had to change them since.

C cells in a remote? How BIG is that thing? :Q

pic just for you!

C-cell-remote-10-31-06.JPG

its feels fine in my hand kinda like a clicker with a handle. all wrapped up nice and tight with electrical tape. they've been in there for 3 years now and still work like the day i put them in.

 

[uberman]

Originally posted by: jtvang125
For low drain and non emergency devices (remotes, flashlights...), do rechargeable batteries really last longer than alkalines?

Never, I got rid of my 50 rechargeable batteries and only use alkaline. Alkaline probably last 3 to six times longer.

 

[Dessert Tears]

Originally posted by: uberman
I was night diving off Catalina Island in the Pacific, in about 65 feet of water. My light went out, Poof! I mean instantly. Ni-Cad batteries don't gradually dim. They just stop delivering power. I think this is a good reason not to use them.

This is a good point. The flatter voltage discharge curve is often touted as an advantage, but the sudden drop-off is glossed over. Many recent flashlights have regulation circuitry, which boosts the lamp voltage to optimal regardless of battery voltage, and low-battery indicators or low-output "moon mode" to give the user the best of both battery chemistries.

Originally posted by: Itchrelief

Originally posted by: OrganizedChaos
only thing have regularly use that takes batteries is my tv remote and the transmitter for my car alarm. my car alarm transmitter takes a 12V photo battery. tv remote was supose to take AAs but 2 years ago i soldered in some C cells and haven't had to change them since.

With the added bonus that it's so freakin big you will never really want to pick it up so it never gets lost.

If it gets under the couch cushions, just a quick glance to find the bulge will yield the goods.

When I was in college, the remotes for the common TV system would constantly be lost and/or having their batteries taken. The eventual solution was to wire them to 1 large piece of plywood, with screws into a 2x4 covering the wire ends. The observed MTBF was around 1 month - we gave up after replacing the batteries in 2 of the remotes. Adding externally-accessible C batteries (who would take them?) would have been perfect.

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: OrganizedChaos

C cells in a remote? How BIG is that thing? :Q

pic just for you!

C-cell-remote-10-31-06.JPG

its feels fine in my hand kinda like a clicker with a handle. all wrapped up nice and tight with electrical tape. they've been in there for 3 years now and still work like the day i put them in.[/quote]

LOL it looks like a gun! :laugh:

 

[Staples]

Originally posted by: Thraxen

Originally posted by: Jeff7

Originally posted by: Thraxen
You guys act like rechargeable alkaline batteries don't exist. I have a bunch and they are what I use in remotes and other low drain devices. The best thing about them is I can charge them all up and once and them drop them in a drawer for later use months, or even years, down the road.

Does anyone make them anymore? I haven't seen Renewals for quite some time now.

You can still buy rechargeable alkalines: Link

The problem with those is that you have to take good care of them. I still have and use some Renewal batteries that I bought many years ago however don't ever let them drain more than 15% or it will really lessen the capacity. All rechargeable batteries have to be taken care of properly but rechargeable alkaline batteries seem to have the biggest maintenance issues.

I think a lot of people have bad experiences with rechargeable batteries because they do not understand how to care for them. If you don't take care of them, their capacity can drop pretty quickly. With my NiMh, I recharge them every month whether they have been used or not. Dead rechargeable batteries sitting on the shelf can really ruin them fast.

 

[Thraxen]

Originally posted by: Staples
I think a lot of people have bad experiences with rechargeable batteries because they do not understand how to care for them. If you don't take care of them, their capacity can drop pretty quickly. With my NiMh, I recharge them every month whether they have been used or not. Dead rechargeable batteries sitting on the shelf can really ruin them fast.

That's the beauty of alkalines... they drain sooo much slower when not in use than other rechargeables. Charge them all once and then they can sit for many months with no problem.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: MS Dawn

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Interesting. My old Contax TLA30 only lasts about half as long with my 2250 mAh NiMH batteries as it does with lithium "photo" batteries.

ZV

I've heard others with similar experiences with Honeywell Strobonars. These are quite old lights.

Yeah, I'm using flash units that were designed in the late 1970's, so we're not talking about the latest and greatest in voltage control circuitry. All I know is that the flash cycles a lot faster with "standard" batteries, especially since I never use up the batteries all in one shooting so they'll sit for a week sometimes.

Very interesting thread.

ZV