Personal computing discussed
Moderators: renee, mac_h8r1, Nemesis
just brew it! wrote:For chargers, be aware that many of the consumer 4-cell chargers on the market cut corners on the charge control circuits, and consequently require that batteries always be charged in multiples of 2. If any of your devices use an odd number of batteries this can be a PITA. Better chargers have a separate control circuit for each battery position.
anotherengineer wrote:+10 for the Made in Japan Eneloop rechargables. I usually buy mine from dell when they go on sale.
DPete27 wrote:MAKE SURE YOU PAY ATTENTION TO VOLTAGE on the rechargables. I got a Rayovac kit (2-AA & 2-AAA with charger) and they're 1.2V. I stuck the AAAs in my remote and it wouldn't work. I was stumped for a while until I inserted some "regular" AAA's and it worked fine. The "regular" AAA's are 1.5V. I haven't tested the rechargables on a ton of things since then. Threw them in the junk drawer as a wasted purchase.
derFunkenstein wrote:Eneloops it is, then. Didn't realize that self-discharging batteries was a "feature" - totally annoyed to find dead controllers in the past, so I quit using rechargeables in them.
CB5000 wrote:If they can somehow figure out how to do rechargeable lithium ions in a AA, AAA format @ 1.5V and include a controller circuit inside the battery all for a decent price then that would be the best... but, yeah :/ The only AA sized lithiums available are 3.6V cells that are meant to be assembled into a battery pack with a controller circuit.
cynan wrote:Panasonic Eneloops (used to be Sanyo, since dissolved under Panasonic) still get the most recognition for reliability when it comes to rechargeable NiMH AAs. They have an extended capacity version that's probably the best rechargeable AA you can buy. But at the $25 for 4 AA MSRP, they are overpriced. If you can find them for around $15 or less, then they might be worth it.
Any NiMH charger should work (though you might want to double check the output voltage). Anywhere between a 200mAH and 1AH charge rate should be OK, but the slower the charge rate, the less taxing on the battery.
just brew it! wrote:Yup, the chemistry of lithium ion is all wrong for 1.5V. There would have to be some electronics (switching regulator) in each cell to down-convert to 1.5V. The tech to do this exists, but the extra electronics would add to the cost of an already somewhat pricey cell. Best way to keep cost down would probably be to have most of the intelligence in the charger, and just put a simple buck regulator in each individual cell. Unfortunately you will lose some efficiency with a regulator, but energy density of lithium ion is high enough that you should still come out ahead (and you'd be able to have "true" 1.5V rechargeables).
derFunkenstein wrote:Eneloops it is, then... An 8-pack can be hand on Amazon for $20 and seems cheap enough to me (or 8 with a charger for $35, free shipping thanks to Prime), compared to Walgreens has 4-packs of Duracell for $14 when I was there this morning and passed on them.
ChronoReverse wrote:Lithium Ions are superior in energy density but not durability. After three years the capacity of lithium ions drop significantly (can be half the original capacity). The number of charge cycles are lower too; maybe 500 compared to 2100 for the latest Eneloops.
NiMH only has half the energy density by mass and maybe 2/3rds by volume but they're stable and never dangerous.
derFunkenstein wrote:The $35 package also includes 2 AAA batteries, which is also a nice addition. I went ahead and ordered it plus 4 more AAs for a total of 12 for $47.
ChronoReverse wrote:I completely agree, and have had good results with AA and AAA sizes. The very latest generation are rated for 1800 recharge cycles. I use LaCross BC-700 for charging. A couple years ago, there was some discussion on Amazon about counterfeit Eneloops, so try to find a reputable seller.Eneloops is the answer!