Best rechargeable batteries in winter.
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Mark
Member
That's what I use. I know lithiums are supposed to be good in the cold, but I don't know if they are rechargeable.
SAR-EMT40
Well-known member
Lithium Ion (LIon) rechargables are the best but are fairly expensive and requires special charging circuitry. NiMH are best cost/benefit wise. Far superior to Nicad's.
Many electronics that show how much battery life you have left will also allow you to chose NiMH batteries to account for their different discharge curve.
Keith
Many electronics that show how much battery life you have left will also allow you to chose NiMH batteries to account for their different discharge curve.
Keith
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shadowcat
New member
rechargeables
i wanted to purch a recharger for aa and aaa batteries so i did quite a bit of research and learned way more then i ever wanted about the subject. after doing my "research" i went with the maha "powerex" brand NiMH 2300 batteries and the maha MH-C204W charger which handles aa and aaa batteries. they also have ones that will charge 9v in addition. one of the best sites for rechargers and batteries i've found is:
http://thomas-distributing.com/maha-powerex-mh-c204w-nimh-battery-charger.htm
also note that it's best to keep away from really inexpensive ones that state they are ultra - fast chargers. if you read up on this stuff it has to do with wear & tear i guess on the batteries. chargers that take around an hour are some of the best. the ones that say they will charge in 15 min i'd stay away from for now. they have a link in the upper right hand corner "FAQs" which is really helpful.
i wanted to purch a recharger for aa and aaa batteries so i did quite a bit of research and learned way more then i ever wanted about the subject. after doing my "research" i went with the maha "powerex" brand NiMH 2300 batteries and the maha MH-C204W charger which handles aa and aaa batteries. they also have ones that will charge 9v in addition. one of the best sites for rechargers and batteries i've found is:
http://thomas-distributing.com/maha-powerex-mh-c204w-nimh-battery-charger.htm
also note that it's best to keep away from really inexpensive ones that state they are ultra - fast chargers. if you read up on this stuff it has to do with wear & tear i guess on the batteries. chargers that take around an hour are some of the best. the ones that say they will charge in 15 min i'd stay away from for now. they have a link in the upper right hand corner "FAQs" which is really helpful.
SAR-EMT40
Well-known member
Maha MH-C777PLUS-II
I know that this may be overkill for many but this is the charger I use. It charges and reconditions both Nicad and NiMH as well as Lion batteries and battery packs. Granted I use many different batteries and different types of battery packs but this has paid for itself many times over by reconditioning batteries and not cooking and destroying expensive batteries and battery packs. It doesn't only use time to decide if a battery is charged it also uses a temperature sensor so it never cooks my batteries which is what really kills them. This is very quick charger but you don't run the risk of cooking your battery because of the temp sensor. Just make sure you pick Nicad/NiMH or Lion so it works correctly.
Maha 777 charger
FWIW, I have had mine for 2 or 3 years.
Also standard disclaimers apply. I have no financial interest, yada, yada, yada.
Regards,
Keith
I know that this may be overkill for many but this is the charger I use. It charges and reconditions both Nicad and NiMH as well as Lion batteries and battery packs. Granted I use many different batteries and different types of battery packs but this has paid for itself many times over by reconditioning batteries and not cooking and destroying expensive batteries and battery packs. It doesn't only use time to decide if a battery is charged it also uses a temperature sensor so it never cooks my batteries which is what really kills them. This is very quick charger but you don't run the risk of cooking your battery because of the temp sensor. Just make sure you pick Nicad/NiMH or Lion so it works correctly.
Maha 777 charger
FWIW, I have had mine for 2 or 3 years.
Also standard disclaimers apply. I have no financial interest, yada, yada, yada.
Regards,
Keith
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shadowcat
New member
maha's
you can't go wrong w/ any of the maha line. they seem to really set an industry standard w/o all the overkill and the prices are still reasonable. they get awesome reviews also
you can't go wrong w/ any of the maha line. they seem to really set an industry standard w/o all the overkill and the prices are still reasonable. they get awesome reviews also
Peakbagr
Well-known member
Neil,
You can use whichever rechargeables these guys suggest. But always carry a spare set of lithiums. A couple of things to remember. Lithiums retain about 95% of their strength in cold weather. Also, lithiums take years to lose their charge, something that can't be said of rechargeables.
Personally, I always carry lithiums in the headlamps and have a spare set of lithiums as backup. Even though they are more expensive than rechargeables, I feel the reliability and cold weather performance is worth whatever the cost differential.
PB
You can use whichever rechargeables these guys suggest. But always carry a spare set of lithiums. A couple of things to remember. Lithiums retain about 95% of their strength in cold weather. Also, lithiums take years to lose their charge, something that can't be said of rechargeables.
Personally, I always carry lithiums in the headlamps and have a spare set of lithiums as backup. Even though they are more expensive than rechargeables, I feel the reliability and cold weather performance is worth whatever the cost differential.
PB
The lithiums recommended by PB are *not* rechargeable. They offer superior performance in the cold. They are much more expensive than fresh alkaline batteries or Nickel Metal rechargeables on a use basis.
If you are going to keep your electronic item in a plastic bag next in a chest pocket, or you have a headlamp with a separate battery pack that you keep near your body, I think you will be fine with good quality NiMH batteries and a set of emergency lithiums.
If the stuff is going to remain cold, then either bring extra NiMH or pay for the lithiums.
If you are going to keep your electronic item in a plastic bag next in a chest pocket, or you have a headlamp with a separate battery pack that you keep near your body, I think you will be fine with good quality NiMH batteries and a set of emergency lithiums.
If the stuff is going to remain cold, then either bring extra NiMH or pay for the lithiums.
audrey
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My two Olympus cameras use proprietary Lithium ion batteries and so far temperatures down to minus 10 haven't fazed them, although if I don't keep them in a sheltered place (like a pocket), the low battery warning comes on.
Bolivia
Member
Good lithium batteries
FWIW, and without trying to insert any commercialism, the current issue of Backpacker speak well of one specific battery.
Supposedly, Energizer's E2 Lithium L92 AAA's are:
I haven't tried them as yet but will later this month snowshoeing in VT.
FWIW, and without trying to insert any commercialism, the current issue of Backpacker speak well of one specific battery.
Supposedly, Energizer's E2 Lithium L92 AAA's are:
- Headlamp friendly.
- Good to -40 degrees.
- Store for 15 years.
- Last four times the life of alkalines.
- Are 70% of alkaline's weight.
- Cost $8 for eight batteries.
I haven't tried them as yet but will later this month snowshoeing in VT.
DougPaul
Well-known member
There are 2 types of lithium batteries: primary (non-rechargeable)--eg AA and AAA cells, and secondary (rechargeable, lithium ion, Lion)--frequently found in carmeras, laptop computers, and cellphones. (Warning--the rechargables must be charged properly or they will be destroyed or may even explode.) AFAIK, the rechargeables are not available in AA and AAA form factors. Both have good low temperature performance, store a large amount of energy per weight, and are light weight.
NiMH (rechargable cells) are relatively heavy, store a high-medium amount of energy, and have reasonably good low temp performance (although not at good as lithium non-rechargeables). NiCads are also heavy but store far less energy than NiMH. NiMH cells are available in AA and AAA form factors (and many other shapes and sizes).
Alkaline cells store a medium amount of energy and have medium low temp performance.
Carbon-zinc ("dry") cells store a small amount of energy and have poor low temp performance.
Rechargable cells tend to have a relatively poor shelf life--that is they will slowly loose charge when not in use. It makes sense to recharge them shortly before a trip to maximize the amout of available energy. Lithium (10-15yrs) and alkaline (5-10yrs) cells have long shelf lives.
For headlamps, flashlights, and GPS (low to medium current devices) using AA or AAA cells, choose alkaline, non-rechargable Lithium, or rechargable NiMH cells.
For digital cameras and camcorders (high current devices) which take AA or AAA cells, choose non-rechargable Lithium or rechargable NiMH cells.
Emergency devices (eg a flashlight) which may sit unused for years before being used should use alkaline or lithium (non-rechargable) cells.
For NiMH AA and AAA cells, some good chargers are: Maha MH-C204F (4 cells, charges only in matched pairs) and Maha MH-C401FS (4 cells, charges individually--remember many LED lights take 3 cells).
Depending on the weight constraints and duration of a trip, I will carry NiMH cells with NiMH or Lithium spares, or all Lithium cells with Lithium spares.
Doug
NiMH (rechargable cells) are relatively heavy, store a high-medium amount of energy, and have reasonably good low temp performance (although not at good as lithium non-rechargeables). NiCads are also heavy but store far less energy than NiMH. NiMH cells are available in AA and AAA form factors (and many other shapes and sizes).
Alkaline cells store a medium amount of energy and have medium low temp performance.
Carbon-zinc ("dry") cells store a small amount of energy and have poor low temp performance.
Rechargable cells tend to have a relatively poor shelf life--that is they will slowly loose charge when not in use. It makes sense to recharge them shortly before a trip to maximize the amout of available energy. Lithium (10-15yrs) and alkaline (5-10yrs) cells have long shelf lives.
For headlamps, flashlights, and GPS (low to medium current devices) using AA or AAA cells, choose alkaline, non-rechargable Lithium, or rechargable NiMH cells.
For digital cameras and camcorders (high current devices) which take AA or AAA cells, choose non-rechargable Lithium or rechargable NiMH cells.
Emergency devices (eg a flashlight) which may sit unused for years before being used should use alkaline or lithium (non-rechargable) cells.
For NiMH AA and AAA cells, some good chargers are: Maha MH-C204F (4 cells, charges only in matched pairs) and Maha MH-C401FS (4 cells, charges individually--remember many LED lights take 3 cells).
Depending on the weight constraints and duration of a trip, I will carry NiMH cells with NiMH or Lithium spares, or all Lithium cells with Lithium spares.
Doug
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Peakbagr
Well-known member
I bought 8 NiMh AA rechargeables to go with my brand new Canon A95. Those will travel in the camera around town.
Non-rechargeable Lithium AA's will be in the camera for the backcountry. Better performance in the cold, lighter weight, 4x the life, and almost no loss of power over years makes them better in spite of the extra cost of rechargeables.
Non-rechargeable Lithium AA's will be in the camera for the backcountry. Better performance in the cold, lighter weight, 4x the life, and almost no loss of power over years makes them better in spite of the extra cost of rechargeables.
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Neil
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Great info! Now I want more!
Thanks guys for all the in-depth information. Now, I have a few new questions.
The rechargeables I have (and I assume all of them out there) are only 1.2 V.
Q1) How does this affect performance vs. 1.5 V? The 1.2's last a long time in my dig. camera but when I load freshly charged ones into my gps the low battery indicator shows up immediately.
I have some panasonics that are 1600mah and some duracells that are 2300 mah,
Q2) What's mah?
Q3) Any problems mixing the two ratings in the same device?
At the store I was told they have no memory.
Q4) This is good for recharging is it not?
Q5) How good are the Titanium batteries?
I guess that's it for now.
Thanks guys for all the in-depth information. Now, I have a few new questions.
The rechargeables I have (and I assume all of them out there) are only 1.2 V.
Q1) How does this affect performance vs. 1.5 V? The 1.2's last a long time in my dig. camera but when I load freshly charged ones into my gps the low battery indicator shows up immediately.
I have some panasonics that are 1600mah and some duracells that are 2300 mah,
Q2) What's mah?
Q3) Any problems mixing the two ratings in the same device?
At the store I was told they have no memory.
Q4) This is good for recharging is it not?
Q5) How good are the Titanium batteries?
I guess that's it for now.
A1) I think you answered your own question. In some applications, like cameras, it won't be a problem.
A2) mAh is the measure of how much "juice" your battery can store. The 2300mAh will last considerably longer than your 1600mAh cells.
A3) You probably shouldn't run different rated cells in a camera. They will wear out at different rates and may confuse the electronics.
A4) Yes, this is good. You can run them down a little or a lot, then recharge them, without the batteries developing a "memory" which would reduce their effective usage.
A5) I believe these are better alkalines. They still don't compare to NiMH for use in high drain devices like digital cameras, but probably would be better than plain alkalines in low drain devices like headlamps or GPS.
I have found no problems using two sets of NiMH batteries in the backcountry year round. I occasionally throw a set of lithium AAs in my camera bag for a long hike/ski if the forecast is for exceptionally cold weather, but it hasn't been an issue.
My new camera takes a propietary Lithium-Ion battery and I have yet to buy a backup but it hasn't been a problem so far.
-dave-
A2) mAh is the measure of how much "juice" your battery can store. The 2300mAh will last considerably longer than your 1600mAh cells.
A3) You probably shouldn't run different rated cells in a camera. They will wear out at different rates and may confuse the electronics.
A4) Yes, this is good. You can run them down a little or a lot, then recharge them, without the batteries developing a "memory" which would reduce their effective usage.
A5) I believe these are better alkalines. They still don't compare to NiMH for use in high drain devices like digital cameras, but probably would be better than plain alkalines in low drain devices like headlamps or GPS.
I have found no problems using two sets of NiMH batteries in the backcountry year round. I occasionally throw a set of lithium AAs in my camera bag for a long hike/ski if the forecast is for exceptionally cold weather, but it hasn't been an issue.
My new camera takes a propietary Lithium-Ion battery and I have yet to buy a backup but it hasn't been a problem so far.
-dave-
DougPaul
Well-known member
Neil said:
Q1) Many GPSes cut out at about 2V. Thus NiMHes are fine. The battery indicator is assuming alkaline batts--1.2V is low for an alkaline. Some GPSes allow one to set a battery type. (I simply don't bother and just remember the battery type.)
Lithiums batts start at 1.5V.
Neil said:
Q2) mah=milliampere-hours, a measure of capacity
Q3) Don't mix battery types or capacities. If you run the charge down too far, the smaller capacity batteries can be reverse charged (and damaged) by the larger capacity batteries.
Memory is a problem for NiCads (shallow discharge and recharge cycles reduce the capacity--reversible by several deep discharge and recharge cycles). Not a problem for NiMHes.
Q4) If you have a smart charger, you can top-off the charge on NiMHes any time without causing the memory effect.
Q5) Titanium batteries are alkalines. Don't know off hand what kind of service they claimed to be optimized for (high current? low current?).
Add'l info: NiMHes are a better choice for hiking than NiCads.
Doug
SAR-EMT40
Well-known member
A1 They will last longer in almost all applications. Whose GPS do you own? Most of the newer GPS units have a setting in firmware to change from Alkaline or NiCAD or NiMH because of the different discharge curves of these batteries.
A2 milli ampere hour rating. Like Dave said it’s a term of stored current capablility. Higher is better.
A3 Again, like Dave said. Don’t mix battery types.
A4 No it is not. The NiMH batteries don’t have memory effect and you don’t want memory effect in your batteries. It’s a bad thing. Memory effect was a reduction in capacity of the battery that people claimed occurred on NiCAD batteries if they were not discharged completely.
A5 I have read studies that don’t say many good things about the Ti batteries and also the ones I am familiar with are not rechargeable. If you have found some that are rechargeable I would be interested in hearing about them.
Just one other comment. Do not us “dumb” quick chargers to recharge Nicad or NiMH batteries that haven’t been discharged to very low capacity. A lot of the chargers can and will cook your batteries and that will markedly reduce the batteries capability and life.
A2 milli ampere hour rating. Like Dave said it’s a term of stored current capablility. Higher is better.
A3 Again, like Dave said. Don’t mix battery types.
A4 No it is not. The NiMH batteries don’t have memory effect and you don’t want memory effect in your batteries. It’s a bad thing. Memory effect was a reduction in capacity of the battery that people claimed occurred on NiCAD batteries if they were not discharged completely.
A5 I have read studies that don’t say many good things about the Ti batteries and also the ones I am familiar with are not rechargeable. If you have found some that are rechargeable I would be interested in hearing about them.
Just one other comment. Do not us “dumb” quick chargers to recharge Nicad or NiMH batteries that haven’t been discharged to very low capacity. A lot of the chargers can and will cook your batteries and that will markedly reduce the batteries capability and life.
Neil
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SAR-EMT40 said:
Garmin RINO 110. I checked and I see that it indeed has a battery type selection in "setup".
I have a Panasonic Ni-MH 5 hour charger.SAR-EMT40 said:
I also just noticed that I have 1300, 1600 and 2300 mah rechargeables. I guess I'll stop mixing them yesterday. I wonder what other of my gear (other than my knees) I'm abusing
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shadowcat
New member
good site for batteries, chargers and info
i use these guys for my purchases for batteries and chargers etc. they are also great at answering questions. since i had to contact them about something else i have asked them for any info on the cold and batteries etc. will pass along what they say once they respond.
http://thomasdistributing.com/index.htm
i use these guys for my purchases for batteries and chargers etc. they are also great at answering questions. since i had to contact them about something else i have asked them for any info on the cold and batteries etc. will pass along what they say once they respond.
http://thomasdistributing.com/index.htm
Peakbagr said:
I agree with Peakbagr!!! The rechargeables are ok (NIMH) but if you don't want to change your batteries often, use the lithiums. I am psyched to learn, however, that they are available in AAA. I haven't seen these anywhere yet. Anyone seen them?
