Another battery thread.

[Mugshot]

I'd like to get some rechargables for my lights, I've been reading a few reviews and some seem to perform better than others, for example Sanyo Eneloop, but was wondering if anyones got any recommendations from experience. If this has been covered elsewhere please point me to the relevant thread.
Thank you

I've noticed my avatar now looks as though it's raining, it's pretty apt really. (Fixed now)

 

[Kestevan]

If we're talking AA I've found the Vapex 2900mah to be superb.

 

[Mugshot]

Sorry Kestevan, I should have been a little more specific, it's AA and AAA. Thanks for the info though, I'll add those to the list

 

[Svendo]

I believe the main choice is between ordinary rechargeables that lose charge when unused but have higher capacity, of which vapex are excellent in AAA and AA. The other option is the Sanyo Enloop Low Self Discharge type, which don't lose much charge when unused, but you have roughly 20% less capacity (2900 ish vs. 2300 ish for AA).

If you're using rechargeables a lot of either type an intelligent charger, ideally which charges batteries individually, will improve overall performance and life of the batteries. A really good charger will tell you if batteries are duff, and do discharge-recharge cycles, like this one : http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=777_3&products_id=101271 .

 

[marinyork]

Go for vapex. Incredible performance. Vastly cheaper than any high street battery and still cheaper than many on-line ones.

Just to clarify the vapex instants 2500mAh are LSD, the 2900 non-instants are not (but very good). For heavy use in lighting systems the 2900s are an excellent choice. Eneloop are about equivalent performance to the vapex but cost more.

If you don't want to buy on-line maplin is probably the place to go when they have a sale on. Their batteries perform absolutely fine (standards).

 

[theloafer]

hi mugshot
have used these guys very helpfull when i phoned the other day..
http://www.tantronics.co.uk/

larry

 

[PpPete]

I've had some of the older 2300mAh Vapex LSD type for a while, which are excellent.
Still unconvinced by the 2900s I got recently, performance seems to be very variable - often lasting less time than the 2300 LSD type. Thought at first I had one "rogue" cell - even though it wasnt showing up as bad on my charger's LCD.

 

[Mugshot]

Thank you all so much for your input, it's very much appreciated. Vapex looks like the way to go, and it's a toss up between the 2900 and the 2300. Now I'm a real dummy when it comes to this but if I understand what Svendo said and what I've read the 2300 hold their charge for longer when not used but the 2900 is more powerful, is that right?

 

[marinyork]

Thank you all so much for your input, it's very much appreciated. Vapex looks like the way to go, and it's a toss up between the 2900 and the 2300. Now I'm a real dummy when it comes to this but if I understand what Svendo said and what I've read the 2300 hold their charge for longer when not used but the 2900 is more powerful, is that right?

Rechargeable batteries famously discharge. Some like uniross are absolutely shocking and don't hold their charge very long (days). Thankfully we're past that now and in real world situations we're talking weeks. I put standard rechargeables that don't hold their charge in my lights as they get such heavy use. For someone who uses their lights less than me then it would be a reasonable idea putting LSD in.

The idea on LSD rechargeables is that they keep say 85% of their charge after a year etc. The downside is that they can cost a great deal more e.g. maplin LSDs cost an eye watering £10.99 for 4xAA.

The only pitfall to be aware of with LSD is that they are often fatter than lithium or rechargeable batteries. No we're not pulling your leg it's actually true. If you accurately measure the diameter of LSDs they are often 0.5mm fatter than their equivalents. There is some variation on this. The vapex rechargeables are quite thin for an LSD - another reason I like them (the maplins are very fat). Why does this matter? Unfortunately some battery chambers in bike lights can be very snug.

 

[BalkanExpress]

Rechargeable batteries famously discharge. Some like uniross are absolutely shocking and don't hold their charge very long (days). Thankfully we're past that now and in real world situations we're talking weeks. I put standard rechargeables that don't hold their charge in my lights as they get such heavy use. For someone who uses their lights less than me then it would be a reasonable idea putting LSD in.

The idea on LSD rechargeables is that they keep say 85% of their charge after a year etc. The downside is that they can cost a great deal more e.g. maplin LSDs cost an eye watering £10.99 for 4xAA.

This.

In real life terms I use Vapex 2900 in the Vision 1 but carry LSD cells as the spares (so I do n't have to worry about them holding the charge) The back lights are running off LSD AAA, very handy for the summer/lower use as again you are sure they have not discharged between uses.

VAPEX LSD are a bit cheaper than Maplins (I think), but I picked up a load at Aldi last time they had them on special: €5 for 4xAA or 4xAAA (that's about £4.40)

 

[Mugshot]

Ok, think I'm getting there now, once again, thank you to everyone that's replied. One final question I think. My lights don't get a huge amount of use, probably around an hour or so a day and I only use them on my commute, if I bought the 2900s and they totally discharged through the summer would they still charge ok for use next winter?

 

[MacB]

Reading this thread with interest, went to use the charger the other day and couldn't find it. Turns out it caught fire and was discretely binned without telling me, kids eh(actually this was a bit scary). The charger had come from B&Q ages ago and the batteries have been a mix, I'm sure the kids weren't avoiding mixing brands etc.

So I need to restock with AA, AAAs and one or two chargers(safety controls built in would be nice), depending on whether I want to trust them with another. A mix of the Vapex 2900 and 2300 sounds like a plan to me. But I'm really ignorant when it comes to this stuff and chargers in particular, anyone got a link to exactly what I'd need?

 

[Mugshot]

A mix of the Vapex 2900 and 2300 sounds like a plan to me.

Are you thinking of a mix because of what Balkan said about carrying spares or is there another reason for it? I'm not convinced I'd need to carry spares as I'll have all day (or night) to charge the 2900s, or am I missing something important?

 

[MacB]

Are you thinking of a mix because of what Balkan said about carrying spares or is there another reason for it? I'm not convinced I'd need to carry spares as I'll have all day (or night) to charge the 2900s, or am I missing something important?

Ah the mix would be to cover spares carrying, rear lights and the kids various battery requirements. For a regular use recharge cycle then the 2900 would seem fine. For example I've got 5 of the Smart flash rear light thingies that take 2xAAA batteries. I tend to keep them with saddle packs so that if I, or any of the kids, grab a saddle pack to use there is a light with it as well.

 

[albion]

WInter time 2900mah may have a use.

Being so flaky I imagine they won't be any where near 2900 12 months later.
Consider that going from 2500mah to 2000mah triples the life cycles from 500 to 1500 times.
What doe this mean for an 'outer limits' 2900 battery?