Another battery thread.

[Mugshot]

Ok,thank you.
I think I'll go with the 2900 AA and the 1100 AAA then (I hope that's right). Svendo has made a suggestion for a charger, so I'm guessing that's ok for them, and we haven't had any advance on that one as yet. Now, if someone could just tell me where I can get them the cheapest and maybe even buy them for me as well I'll be all set

 

[MacB]

Ok,thank you.
I think I'll go with the 2900 AA and the 1100 AAA then (I hope that's right). Svendo has made a suggestion for a charger, so I'm guessing that's ok for them, and we haven't had any advance on that one as yet. Now, if someone could just tell me where I can get them the cheapest and maybe even buy them for me as well I'll be all set

I think we're in a similar boat but I'm probably further behind than you. I mean I can, and have, read numerous threads on lights, batteries, chargers. Now I know they are written in English but it doesn't seem to be helping my comprehension a whole lot. I wonder if there's a true idiots guide someone could link to for me?

 

[Mugshot]

I think we're in a similar boat but I'm probably further behind than you. I mean I can, and have, read numerous threads on lights, batteries, chargers. Now I know they are written in English but it doesn't seem to be helping my comprehension a whole lot. I wonder if there's a true idiots guide someone could link to for me?

Well I thought I was getting there but has albion just thrown a spanner in the works. You're a man after my own heart, if someone could just say;
"Look stupid, these are the ones you want, this is the charger you need and this is where you buy them, now get on with it!"

Sorry to all contributors for my ongoing stupidity

 

[MacB]

Well I thought I was getting there but has albion just thrown a spanner in the works. You're a man after my own heart, if someone could just say;
"Look stupid, these are the ones you want, this is the charger you need and this is where you buy them, now get on with it!"

Sorry to all contributors for my ongoing stupidity

Yep, exactly what I'd like but I'd also like a guide that explains the terminology

 

[marinyork]

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?

http://www.batterylogic.co.uk/technoline/technoline-BL700.asp a few people on here have this charger. I do too. It's gone up in price a fair bit unfortunately. I've fixed the odd broken battery on this too.There are many other smart chargers out there. You can charge at 200mA, 500mA and 700mA. This is good because different batteries prefer being charged at different currents. For example my maplins like being charged at 480mA so I put it in 500mA. My maplin AAs prefer being charged at 200mAh.

m= milli, A= amp. mAh = milli Amp hours. 1000 mAh = charging at 1000mA for 1hr or 5hrs at 200mAh etc. So on my charger it can take 3-4hrs to charge the AA (residual charge is kept). If I was in a rush and whacked them on 500mA it'd take 2hrs or less etc (not recommended).

I don't think you can really go wrong with eneloop or vapex. The Eneloop ones are fantastic but cost a lot more, this is why I recommend the vapex. At less than five quid for some LSD (aka hybrid,instant etc) what is there really to lose?

If someone wants to buy some in an actual shop maplin have these http://www.maplin.co.uk/extra-high-capacity-nimh-rechargeable-battery-value-packs-46414 either 8xAA 2500mAh or 12xAA 2000mAh. I have the 2000s in my Hope Vision 1. Tend to use the vapex in other devices that drain like crazy. I've got both maplin instants and maplin standard rechargeables. I put the standards in the lights as they get such heavy use.

 

[MacB]

ta Marin, so what are the differences in run times between standard and hybrid? I take it standard hold more power but will drain whtehr used or not, hybrid take less charge but will hold that charge when not in use?

 

[BalkanExpress]

Sorry, should have been clearer, I only carry the spares on FNRttC, my usual commute is short and I have a charger at work for a weekly top up.

On the subject of the number of recharge cycles: 500 cycles is once a week for 10 years (almost). If my 2900s last for half that I'll be happy.

 

[Davidc]

I have Vapex 2900 AAs 2 years old (bought when they first came out to replace very unsatisfactory uniross ones).

I recently tested them ready for the winter. All have more capacity than when I got them. (they have a real world 2700mAh now, it was 2400 when I tested them new).

Similar story for the Vapex 1100 mAh AAA ones.

I don't know how the manufacturers rate the things but I have yet to measure an NiMH battery at or above the rated capacity.

I use some Uniross Hybrio and some Vapex instant - all LSD types - as spares to carry with me.

 

[2wd]

Duracell Supreme AAA 1000mAh seem to have good reviews

Just bought 4 off amazon for £4.80

 

[Mugshot]

Well, thanks again for all your input, I've now ordered the Vapex 2900 & 1100. If they're rubbish, I'll know who to blame

 

[MacB]

Well, thanks again for all your input, I've now ordered the Vapex 2900 & 1100. If they're rubbish, I'll know who to blame

I'll wait for your review before I order them then

 

[Davidc]

Should have said that the test rig has a 400mA constant(ish) current sink and a detector which goes off at 0.8v. May be a bit high for the AAAs but they seem to survive it!

(The ish is because the device (from the 1980s) shifts a bit with temperature and the 0.8v is the minimum at which it will work!)

 

[HLaB]

Most of my Nimph are Energizer and touchwood they've not let me down. The AAA's are 800 & 1000 and the AA's are 1300 and 2000 mAh.

 

[fossyant]

Maplin standard rechargeables are good value/quality - use quite a lot of these in various applications. Also been very happy with my Panasonic Infinium Hybrid/LSD batteries and still going strong after nearly 3 years. Smart chargers are advisable (charges each battery individually) - Got 2 of the 7dayshop 600 LCD models - 1 at home, 1 at work.

 

[HLaB]

[quote="fossyant, post: 1622605, member: 557"Smart chargers are advisable (charges each battery individually) - Got 2 of the 7dayshop 600 LCD models - 1 at home, 1 at work.[/quote]
I bought the 808 LCD a while back, mainly because my EL410 (front light/ helmet torch) takes three AAA's.