good rechargeable batteries for lights (aa and aaa size)

[chqshaitan]

Hi Guys,

I have a few lights that take normal aa and aaa batteries and am currently using eneloop ones that are great for low drain/long life devices but suck for short term/high drain ones.

does anyone have any suggestions for suitable rechargable batteries (AA and AAA size) ?

cheers

 

[Mile195]

I use energiser, 2500mAh batteries. Higher the capacity, obviously the longer it will last. At the moment, there's not much available over 2500. My front light is a Fenix LD22, with a maximum output of 200 lumens, and they cope fine.

The "stay-charged" ones are supposed to be even better and have a slightly higher capacity, but they're quite expensive.

 

[Mile195]

Should mention, those are AA's. I've got some Energiser AAA's as well, although I forget what capacity they are off-hand. 1200mAh I think?

 

[chqshaitan]

thanks bud. the lights take 16850 batteries as well, so undecided on whether to get 1 of them or 3 aaa and use the adaptor..

 

[ianrauk]

7 Day Shop for all my rechargeable battery needs.

 

[chqshaitan]

yea, ive used them in the past, just ordered 2x4 pack of the ready to go aaa

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I've had problems all winter with my sanyo AAA rechargeables. When cold and/or charge is low (part drained) the output drops off a cliff, set off they are working part-way through a cold hour they've gone out.

Are 7 day own brand decent?

 

[ianrauk]

I've had problems all winter with my sanyo AAA rechargeables. When cold and/or charge is low (part drained) the output drops off a cliff, set off they are working part-way through a cold hour they've gone out.

Are 7 day own brand decent?

Very decent Greg.
I use them in my Hope Vision 1's which need powerful batteries. Get over 10 hours on setting 2.

 

[bianchi1]

Vapex work well.

http://www.vapextech.co.uk/acatalog/High_Power_Consumer_Batteries.html

 

[musa]

I use 7days 2900mah AA and maplins 1000mah aaa pack of 12

With maplins its recommended to look out for them when they have an offer on

You may ve better offf with a set of 18650 batteries

If you need some let me know I have a set spare that i dont use anymore so selling on
Comes with a charger if you need one too.

 

[PpPete]

Vapex for me too.
2900 AA (red ones) for short term - but leave them in the charger for a good few hours of trickle charge after they say they are "full"
2300 or 2500 (green ones) (or the equiv AAA) for long term, low drain like the rear light.

 

[albion]

Obviously you simply need to read the spec tables.

Considering it is only Sanyo who do full disclosure it will be extremely hard to find better elsewhere.
Check them out, you might even discover where you have gone wrong.

There are several likelihoods, with one situation solution that needs some thought.

 

[Wobblers]

I'm very surprised you get get poor run times from Eneloops at high current drains - they've been shown to have a lower internal impedance (and hence better performance at high current) than almost any high capacity type. They've been tested at 10 Amps by people over on Candlepower Forums. You won't find any conventional high capacity NiMH AA cell that is likely to do much better.

Problems with rechargeable batteries are usually down to poor charging. You must have a good battery charger to get the best out of your batteries. What charger are you using? Ideally you should use an intelligent charger with independent channels for each battery such as the Maha C9000 (horribly expensive but simply the best on the market) or the cheaper Technoline BL-700.

If you have a good charger, and you actually are using over about 6 Amps, then you'll need a speciality high discharge rate battery. RC enthusiasts use them, but they have low capacity, are hard to find and are rather expensive. You could try Sanyo's Eneloop XX batteries which have 2500 mAh capacity but are still low self discharge types.

 

[slowmotion]

I'm with McWobble on this one. I use a Technoline BL700 charger and Eneloops and have never had a problem. I've had loads of grief from "No Name" rechargeables. The stated capacity on the side of the battery is a very bad indicator of how they perform under different discharge rates, charging cycles, storage periods or temperatures.

 

[chqshaitan]

thanks guys