Question about those rechargeable AA batteries...

[Travelover]

Plus 1 on the Sanyo Eneloops. They have slightly less capacity, but hold a charge for much longer when not being used.

 

[The Haymaker]

I tried rechargeable AAs quite a while ago, but have decided that the Costco house brand AA alkalines are actually quite good and very cost effective.

Plus I can stuff a handful in my pocket if I am going to be away from electric outlets for a few days.

The Home Despot sells 36ct of AA's for 12 bucks and change. I gave up on rechargeable batts a long time ago. Junk, don't hold a charge, don't have the capacity of an alkaline, and have a very short life cycle compared to alkalines.

When I need batteries, I need them now, not when they are recharged.

E

 

[Bird]

have a very short life cycle compared to alkalines

I've never found any alkalines that would last 9 years as my rechargeables have.

 

[SpringHollow]

+2 on the sanyo enerloops - only way to go for rechargeable AA's.

Ken

 

[irvingj]

Plus 3 on Sanyo-- if you do some research into what radio control flyers use... you'll see Sanyo right up there. There really IS a difference in how they're made.

Ditto the charging; it has to be right, depending on the cell.

If you really need LONG shelf life, go with the Li cell non-rechargeables; they'll last darned near forever (least it seems that way) on the shelf.

 

[jinman]

I buy lithium batterys at Sam's Club and use them in our Canon Powershot S5 IS camera. They last a long time and then die instantly. I think they easily last 7x as long as alkalines at less than 7x the price.

 

[Redbug]

I will get some of the Enerloops since you guys recommend them above the others. With the camera then I suspect it is like what K7LN mentioned...a much shorter use time since the batteries are lower voltage to start. Didn't think of that. You think the engineers would design the batteries to be closer to 1.5 volts.

 

[SpringHollow]

You think the engineers would design the batteries to be closer to 1.5 volts.

It is a question of chemistry and size limitations.

Ken

 

[SpringHollow]

The voltage is determined purely by the chemistry involved. Size has no affect on the output of the cell. As you must realize, we have way too many different size batteries today.

You are correct for cells but Redbug was discussing batteries. Size has no effect on the output of the cell but it does on the output of the battery - size limits the number of cells (the chemistry of the cell, the number of cells and how they are wired determines the voltage of the battery) and the size of the cells (which determines the current/storage capability of the cell and thus the battery).

Ken

 

[reb]

You are correct for cells but Redbug was discussing batteries...
Ken

Redbug said batteries, but technically they are AA cells. A battery was defined as an assembly of cells back when I went to school.