Best rechargable batteries?

freehub

It's like been in a candy shop, you just don't know what to get.

Their are so many brands, so many different type and power ratings so I'm totally confused.

I had some Vapex Ni-MH 2900mAh batteries and they're playing up, my when I'm on the 3rd brightest setting of my Fenix LD20, it all appears fine, but then changing it to the brightest setting it dimms down, clearly a problem with the batteries as some Energizer ones I have are fine but only rated at 2100mAh.

Anyone know any good rechargable batteries out there that ain't a sky high price?

father_jack

Sanyo used to be good. Sure your charger is delta peak as well, not a dumb type?

freehub

My battery charger is an Energizer, but when the batteries are charges, thelights go off, but if I turned the charger on and then off, they'd start charging again for say 12 hours.

CHCC-UK is the model.

http://data.energizer.com/PDFs/chcc_eu_ ... page01.pdf

I just noticed, mag is like 2650mAh, so what would it do to a 2900mAh?

father_jack

Hmm it's a dumb charger then. I'd look into a new charger too.

freehub

What do you mean dumb charger and all that? If I let it run down fully and charge only when run down I should never have a problem again?

father_jack

Dumb chargers mean exactly that

1) They will charge the battery even when it's already charged
2) They don't charge each cell
3) They can overcharge that cell
4) They won't display if a cell is faulty

You want delta peak charger really, so the charger will switch off the charge when the cell is charged. It's easy to damage a NIMH by overcharging it. I've got a Ansmann Energy line, it's great charger.

freehub

Would an Ansmann Global Line EC800 or EC500 be a perfectly good charger and would the 2700mAh batteries that come with it be fine?

I'd prefer to be able to use my current charger if I can safely charge batteries with it if I just keep an eye on it.

father_jack

it if I just keep an eye on it.

How can you keep an eye on each cell, test each one prior and after each charge with a meter?

Unless the Global says intelligent charger, it will be a dumb charger.

this one is a good one. If you use lots of rechargable batteries it's worth it.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ansmann-5207442 ... 294&sr=8-1

freehub

Father Jack wrote:

it if I just keep an eye on it.

How can you keep an eye on each cell, test each one prior and after each charge with a meter?

Unless the Global says intelligent charger, it will be a dumb charger.

this one is a good one. If you use lots of rechargable batteries it's worth it.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ansmann-5207442 ... 294&sr=8-1

"Free Ansmann Global Line 2700mAh Pack of 4 Batteries and Storage Box worth £15.90 The Ansmann Global Line EC 800 Intelligent charger set includes 4 x AA 2700mAh NiMH batteries. The EC800 charges 2 or 4 NiCd or NiMH rechargeable batteries of sizes AA or AAA. The charging current is automatically adjusted according to the inserted cells (AA 800mA, AAA 300mA). With its wide range input (100-240V AC) and the supplied 12V DC car adaptor, the EC800 is the perfect "


"It features multiple over-charging protection systems including: -deltaV detection, safety timer, temperature control, as well as faulty cell, accidental Alkaline insertion detection and reverse polarity protection.

The charging status of the cells is indicated by LEDs. The charge current is automatically adjusted according to the inserted cells (AA 800mA, AAA 300mA) followed by a trickle charge to keep the batteries fully charged until they are removed from the charger."




I don't understand why Energizer would create a charger that basically destroys batteries though?

father_jack

It's intelligen (that cheaper ansmann)t, but not cell indepedant. Charges in pairs ...not individually charged. A dumb charger doesn't destroy batteries, it's just that it could destroy them. If you have many cells and what to keep them in good condition then fork out for a good charger. Unless I go into detail you might not understand. Dumb chargers have been sold for ages, and the cheap ones still are.

About your energizer- you said if you switch it off then on again, it'll charge for another 12 hours. That means it's dumb, and just a timed charger. It should switch off within a few seconds or minutes on the second charge (it'll detect it's fully charged and stop)

freehub

I can't fork out 50 quid for a charger.

TJA

My 2700mAh rechargeable batteries became very unreliable. Have now switched to Uniross Hybrio and no longer have any problems. ie
http://www.batterylogic.co.uk/hybrio.htm

HTH
Tim

batch78

£30? www.batterylogic.co.uk/technoline/technoline-BL700.asp I've got one, they're good.

desweller

£23 and comes with 4 cells

I've had one of these Camlink chargers and battery sets for about 2 years, running my Hope Vision 1 on the commute and winter training. Has yet to let me down. It is a delta V type charger, which assesses the rate at which the batteries are drawing power and uses it to determine when the cells are charged, avoiding over charging. The batteries are really good too.

The website's a bit basic but I've used it lots of times for about 7 or 8 years so I can vouch for their reliability.

When charging NimH batteries it's not a good idea to employ the same deep discharge techniques we used to advocate for NiCad cells. They do not suffer from the same memory effects in any case. I have also been using a set of the Hybrio batteries suggested by TJA and they have been very reliable and substantially less prone to discharging when not being used.

EDIT: As the charger I've linked to is out of stock, there is also a unit supplied with 2.1Ah rather than 2.7Ah cells here

hitthewall

I also have the Technoline BL-700 as a result of previous recommendations in other threads and find it very good. I use Sanyo Eneloops

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sanyo-Eneloop-P ... 233&sr=8-3

Lower capacity but battery drain is minimal between uses. Use these in my Fenix LD20.

Edited.

donnie murdo

These are a great idea:

http://www.usbcell.com/

You can get them here a bit cheaper:

http://www.misco.co.uk/applications/sea ... pNo=461731

jonesthepipe

8) hub dynamo 8)

Headhuunter

hitthewall wrote:

I also have the Technoline BL-700 as a result of previous recommendations in other threads and find it very good. I use Sanyo Eneloops

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sanyo-Eneloop-P ... 233&sr=8-3

Lower capacity but battery drain is minimal between uses. Use these in my Fenix LD20.

Edited.

Yep, I've got one of those Technoline intelligent chargers an it's worked wonders with my rechargeables. After a few charges with "dumb" chargers there's a noticeable weakening in the batteries, problem is they charge for a fixed amount of time with a surge of power whereas the intelligent charger works out how much power each cell needs an charges at a slower rate which is much better. Occasionally I stick them on the refresh setting on the Technoline and they're like new again and when it has finished it tells you what power the batts have. the Vapextech ones are more like 2500MaH rather than 2900, even when new, but they are quite cheap. I've heard that most rechargeables are never as powerful as advertised

rake

delta peak chargers sense a slight voltage drop when the batteries are charged and shut off. thats all you need .dont drain the batteries right down either.