shinester
Senior Member
China's white trash
Posts: 3,119
Likes: 3,578
Email: shiny@ausprep.org
|
Post by shinester on Dec 5, 2015 0:14:33 GMT 10
Following a hint from myrrph and needing some batteries that I don't end up throwing out eventually after forgetting to charge them every couple of months, or wasting money on alkaline's that can 'kind of' be recharged, I was very much after what that hint offered, some AA [and AAA] batteries that are rechargeable yet store well for my prepping gear. I have radios, lights and plenty of other uses for said batteries. Simply if you forget to charge your rechargables you'll kill the batteries in time. The newer range of batteries offer alternatives that hold onto charge longer, therefore keeping them 'alive' [and partially charged] for 5 years! Perfect for bug out bags, for storage with your other gear. The number of recharges are much the same as your 'standard' rechargeable, as is the storage capacity, the cost being the downside. Now I've discovered a few brands, looking at the options with slightly different specs, yet also fairly similar, all available on ebay. Eneloop Rayovac Hybrid NiMH batteries are the same technology - not cheaper on ebay. Duracell 4-Pack Ultra - A higher capacity of 2400aH, 5 year storage, in fact it's claimed that they "Duracell pre-charged batteries have a very low self-discharge, meaning they retain 95% of their potential in the pack for up to 5 years." They are similarly priced for the 4 pack. Be careful as there's a bunch of very similar looking and named batteries that don't have the same specs, you're looking for the packet with '5 year' written on the package. They are $13 for a 4 pack at Officeworks.
|
|
gasman
Senior Member
Posts: 466
Likes: 607
|
Post by gasman on Dec 5, 2015 8:45:49 GMT 10
Thanks for research mate Great well done off to officeworks we go
|
|
|
Post by graynomad on Dec 5, 2015 8:59:21 GMT 10
Nice, and not too expensive either. I think I'll get some.
|
|
shinester
Senior Member
China's white trash
Posts: 3,119
Likes: 3,578
Email: shiny@ausprep.org
|
Post by shinester on Dec 6, 2015 12:50:56 GMT 10
Some further info, couldn't find them at the local Officeworks, though they have them on their site. Bunnings keep them and something similar by energizer, though at a higher price of $17 if I remember correctly. Saw some AAA in Coles on sale, slightly higher price of 14. To achieve the increase in storage duration, Duracell said that it uses 24 karat gold as "fuel" for creating chemical power, protects the anode and cathode with a unique separator that limits power transfer when not in use, and applies "triple corrosion protection" that surrounds the contents in an acid resistant. There is also a battery anti-corrosive exterior. Here's the officeworks linky
|
|
Morgo
Senior Member
Posts: 682
Likes: 661
|
Post by Morgo on Dec 6, 2015 12:54:43 GMT 10
I have a bunch of Eneloop's that I use in some AA torches etc but mostly for photography gear. Eneloop's are a fav with photographers and IMO one of the best proven rechargeable AA's For torches though I mostly use 18650 high cap panasonic cells which kick butt in torches these days compared to AA torches
|
|
myrrph
VIP Member
trying to figure out how to change my nick :P
Posts: 1,075
Likes: 1,232
|
Post by myrrph on Dec 7, 2015 12:49:05 GMT 10
i prefer AAs to 18650s ... for the simple reason when SHTF, the AA and AAA are easier to find then 18650s ... most of my preps are AA/AAA based. I found some really good flash lights using AA and AAA. happygolucky can attest to some I sent him. Helped him out through some blackouts.
|
|
Morgo
Senior Member
Posts: 682
Likes: 661
|
Post by Morgo on Dec 7, 2015 14:57:03 GMT 10
Its a good point, which is why I still have several good AA torches. Come SHTF I'll grab the 18650's first until I run through those batts which could take weeks with the amount I have now, then I'll move onto my AA's. In practice though I'd likely just charge the 18650 cells from the solar panels, batt and inverter so I really have a "endless" supply of them.
After using 18650 torches torches for everything else in the meantime its hard to go back to a AA torch. The much higher light output and longer run time are extremely useful.
|
|
shinester
Senior Member
China's white trash
Posts: 3,119
Likes: 3,578
Email: shiny@ausprep.org
|
Post by shinester on Dec 7, 2015 17:08:42 GMT 10
Some further info on self discharge rates.
So you could probably go Li-ion in AA [or whatever] which are normally 3.7V, but if you got the 1.5V versions of them [they have voltage reducers in the battery itself] you would have another long life battery. They seem to be about twice the price of the above types with a similar capacity.
The upside on this is that the batteries for the radios I have are all Li-ion [as are most phone batteries] which gives me lots of storage life for them.
|
|
kiwi
Junior Member
Posts: 45
Likes: 52
|
Post by kiwi on Dec 7, 2015 17:31:27 GMT 10
Catch of the day has Duracells AAA & AA for $9.99
|
|
myrrph
VIP Member
trying to figure out how to change my nick :P
Posts: 1,075
Likes: 1,232
|
Post by myrrph on Dec 7, 2015 19:17:21 GMT 10
Its a good point, which is why I still have several good AA torches. Come SHTF I'll grab the 18650's first until I run through those batts which could take weeks with the amount I have now, then I'll move onto my AA's. In practice though I'd likely just charge the 18650 cells from the solar panels, batt and inverter so I really have a "endless" supply of them. After using 18650 torches torches for everything else in the meantime its hard to go back to a AA torch. The much higher light output and longer run time are extremely useful. I think the ease of finding AA helps because the batteries are just so abundant. But I'm quite selective about my flash lights. I _don't_ need so many powerful flashlights. I need 1 maybe 2 really strong directional ones. I am now collecting area effect lanterns because when you are at a site, the area effect is really good. I should do a thread on bug out lights. I gave one "hockey puck" flash light which runs on 3xAA to happygolucky and it helped when there was a blackout. I currently have a Fenix LD-20, Nightcore MT-20A and several CREE Q5 flash lights. The CREE takes 14500 batteries .. so they're wicked bright... Those are my point and use flash lights. I have several USB powered Area Effect, about 10 Hockey Pucks and several AAA dual use (area + directional) flash lights for bugout/camping/EDC.
|
|
myrrph
VIP Member
trying to figure out how to change my nick :P
Posts: 1,075
Likes: 1,232
|
Post by myrrph on Dec 8, 2015 15:37:48 GMT 10
|
|