What brand of batteries do you use? Also would like to know if the rechargeable batteries hold up. Thinking about buying a charger but waiting on a little input on buying or recharging. I have read that you need to use the detector a lot to make it worth the recharged batteries. Which I intend to do. Thanks Bones
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Batteries
- Thread starter Bones
- Start date
Nancy-IL
Well-known member
Hi Bones, I've used both. One fallback is that the rechargeable are heavier. Personally, I like the reg. alkaline batteries. No matter what brand. The store brand are just as good as the expensive ones.........again, my opinion. I also know others that swear by their rechargeable batteries. Boy, I'm not much help on this one. Sorry. HH, Nancy
I have found that the batteries I use (the cheapies) work just fine, I haven't noticed that big of a battery drain on my MXT Pro to really justify spending the money on rechargeable ones. I just make sure I always have an extra set of them in the car in the off chance I can outlast my batteries (hasn't happened yet). Just my 2 zincs on this.
Bearharold
Member
I haven't used the rechargeable ones in my MXT but I hear they don't stay up as long as the Alkaline batteries do . I have always used the cheap Alkaline batteries from Dollar General and they work just fine and last a long time . I buy like a pack of 20 for 5 bucks .
Harold
Harold
I use Energizers and Duracells. To me the performance and charge duration are almost the same, but the difference that I see is that Energizers seem to be a little lighter, never weight them to see if that's true, but if I would need to buy new batteries I would go for the Enegizers
I always used rechargeable batteries, they pay by themselves rapidly
I always used rechargeable batteries, they pay by themselves rapidly
I have, from time-to-time, purchased 'bargain priced' alkaline batteries from Dollar Tree or Dollar Giant or other $ tagged stores and usually just to test and compare. At the time I bought the AA batteries I was using an XLT or MXT or IDX Pro (or a blend of all of them) and found that while sometimes I got reasonably good performance, I also often encountered shorter life due to just one or two of the batteries in the package going bad. Also, heavy Duty batteries are usually 4 for $1, but alkalines are often 2 for $1 and that means a $4 cost to fill the battery tray. 
If I am on the road and don't have spares with me (but I always do), I look for either the EverReady or Duracell alkaline batteries because they tend to hold a longer run-time and are very consistent.
My personal pick is to shop at Costco and buy their 'house brand' (Kirkland) AA alkaline battery pack of 48 for $10.89 That amounts to only $1.83 to fill the White's battery tray with 8 top-quality alkaline batteries. Alkalines will provide a longer run-time before they die off compared with rechargeable, and for the bargain price you can find them for, I feel it's the way to go.
Monte
If I am on the road and don't have spares with me (but I always do), I look for either the EverReady or Duracell alkaline batteries because they tend to hold a longer run-time and are very consistent.
My personal pick is to shop at Costco and buy their 'house brand' (Kirkland) AA alkaline battery pack of 48 for $10.89 That amounts to only $1.83 to fill the White's battery tray with 8 top-quality alkaline batteries. Alkalines will provide a longer run-time before they die off compared with rechargeable, and for the bargain price you can find them for, I feel it's the way to go.
Monte
Rechargeable batteries produce a slightly lower level of voltage vs. non-rechargeable; however, the mxt internal voltage regulator reduces the input voltage to an output voltage of 8 volts. When the combined voltage of all batteries drops to 8 volts dc the lo bat led will show up the screen. Time to change out the batteries.
Marty
Marty
RounderRick
New member
Bearharold said:
Same here I always get mine from the dollar store I tried the more expensive brands and the cheapies seems to last about as long at the fraction of the price but always make sure they are the alkaline batts.
I find black cats work real good.The black cat gold are even better.For cheap batterys the last allmost as long as duracell or energizer.The cheap panasonics are not bad either.I do find that duracell last longer than energizer.
I also know that panasonic evolta's last the longst by far and I can get them for the same price as duracell.
The evoltas last crazy long time-need that kind of battery for GPS,really drains batterys.
I also know that panasonic evolta's last the longst by far and I can get them for the same price as duracell.
The evoltas last crazy long time-need that kind of battery for GPS,really drains batterys.
littletwig
Member
I use Duracells. They just seem to last longer and are consistant in the lifespan. I change my batteries when I get an 8.
I use NiMH rechargeables. Built 2 packs with charging ports and use a R/C battery charger. Charges my packs in under 2 hours, and I can charge from my vehicle if needed since it came with a 110 volt inverter built in.
One caveat. If you do not use one particular machine steadily or use the same batterries between them, or are a very casual hunter, consider using Alkaline. Alkalines hold their charge while stored for many months whereas rechargeables self-discharge constantly (up to 1% per day. The newer hybrid NiMH don't have this problem anymore). If it's been a few day since you've used your machine, top up the batteries beforehand. For that reason, do not use rechargeables in any devices that you depend on for long terms of use or storage (smoke detectors, clocks, emergency flashlights, anything that does not get used often or normally runs for several months on an alkaline)
I've had these packs for several years now, and each pack lasts me about 20 hours, but I don't usually wait for them to get that low, so just replaceand recharge pack every 3rd hunt (I avg 3-5 hours per hunt, but could do 2 long 10-12 hour hunts if needed.)
My packs show 11+volts on the MXT meter when fully charged but after a few minutes drop down to 10v and stays there until near the end. That is one feature of rechargeables, they maintain their voltage until the last few minutes, whereas alkalines, although longer lasting, will steadily decrease in voltage throughout their life. The MXT uses a voltage regulator circuit, and I have found absolutely no difference in performance, volume, depth between using alkaline or rechargeables. My original cost on making the 2 packs was about $100.00, and even factoring in the 50% less runtime with the NiMH, I calculate that I would have used $300 worth of alkalines by now. And my packs should have a couple more years of life to them.
Here's a site that has some discharge curves for AA's under different loads. NiMH chart is near the bottom.
AA discharge charts
One caveat. If you do not use one particular machine steadily or use the same batterries between them, or are a very casual hunter, consider using Alkaline. Alkalines hold their charge while stored for many months whereas rechargeables self-discharge constantly (up to 1% per day. The newer hybrid NiMH don't have this problem anymore). If it's been a few day since you've used your machine, top up the batteries beforehand. For that reason, do not use rechargeables in any devices that you depend on for long terms of use or storage (smoke detectors, clocks, emergency flashlights, anything that does not get used often or normally runs for several months on an alkaline)
I've had these packs for several years now, and each pack lasts me about 20 hours, but I don't usually wait for them to get that low, so just replaceand recharge pack every 3rd hunt (I avg 3-5 hours per hunt, but could do 2 long 10-12 hour hunts if needed.)
My packs show 11+volts on the MXT meter when fully charged but after a few minutes drop down to 10v and stays there until near the end. That is one feature of rechargeables, they maintain their voltage until the last few minutes, whereas alkalines, although longer lasting, will steadily decrease in voltage throughout their life. The MXT uses a voltage regulator circuit, and I have found absolutely no difference in performance, volume, depth between using alkaline or rechargeables. My original cost on making the 2 packs was about $100.00, and even factoring in the 50% less runtime with the NiMH, I calculate that I would have used $300 worth of alkalines by now. And my packs should have a couple more years of life to them.
Here's a site that has some discharge curves for AA's under different loads. NiMH chart is near the bottom.
AA discharge charts