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standard batteries vs rechargable
- Thread starter tyrooney
- Start date
My take is alkalines are cheap and they don't self discharge. They are a hassle. You don't need to continually open the case door and risk damaging the water seal and the battery holder. I've even heard the NiMH batteries put out fumes that damage electronics. If you detect every day, maybe they are worth it. I am totally against them now.
Dancin' Dave
New member
tyrooney said:
I've used NiMh batteries in my ATG since I've owned it without any issues. Their output voltage is lower than alkaline batteries (1.25V vs 1.5V) which can cause the battery strength indicator to read one bar lower shortly after use. However, the combined voltage of the batteries is regulated by circuitry in the detector. So as long as there are bars showing on the strength indicator (IE: the voltage is above the regulated threshold), there should be no significant loss in performance.
DD
MikeLab said:
I agree I tried the green nimh rechargeables that are sold at Wally world the green rayovac ones but they dont seem to give the hours of usage that I use to get from the energiser that I use to use I spent about 5 hours out one day and batteries crashed so I went back to energisers and less problems also noticed the other day one of the rechargeables was kind puffy
There shouldn't be a drop off in performance, as the machine has a voltage regulater in it to allow it to operate on much less voltage to allow time for voltage drop. I use rechargeable all the time, and sometimes carry a set of alkalines as a spare just in case. If you hunt often......you save a lot of $$$ in the long run. If you only hunt once every once in a while, the savings are minimal.
I am mixed on this issue, I used rechargable off and on sometime, thought I was being green. I just sold all my chargers and batteries. The cost doesn't make it worth it and problems with a cell recharge not the same. I take my old batteries and drop them off to be recycled.Buy a bulk pack from a batterie store, not WM, I think they last longer and put money in the local hands and not them other people. I am not into buying second hand stuff that WM sells
Yes, I do the Costco, too. I like alkalines because I put them in the detector and they are ready to use anytime. The NiMH I have to recharge first if they have been sitting very long. That's a big hassle. $1 for thirty hours, that's a little over three cents per hour and no hassles. I really do stress about damaging the battery compartment door every time I have to recharge.
The key to rechargeable batteries is to get the LSD (low self-discharge) type. LSD rechargables do self-discharge at a faster pace than alkalines, but stay charged during non-use way longer than the non LSD rechargables. Good quality AA alkalines will keep most of their power for over five years, LSD rechargables more like a year or two.
I've found the difference in AT Pro battery life between alkalines and LSD rechargables to be negligible. And no difference whatsoever in detector performance.
Where there is a big difference is cost. Rechargables cost more upfront, but the per usage cost (3-4 cents of electricity per battery recharge) gives them a big cost savings in the long run.
Beyond that, AA batteries are used in a lot of different applications, so having LSD AAs around the house works out well for other items too.
Sanyo's Eneloops have long been considered the gold standard of LSD rechargables, but I've also bought other brands of LSDs when they were at a really good price and they've worked just as well. The Japanese made Duracell LSDs are said to be rebranded Eneloops. Likewise, the Japanese made LSDs are supposed to be higher quality than the Chinese ones.
I'm pretty sure all Eneloops are LSD type batteries, but the packaging can be confusing with some of the labels (Energizer and Duracell come to mind) that make multiple types of rechargables.
LSD rechargables are supposed to be able to be recharged over a thousand times. Anywhere close to that and they should last a lifetime for me.
A lot of people who are anti-rechargeable have only had experience with the older technology batteries. And the pre-LSD nimh (and NiCad) rechargables were inpractical in most situations. The older type rechargables had multiple negative issues but the biggest problem was that they would lose a lot of their power quickly when not in use. So you couldn't keep batteries pre-charged for more than a few weeks at most.
I've found the difference in AT Pro battery life between alkalines and LSD rechargables to be negligible. And no difference whatsoever in detector performance.
Where there is a big difference is cost. Rechargables cost more upfront, but the per usage cost (3-4 cents of electricity per battery recharge) gives them a big cost savings in the long run.
Beyond that, AA batteries are used in a lot of different applications, so having LSD AAs around the house works out well for other items too.
Sanyo's Eneloops have long been considered the gold standard of LSD rechargables, but I've also bought other brands of LSDs when they were at a really good price and they've worked just as well. The Japanese made Duracell LSDs are said to be rebranded Eneloops. Likewise, the Japanese made LSDs are supposed to be higher quality than the Chinese ones.
I'm pretty sure all Eneloops are LSD type batteries, but the packaging can be confusing with some of the labels (Energizer and Duracell come to mind) that make multiple types of rechargables.
LSD rechargables are supposed to be able to be recharged over a thousand times. Anywhere close to that and they should last a lifetime for me.
A lot of people who are anti-rechargeable have only had experience with the older technology batteries. And the pre-LSD nimh (and NiCad) rechargables were inpractical in most situations. The older type rechargables had multiple negative issues but the biggest problem was that they would lose a lot of their power quickly when not in use. So you couldn't keep batteries pre-charged for more than a few weeks at most.
Alkalines here...a 60 pack bought right around 15 bucks puts the unit cost at 25cents each...thats a lot of hunting...like a buck per week...that cost represents 15 weeks out of the year, or I'm guessing roughly 15hrs of hunting per week? So a guy goes through three 60 packs per season...@45 to 50 dollars for the year in battery cost...thats hunting hard, long and often...takes a guy about 15 minutes of hunting to cover the weeks battery cost.
Good thing for me is when the Pro says its done with them, down to one bar power, I put them into a different machine known for great battery life (F70) and get another at least 10 hrs out of them...I never use the PP button on either machine, and I think this extends the life somewhat...
I have not yet dinked around or otherwise taken care of the seal...I could see that a fellow should have a spare battery door including O-ring as a backup, maybe keep it in a baggie ready to go...as well as perhaps a battery holder cartridge just in case a guy breaks them during a change...wonder what the prices of these two items are? Anybody know? A disaster with either could ruin a hunt...
Mud
Good thing for me is when the Pro says its done with them, down to one bar power, I put them into a different machine known for great battery life (F70) and get another at least 10 hrs out of them...I never use the PP button on either machine, and I think this extends the life somewhat...
I have not yet dinked around or otherwise taken care of the seal...I could see that a fellow should have a spare battery door including O-ring as a backup, maybe keep it in a baggie ready to go...as well as perhaps a battery holder cartridge just in case a guy breaks them during a change...wonder what the prices of these two items are? Anybody know? A disaster with either could ruin a hunt...
Mud
Mud, you make a valid point about cost. The rechargables at 3-4 cents per usage are a lot cheaper than the alkalines which even for non-name brands are going to run about 25 cents or so each plus tax.
But even with regular usage of 8-10 hours a week, my yearly saving only comes to $20-$30. So while the percentage saved may be high, the savings over the course of a year really isn't that much.
Cost for a Eneloop multi-pack on sale at Costco a few weeks ago was $20 for 8 AA, 4AAA and a charger. So it takes the better part of a year to get back your initial cost in savings.
I won't spend extra "long green" to be "green", but this is an instance where being environmentally friendly is actually cheaper.
But even with regular usage of 8-10 hours a week, my yearly saving only comes to $20-$30. So while the percentage saved may be high, the savings over the course of a year really isn't that much.
Cost for a Eneloop multi-pack on sale at Costco a few weeks ago was $20 for 8 AA, 4AAA and a charger. So it takes the better part of a year to get back your initial cost in savings.
I won't spend extra "long green" to be "green", but this is an instance where being environmentally friendly is actually cheaper.
I have tried the three types most available. The Alkaline's, NIHMs and the expensive Energizer Lithium Ions. My ATP operates the same with any of them, for a while. The Lithium's last longest. I hunted for two months, almost daily, with losing one bar on the power indicator. And they are the lightest of the three types here. I ended up taking them out to use in my camera, and months later, they are still going strong. Alkaline batteries are not all the same either. Some brands last longer than others. I seemed to go through Rayovac fastest, they are cheaper than other major brands, but I have moved to using store brands. Mostly Walgreen's and CVS pharmacies. I get them during BOGO sales. I did pickup 36 Radio Shack batteries for a little over $6. AS for rechargeable. They are not all the same either. The are rated by mAh, milliamp per hour I believe. The number is on the battery and the higher the number the longer they last. The highest I have found is Duracell rechargeable with a 2450 mAh rating and they worked well, for some time. The performance falls off after time. They seem to wear out. And even at peak performance, brand new, don't last as long as alkaline batteries.
As stated above, I prefer to have the longest lasting battery and not have to mess with the compartment door.
Whatever you use make sure they do not exceed 1.5 volt. A forum member contacted Garrett and posted the email from them here.
As stated above, I prefer to have the longest lasting battery and not have to mess with the compartment door.
Whatever you use make sure they do not exceed 1.5 volt. A forum member contacted Garrett and posted the email from them here.
I ran 2000maH Duracell rechargables for several years in an ACE 250. I put those batteries in my AT and it fired up just fine. The 2600 maH Duracells DID NOT WORK in my machines. If you are worried about charge running time, which wasn't an issue for me, just get a second set of rechargables and go out with two charged sets. You should always have back up batteries on you anyway, alk. or recharged.