Chuck wrote: > Alex, >I can't speak to your specific headlamp, but the chief benefit of >rechargeable alkaline cells is that they have a very low self-discharge >rate rather than a high capacity, so I'm not surprised you got no better >results with them. I don't use mine much any more, and when the last one >dies, I'm going to donate the charger to Goodwill. > NiMH cells are getting better, though, with a new variety that has a low >self-discharge rate. See the Sanyo Eneloop cells at >http://thomasdistributing.com/. Indeed, but till now the bad thing with NiMHs have been their awful self-discharge rate (most makes are pretty awful), while LI-Ion, LiPos, and variations there-of, has very low! But as far as I am aware they are not available in AA, or AAA, size! As their voltage is more than double a NiMH's it isn't any easy switch anyway! Electric powered model airplanes used to use NiCads (banned over here in Sweden), then used NiMhs and now almost exclusively LiPos, that have as much energy by weight as gasoline, and is as big a fire hazard! But environmentally they are far better than just about any other kind of rechargable batteries - but need dedicated chargers, and can't be fast charged (not safely, anyway). And no 'memory' effect, that affects NiCads (which should always be emptied before recharged, or their capacity will very fast go down the drain - never, ever, topped off)! As far as I am aware no battery can be charged more than about 800 times and still have a fair amount of charge capacity left in them. Most die within 8 years anyway, no matter what you do with them. Hopefully there will come other types, that last longer! The one of best battery info site is this (if not totally up to date): http://www.rcbatteryclinic.com/ Tord Warning: Shorted, wrongly charged, or punctured, LiPOs will turn into fire bombs! Spare Li-Ion batteries (as used in most modern cameras and camcorders) must be carried in fire-proof bags on flights nowadays! Many houses, garages, and vehicles, have burned to the ground due to careless handling of LiPos! NiMHs, NiCads and most other types are health hazards, if junked into a fire, but doesn't contain volatile solvents, so doesn't catch fire easily, even if shortened! Mercury batteries (banned here) can explode - a friend lost sight on both eyes due to an exploding camera mercury button cell battery. Happily, a year later most of his sight was back! -- See Exclusive Video: 10th Annual Young Hollywood Awards http://www.hollywoodlife.net/younghollywoodawards2008/ *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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