AA batteries - rechargable or not?

[golfer]

I made a mistake in my post earlier. In my mind, I was referencing NiCad batteries instead of NMH. This tread is refrencing NMH batteries. NMH batteries do not need cycling or conditioning. They also maintain their charge longer during storage. They do not work as well in severe cold. They can and should be charged as needed. There are uses for both types of batteries. My apologies. My apologies.

[jfrancho]

That's OK, the poll relates to "rechargeable AA batteries" which wouldn't exclude NiCad. If you want to, you can edit your post to state "NiCad" specifically.

[aam1234]

Here's a good source for battery info.

[Sidebyte]

If possible, do not discharge lithium-based batteries too deeply. Instead, recharge more often. Allow a nickel-cadmium battery to fully discharge once every 30 cycles or so. "This also applies to nickel-metal-hydride" but to a lesser extent. Exact data as to how often a nickel-based battery should be discharged is not available. Neither do we know low long a lithium-ion will last under different depth-of-discharge regimes. Manufacturers typically specify lithium-ion at an 80% depth-of-discharge.

Nuff said JFrancho?

[jfrancho]

Originally Posted by Sidebyte

If possible, do not discharge lithium-based batteries too deeply. Instead, recharge more often. Allow a nickel-cadmium battery to fully discharge once every 30 cycles or so. "This also applies to nickel-metal-hydride" but to a lesser extent. Exact data as to how often a nickel-based battery should be discharged is not available. Neither do we know low long a lithium-ion will last under different depth-of-discharge regimes. Manufacturers typically specify lithium-ion at an 80% depth-of-discharge.

Nuff said JFrancho?

Yep, good info, especially for the Li-Ion since the cameras are usually supplied with these. Thanks.

[PavelOlavich]

When shooting a wedding, I use non-rechargable alkelines, but I keep several sets of rechargables with me just in case....I do want to go to using only rechargables, but I'm not comfortable with that idea yet...visions of lawsuits, angry brides, have me buying the use-once alkelines, at least for now....but I hear more and more of my contemporaries going rechargeable-only, so it's a matter of time for me...

[Mr Mikey]

I have been using rechargable AA batteries for years, I have had a P&S camers since the mid 90's and started using rechargable in the late 90's.
Since my Canon doesn't use AA batteries, I use the rechargable for my flash only. I still have some extra non-rechargable batteries in my bag for back up. I have been using a Q2 Quest Charger for a few years, the benefit is that i can plug it into A/C or the cigarette lighter, it is not a super fast charger but it does the job. I never keep batteries in any device other than a flashlight, (I had a bad experience with some duracells that leaked in a camera). I have heard that storing them outside the device helps them to retain a charge.

[kgphoto]

I don't get the reluctance to use rechargeable batteries at weddings.

I used a 200B that only takes rechargeable NiCads. When it gets low, you change to a new battery and put the old one on a charger. Granted you get 200 full power, 400 1/2 power and 800 quarter power flashes per charge. I never counted, except when testing,

I just know I will change batteries sometime at the reception, so I just do it at the start.

I did carry three batteries, as I had two strobes so I could do some double lighting, and that was the "extra" spare.

[jfrancho]

I don't understand the reluctance either. We use rechargeables in our cameras, why not other equipment?

[Narsuitus]

“I was hoping for some evidence or documentation that would support some of the detractors' opinions…”

jfranco,

Since you quoted me, I will assume that I am the “detractor.”

My “less dependable” statement was based on my personal experiences and was not based on scientific tests published in a reputable journal.

I first saw the need for rechargeable batteries when I purchased a battery hungry digital camera. As a result, I purchased 16 NiMH batteries and three NiMH battery chargers. My intent was to replace the AA alkaline batteries in all my devices.

However, after using the batteries for a period of time, I found them less dependable for me and my shooting style because:

1. Their shelf life was too short. When I needed AA batteries, I usually took AA alkaline from my supply. The disposable alkaline batteries in my supply could possibly be up to a year old. I discovered the hard way that the AA NiMH batteries would lose their charge if stored for an extended period of time. To avoid the problem, I now only use recently charged NiMH batteries.

2. Battery charger not fully charging. For some reason, my battery chargers would sometimes indicate that the batteries were fully charged when they actually were not. To avoid this problem, I now use a battery tester to verify that the batteries are actually fully charged.

3. Heat causes the batteries to die prematurely. I found out the hard way when I was shooting an out-of-town wedding, and the fully charged batteries that had been stored in my hot car died too soon.

4. The batteries do not work in all of my devices. For example, they work in my digital camera and my flash units but they do not work in my film camera motor drive.

In spite of the NiMH batteries not being dependable enough to meet my original needs, I still use them. I just do not depend on them like I wish I could.

[Sidebyte]

Narsuitus,
You didn't indicate what capacity Nimh batteries you originally bought.
My first "AA" Nimh batteries (I still use) were Panasonic 1800mAh, they were marginal at best. Be aware that in a camera all AA's will show time to replace at about 40% of their actual capacity. Since then I have bought a couple sets of 2700 mAH rechargables and there is night and day difference between the usable energy life, over twice the time per set. Try a set of modern "AA"'s and you will be amazed.

[Fymoh]

Thanks for the great links Jfrancho. I only use NiMH rechargeable batteries for my camera. One set is my camera and the other one charged in my bag. And I did not notice any degradation so far.

Regards

[jfrancho]

Originally Posted by Narsuitus

[Since you quoted me, I will assume that I am the “detractor.”

No, I quoted your statement about reliability, which you answered above.

[RockyPtJoe]

Note that Alkalines "start" at 1.5 v whereas most rechargeables start at 1.2 v.(this is fully charged state). I don't have any discharge curves for either type of batteries...but there is equipment that has a voltage threshold at which it will not function....that is why some equipment won't work well or at all with rechargeables.....

[PavelOlavich]

Originally Posted by jfrancho

I don't understand the reluctance either. We use rechargeables in our cameras, why not other equipment?

With me, frankly, I have irrational reasons...going outside my comfort zone and all that, but to look at this objectively, you are correct...

[gryphonslair99]

Ok, I don't mean to sound trite here but this seems like a no brainer to me. All B&H prices

Sunpak 2500 mAh 60-Minute Charger Kit with Four "AA" NiMH Batteries $29.99

Extra batteries set of 4. $12.99-14.99

Monster Cable AA Alkaline (2850mAh) Batteries (4-Pack) $1.59


I have 4 sets of NiMH batteries and a 60 minute charger for my 580EX. Lets use the figure stated above and go with getting 500 charges per set of 4 for 2000 total useages. My cost here, other than in time to pull them out and top them off prior to the shot is $75.96

2000 sets of 4 AA Alkaline batteries $3,180.00. Thats a couple of real nice lenses there all for the taking of a few minutes to plan ahead and topping them off before I shoot. (Maybe with this logic I can get the wife to let me buy that 50mm f1.2 lens from Canon.)

I have for years kept an 8 pack of Alkaline batteries in my bag. Once a year I buy new ones and the old ones go into a portable cd player, the remotes for different electronics, etc. I have yet to need to break open the Alkalines. I keep them as a precaution but they always end up getting used somewhere else.

Thats my $0.02 worth. Or in this case $3,104.04.

[John Roberts]

Originally Posted by jfrancho

I don't understand the reluctance either. We use rechargeables in our cameras, why not other equipment?

Rechargables just don't last as long--hold a charge as long. With cameras it's less of a pain to swap out batteries. I don't want rechargables in my television remote, for example.

[Joves]

Im another strictly rechargable user. Especially since NiCads are not the only choice. I have yet to have a problem with memory setting on the newer batteries as opposed to the NiCads. But the first time I used them I depleted them first then recharged but, now I recharge them when they get low, with no ill effects.

[Scoril0]

Originally Posted by jfrancho

Also, my understanding is that complete discharge of a NiMH will render it useless.

this is true for LiIon batteries.

[400duser]

Every device from the camera, flash gun and wireless transmitter uses rechargeable batteries, but the rechargeable AA is only used for my flash gun