Equipped To Survive Equipped To Survive® Presents
The Survival Forum
Where do you want to go on ETS?

Page 1 of 2 1 2 >
Topic Options
#282617 - 10/24/16 08:10 PM Using drawn down batteries in the 1.3 volt range?
clearwater Offline
Old Hand

Registered: 03/19/05
Posts: 1177
Loc: Channeled Scablands
I have several devices (two way radios, a gps, a graphing calculator, and a camera) that burn thru batteries and quit when they discharge below 1.4 volts. Hence they don't use rechargeables like enloops, at least not for long. So I end up with piles of alkaline batteries with quite a bit of charge. And a lot of rechargeables with no use.

Suggestions? There is only so many flashlights I can use at one time the DO take the weaker batteries. Is there some sort of " Joule Thief "
for AA's that would fit in devices?


Edited by clearwater (10/25/16 12:10 AM)

Top
#282620 - 10/25/16 08:55 AM Re: Using drawn down batteries in the 1.3 volt range? [Re: clearwater]
EMPnotImplyNuclear Offline
Enthusiast

Registered: 09/10/08
Posts: 382
Hi,
Really 1.4 volts?
I always wondered why the dollar stores didn't have 1xAA or 1xAAA flashlights
...
did a bit of searching and I see compact joule thief isn't too hard to build



and that you can just get one from solar garden light



so no reason the cheapest flashlights couldn't have one of these
4 legged integrated circuits joule thieves
...
I also figure one ought to exist already that clips onto a battery
and it almost does , the Batteriser
naturally lots of smoke and mirrors and no actual product yet

Top
#282624 - 10/25/16 08:00 PM Re: Using drawn down batteries in the 1.3 volt range? [Re: clearwater]
dougwalkabout Offline
Crazy Canuck
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 02/03/07
Posts: 3219
Loc: Alberta, Canada
A lot of older gear was designed for 1.5V alkalines and doesn't get along with 1.2V rechargeables. Expensive and wasteful to say the least.

External Pack:
Sometimes equipment has an external power jack (for wall warts) that will accept a higher voltage.

If you can wire up an external battery pack made of rechargeables with roughly the right voltage, you can save a bundle. You can always add a small value 1-watt resistor (cheap) if you need to drop the voltage a little.

Reuse:
The problem with reusing alkalines is leakage: as the voltage declines, the likelihood of leakage goes way up. Especially when they sit.

The simplest reuse option I've found is to "digest" them using cheap battery holders off eBay and use the old alkalines in LED lanterns or old big-body flashlights with those 6V square batteries.

You can get holders for any number of AA cells. If you can match the voltages of the used alkalines fairly closely, you'll get less leakage. And if it does leak, it's not in something you care deeply about.

Top
#282627 - 10/25/16 08:41 PM Re: Using drawn down batteries in the 1.3 volt range? [Re: clearwater]
clearwater Offline
Old Hand

Registered: 03/19/05
Posts: 1177
Loc: Channeled Scablands
Where it is most troublesome is things that require 4 batteries or more. Rechargeables lose 1.2 voltes off the bat in a 4 cell device.

Since lithium cells usually have over 1.5 volts, could I slip one lithium in with 3 lower voltage cells somewhat safely? Or would this just be asking for leaks, fire, loss of hair and looks of disdain by my neighbors?

Top
#282628 - 10/26/16 01:20 AM Re: Using drawn down batteries in the 1.3 volt range? [Re: clearwater]
dougwalkabout Offline
Crazy Canuck
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 02/03/07
Posts: 3219
Loc: Alberta, Canada
No, please do not ever mix cells of different chemistry and voltage. This turns the battery compartment into a toaster, chemical goo experiment, and/or micro-Chernobyl. It will not end well.

What rechargeables are you using? And what charger? It's really odd that so many pieces of gear are not happy with them. Maybe the problem lies elsewhere -- like a faulty charger.




Edited by dougwalkabout (10/26/16 01:20 AM)

Top
#282629 - 10/26/16 05:43 AM Re: Using drawn down batteries in the 1.3 volt range? [Re: clearwater]
haertig Offline
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 03/13/05
Posts: 2322
Loc: Colorado
Originally Posted By: clearwater
Since lithium cells usually have over 1.5 volts, could I slip one lithium in with 3 lower voltage cells somewhat safely?

eek

I think it might be safer to jump into a swimming pool carrying a plugged in toaster.

Top
#282630 - 10/26/16 05:51 AM Re: Using drawn down batteries in the 1.3 volt range? [Re: clearwater]
haertig Offline
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 03/13/05
Posts: 2322
Loc: Colorado
Originally Posted By: clearwater
So I end up with piles of alkaline batteries with quite a bit of charge. And a lot of rechargeables with no use.

Suggestions?

Throw away the partially discharged alkalines (dispose of them properly). Use the rechargeables in other devices that work properly with them. Get rid of the gear you have that only partially utilizes batteries and doesn't work with rechargeables - it is poorly designed and not worth the hassle and waste of keeping around.

Top
#282631 - 10/26/16 12:58 PM Re: Using drawn down batteries in the 1.3 volt range? [Re: haertig]
hikermor Offline
Geezer in Chief
Geezer

Registered: 08/26/06
Posts: 7705
Loc: southern Cal
Probably good advice - I have switched to rechargeables, mostly Eneloops, from alkalines, and me and my wallet are glad we did. I find that lith-ions are even better for many applications. My 18650 headlamp is the best illumination I have ever used.
_________________________
Geezer in Chief

Top
#282632 - 10/26/16 01:58 PM Re: Using drawn down batteries in the 1.3 volt range? [Re: hikermor]
Russ Offline
Geezer

Registered: 06/02/06
Posts: 5357
Loc: SOCAL
Which headlamp is that? I have enough 18650 flashlights that an 18650 headlamp is probably a good idea. I see that both ThruNite and NiteCore have 18650 headlamps on Amazon. I kinda like the versatility of the ThruNiteŽ TH10 especially in neutral white.

Top
#282633 - 10/26/16 02:10 PM Re: Using drawn down batteries in the 1.3 volt range? [Re: clearwater]
Russ Offline
Geezer

Registered: 06/02/06
Posts: 5357
Loc: SOCAL
FWIW, one of the primary drivers for my switching to Eneloop AA's was my Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx which couldn't use lithium primaries. I don't use that enough to justify wasting alkalines; the charge in a set of Eneloops is more than enough. I also like that Eneloops don't leak when they're dead. Just drop them in the charger...

Top
Page 1 of 2 1 2 >



Moderator:  Alan_Romania, Blast, cliff, Hikin_Jim 
March
Su M Tu W Th F Sa
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31
Who's Online
0 registered (), 474 Guests and 15 Spiders online.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newest Members
GallenR, Jeebo, NicholasMarshall, Yadav, BenFoakes
5367 Registered Users
Newest Posts
Zippo Butane Inserts
by NAro
Today at 11:57 AM
What did you do today to prepare?
by dougwalkabout
03/27/24 11:21 PM
Question about a "Backyard Mutitool"
by Ren
03/17/24 01:00 AM
Problem in my WhatsApp configuration
by Chisel
03/09/24 01:55 PM
New Madrid Seismic Zone
by Jeanette_Isabelle
03/04/24 02:44 PM
EDC Reduction
by EchoingLaugh
03/02/24 04:12 PM
Newest Images
Tiny knife / wrench
Handmade knives
2"x2" Glass Signal Mirror, Retroreflective Mesh
Trade School Tool Kit
My Pocket Kit
Glossary
Test

WARNING & DISCLAIMER: SELECT AND USE OUTDOORS AND SURVIVAL EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES AND TECHNIQUES AT YOUR OWN RISK. Information posted on this forum is not reviewed for accuracy and may not be reliable, use at your own risk. Please review the full WARNING & DISCLAIMER about information on this site.