Batteries

 


 

 

Introduction

A product, which after a couple of hours use is thrown away is not particular brilliant.
So the all-favourite alkaline battery scores little in our view as a good product. The advertising hype lets us believe we are buying a high quality item that justifies us spending $5.00 for what is actually very little power. The pink drumming rabbit might be cute, but.....work out how much you spend on batteries a year!
Do it, it's worth it!

 

 How a battery works...

This is too boring (even for us!). We might update this if we really, really don't know what else to do.....

 

 One-time-use vs. rechargeable

The rechargeable battery is a nice device, since it allows for many reloads of the stored power. There are different types out there. Some better than others.

Important note: the rechargeable batteries have a lower voltage than your normal one-time-use. The nominal voltage for an alkaline battery is 1.5 volts, for a rechargeable battery it's commonly 1.2 volts. This will normally not affect the performance of any device, but in flashlights this means that you should replace the bulb with a lower voltage one. This is not possible with the MagLite type halogen flashlights. So: if you want to operate a flashlight with rechargeable batteries, you should choose a flashlight where you can add special bulbs for rechargeable batteries.

 

Click here to go back to top of this page.

 The Specs

As a basis for all following data, a size 'AA' (or UM3) was used. Note that batteries differ very much between manufacturers, so the figures below are an approximation only. The price reflects the range between buying one or two in an expensive shop, and buying bulk in a discount store. The winner of each category gets a marked in green, the loser gets a marked in red.
Our ratings are divided into 'home use' and 'ultralight hiking' or 'trail use':

 Description

 Price U$ (each)
 Capacity

 Weight

 Shelf
Life

Rating
home
use:

Rating
trail use
:
 Remarks:  

Carbon Zinc
 0.10-0.50

 ?mAh

 15.6g
(0.55oz)

 2 years
A cheap battery. Not readily available anymore
in the USA, but still common in other countries.

Carbon Zinc

Alkaline 

 0.25-0.75

 2500mAh

 23.2g
(0.82oz)

 3 years
Okay for the trail, but really over-rated for general use.

Alkaline 

Lithium

 2.00-3.00

 ?mAh

 13.5g
(0.48oz)

 8 years
An ideal battery for the trail: the lightest; the longest lasting, but: the most expensive!

Lithium

NiCd or
Nickel/Cadmium

 2.00

 650mAh

 20.3g
(0.72oz)

 1 month
The cadmium makes this an environmental enemy. Small capacity maybe okay for the TV remote control, but useless in a flashlight.

NiCd or
Nickel/Cadmium

NiCd or
Nickel/Cadmium
(Panasonic)

 2.50

 1100mAh

 21.6g
(0.76oz)

 1 month
If a Nickel Cadmium then this one!

NiCd or
Nickel/Cadmium
(Panasonic)

NiMH or
Nickel/Metal
Hydride

 3.75

 1400mAh

 25.2g
(0.89oz)

 ? months
Per kW of power the cheapest! Approximately $4.00 per kW — compared with $200.00 for an alkaline battery. Unfortunately the heaviest amongst the AA's. Combine it with a small solar charger for the trail ?

NiMH or
Nickel/Metal
Hydride

 Some other batteries and weights:
  Nickel CadmiumLithiumNickel Metal Hydride

DL123A
Lithium 3V

 5.00
   16.6g
(0.59oz)

DURACELL
AAA Alkaline

 1.00
   11.1g
(0.39oz)

ENERGIZER
AAA Alkaline

 1.00
   11.7g
(0.41oz)

Maglite bulb

 1.00
   0.15g
(0.005oz)

 And for all you metrically challenged persons: 1 oz = 28.4 g

This data is given in good faith and it is NOT 100% accurate. If you have different information, or additional information we will be glad to correct / amend the figures as required. (feedback)

Note on alkalines: The alkaline battery has a high capacity, and does well on low drain applications, but on high drain applications, the internal resistance becomes a killer, and the life expectancy reduces. The newer alkalines supposed to have this problem fixed to some degree.

 

Click here to go back to top of this page.

HomeHikingGear ReviewsShoppingPicturesLinksFeedback

TERMS OF USE
Copyright ©1998-2003, FJORDLAND Entertainment
All rights reserved
Last updated: 4 September 2003