Author:
Date:
Subject:
Mike Rivers
2008-05-27 22:05:14
Rechargeable AA Batteries
I've got this Korg MR-1000 recorder that uses 8 AA cells. I was thinking
of getting some rechargeables for it, but I'd want to get a charger that
can take eight at a time (seems like there are two or three of those,
$30-$80). But I was reading about the cells and I kept seeing "Shelf
life: 12 months" popping up in the specs.
Now I have four NiMH AA cells that I used to use in a camera, but not
very much. They're about 3 years old, and I've been using them in my
Zoom H2 recorder and not getting much service out of them. Could it be
that their useful life is over? I don't figure I'd be using the Korg
recorder on batteries very often, maybe 4-5 times per year. If the
rechargeables are really only good-as-new for a year, it probably would
make more sense for me to just buy alkaline cells. They have a shelf
life of at least 5 years and are about 1/5 the price of 2500 mAH
rechargeables.
Since I already have a 4-cell charger, I'll probably get a pack of four
fresh cells for the Zoom (that uses two at a time) but may hold off for
a while on Korg batteries. Any words of wisdom to share about
rechargeable AAs in portable recorders?
--
If you e-mail me and it bounces, use your secret decoder ring and reach
me here:
double-m-eleven-double-zero at yahoo -- I'm really Mike Rivers
([email protected])
Author:
Date:
Subject:
George's ProSound Company
2008-05-27 18:57:39
Re: Rechargeable AA Batteries
Any words of wisdom to share about
> rechargeable AAs in portable recorders?
>
IMO a rechargable is not quite as good as a dollar general alkaline
you get 4 new DG 1.5's for a dollar
I buy duracells when I am counting on the last minute from batteries, if its
a 30 minute job Iuse dollar store 1.5's
same goes for 9v's if its a short duty its dollar store, ifits high profile
its duracells
I really gave up on recharegers due to unpredictable sudden discharge
george
Author:
Date:
Subject:
gareth magennis
2008-05-28 00:10:33
Re: Rechargeable AA Batteries
"George's ProSound Company" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:6548d$483c91e9$45289619$3436@ALLTEL.NET...
> Any words of wisdom to share about
>> rechargeable AAs in portable recorders?
>>
>
> IMO a rechargable is not quite as good as a dollar general alkaline
> you get 4 new DG 1.5's for a dollar
>
> I buy duracells when I am counting on the last minute from batteries, if
> its a 30 minute job Iuse dollar store 1.5's
> same goes for 9v's if its a short duty its dollar store, ifits high
> profile its duracells
>
> I really gave up on recharegers due to unpredictable sudden discharge
> george
>
Not to mention the lower cell voltage of 1.2v in AA and AAA, with 8.4 volt
for the PP3 instead of 9v.
Gareth.
Gareth.
Author:
Date:
Subject:
hank alrich
2008-05-27 16:58:00
Re: Rechargeable AA Batteries
Mike Rivers <[email protected]> wrote:
> I've got this Korg MR-1000 recorder that uses 8 AA cells. I was thinking
> of getting some rechargeables for it, but I'd want to get a charger that
> can take eight at a time (seems like there are two or three of those,
> $30-$80). But I was reading about the cells and I kept seeing "Shelf
> life: 12 months" popping up in the specs.
>
> Now I have four NiMH AA cells that I used to use in a camera, but not
> very much. They're about 3 years old, and I've been using them in my
> Zoom H2 recorder and not getting much service out of them. Could it be
> that their useful life is over? I don't figure I'd be using the Korg
> recorder on batteries very often, maybe 4-5 times per year. If the
> rechargeables are really only good-as-new for a year, it probably would
> make more sense for me to just buy alkaline cells. They have a shelf
> life of at least 5 years and are about 1/5 the price of 2500 mAH
> rechargeables.
>
> Since I already have a 4-cell charger, I'll probably get a pack of four
> fresh cells for the Zoom (that uses two at a time) but may hold off for
> a while on Korg batteries. Any words of wisdom to share about
> rechargeable AAs in portable recorders?
These folks offer excellent rechargeables:
http://www.mahaenergy.com/store/Index.asp
And chargers. I'm using one of their 4-bangers and they offer 8-bangers.
http://tinyurl.com/63y7rc
Their stuff is what runs my H2. Here's the charger I'm using:
http://www.mahaenergy.com/store/viewItem.asp?idProduct=178
Can even run it from a car cig lighter, with the included adapter.
--
ha
Iraq is Arabic for Vietnam
Author:
Date:
Subject:
Mike Rivers
2008-05-28 11:12:35
Re: Rechargeable AA Batteries
hank alrich wrote:
> These folks offer excellent rechargeables:
> http://www.mahaenergy.com/store/Index.asp
Maha was the "high priced spread" of the ones I've looked at. It was
also someplace on their web site that I saw the "12 month shelf life"
that worried me. WIth an $85 charger and probably somewhere around $40
worth of cells (two sets) I'd probably have to use the MR-1000 on
batteries more to get my money's worth. But I might try some new cells
for my Zoom and see how that goes.
--
If you e-mail me and it bounces, use your secret decoder ring and reach
me here:
double-m-eleven-double-zero at yahoo -- I'm really Mike Rivers
([email protected])
Author:
Date:
Subject:
Soundhaspriority
2008-05-28 22:52:41
Re: Rechargeable AA Batteries
"Mike Rivers" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:D6b%j.33021$3j.3526@trnddc05...
> hank alrich wrote:
>
>> These folks offer excellent rechargeables:
>> http://www.mahaenergy.com/store/Index.asp
>
> Maha was the "high priced spread" of the ones I've looked at. It was also
> someplace on their web site that I saw the "12 month shelf life" that
> worried me. WIth an $85 charger and probably somewhere around $40 worth of
> cells (two sets) I'd probably have to use the MR-1000 on batteries more to
> get my money's worth. But I might try some new cells for my Zoom and see
> how that goes.
>
The "shelf life" figure would refer to charge retention. There are no modern
NiMH cells that die in a year. I recently measured the capacity of some
three year old Energizer 2700mah, and they still measured over 2700!
I think that when the manufacturers spec the lifetime of the cell, they
assume alot of abuse, and want to keep the public reasonably happy. The
following kills cells:
1. Storage at over 80F. Ideally, it should be less than 70F. Do not
deep-freeze, because these cells have an aqueous electrolyte. Storage inside
cars in warm weather kills quickly.
2. The typical consumer charger is a cell-killer.
3. If the cells remain installed in a device that has a residual current
draw (do your recorders have clocks?) death by reverse discharge is the
usual result.
BTW, the Maha cells are premium units, but really only justifiable for the
individual who requires every minute of runtime.
Bob Morein
(310) 237-6511
Author:
Date:
Subject:
Soundhaspriority
2008-05-27 20:17:21
Re: Rechargeable AA Batteries
"Mike Rivers" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:uA%_j.3444$fk.2906@trnddc06...
> I've got this Korg MR-1000 recorder that uses 8 AA cells. I was thinking
> of getting some rechargeables for it, but I'd want to get a charger that
> can take eight at a time (seems like there are two or three of those,
> $30-$80). But I was reading about the cells and I kept seeing "Shelf life:
> 12 months" popping up in the specs.
>
> Now I have four NiMH AA cells that I used to use in a camera, but not very
> much. They're about 3 years old, and I've been using them in my Zoom H2
> recorder and not getting much service out of them. Could it be that their
> useful life is over? I don't figure I'd be using the Korg recorder on
> batteries very often, maybe 4-5 times per year. If the rechargeables are
> really only good-as-new for a year, it probably would make more sense for
> me to just buy alkaline cells. They have a shelf life of at least 5 years
> and are about 1/5 the price of 2500 mAH rechargeables.
>
> Since I already have a 4-cell charger, I'll probably get a pack of four
> fresh cells for the Zoom (that uses two at a time) but may hold off for a
> while on Korg batteries. Any words of wisdom to share about rechargeable
> AAs in portable recorders?
>
The quality of the charger very much influences cell life. This is the best
charger in the world:
http://www.mahaenergy.com/store/viewItem.asp?idProduct=423
Depending upon the quality of the cells, they could be exhausted. The above
charger is also a battery analyzer, and it will tell you exactly what the
capacity of the cells actually is.
Most of the guys from r.a.m.p.s buy here:
http://www.thomas-distributing.com/index.htm
Bob Morein
(310) 237-6511
Author:
Date:
Subject:
William Sommerwerck
2008-05-27 18:22:24
Re: Rechargeable AA Batteries
> The quality of the charger very much influences cell life. This is
> the best charger in the world:
> http://www.mahaenergy.com/store/viewItem.asp?idProduct=423
I don't know if it's "the best", but I own one, and wish I'd had it 20 years
ago.
Thomas Distributing has it for $52. I got it for around $40; the price has
gone up.
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