Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets - Batteries

What kind of rechargable batteries (AAA) should I buy for the red type blinkie lights and for the front light that takes 3 AAA batteries (Cateye)??

Is it Nicad or what?

Rechargable NiMH. Nickel metal hydride. Higher capacity and less evident memory loss.

I would get some of the new hybrid rechargeables that discharge much slower when not in use than the older rechargeable batteries. They are not as high capacity as the older technology but will have a longer cycle for a blinkie application over a long period. Either Rayovac hybrids or Sanyo Eneloop.

The word hybris is just rayovac's marketing name, there are no 'hybrid' batteries. The type of NiMH dekindley referrs to are low self discharge. Traditional NiMH will self discharge as it sets around 1-2% a day and typically the higher the capacity the battery the higher the self discharge. The low self discharge such as Sanyo Eneloop, RayoVac Hybrids, Duracell Precharged, etc discharge around 1-2% a month so you can leave them sit in your light and know they will work the next time you use it.

sanyo eneloop aaa if you wanna teh best

The low self discharge batteries (Sanyo Eneloops, Duracell Precharged, GP ReCykos and such) all have lower capacity than high quality traditional NiMHs. On AA size typical traditional NiMHs of good quality have about 2700mAh nominal capacity vs. about 2000-2200mAh for a low self discharge kind. I don't know what the difference is in AAA size, haven't bought those lately. It's not a huge issue, especially in rear blinky kind of light, just something to keep in mind.

Hybrid (low self discharge) batteries also work better in cold temperatures than traditional NiMHs.

--J

I personally like the Duracell and Sanyo NIMH batteries.. The sanyo and duracells are 1000mah rated.. The eneloops which work great are rated at 800mah..

I really depends on if you need highest capacity or lowest self discharge. If your running you light )or whatever else electronic) long enough that you need to recharge every few days then your using the batteries faster than they self discharge. If your not using that much then low self discharge may be a better option.

The main purpose is the early morning rides before 6 am. These rides go from 15 miles to 30 miles. So the beginning is dark and less than an hour later the sun comes up. But the rear blinkies I don't bother shutting off, just keep riding. The front Cateye, I would shut off when its more than just daybreak, maybe a half hour after daybreak.

This is not a commute so not really stop and go traffic, but just riding along Pacific Coast Highway, Newport Beach's Back Bay, etc. I try to avoid heavy traffic in the morning hours.

The word hybris is just rayovac's marketing name, there are no 'hybrid' batteries. The type of NiMH dekindley referrs to are low self discharge. Traditional NiMH will self discharge as it sets around 1-2% a day and typically the higher the capacity the battery the higher the self discharge. The low self discharge such as Sanyo Eneloop, RayoVac Hybrids, Duracell Precharged, etc discharge around 1-2% a month so you can leave them sit in your light and know they will work the next time you use it.

Thanks for the clarification. They also come pre-charged which is a major difference.

Here is a link to Rayovac
http://rayovac.com/recharge/index.shtml

Sanyo, look under facts and figures.
http://www.eneloopusa.com/eneloop.html

lowest self discharge is awesome


you maybe don't use the thing every single day, in these situations
you have to constantly charge normal batts. killing the life, making a hassle


eneloops or the like, you charge them once, let them sit for as long as you
care to use them next, they are ready to go.

I find that, is better than worrying about total capacity. I don't run out of light
ever with eneloops, and I have run out of light with normal rechargables because
they either A) discharged a good measure in only 2 days or B) lost capacity from
charging too often to keep up with the discharge rate


there are specs on on the box, then there is actual use. actual use sez eneloops > normal

Not much difference between AAA nimhs and the hybrids. My Eneloops are 800 and the latest and greatest nimhs are 1000. Personally, I roll with non-rechargeable Energizer lithiums.

Edit: OK, so it's a 25% difference...

The thing I;ve found with traditional and low self discharge NiMH is that if I don't completely use them to full capacity all the time the self discharge of the traditional takes away enough that the capacity is really the same.
How often do you replace the alkaline batteries in your light now? if your replacing them every day or two then plain NiMH may be a good choice since you'll be charging them every day or two and won't realize the benefit of the low self dischareg.

flipped4bikes, be careful calling eneloops hybrids, someone will go into a store looking for hybrid batteries and if that sotre doesn't have rayovac hybrids then they may overlook the eneloops or duracell precharged as hybrid is a rayovac only marketing name. its like when someone told my MIL to get a usb memory stick, she walked out of the store with a memory stick then found out it won't fit her USB port so I had to expline to her that people mislabele usb flash as memory stick and memory stick is a special format made by Sony. So she had to return the meory stick and buy a flash drive.

CVS drug stores are having a sale on Duracell. I got the package deal with 4 AA and 4 AAA and charger. Its the low self charge type

Check the duracell ones, if they have the white ring around the top and made in japan they are Sanyo Eneloops made for duracell. if they have the black ring around the top and are made in china put them back on the shelf.

Search candlepowerforums for duraloops for more detailed info.

Ok, the packaging is still entact. I'll put it back.

Granted there are worse batteries than the chinese duracells (like the energizer and duracell 2500mAh) but if your going to buy some you may as well buy the good ones.