Originally Posted by
Kingshead
This comes from Sanyo's own testing lab, as you can see the batteries drop to just above 1.2 volts almost immediately, maybe you will accept their own literature.
Yes, the discharge curves I gave showed similar results. (Are you replying to me or to Kingshead?)
But as for the alkaline vs. NiMH (eneloop or not) argument, note that alkalines drop even faster than NiMH cells do at high discharge rates. For example, at 2 amps with AA cells, their best non-"lithium" cell was down under 1.0 volts after about nine minutes, and totally dead after about 35 minutes. Their non-eneloop NiMH cell was down to 1.2 volts very quickly (just a few minutes), but took about 54 minutes to get down to 1.0 volt, and was dead after about 65 minutes. Looking at your chart (which has the same 2 amp discharge rate and seems to also cover AA batteries, very convenient) it took 42 minutes to get down to 1.2 volts, and was dead in about 55 minutes.
At high discharge rates (1C or so), NiMH (and especially Eneloop NiMH) cells will provide higher voltages than non-"lithium" alkalines for the vast majority of their discharge curves. And will cost and waste less.
If one really still needs more light and thinks that the extra 7% initial voltage of an alkaline is what makes the difference, I'd suggest getting a second light, or a brighter light. Or maybe getting those NiZn rechargeable cells that start out at 1.8 volts or so (which hopefully isn't so much as to fry things.) (Though I have no experience with these cells.)
This is a waste of time and energy better used for riding, have fun
Kid duty, makes going out for a ride hard but sitting on the computer easy.
As for your lithium ion tool experiences, hopefully things have improved since. The only lithium ion tools I have are a dremel (it's every bit as good as the plug in version) and a screwdriver (which is fine, but not remarkable.) I've got a few NiCd tools too and they're fine, though the dremels are anemic. (But that doesn't mean that NiCd is better than Li-ion, just that they didn't give it enough NiCd cells or pick the ideal motor for the cells chosen.)
I do have some of the Dewalt power packs -- for a time, they were the cheapest way to get batteries for R/C planes, buy a pack and tear it apart. But they never performed nearly as well as the dedicated R/C packs, and now the R/C packs have come down in price enough that it's cheaper to just buy them.
NiCd cells certainly do handle abuse better than NiMH or Li-ion cells, and weight isn't so important with power tools (as opposed to say a model airplane), so it makes sense to keep using them in power tools, especially the heavy duty ones that would be used lots every day.