Lithium AA[A] bateries

[David Segall]

I bought a digital camera today and, instead of trying to sell me an
accessory recharger and rechargebable batteries, the salesman
recommended Energizer Lithium batteries
<http://www.energizer.com/products/lithium/default.aspx>.

My experience with rechargeable NiCad and Alkaline batteries has been
negative in that I seem to have to replace them more frequently than
Alkalines and the hassle of doing so is not worth the cost saving from
using rechargeable batteries.

Should I switch to lithium for the camera and my cordless computer
mouse which seems to need a battery change every three weeks? If so,
what is the "best buy" in lithium batteries?

 

[Bob Parker]

I bought a digital camera today and, instead of trying to sell me an
accessory recharger and rechargebable batteries, the salesman
recommended Energizer Lithium batteries
<http://www.energizer.com/products/lithium/default.aspx>.

My experience with rechargeable NiCad and Alkaline batteries has been
negative in that I seem to have to replace them more frequently than
Alkalines and the hassle of doing so is not worth the cost saving from
using rechargeable batteries.

Should I switch to lithium for the camera and my cordless computer
mouse which seems to need a battery change every three weeks? If so,
what is the "best buy" in lithium batteries?

There are rechargeable CR-V3 lithium batteries around. They might
be a better deal than the single use AA ones, if your camera can take them.
Personally I'm using Duracell 2.65AH NiMH AA cells with great success.

Bob

 

[Trevor Wilson]

I bought a digital camera today and, instead of trying to sell me an
accessory recharger and rechargebable batteries, the salesman
recommended Energizer Lithium batteries
<http://www.energizer.com/products/lithium/default.aspx>.

My experience with rechargeable NiCad and Alkaline batteries has been
negative in that I seem to have to replace them more frequently than
Alkalines and the hassle of doing so is not worth the cost saving from
using rechargeable batteries.

Should I switch to lithium for the camera and my cordless computer
mouse which seems to need a battery change every three weeks? If so,
what is the "best buy" in lithium batteries?

**Back when I purchased my second digital still camera (1999), it was fitted
with a rechargeable Li-Ion battery pack. Whilst the battery was very compact
and light, I was surprised that the manufacturer (Sony) rated the battery
for an incredible 1,100 shots, between recharges. A touch optimistic, but
experience taught me that around 400-500 shots was certainly possible. At
the time I spoke to a friend who owned a similar camera (Kodak), which was
fitted with NiCads or alkalines. He managed less than 30 shots between
recharges. My most recent camera (2003 model) is fitted with a similar
Li-Ion battery, but it is somewhat larger. I recharge the thing, maybe,
twice per year. I suspect self-discharge is more of an issue than power
consumption of the camera itself.

All the cameras mentioned use(d) CCD sensors. I understand that CMOS sensors
do not have the same peak current requirements and NiMH, Ni Cads and
alkalines may last longer. For me though, Li-Ion batteries rule. I would
suggest you at least try a set of Lithium batteries. They certainly seem to
work very well in high peak drain devices.

Trevor Wilson

 

[John Tserkezis]

I bought a digital camera today and, instead of trying to sell me an
accessory recharger and rechargebable batteries, the salesman
recommended Energizer Lithium batteries
<http://www.energizer.com/products/lithium/default.aspx>.

My experience with rechargeable NiCad and Alkaline batteries has been
negative in that I seem to have to replace them more frequently than
Alkalines and the hassle of doing so is not worth the cost saving from
using rechargeable batteries.

Should I switch to lithium for the camera and my cordless computer
mouse which seems to need a battery change every three weeks? If so,
what is the "best buy" in lithium batteries?

Lithium Iron Disulphide batteries under "normal" conditions will give about
a 50% increase in capacity, with a 300% increase in cost over alkalines.

You do the math.

Where they excel, is either very long shelf life, or, abnormal environmental
conditions (freezing temperature conditions).

Since I'm guessing your mouse doesn't experience either, I would say stick
to alkalines/rechargeables.

It really doesn't makes sense that your mouse needs new batteries every
three weeks or so (and more often than tradition NiCad/LiIon), sounds very
fishy. What kind of wireless mouse are we talking here?
Or do you have perpetual RSI in your mouse hand from its continual use?

Without "fixing" the problem, rechargeables (NiCad/NiMH) are better value
for money over their life than alkalines.

 

[Phil Allison]

"David Segall"

I bought a digital camera today and, instead of trying to sell me an
accessory recharger and rechargebable batteries, the salesman
recommended Energizer Lithium batteries
<http://www.energizer.com/products/lithium/default.aspx>.

** See: http://data.energizer.com/PDFs/l91.pdf

Should I switch to lithium for the camera and my cordless computer
mouse which seems to need a battery change every three weeks? If so,
what is the "best buy" in lithium batteries?

** Energiser L91s will work much better than any AA alkaline in a digital
camera - the extra time & steadier voltage will cover the increased
purchase cost.

But *rechargeable* NiMH cells are in a class of their own, with similar mAh
capacity and steady voltage performance to the non-rechargeable L91s.

Eg: http://data.energizer.com/PDFs/nh15-2500.pdf




....... Phil

 

[Bob Parker]

"David Segall"


** See: http://data.energizer.com/PDFs/l91.pdf




** Energiser L91s will work much better than any AA alkaline in a digital
camera - the extra time & steadier voltage will cover the increased
purchase cost.

But *rechargeable* NiMH cells are in a class of their own, with similar mAh
capacity and steady voltage performance to the non-rechargeable L91s.

Eg: http://data.energizer.com/PDFs/nh15-2500.pdf




...... Phil

Entirely agree. I'd like to add that in my experience, NiMH cells
have a much higher rate of self-discharge than lithiums, and Energizer
2.5AH ones (allegedly re-badged Sanyos) are considerably worse than
Duracell 2.65AH.
A while back, a batch of defective Energizer 2.5AH cells hit the
market. Unfortunately I got some of them. They'd be completely flat
within 4 days of fully charging them (just sitting open-circuited, not
installed in anything).

Bob

 

[David L. Jones]

I bought a digital camera today and, instead of trying to sell me an
accessory recharger and rechargebable batteries, the salesman
recommended Energizer Lithium batteries
<http://www.energizer.com/products/lithium/default.aspx>.

My experience with rechargeable NiCad and Alkaline batteries has been
negative in that I seem to have to replace them more frequently than
Alkalines and the hassle of doing so is not worth the cost saving from
using rechargeable batteries.

Should I switch to lithium for the camera and my cordless computer
mouse which seems to need a battery change every three weeks? If so,
what is the "best buy" in lithium batteries?

Depends on how often you use them.
The Lithium AA's are very good (you might typically get more shots
than a top quality set of NiMH's), but they are non-rechargeable and
expensive. IMHO they are only good if you use your camera very
infrequently (say once a month for a few dozens shots) and want it
"ready to go" at a moments notice. If you use it every weekend then
forget Lithiums, get NiMH. NiCd's and Alkaline are useless in cameras,
don't even bother.

If you want rechargables but use your camera less frequently, then get
the newer Eneloop NIMH's. A much longer shelf life at the expense of
some capacity.

Dave.

 

[APR]

my cordless computer
mouse which seems to need a battery change every three weeks? If so,
what is the "best buy" in lithium batteries?

Do you put your mouse in a briefcase. Once the bottom face of the mouse is
off a surface (loose in a briefcase for example) the led system will go to
full brightness and the battery life will be reduced.