Battery questions

Jors · **on:** February 03, 2014, 09:40:32 PM

I have recently damaged my Led Lenser P5 due to a battery that leaked. Fortunately it was replaced.
I just lost a Palm AAA flashlite due to a leaking battery as well.

Out of my own experience only disposable batteries leak. (I don't know if it is correct or not).

The disposable types are 1.5V but the rechargeable types are 1.2 V.

Can I use the 1.2V types in my Led Lenser and Maratac flashlights? Will the output lumens noticeable to the eye?

You now get rechargeable types that is 2800mAh for the AA. These new type do not loose their charge for a very, very long time.

For some types you get a blue battery (or other colour) that is not the common type rechargeable battery but of better standard (Mostly 3V or 6V) that you can replace your disposable batteries with. Do you get it in 1.5V in AA and AAA size as well?

Why I ask the first question is that I have seen some types give a stronger output at a higher voltage (the light can take it obviously). On the other hand, a lower output flashlight with a proper defined reflector can outperform a high output flashlite with a poor defined reflector. I have seen and heard about lights with a moderate lumens that are very popular, even above high lumens models.

I have three flashlights that I want to change to rechargeable batteries:
Led Lenser P 7 (4 x AAA)
Led Lenser P 5 (1 X AA) My EDC and delivering excellent duty and performance.
Maratac AAA (1 x AAA) my EDC backup (more for the fun of it, but it worked when the P5 broke.
My Maglite Solitaire LED (1 X AAA) on order.

I would like to know if the performance will drop drastically.

My Lightsaver already has a 3V battery (blue), that is of the same size than 2 x CR123. This is an excellent performing flashlight. Cannot zoom. Meant to be able to hit/stab someone as a weapon in a case of emergency and it hold it's charge very well. Works for hours and hours on police duty (Same dimensions than the P7). The button is on the side and there are a high, low and strobe. Although non-focusable this one equals the P7 in my experience. The output is 120 lumens where the P7 is 200.

Philby · **Reply #1 on:** February 03, 2014, 10:18:58 PM

Led lenser only recommend using rechargeable batteries in there M series (micro processor) torches. However a lot of people use good quality rechargeable batteries in the other torches without any problems. Apparently Sanyo eneloops are the ones to get. Something along the lines of, as the regular led lensors do not have a regulated output, they rely on the internal resistance in the batteries, rechargeable batteries don't drop their voltage as fast and the higher prolonged voltage could damage the Cree chip. On the other hand you will get higher output for longer with the rechargeable batteries.

gregozedobe · **Reply #2 on:** February 03, 2014, 10:37:14 PM

Quote from: Philby on February 03, 2014, 10:18:58 PM

Apparently Sanyo eneloops are the ones to get.

+1

But get the normal capacity eneloops, not the higher capacity ones (eg 1900/2000 mAh AAs, not 2800 mAh) (the normal ones are more robust and survive more charge/discharge cycles).

I use AA and AAA eneloops in a lot of my lights without any issues at all. While alkaline batteries (a.k.a. "alkaleaks" theoretically have a higher nominal voltage (1.5V vs 1.2V), in actual use they don't supply any more voltage on lights run at higher light levels due to voltage sag.

Get a good charger and look after them (don't discharge totally flat) and your eneloops will last a long, long time (I use a Maha C9000).

Cupboard · **Reply #3 on:** February 03, 2014, 11:25:25 PM

There are rechargeable batteries in all the "normal" alkaline sizes. Typically 1.2V for NiMH cells or 3.7V for Li-ion.

A lot of lights won't take the higher voltages that the Li-ions produce so YMMV. Energy capacity is pretty similar to NiMH cells so there often isn't much point. Because of their lower internal resistance, both of my AA torches (a Fenix LD10 and a Zebralight H52f) are actually brighter on the nominally lower voltage NiMH cells compared to alkalines.

If you don't want rechargeables, Energiser do a 1.5V lithium battery which is supposed to be very good and non-leaky.

If you do go for rechargeables, I have a Nitecore Intellicharger i4 that I picked up after a recommendation from here. I think it's great.