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 CheapSteak
 
Location: Mississauga
Gender: Male
 |  | Do normal cheap flashlights not work with rechargable batteries?
< on 3/4/2011 7:44 AM >
|  | | | I read some flashlight threads and noticed that some maglites were modified so they can use rechargeable batteries?
How do you tell if a flashlight can use rechargeable batteries? What would happen if you put rechargeable batteries in a non-modified flashlight?
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Loki
  
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Gender: Male
| | Re: Do normal cheap flashlights not work with rechargable batteries?
<Reply # 1 on 3/4/2011 10:24 AM >
| | | | Some high end torches will be damaged by re-chargeable batteries but anything cheap and basic will work fine with re-chargeables.
Wank | Wank | Wank | Wank | Wank | Wank |
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Captain Stormy
  
Location: Chicago mostly. Sometimes Minneapolis.
Gender: Male
SO TIGHT THAT IT CHAFED
| |  | Re: Do normal cheap flashlights not work with rechargable batteries?
<Reply # 2 on 3/4/2011 10:29 AM >
| | | | Most batteries used to replace standard cell batteries are NiMH, which are 1.2 volts per cell, versus 1.5 volts for alkaline (standard disposable batteries). For most flashlights, this will just make them dimmer. Some bulbs that require a particular voltage may not light at all, or might be damaged by the voltage. Other types of less common rechargeable batteries may be 1.6 or 1.75 volts, which are more likely to damage the bulb.
[last edit 3/4/2011 10:32 AM by Captain Stormy - edited 2 times]
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AnAppleSnail
 
Location: Charlotte, NC
Gender: Male
ALL the flashlights!
| |  | | Re: Do normal cheap flashlights not work with rechargable batteries?
<Reply # 3 on 3/5/2011 2:16 AM >
| | | | Posted by CheapSteak
I read some flashlight threads and noticed that some maglites were modified so they can use rechargeable batteries?
How do you tell if a flashlight can use rechargeable batteries? What would happen if you put rechargeable batteries in a non-modified flashlight?
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Those are almost certainly talking about using lithium-ion rechargeable batteries in place of alkalines on the Mag Lites. Those run 3.7v per cell instead of 1.5 or so, so you can get much higher voltages from them and kill a device. Lithium-ion rechargeables do not replace alkalines.
The days of NiMHs killing electronics are pretty much gone. Nickel-metal hydrides can deliver much greater current than alkaline batteries, so devices that depend on the battery voltage dropping on high load can burn out. Most of those are gone, since no manufacturers want their stuff dying when "normal" batteries get put in.
There's a few types of battery out there. Here's a rundown:
Alkaline (alkaleak). Shitty, massive voltage sag at medium current draw, excellent life with low-power things. The most-commonly-leaking type of battery, these are the ones that kill flashlights when left loaded for a while. 1.65v, rated 1.5v. The voltage drops off gradually as the battery dies.
Nickel-metal hydride rechargeable. Good bang for the buck, I suggest Eneloops. They deliver good current, most AAs are fine up to 4A. The voltage drops off more suddenly than the alkalines. That means you'll get bright light for longer, but a shorter "Hey I'm dying" time where the flashlight is getting dimmer. Modern ones hold charge for a long time and survive many full-to-dead recharge cycles.
Energizer Lithium. Different than the lithium-ions, these don't recharge. They state 1.5v but are actually around 1.8v. Their voltage sags less than alkalines and more than NiMH under heavy loads. They have very high power density, but alkalines at very low (1 mA) current draw still beat them for power.
Nickel-Iron (NiFe) rechargeable. Rarer and less popular than the NiMH. They give around 1.6 or 1.7v, but they react badly if they get mostly drained. If you put them down to about 20% charged (take 80% of their power out) then you are giving up recharge cycles.
Lithium-ion rechargeable. Highest power density of rechargeables, they take some careful handling. If abused just right, they explode (like the laptop batteries), and their high voltage and current ability means you can really nuke electronics. They can be 3.6 or 3.7v nominal, but when fresh they reach up to 4.2v.
In theory, if you match the voltage pretty well then the flashlight will work. Cheap LED lights depend on the battery characteristics (voltage sag, discharge curve) and might overheat if you replace 6v of alkaleak with 6v of NiMH cells. Because of the sag and charge curve, you'll get higher voltage. Don't mix battery chemistries.
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ghost6
Location: R'lyeh, North Carolina
Gender: Male
| | Re: Do normal cheap flashlights not work with rechargable batteries?
<Reply # 4 on 3/5/2011 7:13 AM >
| | | | I noticed "premium" NIMH batteries put out quite a bit more than 1.2v with no load, more like 1.5, so they are pretty much a direct replacement on damn near any device for alkaline. Premium means Duracell and Energizer. Rayovacs put out more like 1.2v and have less capacity, not meaning to put down Rayovac, I use them in my walky talkies with good results but for higher current applications they just arent as good.
Also you can mix all the duracell and energizer nimh you want, the specs are so close I can say from years of experience using them at work, in digital cameras, $800 laser rangefinders, walky talkies and other crap that they will not leak, explode or fail because of it, we always ended up with a mix of duracell and energizer and they lasted us on average 8 to 12 months of daily useage.
Problem is once they "die", they die. You go from full power to very dim to dead in under a minute. This is fine for around the house or if you carry spares but down in a mine, cave or tunnel this sucks.
Another problem I run into is if you can find Energizer D-size NIMH that they are just a C-size battery stuck inside a D-sized plastic shell, a very light C-battery. This kinda defeats the purpose of a 6-D maglite.
They make kits to convert maglites to rechargeable but I dont think they are cheap, I have seen rechargeable maglites for around $80, and the kit I saw came with charger, battey,etc wasnt cheap.
I think small rechargable tactical flashlights are more a novelty item, remember when NIMH dies it dies...very quickly leaving you up shit cave without a light.
They make good large flashlights but they use sealed lead acid or AGM (absorbent glass mat) type batteries.
http://www.locator.../AB2-092770YOO.asp
http://www.swps.co...m_campaign=froogle
This is a good light, I use it in caves, watertight, 6v, smartchargers for 12v and 110, and it uses a car headlight for a bulb. Mine is about 5 years old btw and I still use it every time I go out.
The nightmare corpse-city of R'lyeh…was built in measureless eons behind history by the vast, loathsome shapes that seeped down from the dark stars. There lay great Cthulhu and his hordes, hidden in green slimy vaults. |
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