Re: Using rechargeable batteries?
Brian A. Fliege (eaig169@ea.oac.uci.edu)
Tue, 7 Feb 95 22:52 PST
On Mon, 6 Feb 1995, Brian Smithson wrote:
> On Feb 6, 12:22pm, Domingo Chang wrote:
> > Is anyone out there using rechargeable AA batteries in their zoomer? If so,
> is
> > performance OK?
> I tried rechargeables and found that their performance was pretty awful. Maybe
> a week or so of life versus a month or so for alkalines. I think I tried brand
> new rechargeables and so it probably wasn't a NiCd memory effect. It may
> instead be that their output voltage drops off more linearly than alkalines,
> causing the "low battery warning" to appear sooner. I haven't looked into it
> more deeply than that -- I simply switched to alkalines and keep an extra set
> in the briefcase.
My guess as to why they do not want you to use rechargable batteries
might have something to do with the backup battery. Most people would go
out, buy their three NiCad batteries, use 'em until they are drained,
take them out of the Zoomer, and recharge them overnight. The big
problem with this is that as soon as you take out those rechargables, you
are putting a bigger strain on the lithium backup battery. If you *DO*
decide to go against the users' manual recomendations, I'd suggest having
a charged set of NiCads ready and waiting for when your current ones fail.
Another reason for not using rechargables might be their output. All
alkaline batteries put out 1.5V, regardless. NiCad rechargables usually
put out 1.2 or 1.25 volts. There may be some reason why the Zoomer would
not be able to cope with a shortage of .9V.
If you really want rechargables, I might look into something other
than NiCads. Lead acid last longer and have no memory (I do not know if
they are made in the AA size, though). There is also something called
Nickle Metal Hydride, which I have not seen or worked with at all, which
is supposed to be fairly long lasting with no memory. I believe these
are made in standard AA, C, D, et.al. sizes.
- Brian