I've bought some rechargeable batteries in various sizes and they all don't last very long. I have 18650 batteries that are new and they won't even charge up. I guess most batteries are Chinese crap! Any brands that you recommend? I'm about to build a box with a small 12v battery and put a spotlight on top. Flashlights and batteries are causing me problems.
In the NiMH batteries I’ve had good experience with the name brands, Eveready, Panasonic, Sanyo. Beware that the charger also makes a world of difference in the success of rechargables. Never use the kind that require 2 batteries be inserted to charge. Those charge two batteries in series and if they aren’t exactly the same age and capacity and with the same level of discharge, one will be over charged or one will be undercharged and that compromises life big time. Also LiPO require a special charger as well.
2nd the Eveready. Hit up @Yard Dart. He steered me right a few years back on rechargeable and where to buy.
I have went to Lithium batteries with a voltage converter and a cheap solar cell charger as well as 115 v. This is an example of a commercial one that I don't think I could afford, and I love tinkering, but gives you the high end. Adjustable voltage portable lithium ion battery pack Battery Power Station weighs only 1 pound with output 5V , 5.5V , 6V , 6.5V , 7.5V , 8.4V , 9V , 10V , 11V , 12V UPS, 13V , 14V , 15V , 16V UPS, 18V UPS , 19V UPS, Extra USB charger included The 5 volt runs my raspberry pi and the 19 v will run an old ASUS laptop. Handy to use a Lithium battery as an filter and backup power supply for solar. In my limited experience, most batteries are quite well made and fairly cheap, but if the charger and load controller aren't made right, it kills the batteries. The internal resistance is so low and the output current so high, it is very easy to overheat the battery or even set it afire at worst and to just reduce its life to a few cycles at best..
$199.00, not cheap, but I was expecting much higher! Wait a few years and the price should come down. I have a solar powered battery charger that I use to recharge batteries. It's slow but it works.
Eneloop batteries. I bought them years ago and they are still holding a charge. They are an investment compared to other rechargeable batteries but worth paying extra. Actually all batteries rechargeable or disposable, one should pay extra for quality. This morning I was on a rant about Costco batteries. I stocked up on Costco AAA & AA batteries and they are garbage. I am always changing batteries. I know an EverReady or Energizer battery will last a year plus. Somethings are worth paying a little extra for name brand.
eneloop, and the 1st full charge is critical for long life.... just saying, dont half charge them the 1st time.
Do you have the brand of your solar battery charger? I had one but it was cheap junk, total waste of money. I am looking for one that will charge various sizes of rechargeables.
I would have to crack open my Faraday Cage to find out the brand, but it wasn't too expensive. Hell, I got on Ebay and it was most likely make in China...so it may be cheap junk too.
Charger I use times 8 BT-C3100 Opus 100% Opus BT-C3100 V2.2 Digital Intelligent 4 Slots AA/AAA LCD Battery Charger 629778728093 | eBay
Don't put lithium batteries in a smoke detector that uses AA or AAA. I found 2 dead smoke detectors with lithium batteries that never let out a peep.
My brother did a science experiment in school to see how long different name brands of disposable AA batteries last. He had made a circuit and would put two AA batteries in it and when the light went out it would clock the time. He used new batteries too. Energizer out preformed all other batteries by 8+ hours. The generic AA batteries from dollar general (it was the generic brand) came in second I forgot who came in third. We did test duracel but they didn’t make it into the top three...and my mom had been buying those for years. We switched super quick to energizer. basically get the energizers if you want them to last a really long time...the pink bunny does keep on going long after other name brands die...
