Re: Rechargeable Alkaline batteries by Ray O Vac VS nimh

SolarFry@aol.com
Thu, 7 Oct 1999 10:34:05 EDT


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West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
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Thank you for your note below

The RAB's are called RENEWAL.

I did go to URL below. Thanks for that one to as it was interesting.
The rechargeables I had a hazzle with at Radio Shack were NICADS.

I have never tried the NIMh's. Am I too cheap?

You should post a users report on NIMh's so we can make an opinion.

Best
SF

In a message dated 10/7/99 1:51:14 AM Eastern Daylight Time, Rdement1@aol.com
writes:

<< Subj: Re: Rechargeable Alkaline batteries by Ray O Vac VS nimh
Date: 10/7/99 1:51:14 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: Rdement1@aol.com
To: wwpotter@tscnet.com

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West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
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My personal experience w/ rechargeable batteries may be limited, but here is
what I have discovered:

I tested my (~unk% charge, but charging now) NiMH AA batteries tonight with
a
voltmeter, and they read 1.298 volts. I will measure them again tomorrow,
because now I am curious. I tested a brand new alkaline battery (Costco
variety 'Kirkland') and it read 1.6 volts. It is my understanding that the
best you will see from a NiCad is 1.25 volts, but NiCad's have their own
unique problems.

From my practical experience with alkalines and NiMH, I favor the NiMH
batteries. When using a digital camera, (very high current requirements)
and
taking pictures using a flash (even worse), the same Costco alkalines would
take about 12-15 pictures before they would give up. The NiMH batteries
will
take 45+.

Now the boating related part:

I have noticed differences with my GPS III+ also. It doesn't make it
acquire
satellites quicker, (acquisition time is determined by the specific receiver
type, antenna, location, satellite position/quantity available) but it will
run much much looooonnnnger on a charged set of NiMH batteries, than said
alkalines.

I am not a VHF expert either, but I do know that the VHF range formulae has
a
number of variables also. Transmitter power *could* be directly related to
battery voltage. (Since P=I*E, and V=I*R (ohm's law) the higher the E across
a given R produces more I, therefore more P.) Getting good VHF range depends
on (impartial list, I am sure) transmitter power, height of antenna,
radiation pattern of antenna (3db, 6db, etc) , elements used in said
antenna,
physical restrictions (land, trees, etc), atmospheric conditions, and UOM.
UOM is 'urgency of message'. Chances are the more you need the radio, the
shorter range it will give you. HA! :)

I have never used rechargeable alkalines, but I may have to give them a
whirl. Probably because I remember alkaline packages saying "may explode if
recharged, incinerated or......." I am always open minded to 'something
better out there'. Local stores are starting to carry more NiMH batteries
now. I bought one to fit my video camera, and noticed a significant
increase
in recording time. Most 'wireless' phones are using NiMH batteries because
of their performance.

It has nothing to do with NiMH, but there is an un-biased opinion about
batteries I found on the internet. It was a science fair project completed
by a 4th grade student, that posted her results on the internet. Not
sailing
related, but for those interested it is at:

http://www.toltbbs.com/~shermanj/scifair/abbies.htm

Anyway.......... I think it's time to get back to sailing....

Russ deMent
Silvedale, WA
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