Anyway The RAB's are known as RENEWAL. and thanks to Rdement1@aol.com a
website with analysis is available at
<A HREF="http://www.toltbbs.com/~shermanj/scifair/abbies.htm">"AA CURRENT
AFFAIR - A SCIENCE FAIR ON BATTER...</A>
I'll let you all make up your mind.
Best
SF
In a message dated 10/7/99 10:26:44 AM Eastern Daylight Time, SolarFry writes:
<< Subj: {;^) RAB's and NIMh's fight for supremacy Pow! sock! {:^) Ouch!
Date: 10/7/99 10:26:44 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: SolarFry
To: wwpotter@tscnet.com
CC: SolarFry
{:^) Put em up dude! {:^)
I wrote a users report based on my experience with rechargeable batteries. I
had no idea there was competition involved.. These were rechargeable and not
regular non rechargeable alkaline batteries. I did use Ray O Vac rechargeable
alkaline batteries (RAB's) (WalMart/Walgreens $5.49 for 4 AA), not Costco
batteries and have used Radio Shack NIMh's. For my buck RAB's give more bang.
Battery charger (8 batteries AA, D, C or D) came free with my RAB's. You do
not get a free batt charger with NIMh's. I consider this expense a part of
overall cost of use. Every buck counts!
I started with 10 "AA" RAB's for my VHF after comparable purchase of other
rechargeables set me back 60 bucks and did not last several outings. For 15
bucks I got 10 AA RAB's which met my needs and a large rechargeable battery
charger to boot! ($20 bucks with coupon for 20 bucks refund) BAsed on that
experience I went and purchased 4 "AA" RAB's for my GPS and 8 "D" RAB's for
my portable stereo CD player.
My RAB's are now over a year old after getting used almost biweekly for 4 or
more hours and still operational. (non rechargeable batteries last a week
only!) I did recharge after each use as recommended. We have a 12 month
sailing season..
I use RAB powered equipment on my powerboat as well as sailboat. My GPS gets
used to locate hot fishing spots regularly and is run from moment of
departure from dock to moment of return on either vessel. My AM/FM radio is
run 24 hours a day every day since I purchased it. When not on shore power it
is running off RAB's. I never turn it off as it is part of my anti-barnacle,
anti bird poop program for my P19 stored on water. I do not claim anyone will
obtain same service. In fact 2 of my 22 RAB's no longer charge to 1.368V but
hold only 1.328 V. They might need replacement.
I acknowledge I am biased, my eperience with NIMh's was not a good one. The
damn things did not hold a charge and I did not care for reasons. I wanted a
replacement or money back, not a hazzle. When your VHF fails to work after 4
hours of use you are not very happy with batteries in it.. Specially if
batteries are at fault.. My attitude follows belief that for samples one is
more than enough. I love stuff that works as advertised and despise stuff
that does not. I followed that bad experience with purchase of RAB's.
My experience with RAB's has been much better. When one set did not hold
charge I took it back and got a new set without arguments or discussions. I
did not have to talk to GOD. Therefore to me -> RAB's do seem to last a bit
longer than regular alkaline batteries and rechargeables, they must be
recharged before completely dead (new ones have no memory), For longer life
they recommend keeping them charged like NIMhs. Regular non-rechargeable
alkies carry risk of leaks or explosion if recharged (so do all other non
rechargeable) but this does not apply to RAB's. All batteries should be
disposed of properly.
There may be uses for which RAB's may not be appropiate and NIMh's may be
better. Specially when no RAB's of required voltage are available to fit
device (camcorders). There is also personal bias..
I believe we should all report our experiences with equipment we try. This
will make for a better informed group. Differences of opinion are bound to
arise. But please remember I am extolling my point of view and experience. It
does not have to agree with yours. Nor are you obligated to agree.
You stick to your NIMH's (1.25V) and I'll stick to my RAB's (1.368 V)
My RAB's are more powerfull and can beat your NIMH's. {;^) so there..
Let the best battery win..
Wow! should I send this? Hell! yeh!
{:^)
Best
SF
BTW:
I know this is a highly sensitive group. I hope no one takes
this as a personal attack or gets offended. I would enjoy
getting some users reports from y'all.. Unless you tell
we will not know and will fall for advertiser's advice..
In a message dated 10/7/99 1:51:14 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
Rdement1@aol.com writes:
<< 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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