HELP on AA & AAA batterys.

We've used the Fuji brand batterys in our camera for 3 years and still going, we have just started to try some new ones now called Chamelion, whole kit from Super dodgy was 49 bucks, includes a car charger too, so far they have been great!

I would not bother with Unobtanium!!!!
I don't think you can get them.:)
Cheer's Bob.

The more they cost the longer they last.

>I've just been into my local Coles store to buy some batteries,
>and was confronted by 1/4 acre of them

I feel the same when I try to buy shampoo or toothpaste! :)

For rechargeables try Jaycar, don't go for the highest Ah ratings but get 2000mAh NiMh instead - issues with some of the "supposedly" high capacity stuff coming out of China.

For the UHF CB I suggest Duracell alkalines (Energiser are good too). You could use cheaper alkalines but they won't last as well.

For the remote - the cheapest alkalines you can buy, probably Jaycar again.

Mike Harding

I'm using the Camelion ones Ni-MH in AA & AAA & they seem to outlast the Energiser rechargeables of the same capacity....Jaycar has a good recharger as well...

NiMH Rechargeable for the camera and UHF (Kmart have a reasonable range), and alkaline batteries for the remote. Avoid Duracell alkaline, old tech, not the same capacity as Eveready.

No need for Lithium in normal use, BUT, if you want to buy a set for the camera for use as a backup if you run out of rechargables in the bush it is a good idea. Ditto for the UHF radio. Lithium have a very long shelf life so are ideal as a "just in case" backup, but too expensive to use day-to-day.

I've had a great run out of Energiser NiMH rechargable AAs. Never seem to run flat in my power hungry camera. They are Japanese made cells. Cost $20 for 4 from Coles, and are 2500 mah.
I'd steer clear of the Chinese cells based on past experience.

I’ve tried AA’s branded Energizer, Power Base, Power Tech but would have to say that the batteries that give me the best performance (about double the photographs per charge) would be Duracell NiMH 2300 mAh.

I bought the Duracells and a 30 minute rapid charger in the USA last year but they are made in Singapore and would probably be available locally. Only one snag ... the Energizers, Power Base and Power Tech won’t charge in the Duracell rapid charger. For some reason they come up with a fail warning. Maybe the Duracell have more robust internals that can cop the fast charge.

Hi Troop-a-dour

One of the guys mentioned this before but I thought that I would explain why the different types of batteries and why they are required. There are 5 main types of batteries, there are more but these are the most commonly used today.

• Alkaline (just your normal "AA" & "AAA" and "C" size ect)
• NiMh (most common use these days in digital cams)
• Ni-cad (good for kids toys and torches ect)
• Lithium AA non rechargeable (high power long lasting single use, you will have seen the adds on TV)
• Lithium rechargeable (these are supplied with most digital cams these days, a special battery for the type of camera, shaped to fit, it will not work with any other devices but your camera.

All these types of batteries can be put simply into 2 categories for most people to understand what they need for each device.

Alkaline & Ni-cad when used behave in a similar way, both have what is known as voltage drop, put them into a torch when new and the torch shines bright as they go flat the torch gets dimmer until it goes out.

Lithium rechargeable, Lithium AA non rechargeable and NiMh batteries all have constant voltage output, put simply, place these batteries in a torch and the torch will stay at a similar brightness until near the end of the batteries life when it will just go out.

Lithium rechargeable, Lithium AA non rechargeable and NiMh are the best type of batteries for you digital cameras because they need constant voltage output. If you have ever put normal AA's in you digital camera and only been able to take a few shots before the flat battery sign comes up, you would think that the batteries are dead, they are not, just put them in a torch and you will find some life left in them. Its just the voltage has dropped below the level required by your camera to operate, they are very hungry little suckers for power these days.

When looking for lithium or NiMh batteries the milli amp hours (1200, 2100, 2400 ect) will be marked on the battery this is an indication of the level of power (amount of shots) the battery has, the more milli amps the more shots you can take, Generally speaking the lithium will have lower marking on the side and will be a smaller battery but will last longer than its NiMh "AA" counter part will. Example a small lithium battery with 1200 mah will probably out last set of 4 "AA" with 2100 mah in a similar camera. The one advantage of the "AA" style of battery has is that in and emergency you can put a normal AA battery in its place if your rechargeable are flat.

So in summary normal "AA's" and Ni-cads are best suited in toys, radios, torches ect, Lithium and NiMh go with your new generation high power devices.

Sorry for the long post but I used to be the National Trainer/Head Photographer for Olympus cameras and when I start talking on these subjects it just keeps flowing.

Thanks, Ben

Troop-a-dour
What the #ell is wrong with these manufacturers and suppliers today,and it's not the fault of the store,they don't make and pack it. Consider this, you need 2 batteries for the torch,only bluddy 2 but you have to buy 4 ,I wanted a comb just recently, best pack I could find ....4 only wanted 1 , need a cake of soap, yeh but you have to buy 3 ,and the mongrels put up the price of fuel before a long weekend ,well I reackon we should have the right to say ....what price was it yesterday and when they tell you how much you then say well thats how much I'm gonna pay you today like it or lump it .

Doug

A COMB Doug? So where did I transgress?
Watchim Dusty, bloomin nits, eh .

The short answer is in two parts;
(a) Don't get nicad batteries - old technology, they have been superceded for a reason!

(b) Get several Nickel Metal Hydide and remember to cycle them through the charger.

Having only one type of battery means you only have to use one setting on the charger (nicad & nickle metal hydryde have different settings on your charger).

I have used NiMH batteries in all of my gadgets; gps, prs, mp3, led torchs, cameras, transistor etc. for years. I try and use only AA and can swap batteries between devices as required.

Also remember that the faster the charger the hotter the battery will get, this will reduce the life of the battery. I think that a half hour to charge a 2500mah battery is a bit fast.

However it is more convenient to fast charge them so its up to you. i have some NIMH batteries that have been going for 5 years and are still going strong. I bought a charger from Jaycar that will work from 240v or 12v for use in the car on extended trips.

toppy..
i use AA batteries in my digi cam... they are INCA brand .. and are 2600amph.. they last ages.. i did a 4 week trip arond Europe recently and they only went flat on the 4th last day .. and i've got over a 1000 photo's from that trip.
highly recommended.
got them from my local JB Hi-Fi store, with a 240V and 12V charger... so can charge at home and in car... bout $70... but well worth it.

Hi
The best batteries I have come across are Powertech AA Ni-Mh from Jaycar.
I purchased about 20 of them about 3 years ago, and use them in digital cameras and handheld uhf radio's, they just seem to last for a long time. Their capacity is 1650mAh which was the highest avail at the time. They are still going just as strong today. They are now avail at $3.59 ea or $3.15 for 10+.
There are also larger capacities avail - 2000mAh at $4.25 ea or $3.75 for 10+
2400 and 2500 mAh are also avail, but as said on a previous post I have heard that some are of suspect quality.
Regards
Neil

One point which may catch some people (equipment) is that many (if not all?) AA cells greater than 2000mA capacity are 0.2mm larger in diameter than cells of 2000mAh and below. A more stupid, and unpublicised, change of an international norm/standard I have yet to see!

Mike Harding

2 other points not mentioned here that are worth knowing.

1. In the book that came with my handhelds, it stated that the range is reduced by about 25% if you use rechargeables due to the lower voltage 1.25v compared to non-rechargeable 1.5V batteries, so I assume this applies to a lot of handhelds.

2. A lot of rechargeables have a shorter tip on the positive end, meaning they don't make a connection in some devices (my olympus cameras had this problem). You can get around it by carefully trimming the plastic off the top lip and remove the little cardboard ring, but be careful you don't short them out with the blade when doing it (or buy ones with longer tips).

btw - have used a lot of different Jaycar rechargeable batteries for about 6 yrs now, and they are ok, but the name brand batteries always seem to last a lot longer (both between charges and over the years). Ed