Rechargeables in the Real World
Posted: Jun 6, 2011 9:35 am
This story concerns two brands of Rechargeable NiMH batteries and the recent experience I had. I began a cave trip with Energizer NiMH rechargeable batteries
in my Apex light. The batteries were charged about a two weeks ago but had not been on any cave trips. I entered the cave and the light started going dim
after just 15 minutes. The light was already set on the lowest output setting. It refused to go to any of the brighter settings. This was extremely disappointing.
These batteries were made in China.
I changed batteries and installed my Duracell NiMH rechargeable batteries and finished the cave trip. 8 hours later the light had not even dimmed. The
Duracells were made in Japan and cost about three times as much as the Chinese made Energizers. Both sets of batteries were charged in a cheap Rayovac
charger bought at Walmart.
The bottom line is that the Energizers won't hold their charge very long. I will have to test them again and charge them the day before I use them to see
if they are any good at all. I've used the Duracells for over and over for a month without recharging them and I've never fully discharged them yet. They just
keep going and going an going (like the energizer bunny only these are Duracells).
It seems the Japanese Duracell NiMH rechargeables are well worth the extra cost over the Chinese made Energizer NiMH rechargeables. Since both were
charged in the same cheap Rayovac charger, I must assume it is the Energizer batteries that are inferior in every way.
in my Apex light. The batteries were charged about a two weeks ago but had not been on any cave trips. I entered the cave and the light started going dim
after just 15 minutes. The light was already set on the lowest output setting. It refused to go to any of the brighter settings. This was extremely disappointing.
These batteries were made in China.
I changed batteries and installed my Duracell NiMH rechargeable batteries and finished the cave trip. 8 hours later the light had not even dimmed. The
Duracells were made in Japan and cost about three times as much as the Chinese made Energizers. Both sets of batteries were charged in a cheap Rayovac
charger bought at Walmart.
The bottom line is that the Energizers won't hold their charge very long. I will have to test them again and charge them the day before I use them to see
if they are any good at all. I've used the Duracells for over and over for a month without recharging them and I've never fully discharged them yet. They just
keep going and going an going (like the energizer bunny only these are Duracells).
It seems the Japanese Duracell NiMH rechargeables are well worth the extra cost over the Chinese made Energizer NiMH rechargeables. Since both were
charged in the same cheap Rayovac charger, I must assume it is the Energizer batteries that are inferior in every way.