#127798 - 02/01/1007:29 PMRe: Headlamps and rechargable batteries?
[Re: thecook]
PerryMK
member
Registered: 01/18/02
Posts: 1392
Loc: Florida panhandle
I have an LED headlamp that I use with rechargeable AAA batteries, no problems. I find the name brand (Energizer, Duracell) work better than off brand.
Registered: 02/23/07
Posts: 1735
Loc: California (southern)
Best to read the instruction manual to be sure. Most new headlamps are probably OK with rechargeables. Nowadays I don't buy electronic gear unless it will work with alkalines, NiMH, and lithium batteries. Usually I use Nimh.
#127818 - 02/01/1010:00 PMRe: Headlamps and rechargable batteries?
[Re: oldranger]
OregonMouse
member
Registered: 02/03/06
Posts: 6799
Loc: Gateway to Columbia Gorge
There was a big flap last year about Petzl headlamps not being compatible with rechargeables--fire hazard or some such. You want to check the specs on their website for your specific model to see if yours is compatible with rechargeables (this per the Petzl website). The same is true of lithium batteries (some models, like my e+lite, use lithium camera batteries, but there was a flap about lithium being a fire hazard in other models a couple of years ago.
That's probably true of everything--find out what the manufacturer recommends. My camera manufacturer (Canon) says no lithium, but rechargeables are recommended. Thanks to some knowledgeable folks on this site, I now use the Sanyo Eneloop batteries, which hold a charge pretty well.
I've given up trying to get everything with interchangeable batteries--basically impossible! Actually, all I have are my camera and headlamp!
_________________________
May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view--E. Abbey
Right, the Myo series (except the regulated one) for whatever reason cannot accept rechargables or lithiums. Something to do with NiMH's greater current capacity. My suspicion is that they'd still be okay provided you didn't use boost mode, but what's the fun in that?
I know of no other brand that has a similar restriction on NiMH. FWIW the revised Petzl Tikka and Zipka 2s can use any battery formulation.
Cheers,
Originally Posted By OregonMouse
There was a big flap last year about Petzl headlamps not being compatible with rechargeables--fire hazard or some such. You want to check the specs on their website for your specific model to see if yours is compatible with rechargeables (this per the Petzl website). The same is true of lithium batteries (some models, like my e+lite, use lithium camera batteries, but there was a flap about lithium being a fire hazard in other models a couple of years ago.
That's probably true of everything--find out what the manufacturer recommends. My camera manufacturer (Canon) says no lithium, but rechargeables are recommended. Thanks to some knowledgeable folks on this site, I now use the Sanyo Eneloop batteries, which hold a charge pretty well.
I've given up trying to get everything with interchangeable batteries--basically impossible! Actually, all I have are my camera and headlamp!
#127873 - 02/02/1003:27 PMRe: Headlamps and rechargable batteries?
[Re: OregonMouse]
phat Moderator
Registered: 06/24/07
Posts: 4107
Loc: Alberta, Canada
Originally Posted By OregonMouse
T I've given up trying to get everything with interchangeable batteries--basically impossible! Actually, all I have are my camera and headlamp!
I pretty much got the same way. All I ever have is camera and headlamp, so I used to have a tikka/tikka+ whatever I could get that took AAA batteries. I also had a nikon camera that took same. looked up all the amp hour ratings, etc. and decided the nikon with AAA's carried way more juice than a little propietary battery.. well, that's true, but the battery use on the camera sucked so much juice I ended up going through tons of batteries on the trail. Bleah!
Nowadays I just have two of the proprietary rechargables in my olympus SW camera, and two cr2032 coin cell in my e-light headlamp. I carry a spare couple of cr2032 because it's so light, and then if I fall asleep and leave the headlamp on while reading it's not the end of the world, but really, I've not managed to run out the cr2032 cells in the e-light in basically a month in the field. I end up putting a fresh battery in the elite at the start of the hiking season.
I'm pretty sure the Photon Rex has a couple rechargeable 2032s inside. It's a lot brighter than the e+lite but not really set up for headlamp use (although it could be so-rigged). Its advantage is being field rechargeable using virtually any common cell. Do that during the day and have maximum light each night. Pretty slick
Cheers,
Originally Posted By phat
I pretty much got the same way. All I ever have is camera and headlamp, so I used to have a tikka/tikka+ whatever I could get that took AAA batteries. I also had a nikon camera that took same. looked up all the amp hour ratings, etc. and decided the nikon with AAA's carried way more juice than a little propietary battery.. well, that's true, but the battery use on the camera sucked so much juice I ended up going through tons of batteries on the trail. Bleah!
Nowadays I just have two of the proprietary rechargables in my olympus SW camera, and two cr2032 coin cell in my e-light headlamp. I carry a spare couple of cr2032 because it's so light, and then if I fall asleep and leave the headlamp on while reading it's not the end of the world, but really, I've not managed to run out the cr2032 cells in the e-light in basically a month in the field. I end up putting a fresh battery in the elite at the start of the hiking season.
#127887 - 02/02/1006:05 PMRe: Headlamps and rechargable batteries?
[Re: thecook]
Trailrunner
member
Registered: 01/05/02
Posts: 1835
Loc: Los Angeles
If your light is direct drive (i.e. it has no boost/regulation circuitry between the cells and the bulb/LED) it will not be as bright on NiMH due to the fact that they produce a lower voltage than Lithium or Alkaline cells. That is, comparing fresh cells to fresh cells. It's another story when they reach the end of their discharge curve.
_________________________ If you only travel on sunny days you will never reach your destination.*
* May not apply at certain latitudes in Canada and elsewhere.
I did not put NiMh rechargables in my Princeton Tec as the web site did not list them as acceptable for my light. I did use them in an old Rayovac LED headlamp with no problems. Thanks again for the advice.
_________________________
If I wouldn't eat it at home, why would I want to eat it on the trail?
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