Seth wrote: > > I am a big fan of advanced batteries, but I am yet to see a mature NiMH > battery pack that weighs more than a few pounds. Or a cell that weighs > more than a few ounces. I can't count how many failed when I was at my > last job, between thermal or depth of discharge failures. And I am not > sure that even the small mass produced celly are truly reliable yet. > Anyone who has owned a NiMH powered laptop or drill or radio controlled > car/boat/plane knows this. Laptops have moved on to Lithium Ion and many > drills have stepped back to NiCd. Like Makita for example.
I don't use my nickel hydride AA batteries much anymore (I assume these are really NiMH, but the battery says nickel hydride). I'm much happier with the rechargeable alkaline cells that I have been using, and having them last for several years. Don't deeply discharge the alkalines, keep 'em cycled up, the charger (Rayovac) isn't very expensive ($10-20 depending on model), and the alkalines finish charging quickly and stay cool, in contrast to the nickel hydride cells, which may or may not finish charging (turn the light out) after hours have passed, and get almost too hot to put my fingers on them in the charger.
