Which AA Rechargeable Batteries??

[muzikbiz22]

ozziworld is correct (above). They are recommended by Inon. Another "safe practice" that I employ is to let them "cool down" after a charge for an hour or 2, before putting them in a "sealed environment", i.e. strobe, light, etc.

 

[jghflash]

Was wondering if there were any U/W strobe, torch, equipment manufacturers that actually warn against the use of re-chargable batteries (any variety) for the same reason.

I used some NiMH AA batteries in two Ikelite PCa's a couple of years......they both exploded underwater. That was kind of exciting! Even though it was my screw up, I threw the lights away while on holiday, and I just asked the question to Ikelite if those batteries were not recommended......Ikeliye sent me two new PCa's with no other questions asked. they recommended alkalines and of course I have had no problems since. It looks like they have solved any worries with their new PC led lights since they recommend NiMH batteries for those.

I use Nimh batteries in my INON strobes all the time with no problems at all. of course these come out after every day of diving to be recharged so any potential gas build up is released. That might have worked on the PCa's as well but I didn't need to recharge them everyday.

 

[deeper thoughts]

I use Power EX and the MAHA Charger also. Never a problem

 

[drbill]

I recently received a new Stingray G2 housing and planned to take it out for a spin last weekend. I have six sets (of 4) of NiMH batteries that I've been using in my other housing monitor with little to no problems. However NONE of the six sets (old non-Eneloops Sanyos, 2300 and 2500 mah Lenmars) will power the new housing's monitor for more than a few minutes.

Last Tuesday I ordered a set of Maha PowerEX batteries (I already have a Maha MH-C204F charger), but they haven't arrived yet. Hopefully they will work so I can get in the water and use the housing!

 

[deeper thoughts]

Can eneloop be used in underwater light?
"Please do not use eneloop and SANYO Ni-MH batteries on underwater
light and sealed application. SANYO Ni-MH batteries contain a gas
release vent, which allows releasing hydrogen, when the battery is
misused. For normal usage, gas will not be released but hyper-electric
discharge or short circuit can cause inside of the batteries gas pressure
to rise and gas will automatically be released. This gas contains
Hydrogen and sealed devises cannot diffuse the gas. So if there is any
firing source like sparks, it might cause bursting or fire".

?? Are these safe? I just saw great prices on Amazon like previously mentioned.

 

[Charlie99]

Can eneloop be used in underwater light?
"Please do not use eneloop and SANYO Ni-MH batteries on underwater
light and sealed application. SANYO Ni-MH batteries contain a gas
release vent, which allows releasing hydrogen, when the battery is
misused.

To the best of my knowledge, ALL NiMH cells have this release vent. That's why I leave my AA cells sitting around a while after charging rather than popping them immediately into the light. I have used a variety of NiMH cells successfully in my 6 AA Ikelite PCa halogen light, while many others have reported internal overpressure problems with several different brands of NiMH.

Fast charging generates hydrogen, particularly towards the end of the charge cycle. Overcharging generates hydrogen. The cell can recombine some of the hydrogen, but only slowly. Overcharging at fast rate generates hydrogen faster than it can be recombine and the overpressure vent will open. This means that the cell now has a bit less electrolyte, and has lower capacity. This applies to all NiMH cells, not just eneloop.

 

[Larry C]

After suffering with regular NimH batteries that would die after going a few weeks without charging, I switched to the eneloops. I dive weekly, charge them the night before on a 15 minute charger with a built in cooling fan and they work fine in my YS-110's. Don't leave them in the strobe for storage because you'll get sulfate crust around your contacts from exposure to whatever salt water is on your hands, etc. I typically get 2-3 one hour dives (about 150 shots) on a charge, and they seem to last a couple of years.

My wife had rechargeables in a dive light that flooded, and I almost killed myself pulling it apart. The cap appeared to be frozen, so I chucked it in the vise wrapped in a towel and took a channelock pliers to the cap. It shot off like a bullet from a gun, taking all the threads with it. I've flooded my strobes a couple of times, though, without incident other than the green slime that came out upon opening and the need for vinegar and alcohol to clean the contacts and get the water out.

 

[jcclink]

I'm confused. If you charge batteries the day before diving, why does it make a difference if they die after a few weeks of non-use. I've been using PowerEx 2700 NiMH's with generally good luck. They are frequently charged & used on a trip, but after that they sit around until next time (in 2-4 months). I'm not concerned if they're dead in a few weeks. Buy new sets every 2 years. I get 400+ shots in my YS110's at 1/2 power.

 

[Puffer Fish]

Yea, it sure seems odd that people would worry about the charge life.. but there is another difference.

Inon recommends low discharge batteries for their small strobes because the battery has different internal resistance and they:

1. Don't get as hot when discharged.

2. Tend to be more uniform (meaning having one battery discharge faster (and therefore getting hotter).

With the standard high capacity batteries, every so often you will get one that has lower internal resistance and discharges over the other batteries.

Roughly guessing, I believe I've seen this happen around one out of every 200 dives (give or take 100 dives) using two YS110's.

The powerex, by the way, are one of the better batteries to not do this.

I have never seen it with the low discharge.

Ansmann has 2500's in the low discharge, so the lower capacity issues is not such a difference in capacity now.

Ansmann also have 2850's in their standard models, and much to my surprise, are the first batteries that have the capacity they state and all all almost identical (at least the 8 I have tested so far).

Low discharge seem to be more drop resistant also.

I'm confused. If you charge batteries the day before diving, why does it make a difference if they die after a few weeks of non-use. I've been using PowerEx 2700 NiMH's with generally good luck. They are frequently charged & used on a trip, but after that they sit around until next time (in 2-4 months). I'm not concerned if they're dead in a few weeks. Buy new sets every 2 years. I get 400+ shots in my YS110's at 1/2 power.

 

[jcclink]

I have experienced discharging over other batteries as you mentioned, but not often. PowerEx's don't like to be dropped on tile floors On my last long trip I tried Sanyo NiMH & seemed to have more problems than with PowerEx, so I went back to Maha. A pulse-load battery tester is very helpful in finding the bad cell in a set, such as the ZTS Mini Multi-Battery Tester.