Silly question about battery prices

[ggunn]

I bring batteries from the States and give what I don't use to the dive shop when I leave.

 

[ReefHound]

Can you provide a link? Their site isn't wanting to divulge the secret to me. AA's in converters wouldn't last as long as 5,000mAH C's, but rechargination would be much less problematic. I still think I'll go with alkalines this trip if only because of time, but I could at least certainly use such adapters around the house.

Even if or when you go with the rechargeables, keep in mind that you should always use non-rechargeables in at least one backup light.

 

[herman]

Even if or when you go with the rechargeables, keep in mind that you should always use non-rechargeables in at least one backup light.

Why??

 

[DandyDon]

Originally Posted by ReefHound
Even if or when you go with the rechargeables, keep in mind that you should always use non-rechargeables in at least one backup light.

Why??

Longer shelf life. The rechargeable do discharge on their own, not as dependable as the alkalines.

If you had good quality rechargables in good shape with a recent charge in two lights, I think you'd be fine. Your buddy should have two lights as well, so worse case would be aborting the dive with the buddy, but that was his reasoning - I think.

 

[ReefHound]

Longer shelf life. The rechargeable do discharge on their own, not as dependable as the alkalines.

If you had good quality rechargables in good shape with a recent charge in two lights, I think you'd be fine. Your buddy should have two lights as well, so worse case would be aborting the dive with the buddy, but that was his reasoning - I think.

That's it. And because DIR says so.

If you diligently start each dive with freshly charged bats then OK. But human nature being what it is, you'll probably get tired of screwing with so many batteries so often and either cut corners or forget.

Here's why disposables are more reliable. Most people recharge/replace batteries as needed and check their lights... by turning them on. A disposable steadily drops off in output with the bulb getting dimmer and dimmer. You'll notice this long before the light becomes useless. Rechargeables hold their output pretty well until sharply dropping off at the end. You can't easily estimate how much life is left and get little warning.

Also, rechargeables can lose their storage capacity after awhile, despite all the "memory-free" claims. It's hard to know how long a freshly charged rechargeable will last. The life of quality disposables are pretty consistent, though.