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Batteries...To recharge or not to recharge...That is the question!
- Thread starter TN Girl
- Start date
I use recharge-ables. If you get the latest ones, they hold a charge for a long time. I recharge mine as soon as one battery bar disappears.
Recharge. Buy good batteries, at least 2500 maH. I prefer the quick charger with a fan. Mine have paid for themselves 18 times over. That is an accurate number, I keep a battery log. Total cost of 8 batteries and charger, 40 bucks. Recharged them 34 times which is the equivalent of 28 sets of non rechargeables. 10 sets is equal to 40 bucks. That's 18 free sets of 8 batteries and they're still going. FYI, 18 free sets is $72.00. You have to dig a lot of clad to equal 72 bucks.
They last just a little less than non rechargeables and my 2500 functions the same with either type.
Chris
They last just a little less than non rechargeables and my 2500 functions the same with either type.
Chris
Uncle Willy
New member
Rechargeable is the only way to go. Watch for sales and you can pick up batteries and charger pretty cheap. I have two. One I only paid ten bucks for on sale complete with four batteries. Get the 2500's. They stay charged for a long time and can be recharged hundreds of times. Saves a fortune on batteries.
Bill
Bill
Uncle Willy
New member
What, no guts? HA. I run mine right down to the last spark.
Bill
Bill
I'm glad several of you suggested buying ones with at least 2500 mAh. Never having purchased rechargeables before, I'm not familiar with them, so that was a HUGE help!
I'm off to buy them later today. I want to have them when my 250 arrives next week.
Hope you all have a super-productive weekend!
I'm off to buy them later today. I want to have them when my 250 arrives next week.
Hope you all have a super-productive weekend!
grumpyolman
New member
If you get NiMH don't worry about charge cycling. They don't have the memory effect like NiCads do. Use em charge em. Use me Chage em...ANY battery that you totally drain to the last drop is going to be stressed and may prompt premature failure. Don't keep track of what you do. Like I said...Use em charge em and forget about it. The new NiMHs claim 80% of their capacity is retained after a year of shelf storage. Didn't use to be the case.
Don't scrimp on a charger. The better chargers analyze your batteries and give them the charge they need for optimum performance. The simple wall charger works but is not as kind to the batteries as a more electronically advanced charger...Jim
Don't scrimp on a charger. The better chargers analyze your batteries and give them the charge they need for optimum performance. The simple wall charger works but is not as kind to the batteries as a more electronically advanced charger...Jim
I had a battery charger and batteries that came with my GTI-2500, but did not like using them. The regular batteries last longer. I noticed after I tried using the rechargeable batteries, by detector seemed like it slowed down. what I mean is when you are swinging the detector coil back and forth or side to side, the cursor at the top seems to hang up for the longest time and the reaction time doesn't seem to be as fast as it used to be. I just assumed I was ignorant and there was nothing wrong with my unit. I did make sure and change the menu to rechargeable batteries when I used them. I let them charge all night, but they did not hold up at all.
As usual, I'm one of the oddballs around here.. 
I prefer the standard alkaline batteries vs the rechargables.
Why? Because you have a higher voltage. And, it's my opinion
that the machine works slightly better, and is slightly more stable
than with the lower voltage that you get from a set of rechargables.
With the alkalines, you get a full 1.5 volts per cell.
With the rechargables, you get 1.2 volts per cell.
The machine is designed to use the higher voltage.
This not to say it can't run ok on the lower voltage, it can, but
I still prefer to feed the machine the full designed voltage.
Like I say, I think the machine feels more stable and performs
better.
The Ace 250 uses four batteries. If you use alkalines, the
machine sees 6 volts. If you use rechargables, the machine
sees 4.8 volts. I usually change cells at about the 1/2 point
on the battery meter.
I get alkalines cheap at the local dollar store. So price is
not really an issue being I get many hours per set of cells.
I can get a whole set of cells for one dollar, but I usually go
for the two packs of "Eveready Gold" which I pay two bucks
per set of four cells. But they last quite a long time. Much longer
than the cheaper "standard" Eveready batteries.
I prefer the standard alkaline batteries vs the rechargables.
Why? Because you have a higher voltage. And, it's my opinion
that the machine works slightly better, and is slightly more stable
than with the lower voltage that you get from a set of rechargables.
With the alkalines, you get a full 1.5 volts per cell.
With the rechargables, you get 1.2 volts per cell.
The machine is designed to use the higher voltage.
This not to say it can't run ok on the lower voltage, it can, but
I still prefer to feed the machine the full designed voltage.
Like I say, I think the machine feels more stable and performs
better.
The Ace 250 uses four batteries. If you use alkalines, the
machine sees 6 volts. If you use rechargables, the machine
sees 4.8 volts. I usually change cells at about the 1/2 point
on the battery meter.
I get alkalines cheap at the local dollar store. So price is
not really an issue being I get many hours per set of cells.
I can get a whole set of cells for one dollar, but I usually go
for the two packs of "Eveready Gold" which I pay two bucks
per set of four cells. But they last quite a long time. Much longer
than the cheaper "standard" Eveready batteries.
NM5K said:As usual, I'm one of the oddballs around here..
I prefer the standard alkaline batteries vs the rechargables.
Why? Because you have a higher voltage. And, it's my opinion
that the machine works slightly better, and is slightly more stable
than with the lower voltage that you get from a set of rechargables.
With the alkalines, you get a full 1.5 volts per cell.
With the rechargables, you get 1.2 volts per cell.
The machine is designed to use the higher voltage.
This not to say it can't run ok on the lower voltage, it can, but
I still prefer to feed the machine the full designed voltage.
Like I say, I think the machine feels more stable and performs
better.
The Ace 250 uses four batteries. If you use alkalines, the
machine sees 6 volts. If you use rechargables, the machine
sees 4.8 volts. I usually change cells at about the 1/2 point
on the battery meter.
I get alkalines cheap at the local dollar store. So price is
not really an issue being I get many hours per set of cells.
I can get a whole set of cells for one dollar, but I usually go
for the two packs of "Eveready Gold" which I pay two bucks
per set of four cells. But they last quite a long time. Much longer
than the cheaper "standard" Eveready batteries.
No idea what cheap off brand you buy but all mine are 1.5 - 1.6 volts and run a lot better than standard batteries. Get yourself a La crosse BC-900 charger and any decent battery and it will automatically recharge to optimum level or discharge then recharge them. Heck it even restores old worn out rechargeable Nicd or NiMH. Displays voltage output and levels of battery capacity like 2500Mh
Better check again, or use a better meter. I've never seen a rechargeable AA battery
that was not rated at 1.2 volts per cell. You can't go by what the charger says as far as
voltage. That is the "float voltage" if the battery is recharged and the charger is still
maintaining a charge. That is not the voltage you will see from the battery after it's
been disconnected from the charger and allowed to sit for a while.
This applied to almost all types of batteries. As an example most car batteries are
rated at appx 12.8 volts or so when at rest and not on a charger.
But the "float voltage of the same battery will be appx 14.4 volts when the charger
is maintaining a charge on a fully charged battery. This does not mean it's a 14.4
volt battery. As soon as you disconnect the charger, the voltage will slowly taper off
to about 13.8 volts. With just a little use, the voltage will quickly drop down to about
the 12.8 volt range, plus or minus.
Or take six rechargeable AA cells rated at 1.2 volts per cell. When fully charged
and at rest, you should see appx 7.2 volts. But the float charge on the same set
will be about 8.4 volts. Like the car battery, that float voltage will quickly drop
back to appx 7.2 volts after the battery has sat for a while.
Here is a sample listing of rechargeable AA's..
http://www.thomasdistributing.com/shop/-nimh-rechargeable--aa-nimh-batteries-c-122_104_106.html
If you see any that are not listed at 1.2 volts per cell, I'd sure like to hear about it.
Or from any other battery site.
I'm not a newbie when it comes to rechargeable batteries. I've used them for
years in various items like ham radios, tools, etc.. Heck, I've built my own "smart"
chargers for rechargeable batteries. It's pretty simple really. But the method used
for the hydride batteries is a bit different than for ni-cads, which are starting to be
pretty much phased out. The ni-cads are much more prone to memory effects
than the NiMH cells.
BTW, I don't use any cheap off brand rechargeables AA's. But even if I did, they would
still be 1.2 volts per cell. They all are no matter what brand.
that was not rated at 1.2 volts per cell. You can't go by what the charger says as far as
voltage. That is the "float voltage" if the battery is recharged and the charger is still
maintaining a charge. That is not the voltage you will see from the battery after it's
been disconnected from the charger and allowed to sit for a while.
This applied to almost all types of batteries. As an example most car batteries are
rated at appx 12.8 volts or so when at rest and not on a charger.
But the "float voltage of the same battery will be appx 14.4 volts when the charger
is maintaining a charge on a fully charged battery. This does not mean it's a 14.4
volt battery. As soon as you disconnect the charger, the voltage will slowly taper off
to about 13.8 volts. With just a little use, the voltage will quickly drop down to about
the 12.8 volt range, plus or minus.
Or take six rechargeable AA cells rated at 1.2 volts per cell. When fully charged
and at rest, you should see appx 7.2 volts. But the float charge on the same set
will be about 8.4 volts. Like the car battery, that float voltage will quickly drop
back to appx 7.2 volts after the battery has sat for a while.
Here is a sample listing of rechargeable AA's..
http://www.thomasdistributing.com/shop/-nimh-rechargeable--aa-nimh-batteries-c-122_104_106.html
If you see any that are not listed at 1.2 volts per cell, I'd sure like to hear about it.
Or from any other battery site.
I'm not a newbie when it comes to rechargeable batteries. I've used them for
years in various items like ham radios, tools, etc.. Heck, I've built my own "smart"
chargers for rechargeable batteries. It's pretty simple really. But the method used
for the hydride batteries is a bit different than for ni-cads, which are starting to be
pretty much phased out. The ni-cads are much more prone to memory effects
than the NiMH cells.
BTW, I don't use any cheap off brand rechargeables AA's. But even if I did, they would
still be 1.2 volts per cell. They all are no matter what brand.
With the alkalines, you get a full 1.5 volts per cell.
With the rechargables, you get 1.2 volts per cell.
Yes, standard batteries when fresh will read around 1.63 on a VM. And rechargeable batteries will not charge up that full, at least my duracell charger will only charge them up to approx 1.45-1.47. BUT! after a hour or so standard batteries will drop to the level of a recharged batteries. So what is the advantage after you use standard batteries a hour or 2, none I would say. Doesn't matter to me what anyone else uses, but for me using rechargeable batteries are easier on the invironment and cost allot less.
With the rechargables, you get 1.2 volts per cell.
Yes, standard batteries when fresh will read around 1.63 on a VM. And rechargeable batteries will not charge up that full, at least my duracell charger will only charge them up to approx 1.45-1.47. BUT! after a hour or so standard batteries will drop to the level of a recharged batteries. So what is the advantage after you use standard batteries a hour or 2, none I would say. Doesn't matter to me what anyone else uses, but for me using rechargeable batteries are easier on the invironment and cost allot less.
That's why I change cells at about 1/2, vs letting then run on down.
The rechargeables have less of a slope when discharging. They hold pretty steady
until they are almost dead, and then pffttt... they was gone... "hee haw moment"..
Even with changing at 1/2 down, I still get lots of hours per set. Maybe 20 or so..
Depends how good the batteries are. My 250 seems to like those Eveready "gold"
cells I get. I also use the cheap alkalines in my pinpointer. I've never tried a rechargeable
9 volt cell in it. Those are rated at 7.2 volts vs the usual 9 volts.
I still finish out the 1/2 down batteries in other stuff like my pager, etc.
The rechargeables have less of a slope when discharging. They hold pretty steady
until they are almost dead, and then pffttt... they was gone... "hee haw moment"..
Even with changing at 1/2 down, I still get lots of hours per set. Maybe 20 or so..
Depends how good the batteries are. My 250 seems to like those Eveready "gold"
cells I get. I also use the cheap alkalines in my pinpointer. I've never tried a rechargeable
9 volt cell in it. Those are rated at 7.2 volts vs the usual 9 volts.
I still finish out the 1/2 down batteries in other stuff like my pager, etc.
I tried rechargeable batteries when I first started detecting several years ago. They weren't worth a hoot and were only about 1400 to 1700mnh. They would discharge just by being at rest in their plastic container. I never got over 3 or 4 hours use out of them either. Last year I found some Sony rechargeables that were rated at 285o mnh , I believe that's right. I don't have one here in front of me. They will always run 12 to 16 hours, recharge in about 30 minutes and are guaranteed to hold their charge for a year. I have my original set and they are still going strong! I use to to be an alkali fan but changed my mind recently. I always carry a fresh set of alkalies as a back up however, just in case . Onus