The Official Long Term Rechargeable Battery Test

Hello Fellow Boomers,

I am starting a long term test of rechargeable D cell batteries. The test will be conducted until a conclusion is reached to show long term strength, reliability, over all power consumption and quality.

The batteries I have chosen to use are standard off the shelf “Energizer brand” size D cell 2500 mAh (milliampere-hour) NiMH (nickel-metal hydride). They are good for 1000 recharges and do not need to be drained before recharging as they have no memory. I paid a little over $11.00 (US) for a two pack. That equals $44.00 (US). These batteries are easily half the weight of standard use Lead Acid D cell batteries.



I will be using a ten year old Radio Shack battery charger model number 23-334 Universal Ni-Cd / Ni-MH 14-18 hour charger. It charges 4 batteries at a time, meaning it will take up to 36 hours to recharge the 8 batteries I have. I don’t remember what I paid for this charger originally but they are selling a very similar unit for $32.99 (US) at radioshack.comHERE




As a side note the charger I have will also charge AAA, AA, C, D and 9V Ni-Cd / Ni-MH batteries.

By no means would I consider the batteries I am using as “High Performance” as you can now buy 10,000 mAh D cells, details HERE

The charger I am using is certainly not “High Performance” either as some of the new charging systems of today are computer controlled, smart devises that monitor the health and strength of the batteries. Prices vary, click the link below for more details: HERE

I will be using these batteries in a variety of Boom Boxes including a Lasonic TRC-920, Realistic SCR-8, Montgomery Wards Airline and Panasonic Ambience FM45 among others. I already know that the Lasonic is the most power hungry and the much smaller (and newer) Panasonic will probably be the least power hungry. They all use D cells so this should be an easy test.

I plan on mostly using the cassette players (mostly because FM radio sucks!) and because it will be the most taxing (and because FM radio sucks!).

My real goal here is to show in one way or another whether is it worth the significant price difference between standard use lead acid batteries and these rechargeable batteries.

All thoughts, suggestions, idea’s and experiences are welcome. So please feel free to chime in!

A very good friend of mine mentioned that I should throw a party, and not stop till the batteries die! It will either be the longest party every, or the shortest. I’ll let you know how that goes!

LET THE TEST & THE PARTY BEGIN!

Does anyone make a rechargeable lithium version? Thats all I use in my RC electric planes and equipment.

I have always wondered which is better

at carboots here, people sell all different types of battery's - i don't really buy them unless it's for a game that needs one of the square one's

as some are the real thing and some look like chiwanesse copy's and t=you never know how long they will last or kill your machine

back in the day - you bought loads of D's and spent a fourtune on them

so are you wasting money buying them from the carboot cheap ! - from the shop where the price is high ! - or rechargeable one's that have a bigger buy price, but can be used for long term again and again.

quick question ? what the price of the electric being used to charge them for 36 hours ?

have you worked out what it will cost to used standard D' (i know this can only be done after finding out how long the recharge's will go for )

cheers B

quote:

Originally posted by Alvinm:
Does anyone make a rechargeable lithium version? Thats all I use in my RC electric planes and equipment.

That is a good question and I did a quick search HERE



Li Ion batteries appear to be 3.7V where as D cell's, lead acid or NiMH are 1.5V. My larger stereo's are using 8 batteries which equils 12V.

In order to get the power you need out of Li Ion 3.7V batteries you'd need 3.24 batteries, so the math / power does not work out.

So right off the bat, I'd say you no.

But I could be wrong. Check out that link above and see what you can find.

quote:

Originally posted by BENDYCAT:
I have always wondered which is better

at carboots here, people sell all different types of battery's - i don't really buy them unless it's for a game that needs one of the square one's

as some are the real thing and some look like chiwanesse copy's and t=you never know how long they will last or kill your machine

back in the day - you bought loads of D's and spent a fourtune on them

so are you wasting money buying them from the carboot cheap ! - from the shop where the price is high ! - or rechargeable one's that have a bigger buy price, but can be used for long term again and again.

quick question ? what the price of the electric being used to charge them for 36 hours ?

have you worked out what it will cost to used standard D' (i know this can only be done after finding out how long the recharge's will go for )

cheers B

I feel the same way, I won't buy batteries from a swap meet or some little shop that has had them sitting on the shelf since my radio was new!

As for the power consumption of the charger, I really have no way of personally testing that. But I found an article about Chevrolet's new electric car, The Volt HERE

In the article it says:

"First, the Chevy Volt battery pack is specified to be able to store 16 KWH of power.

Second, according to my electric bill, I pay 10.77 cents per KWH for electric supply plus 5.8 cents per KWH for electric delivery. This totals to 16.5 cents per KWH.

Next, to fully charge the Volt’s 16 KWH battery, I will have to supply it with 16 KWH of energy. This will cost me 16.5 cents X 16 KWH = $2.64.

Thus, it will cost me $2.64 to fully charge the Volt’s battery, that energy will allow the car to travel 40 miles.

So in conclusion, it will cost me $2.64 to travel 40 miles, which is roughly the cost of a gallon of gas, in a car that gets 40 mpg."

SO, I'm thinking to charge my 8 D cell Ni MH batteries is so cheap, maybe $0.01 per charge, that it's not even noticeable on my bill. I'm sure running my computer to post this reply cost's more than it does to run the charger.

Again, I have no real way of testing this, so this is just my opinion.

If anyone has more information, please post!

quote:

Originally posted by Lasonic TRC-920:

quote:

Originally posted by Alvinm:
Does anyone make a rechargeable lithium version? Thats all I use in my RC electric planes and equipment.

That is a good question and I did a quick search HERE



Li Ion batteries appear to be 3.7V where as D cell's, lead acid or NiMH are 1.5V. My larger stereo's are using 8 batteries which equils 12V.

In order to get the power you need out of Li Ion 3.7V batteries you'd need 3.24 batteries, so the math / power does not work out.

So right off the bat, I'd say you no.

But I could be wrong. Check out that link above and see what you can find.

If they make 1.5 AA's and the 9V square batteries in lithium, I'm sure someone makes a D size.

Very interesting results-thanks for doing a test of batteries.

By the way, I often like to use Energizer batteries in my boomboxes and othertimes Duracell brand batteries.

quote:

Originally posted by Alvinm:

quote:

Originally posted by Lasonic TRC-920:

quote:

Originally posted by Alvinm:
Does anyone make a rechargeable lithium version? Thats all I use in my RC electric planes and equipment.

That is a good question and I did a quick search HERE



Li Ion batteries appear to be 3.7V where as D cell's, lead acid or NiMH are 1.5V. My larger stereo's are using 8 batteries which equils 12V.

In order to get the power you need out of Li Ion 3.7V batteries you'd need 3.24 batteries, so the math / power does not work out.

So right off the bat, I'd say you no.

But I could be wrong. Check out that link above and see what you can find.

If they make 1.5 AA's and the 9V square batteries in lithium, I'm sure someone makes a D size.

Yeah, I'm sure there is something out there.

I am using these batteries because I already owned 4 I was using in a flash light. Plus I've owned the charger for 10 years. It helped set the cost off. But I still have $80-$90 (US) invested!

quote:

Originally posted by A.A. Fussy:
Very interesting results-thanks for doing a test of batteries.

By the way, I often like to use Energizer batteries in my boomboxes and othertimes Duracell brand batteries.

I've used allot of brands over the years and there is no doubt in my mind, these two are the best!

B-A-T-T-E-R-Y U-P-D-A-T-E

Since my first post at 2:00 am October 1st:

I am still charging the batteries. The charger says 18 hour charging, so I am intentionally charging the batteries in groups of 4 for 18 hours each. My charger does not have a gauge on it, so I have no way of knowing if they are fully charged or not. I am now 6.5 hours into charging the second set of 4!

MEANING, I have yet to put the batteries in the stereo!

Thanksfully, we have a power plug!

MORE TO COME!

does your charger have a little led charging indicator on it somewhere ?

also --since you are now on a big, valuable project -
it would help if you bought a small multimeter
to check the voltage on your batteries,

harbor freight sells them for less than $10
--well worth it

quote:

Originally posted by redbenjoe:
does your charger have a little led charging indicator on it somewhere ?

also --since you are now on a big, valuable project -
it would help if you bought a small multimeter
to check the voltage on your batteries,

harbor freight sells them for less than $10
--well worth it

Yes, the charger does have a red LED, but I'm not sure if they do anything other than show you that there is contact and the system is charging. The light does not seem to go off even after the batteries have been on for a while (18 hours +)

quote:

Originally posted by redbenjoe:
does your charger have a little led charging indicator on it somewhere?

This past weekend I left the batteries on the charger to see if the LED lights would go out upon charging “Completion”. Strangely, one bank with 2 batteries in it had the LED light go out and the other did not. I moved the batteries around to see if it was a connection issue, but nothing.

So, I don’t know what that means.

The next step, ON TO THE PARTY!

Lets make some noise people!

OK, I’ve been using the radio in various situations, always with cassette playing. Below is one charge of the batteries.

Earlier in the week I was playing video games with a friend not actually blasting, but playing at a normal listening level. 3 hours

Kicking around the house, getting ready to go out. 1 hour

Casual listening around the house. 1 hour

Drinking beer before band rehearsal and actually cranking it up. 2 hours

They finally died after a good blasting.

So, it looks like around 7 hours per charge.

Last night, got home, threw 4 batteries on the charger around 10:00pm. Today I have to go out for most of the day and plan on leaving at 10:00am. Before I leave I will cycle the other 4 through the charger, so when I come home tonight, I will have fresh batteries, ready to go. This will mean I have charged them 12 hours per set. We’ll see if that makes a difference on play back time. Last time I charged them for 18 hours each set.

Really, part of my test is to see if the charge time is acceptable or if it’s just annoying to have to wait to have them charged. So far, if it’s scheduled right, it may not be a big deal. Hence the reason I put them in the charger right when I got through the door last night.

In all my years of playing with boom boxes either back in the day or playing with them now, my mind set has always been, blast on batteries when your out, plug in when you can. The cost of batteries is still a weight on my shoulders and preserving them is very important. But since I started this test, the feeling of freedom is great.

So what, I’m killing the batteries and there is a plug right there, sure I could pull the battery cover off! BUT WHY! So far….I like it!

SIDE NOTE: As mentioned before, I was kind of worried that recharge time would be in the way of use time. But, without having to think about it and without any time to do any "Blasting", I charged the batteries, starting as soon as I got home the other night, they are charged and back in the stereo and I'm ready for the next 7 hour party! OH YAAA

October 27th

Still using my rechargeable batteries and am now getting into a routine.

Basically it looks like the rechargeable batteries will last between 5-7 hours depending on how I use my radio. I have been taking it every Wednesday and Saturday to band rehearsal. On Wednesday’s the band hangs out for about an hour or so, B.S.’n and having a few beers. During that time, I usually have some music going. Medium volume, not too loud, but not a whisper either. Then we jam for a few hours and then take a break for 30-40 minutes, where I play some more music, always playing cassettes. I have 3 large cassette cases I bring with me, so we have plenty to choose from. We will then jam again and then hang at the end of the night with some more music going, maybe totaling 2-2 ½ hours of play time.

Later in the week, I tend to use my Blaster while working on my car or around the house, cleaning or what not, maybe another 2-2 ½ hours of listening.

Knowing I will be using the Blaster again on Saturday, I just routinely pull the batteries out and throw 4 on the charger for a day, then the other 4. It has sort of become normal to do. Since these batteries have no memory, I can charge them at any time, meaning I don’t have to kill the batteries before recharging them.

So Far, it’s working great!

I would say, worth the investment…