Best Batteries

I tried out the Energizer Ultimate Lithium batteries and the Duracell Ultra Advanced batteries, and the Duracell batteries made the laser pointer shine much brighter.

Thanks for the help!

Mik said:

Energizer lithiums in my PGL-III-A 532 reduce the output! I tested it with fresh Enerigzer primaries (all I had on hand that were new) and got 80mW. Tested a little while later with Ultimate lithiums. It went up to 74 then started rolling down to 68-69. With the standard Energizer alkalines it's slowly ramped up to 80 and held there stable.

So anyway, some lasers will benefit from lithium primaries, and some will lose output. I have no idea why.

Click to expand...

My 40mw Evo Pro produces less power with the energizer lithiums.It likes regular alkalines much more.I guess the driver lowers the drive with the higher voltage.

The energizers work great in my other high current applications.

I use what I can get inexpensively.I get 4 rayovac AA batteries for 1.25, it used to be 1.00.The duracell ultras are excellent, but not excellent enough to justify their much higher cost.
I use lithiums in my GPS because of their temperature tolerance, and I would use them in my 2 meter portable if I was going hiking for temp tolerance and the lighter weight.Otherwise the rayovacs are way cheaper for casual use.

cistercian said:

My 40mw Evo Pro produces less power with the energizer lithiums.It likes regular alkalines much more.I guess the driver lowers the drive with the higher voltage.

The energizers work great in my other high current applications.

I use what I can get inexpensively.I get 4 rayovac AA batteries for 1.25, it used to be 1.00.The duracell ultras are excellent, but not excellent enough to justify their much higher cost.
I use lithiums in my GPS because of their temperature tolerance, and I would use them in my 2 meter portable if I was going hiking for temp tolerance and the lighter weight.Otherwise the rayovacs are way cheaper for casual use.

Click to expand...

Yep makes sense. The issue that I saw with some of the AAA's is how they perform when you put a heavy load on them, like some of our lasers do. Mine is a pig, drawing 590mA from 2xAAA. On my charger .6A made quite a few other AAA's crap out early, while the Ultras were able to handle the load and outlast all the others by a fair margin. They are expensive, but in strictly AAA high load lasers, I think they are worth going with. Anything else, probably not worth the extra $.

Mik said:

Yep makes sense. The issue that I saw with some of the AAA's is how they perform when you put a heavy load on them, like some of our lasers do. Mine is a pig, drawing 590mA from 2xAAA. On my charger .6A made quite a few other AAA's crap out early, while the Ultras were able to handle the load and outlast all the others by a fair margin. They are expensive, but in strictly AAA high load lasers, I think they are worth going with. Anything else, probably not worth the extra $.

Click to expand...

I totally agree.I should say one of the reasons I bought the Evo Pro was the AA power supply.500ma draw from AAA is an epic fail.When I had AAA powered greens, it was duracell ultra all the way.

This is slightly off topic, yet pertinent.I wish someone would build moderate power greens with D cell power.Say 40mw to 100mw.It would be chunky but heatsinking would be excellent as well as stability due to power sag.Asking for more than half an amp from AAA cells is just insane.AA is a good minimum, and C cells would be better.This applies especially to hobbyist users who run higher duty cycles than a "pointer" user would.

cistercian said:

I totally agree.I should say one of the reasons I bought the Evo Pro was the AA power supply.500ma draw from AAA is an epic fail.When I had AAA powered greens, it was duracell ultra all the way.

This is slightly off topic, yet pertinent.I wish someone would build moderate power greens with D cell power.Say 40mw to 100mw.It would be chunky but heatsinking would be excellent as well as stability due to power sag.Asking for more than half an amp from AAA cells is just insane.AA is a good minimum, and C cells would be better.This applies especially to hobbyist users who run higher duty cycles than a "pointer" user would.

Click to expand...

They do make high power ones with C cells. Viasho and CNI are both in that market with the RPL and PGL style lasers, available with 2x C cells. I'm sure that some of the Viasho & CNI knock-offs of that style can be had with C batteries as well. I don't know about getting them as low as 40-100mW. In that range, 18650 would run forever, or even smaller RCR123A would get you by in most cases.

18650 Li-Ion is the reason we don't see many C/D lasers. 18650 is just plain better. Smaller, lighter, lots of powaaaa!!

Mik said:

They do make them with C cells. Viasho and CNI are both in that market with the RPL and PGL style lasers, available with 2x C cells. I'm sure that some of the Viasho & CNI knock-offs of that style can be had with C batteries as well.

The better option is 18650 Li-Ion. Smaller, lighter and very powerful. I would never buy a C powered anything if it were also available with 18650 power. I think this is why the C powered lasers are not all that common.. everyone buys the 18650 version

Click to expand...

I have seen those.I would like to see them with D cells!I personally prefer ubiquitous primary cells for easy local supply.The lithiums are the ultimate for energy density, so for many uses are an excellent choice.It sure is cheaper to try different flavors of primary cells that are not lithiums!
I don't want to fool around with charging either.But that is just my preference.
BTW I saw your current draw test thread...good work.The results correlated completely with my experience.And since you did not test them, the high end rayovacs are behind the energizer alkalines, which are behind the duracell ultras.They would fail fast in your 590ma application in AAA.

I should add my preference for primary cells stems from the fact that I want simplicity for stocking the battery drawer.I stock D,C,AA, and AAA.They are for lasers,radios and flashlights.I wish I had nothing powered by C cells but....oh well!
The Energizer lithiums are the ultimate emergency power source.10 year shelf life, extreme temp performance, excellent energy density and light weight.They are great for LED flashlights in the dash of a car or emergency radio work.
My digital cameras use rechargeable lithiums, and I find them a PITA.They have a fairly poor self discharge rate, so I typically have to charge them before use.That shortcoming alone makes me avoid lithium ion power sources.In an infrequently used device, I want it to not need charging every 30 days.
For others,Li-ion is a great choice.I do not care for them.

Energizer Lithiums for PRIMARIES
Sanyo Eneloops for re-chargeables
'nuff said
rob

phoenix77 said:

Energizer Lithiums for PRIMARIES
Sanyo Eneloops for re-chargeables
'nuff said
rob

Click to expand...

NiMH are really good now.My usage is low enough to not need them.But if I ran amok with the AA powered stuff, they would be a good choice....if the lower voltage is not a problem for the application.

Both of my lasers are brighter on eneloops than on "bulletline" brand "superheavy duty" cells. I have a green pen and blu-ray pen.

I haven't tried e2 lithiums, but I imagine they're way better than the "bulletline" brand primaries that I have access to...

cistercian said:

My digital cameras use rechargeable lithiums, and I find them a PITA.They have a fairly poor self discharge rate, so I typically have to charge them before use.That shortcoming alone makes me avoid lithium ion power sources.In an infrequently used device, I want it to not need charging every 30 days.
For others,Li-ion is a great choice.I do not care for them.

Click to expand...

You should try some quality #18650 lithium-ion batteries.

Mine last 6 months with >90% capacity.

Larry

I use duracell 800 mah rechargable batteries, to be kind of efficient

I gotta say, although 18650 aren't exactly LSD cells, they have so much capacity you wouldn't notice that much realistically. I had some cells charged to 4.11V about 2 months ago, and they're all still above 4V still. They are old cells from disposed laptop packs of varying age, not some fresh new 18650s.