Topic: Rechargeable high voltage 1.6V 2500mWh AA nickel-zinc technology

[Falconidave]

I just received my charger and set of 4 AA's.  They charged up in about an hour(supposed to have affinity for rapid charging).  I tried them in my Canon A630 first, powered up and worked fine.  I've now got them in my Sony PCM-D50 and on a recording test using internals with light and LEDs on.  Will post back with results.  There is only one review on the RitzCamera site and it's negative.  I don't let that shit scare me...much

Has anyone else given these a closer look?



http://www.ritzcamera.com/product/141660936.htm

[Falconidave]

Just got home from work and checked the D50.  18.63 hours recorded at 16/44.1 on 16Gb card and battery meter still showing full.  Display light on and all LEDs turned on for the test.  Don't have time to let it continue.  Gotta get ready for a show after work tomorrow, so gonna recharge them and get packed...

I love them so far...

[cybergaloot]

I don't know about the D50 but some devices with battery meters need to know what type of battery is in the unit, all the ones I've seen its alkaline vs. NiMh. The main reason it wants to know which type is to know how to measure it. I know the manuals for some devices say to not use anything but alkaline or Ni-Cd (no lithium for example). What I don't know is how important all that is but your meter could be inaccurate. Still, 18 plus hours! Wow! Lets us know how they work out in the long run.

[Falconidave]

Before I put them back in the charger I checked each one in a DigiCam EC-741 Universal Battery Tester and 2 of the four registered between 80-100% charge, and 2 of them showed 60-80% charge remaining.  So, you're probably right about the D50's meters being inaccurate.  But 18+ hours with the lights on is great.  I'll keep this thread updated on how they do in the field.

[Gutbucket]

Great runtime.

The meters will not be accurate unless there is a setting for this battery type on the recorder. But with that much time you may never need to rely on the battery indicator anyway.

Alkaline batteries are 1.5v nominal, NiMH are 1.2v, these are 1.6v. In addition, each battery chemistry has different voltage discharge curves.  Generally, standard cells taper off more evenly and more advanced types keep the voltage up for longer, but then voltage drops off rapidly.

Not sure how the Sony's batteries are wired, but either 2 or all 4 cells are in series, multiplying the voltage of each cell.  That means when using NiMH batteries the recorder 'sees' either 2.4 or 4.8v, with alkaline cells it 'sees' 3 or 6v, and with these batteries the recorder 'sees' either 3.2 or 6.4v.

[Falconidave]

Update:  Just had a random "replace battery" message, and shutdown in the D50 after recording for 5 minutes.  Fortunately it was just a speaker in a meeting.  The batteries were freshly charged and even showed full before starting, and even when I turned the deck off and back on again.  The 5 minute file was intact, but obviously missed what I was there for.  Not sure I can trust them for a live concert from now on.   Anybody else got these and having any issues?  Gonna test them in my 09HR for awhile and see how that goes.

[gmm6797]

I have been running nmh rechargeables in my portable gear for some 5-6 years now with no worries, I did have one random show where the re-charge from the night before was not 100%, and that sucked, but it was a  "1 off" opps

[Falconidave]

I have been running nmh rechargeables in my portable gear for some 5-6 years now with no worries, I did have one random show where the re-charge from the night before was not 100%, and that sucked, but it was a  "1 off" opps

This thread was started to discuss the new rechargeable Nickel-Zinc batteries.  Different animal than the NiMH rechargeable battery.  I too have use NiMH for years w/o any issues...

[gmm6797]

woops, sorry for the mis-read

[Falconidave]

No problema...

[spcyrfc]

Update:  Just had a random "replace battery" message, and shutdown in the D50 after recording for 5 minutes.  Fortunately it was just a speaker in a meeting.  The batteries were freshly charged and even showed full before starting, and even when I turned the deck off and back on again.  The 5 minute file was intact, but obviously missed what I was there for.  Not sure I can trust them for a live concert from now on.   Anybody else got these and having any issues?  Gonna test them in my 09HR for awhile and see how that goes.

bizarre.  these batteries sounded promising at first, but with the above... let use know how it goes.

what sort of charger are you using? and how did you charge them?

 if i could get 18+ hrs on a single charge, that would be great.  i mean 12 aint bad, but 18, maybe 24 - wow. 

[Falconidave]

Update:  Just had a random "replace battery" message, and shutdown in the D50 after recording for 5 minutes.  Fortunately it was just a speaker in a meeting.  The batteries were freshly charged and even showed full before starting, and even when I turned the deck off and back on again.  The 5 minute file was intact, but obviously missed what I was there for.  Not sure I can trust them for a live concert from now on.   Anybody else got these and having any issues?  Gonna test them in my 09HR for awhile and see how that goes.

bizarre.  these batteries sounded promising at first, but with the above... let use know how it goes.

what sort of charger are you using? and how did you charge them?

 if i could get 18+ hrs on a single charge, that would be great.  i mean 12 aint bad, but 18, maybe 24 - wow. 

I used the charger that they sell with it that supposedly is the only one capable of giving them the proper, and full charge.  It charges them in less than an hour.  Which is supposedly what they prefer.  I think it may just be more of a compatibility issue with the Sony PCM D50.  I'm going to do some testing in my R-09HR and see if they work better.

[Falconidave]

For what it's worth, I'm testing out these batteries in my new Sony PCM-M10, right along side of the Edirol R09HR.  I started the test last night and when I left for work this morning, they were both still going strong(10+ hours), with batt setting in both set to "alkaline". Will report back when test finished.

Edit:

Got 17 hours 43 minutes with the Sony PCM-M10 and these batteries in "alkaline" setting.  Will do more tests and post results.  Additionally, file saved perfectly even with low battery shut-down.

[gmm6797]

nice work... all of the reviews of the M10 state exceptional battery run times!

[Falconidave]

My Edirol R09HR does NOT seem to like these batteries.  It consistently shuts down after about 4 hours w/o losing the file.  Doesn't matter if the battery setting is "alkaline" or "NiMh".  Definitely a strange occurrence.