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Philadin
02-27-2006, 01:11 PM
I've been told that to 2 best batteries to use for most any LED Saber are the Duracell Ultra or the Energizer e2.

Which one is better to use ? I've heard the e2 because it has an on-board battery checker to see if it's dead or not, and this is handy because you're supposed to change the batteries before they get too low and damage the electronics or something to that effect, I dunno.

All I know is that the Duracell Ultra's are less than half the cost of Energizer e2's. Any input would be welcome and I hope this is the right forum ...

james3
02-27-2006, 02:25 PM
I haven't used the E2's but the Ultras are alright. I am a firm believer in the mega packs that are sold at Sam's Club, BJ's and the like. 48 AA batteries for like $7 gives you a lot of bang for your buck.

bazuka
02-27-2006, 02:54 PM
I agree with james3. I've tried both with varying results. I prefer the E2 because I don't trust Duracell's quality. Honestly though, I now buy the 24 packs of standard Energizer batteries for these since rechargeables only put out 1.2v instead of 1.5, which would be better for me overall.

If you're going to go top shelf with the batteries, I'd take the E2 any day.

suit_man
02-27-2006, 03:37 PM
the e2 batteries are the best i have ever used in anything i try them in: remote controlled cars, gameboys, flashlights...the list goes on. they are great batteries.

i am a nerd, if you don't like it, i will cut you with my lightsaber

Do-Clo
02-27-2006, 10:30 PM
The best bang for the buck I have found is the Rayovac Maxium Plus, the price is good, about half that of Duracell and they out perform them.

Do-Clo
Don't make me destroy you...

LAN-ED-TUL
02-28-2006, 11:59 AM
ive always had good performance out of the duracells myself. but they a high in price. i will have to look into those E2's tho. and compare price and performance. i too, with all these battery operated things i have for the vader suit, buy the large 24+ size packs. shoot, right now in my setup, i have 5, 9 volt, 8 AA and 4 AAA in the led vader saber. alot of batteries. and i'll have to changem out every day when i go to the convention this year.

You dont know the POWER, of the dark side...

Philadin
02-28-2006, 12:17 PM
Hmm.

I wasn't expecting Rayovac to be brought into this, but I went out and bought a couple 8-packs of the e2's. They work as well as can be expected.

Thank you all for your time, and please, don't stop now [|)]

Madcow
02-28-2006, 12:27 PM
By far the best batteries I've used are heavy duty batteries... Most of the top brands make them (Duracell, Energizer, Panasonic), but I've only seen them available at professional outfitters like electronic supply stores etc. They are usually only available to corperations and such.

MC



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You want to go home and re-think your life

Scrap
02-28-2006, 01:02 PM
I slipped some Energizer E2s into my Luke ESB (previously using Rayovacs), and I only noticed a marginal improvement in blade spotting and sound loudness. But it is an improvement.

I also read somewhere that Heavy Duty batteries aren't good for use with sabers, since they are designed for low voltage draw and/or constant 24/7 draw (in devices such as smoke detectors, clocks, TV remote controls, etc). Can anyone confirm this?

Do-Clo
02-28-2006, 01:48 PM
I use the Rayovac batteries in my digital volt meter, sabers, flashlights and everything else battery powered. They will out last the Duracell in a digital camera by a big margin. The problem with batteries such as lithium cells is they are a higher voltage 1.7 volts compared to 1.5 volts for the regular cells. lithium cells will also have a higher current capacity and a higher current rating. When used in some devices the lithium cells can cause damage because of the large current surge when a device is powered up, most devices are just not designed for this. My wife uses lithium cells in her digital camera and they last a long time. I just changed the set I put in at Christmas the other day and she has taken about 400 pictures on one set of batteries.

Do-Clo
Don't make me destroy you...

xwingband
02-28-2006, 02:08 PM
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Do-Clo

I use the Rayovac batteries in my digital volt meter, sabers, flashlights and everything else battery powered. They will out last the Duracell in a digital camera by a big margin. The problem with batteries such as lithium cells is they are a higher voltage 1.7 volts compared to 1.5 volts for the regular cells. lithium cells will also have a higher current capacity and a higher current rating. When used in some devices the lithium cells can cause damage because of the large current surge when a device is powered up, most devices are just not designed for this. My wife uses lithium cells in her digital camera and they last a long time. I just changed the set I put in at Christmas the other day and she has taken about 400 pictures on one set of batteries.

Do-Clo
Don't make me destroy you...
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

I have heard this too, but the AA lithiums I have are rated at 1.5V. I HAVE heard that the Oxy-whatever batteries that do operate at 1.7V are bad for sabers like you said because of the extra kick they give at the start.

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james3
02-28-2006, 07:36 PM
I think MC is talking about the commercial grade alkalines as opposed to the classic heavy duty battery. Yes you are correct that they are for low draw, 24/7 use however I can't recommend them for smoke detectors. The "industrial" Duracells, Energizers and the like are exactly like the retail version the HUGE DIFFERENCE is that all alkaline batteries are charged and shipped out and they sit and sit and sit...and of course as you all know the older they get the less life they have regardless of use or not. The industrial ones are run in smaller numbers and dated closer so that you are getting batteries that maybe a month old instead of 6-8 months old. When I was a proud owner of a small alarm system company I got the sales pitch when I was shopping for batteries from a few places that's how I found all this out.

Madcow
02-28-2006, 09:57 PM
Yup,
That's what I meant.

MC



http://rpetkau.photosite.com/~photos/tn/88_348.ts1141004694072.jpg
You want to go home and re-think your life

Firebird21
04-07-2006, 02:31 PM
I have it on good authority (from the regional sales manager) that the cheapest place to buy Energizer batteries (in the New England area at least) is The Home Depot.


Just thought you’d want to know.

I’ll post up if I find out this changes.


Edit: BTW, I noticed a BIG diffirence when I switched from Energizer industrial batt's to the E2's.
The later would only last a couple of days, and I'm going on 3 weeks with the E2's AND it's brighter and louder.

Have you read your Thread Index (http://www.thecustomsabershop.com/sabers/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=577) today?
FAQ (http://www.thecustomsabershop.com/sabers/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=552)
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james3
04-07-2006, 08:26 PM
Meesa still happy with Sam's Club mega pack cheap-cheap.

"Only a Sith deals in absolutes. I will do what I must." - Obi-Wan Kenobi

Cern
04-17-2006, 07:55 AM
I just bought some NiMH rechargeables from Radio Shack with solder tabs already attached. I couldn't find a batter holder that would fit in my hilt, so I'm going to try and make my own...[:p]

Anyone else try something like this? I would appreciate any advice.

Do-Clo
04-17-2006, 08:13 AM
You can solder the tabs of the batteries together to make a battery pack just watch the polarity on the batteries as you connect them, and then use heat shrink tubing or a subsitute to hold the batteries together. You could have gotten a completed battery pack from Tim [:D]

Do-Clo
Don't make me destroy you...

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The Brotherhood of the Sith

Cern
04-17-2006, 02:34 PM
once again, if I had know how much of a b**** putting this thing together, I'd have bought the kit.

Now that he's going to have the Obi-Wan style emitter, definitely buying that for the next one.

xwingband
04-17-2006, 02:40 PM
If you are having trouble getting the batteries to stay and all that, I'd suggest electrical tape. That stuff will stretch! Wrap the cells vertically then wrap them horizontal. Then heatshrink.[:D]

I had to do that when I was having trouble fitting normal batteries so I made packs out of the 123 size lithiums.

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Melek Taus
05-23-2006, 08:40 PM
Nobody uses 3v lithium? They would save on tons of space and be lighter.

Melek

There is no light or dark...there is only the Force....knowing this...who dares to challenge me?

james3
05-23-2006, 08:56 PM
And cost a freakin fortune.

I have a surefire tac light and the damn thing eats batteries to the extreme. Great for the high brightness but 10 bucks every 15 min. would stink.

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xwingband
05-24-2006, 06:42 AM
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Melek Taus

Nobody uses 3v lithium? They would save on tons of space and be lighter.

Melek

There is no light or dark...there is only the Force....knowing this...who dares to challenge me?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

I use them on my plasma saber. I couldn't fit anything else I had into the space left. They are expensive and I had to make my own holder.

The only use I see in LEDs is if you only have 1" diameter to work with. Otherwise there is no benefit.

<center>Read the FAQ (http://www.thecustomsabershop.com/sabers/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=552) or x-wing won't be happy. :(
Before posting did you check the Thread Index (http://www.thecustomsabershop.com/sabers/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=577)?.

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james3
05-24-2006, 07:06 AM
That's a good point xwing but as long as I had room I would duct tape AA or AAA battery packs together if need be to stay away from those things. I go through 3-4 sets in my SLR camera a year and like I said with my Sure-Fire taclight that darn thing will burn up the batteries with just one good use of about 15 minutes.

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Melek Taus
05-24-2006, 10:18 PM
why don't they last as long?

I have access to lots of them....free....:O) Well...for me they are....LOL

Melek

There is no light or dark...there is only the Force....knowing this...who dares to challenge me?

LAN-ED-TUL
05-24-2006, 11:36 PM
maybe it is like the others, ya know 4 aa will last a bit longer than 4 aaa will type of thing.
manybe its because they are smaller and cant hold the charge as long because of thaty.
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Lan-Ed-Tul
The Brotherhood Of The Sith

You dont know the POWER, of the dark side...

GFORCE13
05-25-2006, 01:38 AM
I don't know but I am staying with the Costco(Kirkland Batteries) 4 AA Pack, 48AA's = $9.99 that means 12 Full Runs, I just don't think you can beat it. But I am seriously looking in to Rechargables for my next build the MHS Hilt.[:D]

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Tradeliphine
11-26-2008, 08:38 PM
You can solder the tabs of the batteries together to make a battery pack just watch the polarity on the batteries as you connect them, and then use heat shrink tubing or a subsitute to hold the batteries together. You could have gotten a completed battery pack from Tim [:D]

Do-Clo
Don't make me destroy you...

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The Brotherhood of the Sith

sorry for quoteing from so far back but if I want to do this, make my own packs, do i just solder between the pads with the same 24-26ga wire ive been using for switches and general hilt wiring?

I converted my first vintage graflex and am really unhappy with the space problems im having. lux v blue with 6 aa doesnt even fit really, so i tried a 4 aa pack and the difference of brightness was amazing, im pretty sure all batteries were fresh, so someone interrupt and correct me if they should be same brightness but less runtime for less batteries

I was thinking about having 4 aas in a square, then two above it with the buckpuck alongside.

eastern57
11-26-2008, 09:32 PM
Don't apologize - it shows you've been doing your homework ;)

If you're going to make your own battery pack, I recommend Li-Ions: two 14500s w/ PCB [Two 18650s fit side-by-side in some replicas but not vintage graflexes]. You can get more voltage out of two 14500s than 6AAa. There's a little more research to make those, but if you're willing to look this far back, then it won't be too bigadeal.

I use 22gauge wire when I make battery packs - it just makes me feel better that they're thicker.

Rechargeable AAs supply 1.2V per cell, so making a pack out of 4 of those will not give you enough - theoretically 6V shouldn't even be enough... but I guess it is :)

Tradeliphine
11-27-2008, 05:20 AM
Im using tenergy aas now so at 1.2v each ive essentially got a 7.2v pack, I have seen mention of the 14500s before... now i just have to find it again. I will read into that. I dont want to send my hilt to yoda, not because I dont like his work it looks amazing. I just breally like to do stuff myself and in doing so ... learn. I look at my graflex as my early days prototype, it was the second saber I got a blade and led on, but I want it to grow and evolve as I learn, adding sound, driver, crystal chamber, etc. But that all takes room, so I need to start with a sense of conservation of space.

edit to avoid double posting:

so i was browsing the battery store and found

http://www.batteryjunction.com/protected-14500-lithium.html

those seem like a heaven send for hilt space, but is $6 a piece typical or should I be looking elsewhere? I saw in another thread that a poster got some for $1.50 each, but am not sure of the brand/circumstances.

eastern57
11-27-2008, 11:44 AM
Im using tenergy aas now so at 1.2v each ive essentially got a 7.2v pack, I have seen mention of the 14500s before... now i just have to find it again. I will read into that. I dont want to send my hilt to yoda, not because I dont like his work it looks amazing. I just breally like to do stuff myself and in doing so ... learn. I look at my graflex as my early days prototype, it was the second saber I got a blade and led on, but I want it to grow and evolve as I learn, adding sound, driver, crystal chamber, etc. But that all takes room, so I need to start with a sense of conservation of space.


A man after my own heart - I like your attitude! ;)

14500s have a pretty standard price. What I suggest, is grab a side-by-side 2AA holder from radio shack and then get Tim's TrustFire 14500s + charger - I guarantee it will pay for itself after only a few recharge cycles.

Novastar
11-28-2008, 04:53 PM
Eastern makes a great point... it's funny--I made a thread on Li-Ions (and their benefits) just about a year ago. I also opened a poll on what battery type people felt were best for sabers.

It's good to see that more people are seeing the advantages of Li-Ion. Not that they are the end-all be-all... but they certainly pack a wild punch with voltage, and regarding energy density... well... you almost cannot beat them when comparing cells of 100% identical dimensions.

I will personally continue to recommend the 18650s Li-Ion cells for many reasons.

Donnovan Sunrider
11-28-2008, 05:04 PM
I've got Li-Ions on the way, and I'm looking forward to getting everything all together and lit up.

eastern57
11-28-2008, 06:09 PM
I will personally continue to recommend the 18650s Li-Ion cells for many reasons.

I use Li-Ions almost exclusively. The only reason I wouldn't is if I'm using an MR board, and I want 5-6V - everything else is either 18650s or 14500s.

Tradeliphine
11-29-2008, 08:18 PM
Ok two things really quick:

First, Battery Junction is having a sale on li-ions right now, about 30-50% off

Secondly, nova brings in the next size up, now according to my reading it is both the next size up in mah (2400 vs 900 I believe) and size (67mm I think vs 55mm?) So does this mean I would have to cut down springs in a battery holder? would they fit at all or do I just have to solder them together? Im not afraid to do that, just thinking of possibilities.


Hope I get my responses quick so I can order on that sale

ps (Tim is out of his and has been for a while, or else I would not mention another source here)

hmm it appears that the 18650s are 18mm in diameter? anyone? bueller? def too big for a holder or even side by side mount for two wouldnt it? but I could use one for a lux 3 stunt couldnt I? once I start adding driver/sound I would need the higher voltage to warrant two in a row?

Jay-gon Jinn
11-29-2008, 09:49 PM
18650's are indeed 18mm in diameter....they are also 65 mm in lentgh, and of course won't fit in a AA sized battery holder....you'll need to solder them together yourself.

Yes, you could use a single one for a Luxeon III led in a stunt...and yes, you'd need two for a soundboard like the cF or US 2.0.

Make sure you get protected cells or buy the protection circuit to go with them. You'll need it to ensure proper recharging and discharging.

Tradeliphine
11-30-2008, 06:13 AM
i got several weird looking round circuit boards in the grab bags which I later identified as pcbs, so even though I have them I would rather wait and use them down the road when I am more comfortable with that process, I have been looking at the protected ones atm.

Tradeliphine
12-14-2008, 04:48 PM
moved*