Lithium AA batteries?

Yes, you can. Ironically, one of the best known brands is Energizer. :)

But you do realise that while they are high power, long life (and typically quite expensive) they are not rechargeable. Lithium and Lithium Ion are not at all the same technology. I've certainly never seen Li-Ion in AAs, but they could exist.
 
I think Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) AAs are available, upto around 2500 mAH. Rechargeable too, they should last longer than normal alkaline AAs.
 
daz said:
I think Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) AAs are available, up to around 2500 mAH. Rechargeable too, they should last longer than normal alkaline AAs.
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Yup, they are. I saw some Sanyo-branded 2500mAh NiMHs at a well known store recently, £1.99 per pack of 4. I bought several packs. I went back a few days later for some more, they were £5.49 per pack of four .... but a different brand.
 
I already use 2500mah ni-mh batteries but the crap camera my dad has drains them fast. I suppose if the lithium batteries arent rechargable there isnt any point in buying them.
 
why not just buy new Nimh batteries, they are now at a point where they last longer than duracell batteries well the 2800mah ones anyway.

The disposable lithium energiser batteries are very expensive.
 
Sequoia said:
Yup, they are. I saw some Sanyo-branded 2500mAh NiMHs at a well known store recently, £1.99 per pack of 4. I bought several packs. I went back a few days later for some more, they were £5.49 per pack of four .... but a different brand.
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If anyone's interested, Argos are doing Duracell rechargeable AAs on offer atm. 1800s - £3.99 for four, 2500s - £5.99 for four. Very handy for bicycle lights at this time of year.
 
Mohinder said:
I've never seen LiPo AAs before, I'm not sure they exist. Saitrix will no doubt know though if he sees this thread.
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Well your correct there. ;)

You cannot get Lithium-Ion and Lithium Polymer in the cylinder shaped cells (rechargeable state anyways). Li-Ions come in a hard plastic casing thats rectanguler in shape. Whereas Li-Po's have a foil style casing that is squashable. For the recoprd they are 3.4v per cell.

Mundu,

I use some Vapextech cells in my nitro plane, they are very good for the price and the packs are well built.

The cheapest place i know of is www.maxamps.com for 2300mAh loose AA cells at $2 per cell.
 
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The big advantage of LiIon over NiMH and NiCad is the total lack of any memory effect when recharging. This is obviously important in devices with custom batteries, like phones and PDAs as it can be expensive to replace the battery, but is less of a problem with standard sizes like AA because when the memory effect renders it useless you just buy some more.

AIUI, LiPoly has the advantage that it can be contorted into far more peculiar shapes than can LiIon, which has made it very popular for mobiles and BT headsets.
 
Vertigo1 said:
The big advantage of LiIon over NiMH and NiCad is the total lack of any memory effect when recharging. This is obviously important in devices with custom batteries, like phones and PDAs as it can be expensive to replace the battery, but is less of a problem with standard sizes like AA because when the memory effect renders it useless you just buy some more.

AIUI, LiPoly has the advantage that it can be contorted into far more peculiar shapes than can LiIon, which has made it very popular for mobiles and BT headsets.
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NiMH also has no memory, its only NiCd that has the problem with memory.

Also Lipo's can take a much higher discharge rate then Li-Ions so for certain things that have large peak currects they can handle it. This made them perfect for rc planes, hense why they are used so much in the hobby. One advantage now is that the latest lipo's can be charged at 2C.
 
saitrix said:
NiMH also has no memory, its only NiCd that has the problem with memory.

Also Lipo's can take a much higher discharge rate then Li-Ions so for certain things that have large peak currects they can handle it. This made them perfect for rc planes, hense why they are used so much in the hobby. One advantage now is that the latest lipo's can be charged at 2C.
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I may be wrong but i was always told that cells themselves dont really suffer with memory effect. Its normally packs of cells getting out of balance that causes loss of capacity(memory) unless they are ageing or have been charged quicker than they should. Li(both types) cells are around 3.6v which would take 3 NiMh or NiCd cells to make the same voltage and can get out of balance pretty easily with fast charging(even more so as the amount of cells in a pack increases). A guy at my work flies model a/c at shows and he still swears by NiCd Sanyo red cells and recons most pro fliers still do due to the current draw they can sustain with modern brushless motors. Although their packs are very carefully matched and charged.
 
Dandle said:
I may be wrong but i was always told that cells themselves dont really suffer with memory effect. Its normally packs of cells getting out of balance that causes loss of capacity(memory) unless they are ageing or have been charged quicker than they should. Li(both types) cells are around 3.6v which would take 3 NiMh or NiCd cells to make the same voltage and can get out of balance pretty easily with fast charging(even more so as the amount of cells in a pack increases). A guy at my work flies model a/c at shows and he still swears by NiCd Sanyo red cells and recons most pro fliers still do due to the current draw they can sustain with modern brushless motors. Although their packs are very carefully matched and charged.
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Memory is not the pack being unbalanced, that is a completely different thing. Memory is where the cells dont completely change back to the charged state unless you run them right down.

Li-Ions are 3.5v and Lipos are 3.4v per cell.

I feel sorry for him if he still thinks NiCd's are the best, just to let you know i also do rc planes and cars. Only hotliners/gliders still use NiCd/NiMH cells in competition, with the majority using the latest Sub C and 2/3A NiMH cells due to them being better then the old tech NiCd's. Lipos are much better, does the guy at your work realise that lipos can now do 20C conituous (30C burst) discharge? You get a lipo pack the same weight at the NiCd pack you would need, you will discover the lipo pack will have much more capacity and also can take a greater discharge rate. To be honest i wouldnt called brushless motors that modern really, they been used for years now. ;) LRK brushless, well thats a different matter.

One huge advantage that the latest lipos have is taps. They are connectors to allow you to change the charge of each single cell in a pack, with a few auto balancers available to buy. With them you just plug your lipo pack in via the taps and the balancer will get the whole pack to within 0.005v if i recall correctly.

Feel free to ask anymore on the subject.
 
The 25000mah batteries are very good, one used to last for ages in my minidisc player, they work well in the digi cam as well, definatly recommend!
 
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