Rechargeable Batteries in Controller

kitkat · #1 12-21-2002, 11:56 AM

Can I put rachargeable batteries in my controller? I have the Microsizer. In the book, it says not to use rechargeable batteries. Why is that?

I have some Sanyo Cadnica N-600AA (600mAh) and some Optex 1200mAh.

Please advise,

Kit.

#2 12-21-2002, 03:29 PM

I have heard that the voltage is to low in rechargable batteries, they are only 1.2V. Standard alkalines are 1.5V. I think that the battery in the car does not get a full charge when using rechargebles. It can make it slow..

Why bother? You can charge your bit at least 30 times with alkaline batteries.

georc · #3 12-21-2002, 04:23 PM

If you realy want to use rechargeable batteries, Rayovac makes rechargeable alkalines that run at the full 1.5V. I haven't tried these in a MS/Bit (yet), but they've done fine in A/V remotes, flashlights, and the like. The only catch is that you have to use one of Rayovac's chargers with them, which also work with their NiMH batteries. Not really a catch in my mind. I've not had a problem running their NiMH batteries in other products that "require" alkaline batteries. I've seen these cells at Shopko and Wal-Mart.

actofgod · #4 12-21-2002, 04:27 PM

Let me clear up a myth about alkaline vs. rechargeables: the voltage may be 1.5v in alkalines, but it drops as the battery drains, to as low as 1.0v. A NiCd or NIMH rechargeable holds a 1.2v charge steady for almost its entire runtime. Some people have been using rechargeables in their controllers for a long time.

As a side note, my Game Boy Advance cautions users to only use alkalines, but who listens to that? I think it's a conspiracy between handheld device manufacturers and alkaline battery manufacturers.

Go for it and save yourself some xtra $

rpm3j · #5 12-21-2002, 04:45 PM

One thing you might want to try is 1/2AA rechargeable batteries, and then just use four instead of two in the controller. This gives you even more voltage than alkalines, and with nimh batteries, the controller batteries should still last a while between chargings. Of course, I don't know the limits of the controller, but who knows? This might boost range as an added side benefit. The only thing is that 1/2AA nimh batteries are a little hard to find.

-M

gtr2112 · #6 12-21-2002, 04:46 PM

i have tried the rayovacs and they didn't work very well. i couldn't get a full charge. accoding to my dad who runs a battery shop, the rechargeables hold 1.2v but they let power out slower or something like that. they also have to be cycled to reach full capacity at least 4 or 5 times. they're a pain in the butt and not really worth it. it's better to get alkalines in bulk. and save yourself the headache.

georc · #7 12-22-2002, 05:20 PM

The way I understand it, alkalines continuously drop their voltage throughout their life cycle. Rechargeables maintain close to peak voltage, for most of their life cycle, then drop rapidly. So, while, half-way through its life cycle, a rechargeable may only be putting out 1.2V, versus the 1.5V of a new alkaline, an alkaline halfway through its life cycle may only be putting out, say, 0.7V.

gtr 2112, when you say you tried the rayovacs, did you mean that you tried their rechargeable alkalines, or thier NiMH rechargeables? Also, I've heard that power cycling, along with memory problems, becomes less of an issue as rechargeables move away from NiCd to NiMH technology. The new problem is being careful not to overcharge.

I guess my advice to kitkat is to buy some rechargeables and try them. If you don't like how they work, I'm sure there is some other gadget around the house that could use them.

gtr2112 · #8 12-22-2002, 07:16 PM

rechargeable alkalines. i think i got a bad bunch because they don't seem to be very good for anything.

Sid · #9 01-09-2003, 06:47 AM

ive been using 1.2v rechargeables on my Panther clone and its working fine. Ill try putting in an alkaline and see if it makes a difference.

funkymonkey · #10 01-09-2003, 09:00 AM

As others have correctly stated, Ni-cads/mhs will hold their voltage a lot more steady even when near zero capacity. Not only this but they can deliver even more current than Alkaline batteries if required (especially Ni-Cad)

Namuna is his battery 101 thread seems to think the controller doesnt regulate the charge from the alkalines and that the batteries are just dumping as much current into the Bit Bat as possible - this is probably the case. In which case i'd say the reasons Ni-cads aren't recommended is because they probably dump even more current into the bit battery!

It seems plenty of people are using them without problems however, so it would seem that their fairly safe to use. Worst that will happen is you will kill your bit battery in a few months time, in which case, buy a new one cheaply and go back to alkalines if you like.

The memory effect in Ni-Cads is usually not that big a problem. They do not need to be fully cycled between every charge, a cycle (once every month for example) is sufficient. Also as someone said, NiMh's are effected less by memory and only need to be cycled every few months.

Namuna · #11 01-09-2003, 12:51 PM

IMO, there's no issue with using NiMH batteries in the controller.

- When I tested the charging voltage on my Bit controller, though it had 2xAAs (which is 3.0v) it was only sending 1.5v to the car...I haven't tested it with a NiMH but I expect it would still maintain that 1.5v rate when using 2xAA NiMH batteries.

- The controller puts out ~2,500mA (2.5A) when using 2xAA Alkalines and it is my belief that this is the FULL, unregulated amount from the batteries. This is really where the question of IF using NiMH is acceptable because I don't think the NiMH puts out that kind of juice and with the stock Bit controller having the automatic shutoff after 45 seconds that leaves a Bit Battery basically getting less of a charge vs. Alkalines.

So, all that said; I say go for it for using 2xAA NiMH batteries in the controller/charger.