Rechargeable AA batteries and charger recommendations

[Mikeryder]

Hi all, I'm thinking of getting rechargeable batteries for my Traxxas transmitter. Any suggestions?
Thanks
Mike

 

[PonkyKong]

The economy power ones on amazon. Other radio combos can be run on lipo and they beep to let you know it's getting low. I toss a 20 dollar lipo into a 60 radio combo. Works well. Cheap. Rechargeable.

 

[RustyUs]

I would recommend the low self discharge type.
I currently have Pansonic eneloope cells in two of my radios. I can't complain.

Also...

They even have AA LiPo cells now, but I have no experience with them.

 

[tudordewolf]

I would recommend the low self discharge type.
I currently have Pansonic eneloope cells in two of my radios. I can't complain.
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Also...
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They even have AA LiPo cells now, but I have no experience with them.

I've used the AA Lipo cells. There's 2 main types, those with a built in charging port and those that use a special charger. I prefer the latter because they tend to have higher capacity, which makes sense because they have more room inside for the battery cell. They're supposed to drop to 1.0V at low battery to mimic an AA and give devices that can detect low battery a chance to warn you, but they're easy enough to top up before an RC'ing day and will last the whole time.

 

[dustyroller]

Even in our daily used vehicles our transmitter batteries last a very long time. How often are you changing your batteries out? Even my race transmitter (MT5, 3aaa) batteries have lasted a year or so.

 

[desmobob]

I have eneloop AA or AAA batteries in all my transmitters. I use a Nitecore four-place and Klarus eight-place charger for them.

 

[biggman100]

Eneloop or Tenergy. They are pricey, but, especially with the Tenergy high capacity batteries, they last a long time. I'm going on 2 years with the original 24 pack I bought. I also spent a bit more and got the matching 16 bay charger. You can get them in both AA and AAA. They even sell packs that come with 12 of each. Between my portable medical equipment, and all the different rc radios, game controllers and tv remotes, we use a lot of AA's and AAA's, and those are the only brands I will buy. I've tried different brands, and none of them work nearly as well as those two brands do. Avoid the Amazon basics brand. They are absolute garbage.

 

[tudordewolf]

I'll add that when it comes to NiMh cells, a smart charger that can "refresh" them is very useful. 3x back to back charge/discharge cycles have sometimes doubled the measured capacity from the first cycle to the third for my new NiMh batteries, whether AA, AAA, or Sub-C size, same goes for NiMh packs.

 

[RustyUs]

Even in our daily used vehicles our transmitter batteries last a very long time. How often are you changing your batteries out? Even my race transmitter (MT5, 3aaa) batteries have lasted a year or so.

I know some radios, like the FS-GT3B, have a bad reputation for power consumption. My Futaba 3PM uses 8 AA batteries and could go through a few sets of alkaline batteries a year... I switched to a 3S LiPo pack.

 

[81exige]

+1 for the Panasonic Eneloops, and while you're at it consider using those for whatever else that uses AAs/AAAs too

 

[ahr43]

Ray-O-Vac AA's here. Use the Alkaline HE in my transmitters. They are affordable enough to be disposable and readily available. Caveat. My backyard events are short. Using Alkaline AA's for longer at track events, a rechargeable might be the better option.

Ray-O-Vac high energy

Regarding rechargeables: Have a set of Ray-O-Vac rechargeable AA's but find they deplete voltage rather quickly and am always having to charge them. They're o.k. but my transmitter preference is the Alkaline over the rechargeable.

Ray-O-Vac rechargeable

Have tried a set of Spektrum rechargeable AA's but for some reason they don't fit well in the transmitter battery well. Hard to get in and out. Was concerned using them might deform or crack the battery well. Use them in my camera now. They do hold voltage well.

Hope this helps your decision making process. -AC

 

[ahr43]

[Edit] Oh, and regarding chargers:

Here is what I was looking at when racing Tamiya mini-4WD last winter. Never bought or tried any but was considering the iSDT N8 charger. -AC

Amain AA chargers

 

[dustyroller]

Yea I guess your right, I have a gt3c and am always recharging it. But in the Traxxas seems line hardly.