Batteries for flashguns

Just found out you can buy 1.5v alkaline rechargeable batteries 2000ma.

You do need a RAM charger to recharge them.

Ok question why not just buy Ni-mh rehargeable batteries

a Ni-mh batteries are only 1.2mh ,whereas Alkaline rechargeable are 1.5v

b NI-mh batteries if left for some time discharge themselves a tremendous amount. Alkaline rechargeable don't.


Number of times an Alkaline battery can be recharged is 100-500 times depending on use

If anyone is interested and wants to know a bit more I have just purchased a charger and 4 batteries from this link where you can read more about them.

http://www.expanxe.co.uk/Products/Pr...BATTERIES.html

No I had never heard of these batteries either, but checked with my Nikon SB600 instruction book which says 1.5 v batteries can be used with Nikon flash guns, and on other sites they have used them with other Nikon speedlights.

RAM battery chargers must be used with these batteries

Bazza

Hi Bazza, I have Hama 2,600mAh, .. and Uniross 2,500mAh batteries, I've had them for over a year and they're great.

Nero are they 1.5v ALKALINE RECHARGABLE AA (RAM) batteries ? and not Ni-mh which are 1.2v.of which I have already and are rated at 2600mah. Don't confuse maH with voltage.

The charger has to be a RAM charger as well, ordinary chargers could damage these batteries. The max output I have found is 2000maH

Bazza

Just Received the charger and batteries and yes it IS as they say described on the box.
Having used them in a flashgun against taking ordinary picture (no flash) and other
rechargeable batteries of similar Mah, would definately say they produce a stronger flash.


Bazza

Bazza, I wouldn't have expected the batteries to produce a stronger flash? Maximum output should be the same whatever batteries once it's charged up. I would expect the batteries to charge the capacitor faster so recycling times shorten.

You're quite correct Stuart, freshly charged batteries will show around 1.5 volts on a muti-meter but once connected to any device the voltage drops quite a bit.

They will not produce a stronger flash because of the built in overload protection in the flash gun, as the batteries gradually lose power after discharging the flash gun a few times they'll take longer to recycle the flash unit.

Rechargeable batteries need to be used and recharged a few times before they reach their full potential.

I am tell what my results show and that is at least a 10% brighter flash in my opinion.

Quote "You're quite correct Stuart, freshly charged batteries will show around 1.5 volts on a muti-meter but once connected to any device the voltage drops quite a bit."

All things being equal a 1.2v battery drops by the same amount according to that statement, so the 1.5v battery will still produce more power

Bazza

According to your original post Bazza those Alkaline batteries are 2,000mAh - the ones I use are 2,500mAh therefore the voltage drop will be less because of their higher reserved capacity.

It's the same with car batteries, they're all rated at 12 volts but there's a huge difference between the reserves of a 30amp battery and a 60amp battery.

Immediately after removing a 1.5 volt battery from the charger it will show a reading of around 1.8 volts but this reduces in a few minutes to 1.5 volts.
The higher battery capacity will help retain this voltage longer.

Nero

I was doing a comparison with like for like. Ram batteries @ 2000Mah against 2050Mah Ni cam. which is I think a fair or close enough comparison.On an unscientific test by trial, using the same camera settings, taking the same photo with both types of batteries rated around 2000 and 2050 respectively the RAM batteries definately came out brighter at a guess by around 10%



Yes you may well be correct if comparing with 2500mah, but in my opinion that is not a fair comparison having a 1/5 more output.

Bazza