I’m going on a road trip that requires each driver have an FRS radio, so I bought a pair of low end Cobra CX145’s. They came with a USB charging cable and generic AAA nimh batteries that are marked “1.2V 300mAh standard charge 30mA/16 hours”.
I am cheap and know very little about electronics (which is why I like this forum), and am assuming:
These are low quality, and the radios will last longer between charges if I use the AAA 750 mAh Amazon Basics batteries I already own. These were bought recently after a post that they were being offered at $10 for 8 batteries.
Since the documentation says the 300 mAh batteries will take 16 hours to fully charge with the built in USB charging system, if I use the system to charge the higher capacity batteries it would take days to fully charge? Or, I’m better off charging them in my Lii-500 then putting them in the radios?
I have several orange Panasonic HHR-55AAABU 550 mAh batteries that I bought cheap about a year ago to add to an order to meet the minimum $ for free shipping. It’s my understanding they were designed for constant charge applications like cordless phones. Would these batteries would be an improvement over the batteries that came with the radios?
Well, it will certainly be a lot faster if you use Lii-500. If you go with 500 mA charging current, you’ll have them charged in less than 2 hours.
The built-in USB charger on those FRS radios may not even fully charge completely depleted higher capacity cells if it is programmed to just shut off after 16 hours. I don’t know if it is or is not timer regulated.
Use the Lii-500 to charge the AAA, it doesn’t take long at all. I usually use the 300mAh setting for AAA but the Basics and eneloops can do 500mAh if you need them quicker. Don’t go over 500mAh for AAA
I am unsure of the Panasonic orange you listed but generally no NiMh should be on constant charge. I
NiCd can and should be on constant charge for seldom used devices like a hand Vacuum. OK, My hand Vacuum is seldom used. :innocent:
Yes, you’re far better off to charge your Eneloops separately, and then put them in your radios for longer running time. I have a set of radios like this, and I can get about 24 hours use from them on 4xAAA Eneloops. Most of that time is in power standby mode. If you were broadcasting or listening all the time, your run time will be a lot shorter.
The Panasonics are not very good batteries, but they’re probably better than the 300mAh ones that came with your radio. Yes, I’d use them instead, and charge longer if you charge them in your device. Better still, would be to charge them separately as well.
Note that when they say “charge for 16 hours”, that basically means it is a charger that provides 0.1C current. In your case, it’s a 30mA charger. If you’re wondering why not charge for 10 hours, the extra time is to saturate the cells and make sure they have a full charge. This is hard on low-self-discharge cells like Eneloops, but okay for standard cells. Cut back the charge time if the batteries aren’t fully drained.
Basically, charge everything separately if you can, but if you’re stuck you can use the built-in charger.
May I ask why this advice vw? Is it because of the type of use, the batteries chemistry or other thing related?
I just saw HKJ test of the Sofirn 900mAh rechargeable AAA batteries and they have a good capacity, as advertised in the cells, meaning that they will last longer (eventually).
But seeing your advice I got a bit confused, though :exclamation:
Thanks in advance for the explanation!!
:person_facepalming: Yes, it was probably that! I didn’t perceive the “h” was making the difference. It is not about capacity but charging!
Thanks Pete! :+1:
Yes and thanks Pete.
AAA Batts will last longer at 500mAh or less charging. The Lii-500 defaults to 500mAh if you just stick them in and set nothing. Same with my Foxnovo 4S.
Thanks for the explanation vw! I have a Nitecore DigiD2 that also sets 500mA as default and then adapts when charging is finishing. I guess I can set lower current, but seeing that 500mA is not harmful, I’ll let it stay. I just have some Ni-MH AAA cells (from Lidl) to use in things that are not flashlights, but it’s good to know that about charging!