I just got my order from Hank. 4 black 3100 mah Panasonics. I started thinking how much I have spent on lithium batteries. I thought about $200 but it would be actually over $350 maybe more. Is there really a need to have so many batteries when I don't leave batteries in most of my lights.
I haven't even considered how much I have spent on rechargeable AA's- AAA's.
I caught myself looking at some handsome cells on the net today, so I remembered that I've had some fresh ones that I haven't seen on my desk in a while.
So I rummaged a bit to find them and realized that I have 8 brand new 18650s and 4 old ones from a laptop battery (still decent), stored in boxes.
At the same time NONE of my flashlights are empty.
I generally pick up a new battery or two with every new flashlight, so I have way more than I need.
I bought two packs of Eneloops last time they were on sale at Costco, but that's a useful spend on batteries that can be used in a lot of things besides flashlights.
100- 123's, 20- cr2's, 12- 16650's, 6- 18700's ... and more, in the last week. I was a closet flashlight person for a decade. Now that I have come out, there is alot of traffic around my house. People stop by for a few minutes and leave with small packages. The neighbors watch. I have developed a furtive, petty criminal look for the moment. The neighborhood will get used to my new popularity.
Two nights ago around midnight I noticed someone checking out a vacant house across the street. They were creeping around with cheezy lights so the old 1000 lumen Eagletac seemed about right (200 feet across the street). Opp's sorry you didn't look like cops sneaking around like that. Just keeping an eye on the place. Accidental disco moment before fade to black. Kinda funny watching them stumble around.
I have about 150 nimh batteries (120+ eneloops), 40-50 li-ion's (mostly 18650's), 4-5 li-ion chargers, 2 c9000's, etc. I would say I've spent several hundred dollars.
I see a lot of talk about scavenged laptop batteries. How does one scavenge laptop batteries unless you are a laptop repairman or salesman or a garbageman?
Can’t say for other people, but I recently got a new netbook and immediately bought extended (6-cell) battery pack for it, so I had a brand-new (as netbook itself) 3-cell 18650 pack for my sadistic hands to rip apart.