Handhelds and alkaline batteries

On 8 Aug 2003 18:35:52 GMT, TripFarmer wrote:
I've always used disposable AA's but am thinking about getting rechargable
Nicads and a 2 hour recharger (instead of overnight). It's about $30 vs $20
for the slower recharger. Comes with 4 AA's.

Any brand suggestions or thoughts? Good idea? Bad idea?


Problem with using AA rechargables is you can't charge the AA's while
installed in the radio. You have to remove the batteries from
the radio, put them in the charger, then reassemble to be ready to use.
To combat self-discharge, you will have to do this frequently. This is
enough of a hassle that I would probably neglect to do it, and end up
carrying around $400 worth of ballast in my flight bag.

This becomes even more of a hassle if you go on trips of any length,
because you have to haul that bulky AA charger around with you.
And you will want the 8-cell charger rather than the 4-cell, so you
can charge a full set at once rather than half-and-half.

If I were to choose rechargable, I would use the battery built for the
radio so I could simply plug it into the trickle charger whenever
it is not in use.