[Boatanchors] VOM Batteries that don't leak?

[Bill Cromwell]

On 07/19/2013 08:37 PM, Ken Kaplan wrote:
> Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't the rechargeable batteries 1.2v 
> while the alkaline & carbon zinc ones are 1.5-1.6v? That .3-.4v 
> difference often means it's recharge time more frequently on higher 
> load devices. Not sure what eneloops are...
>
> Ken
Hi Ken,

Eneloops is the brand name of some rechargeable cells. I looked it up on 
the internet. I but my batteries locally and that brand is not in stock. 
The NiMH cells have good "shelf life" so they won't self discharge as 
quickly as earlier Ni-cad cells would in something like your V-O-M or 
VTVTM or DMM or flashlight or etc while it is sitting on the shelf 
unused for a day or two (or a week or two).

With slightly lower terminal voltage from the battery your gear will 
draw slightly less current so it will probably NOT induce "more" 
frequent battery charge cycles. One thing that will happen - regular, 
one shot alkaline cells have a longer, flatter discharge curve so they 
will seem to last longer - and they certainly will. They will last quite 
a bit longer than one charge from a rechargeable cell. But when they are 
done - toss them and buy new ones - again (and again (and yet again)). 
When I was younger and stronger and maybe dumber I was involved in 
emergency *tactical* operations and I always carried a sack full of 
fresh alkaline cells for use in the battery packs that could take them. 
Just because the rechargeable cells could not be relied on for the 
duration of tactical operations - due to that discharge curve. With a 
fresh charge the .3 to .4 volt difference in a fully charged cell never 
made one bit of difference in operational performance until the cells 
ran out of gas.

73,

Bill  KU8H