Re: A Battery Warning query

ASAAR wrote:
> On Tue, 23 Aug 2005 19:57:27 -0400, Morton Linder wrote:
>
>> An earlier discussion of Lithium AA cells regarding film cameras a
>> few years ago revealed that, due to lower internal resistance, Li
>> cells can deliver a higher current flow (same voltage) which can
>> heat up and
>> destroy some sensitive electronic components.
>
> Absolutely not true. At a given voltage (under load), the camera
> will draw the same current, whether the source is alkaline or
> lithium, whether they are AAA, AA, C or D cells.

But the issue is it appears that Lithium batteries deliver a higher
voltage under load, and therefore have the potential to deliver more
current.

> Under load, the
> voltage delivered by fresh alkaline batteries is not substantially
> higher than that of lithium batteries, but in any case the high
> current draw isn't continuous. The components that might get
> excessively warm or hot would be batteries, flash tubes and the
> power supply used to charge the flash's capacitors. Operating
> cameras in high temperatures would probably be worse, but except for
> the usual fine print disclaimers at the back of manuals where
> operating environment parameters are listed, manufacturers rarely go
> out of their way to warn about the effects of heat.

In general I would agree but the OP was asking about a specific camera
with a warning.

>
>
>> IMHO, Li AA cells have almost no place in photography; they are 10x
>> more expensive than alkalines and give only 2-3x the number of
>> pictures per cell.
>
> They do have a place in photography. With modern cameras that
> don't consume huge currents, they might provide only 2 to 3 times
> longer operating life. But with older, power hungry cameras they
> can provide more than 10x the life of alkalines. They're also the
> only battery type available for cameras that don't suffer tremendous
> performance loss in very cold weather. They're also about 10x more
> expensive than alkalines only for those that shop carefully. With
> the prices most people pay for alkaline batteries, they're more like
> 3 to 6 times more expensive, not 10x.
>
> Another advantage I haven't heard mentioned concerns battery
> leakage. I don't know if lithium batteries can leak, and if they do
> how corrosive it might be. What I do know is that any camera or
> other electrical device that uses alkalines is checked by me at
> least several times/year for leakage. But I have a very old, rarely
> used Stylus (film camera) that is powered by a lithium battery. It
> still provides lots of power and has been in the camera so long I no
> longer remember when it was last changed. At least 10 years ago.
> And I don't check the battery in that one more frequently than every
> 4 or 5 years or so. :)

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia duit


.

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