Batteries

[nudels]

My new Tesoro Sandshark came with Panasonic AA Oxyrides, seems like high energy stuff. From what I read it puts out 1.7 volts and they seem to last awhile.

I've always got the cheapest bulk alkaline batteries I could find, usually in a 50 or 100 pack online, since my little ones have a few dozen devices between them that take those batteries. I have yet to run anything else through my Tesoro, i've been thinking perhaps I should stick with the Oxyrides?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxyride_battery

Soo.. it got me to thinking what kind of AA batteries do you guys use in your detectors? Any preference for a brand or model and why? Is it better to have high drain or slow and steady drain batteries in something the likes of a metal detector? Would PI units have high drain characteristics that something like the Oxyrides would help with?

TIA!

[simonbaker]

My new Tesoro Sandshark came with Panasonic AA Oxyrides, seems like high energy stuff. From what I read it puts out 1.7 volts and they seem to last awhile.

I've always got the cheapest bulk alkaline batteries I could find, usually in a 50 or 100 pack online, since my little ones have a few dozen devices between them that take those batteries. I have yet to run anything else through my Tesoro, i've been thinking perhaps I should stick with the Oxyrides?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxyride_battery

Soo.. it got me to thinking what kind of AA batteries do you guys use in your detectors? Any preference for a brand or model and why? Is it better to have high drain or slow and steady drain batteries in something the likes of a metal detector? Would PI units have high drain characteristics that something like the Oxyrides would help with?

TIA!

My two cents, more experts will add to it.

Because Sandshark is a PI (Pulse Induction) type metal detector, high drain is probably more important than with IB (Induction Balance) type detectors. That's why it comes with Oxyrides, which I read are designed for high drain uses like photo flash recharging.

I suspect you will get more hours of good operation of the Sandshark with the high drain batteries -- regular alkalines will start to poop out sooner.

You'd have to check with Tesoro to see if rechargeables would work. I think of rechargeables as good high-drain type batteries, but the voltage can be too low, it depends on their design.

[Max]

My new Tesoro Sandshark came with Panasonic AA Oxyrides, seems like high energy stuff. From what I read it puts out 1.7 volts and they seem to last awhile.

I've always got the cheapest bulk alkaline batteries I could find, usually in a 50 or 100 pack online, since my little ones have a few dozen devices between them that take those batteries. I have yet to run anything else through my Tesoro, i've been thinking perhaps I should stick with the Oxyrides?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxyride_battery

Soo.. it got me to thinking what kind of AA batteries do you guys use in your detectors? Any preference for a brand or model and why? Is it better to have high drain or slow and steady drain batteries in something the likes of a metal detector? Would PI units have high drain characteristics that something like the Oxyrides would help with?

TIA!

Hi,
yes you need cause PI are power draining devices: during TX pulses the batteries must provide huge amount of current and that's problematic expecially with kind of batteries that have big internal resistance, cause of thermal effects involved and chemical reactions that will waste energy causing worse behaviour on some old battery kind.

Now, normal AA alkaline are often a good choice even in PIs, but in the ones that uses relatively small current peak at coil... like in your case. Other, bigger PIs use gel-batteries cause of enormous current requirements or simply a very high capacity NiMh pack.

Now, to stay on topic, you could use e.g. NiMh to make it cheap using your device... but must consider that a standard NiMh has a nominal 1.2V at leads, and your oxyride have 1.7V... so 0.5V per cell of difference... that's really much.... I remember it uses 8xAA... that means you have now 1.7x8 = 13.6V, but you'll get just 1.2x8 = 9.6V on standard NiMh stuff... too low having 4volts less there, device won't work.

Now... suppose you have 3000mha (panasonic made them too) NiMh cells... you just need more to match required voltage: 11x1.2=13.2V , just 0.4V less than your expected voltage, that's fine for the purpose.

You could use also 12 (I don't checked that but think it's about low risk) but will get 14.4V in that case... a bit more than expected voltage. The internal regulator will probably don't care much if there's say 1volt more or less...and your device will work on them too.

You could also use duracell AA ... rated capacity is lower (depending on which models you buy) ... also it would be not so cheap as with NiMh stuff.
Say you'll get half capacity for a still reasonable price...
Simply... if current is high and it's a standard alkaline you'll get reduced capacity from nominal value... they could last few.

I suggest you invest your money in say 12 NiMh cells, 3000mha rated (I have panasonic and these rocks) and a good charger... you'll be free of troubles with batteries and will use your MD for hours and hours...cause they are good for hi current drain... mantaining good capacity and with no extra pain.

Only problem is make them fit inside... or use an external adaptor/holder.

Kind regards,
Max

[Carl-NC]

Nudels,

I bought a SS new, and I agree that the Panasonic batteries are pretty good. But the SS is not an especially aggressive PI, so regular alkalines work just fine. I usually use Ray-o-Vac (in all my detectors) bought by the brick and they work great.

- Carl

[Götz von Berlichingen]

I suggest you simply replace the original Batteries with good NiMH Cells.
Get a good charger, not the cheapest one.
In the long run you may save enough Money to buy a new Detector
and you do something good for the environment.

[Elie]

Nudels,

I bought a SS new, and I agree that the Panasonic batteries are pretty good. But the SS is not an especially aggressive PI, so regular alkalines work just fine. I usually use Ray-o-Vac (in all my detectors) bought by the brick and they work great.

- Carl

How many batteries, and how much money?

[Carl-NC]

How many batteries, and how much money?

What do you mean? How many in a brick? I think 24 AA's. Cost? Don't recall, but ~50c per cell.

[nudels]

Thank you for the replies

I think i'll try the general AA's and see how they do, and maybe reserve Oxyrides for when I want them to last a bit longer.

Thanks again!

[WesP]

AA Batteries

A package of AA alkaline batteries at Costco runs around $12.00. With 48 to the package. So about $.25 each plus tax.