O/T Rechargeable D batteries

Rollie NE PA · Nov 25, 2010

Am I confused or what? I bought some D batteries for my game camera and after charging them I checked the voltage. They tested at 1.3 volts and the battery was labled at 1.2 volts. So How are these rechargeable D batteries supposed to replace batteries that are used in items requiring 1.5 volts? I checked other brands of batteries online and they were also 1.2 volts.

Thanks,
Rollie

gene bender · Nov 25, 2010

digital or analog meter

Rollie NE PA · Nov 25, 2010

Digital meter. I put the batteries in my game camera and the did work but only for a very short time.

Tony S. · Nov 25, 2010

All NiCd rechargeable batteries are 1.2 V. They work good in a lot of things, not so good in flashlights, etc.

JDemaris · Nov 25, 2010

All I use are Ni-cads or NiMiH batteries - and sometimes there are problems.

A good, fully charged Ni-Cad or NiMiH will be around 1.35-1.4 volts. A fully charged alkaline will be 1.58 volts. With some things, it makes no difference. With others, power in the 1.4 volt range and above is needed - so a fully charged Ni-Cad can work well at first, but soon after stop working, when it gets only slightly discharged.

My GPS and my camera both have "battery type" selectors that lets me tell the device what type of battery I'm using. That works well in stuff that gives you a choice.

guido · Nov 25, 2010

Hello Rollie Ne Pa,
A NiCad battery should be labeled 1.25 volts, but they are usually calculated at 1.2 voltsV for power with packs in series.
The battery may go as high as 1.5v while charging, and only a strong fully charged battery will have a 1.38v after coming off the charger and cooled.
If you are looking for capacity, ther are D size
high capacity NiCad's. I have some 4000Ma, i use on my flash light. Radio shack still carries them in D size.
Like jdemaris said, at 1.4 or less they will not work on equipment that requires more voltage.
1.4v for a carbon zinc battery is low, and some equipment will give you a low battery warning.
Guido.

RayP(MI) · Nov 25, 2010

I bought a bunch of rechargable D cells from Radio Shack. They seemed quite light, and infact turned out to be C cells in a plastic case that upsized them. Clearly not high capacity D cells.
Was not happy. Make sure what you buy isn"t a C in disguise.

Rollie NE PA · Nov 25, 2010

Thanks for the info guys. Kinda wonder why the battery manufacturer doesn't make the batteries 1.5 volts.

KEB1 · Nov 25, 2010

'Kinda wonder why the battery manufacturer doesn't make the batteries 1.5 volts'

Cell voltage is determined by the chemistry of the cell...the only control the manufacturer has is to stack multiple cells if higher voltages are needed. None of the commonly available rechargeable chemistries exactly match the voltage of the old 1.5 volt carbon-zinc/alkaline primary cells.

Lead-acid cells are approximately 2 volts, nickle-cadmium and nickle-metal-hydride cells are approximately 1.2 volts, and lithium-ion cells are approximately 3 volts.

Keith

36 Coupe · Nov 26, 2010

It takes 4 nicad cells to make a 6 volt battery.Zinc cells are weak when they drop to 1.2 volts.You camera sees nicads as near dead.

O/T Rechargeable D batteries

Rollie NE PA

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gene bender

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Rollie NE PA

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Tony S.

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JDemaris

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guido

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RayP(MI)

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Rollie NE PA

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KEB1

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36 Coupe

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