Using Rechargeable Batteries for Flash Unit??

[kkcharles82]

ok ok .. calm down guys, electrical engineer on hand. Simply put, if you draw power from alkaline batteries, the current encounters more resistance than when drawing from rechargeable batteries. The voltage of the battery is like the pressure inside a hose. Imagine filling a tank, i.e. capacitor, using a hose :

Alkaline batteries = small hose, tap at higher pressure as they are 1.5V
Rechargeable = large hose, tap ar slightly lower pressure as they are 1.2V

Which do you think will fill the tank faster? From experience and maths, the large hose and slightly lower pressure wins. Besides, the voltage of rechargeables does not drop much during operation, unlike alkalines, which has an "almost linear" voltage drop starting from 1.55V down to around 1.0V when depleted. So, in short, rechargeable batteries are better, faster and a lot more economical.

 

[groupwest]

Had sanyo batteries 2 years back. They were a joke. fully charged but leave them unused for a day. the charge was gone. Shld have returned them to the shop. I am now using varta. 15 minutes charge. I need this for 'I want flash, need batterry now' and also for events. I can charge them in the car or at the customer site since it is only 15 minutes.

 

[dragonfly]

I thought this was a good article on comparing different brands of rechargables on a SB800.

http://servaas.com.au/blog/index.php/aa-rechargeable-battery-test-in-a-nikon-sb-800-flash/

 

[skyline1088]

rechargeable batteries can be used on it. i'm uing 4x GP2300 on my SB600. fired for more than a month regularly and it's still working fine. tends to heat up but will not melt. don't worry