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[at-l] RE: batteries

From: rdubois@VNET.IBM.COM writes:

>Can somebody tell me if it is safe to use lithium batteries in
>Maglites, Walkmans, headlamps, .....?  I know that Jardine mentions
>that he uses a flashlight with AA lithium batteries.  Well, I never
>knew they made lithium batteries in the standard alkaline sizes.
>Tonight, while prowling around Office Max for some lightweight
>paper (believe it or not), I spotted some lithium AA batteries.
>The package said they are photo batteries (whatever that means).

>Anyway, can I use the things in my headlamp without frying my
>hair or brain with lethal death rays or bursting into flame from
>spontaneous combustion??  Do lithium batteries affect performance
>or brightness?  I know they are supposed to last three times as
>long as alkaline batteries, and they sure do weigh a lot less.

>Rachel
>"Solophile"  GA-->ME  '97

Lithium cells are 3 volts instead of the traditional 1.5 volts.  If you
substitute them directly for alkaline cells, your device will be smoked!
That's why most lithium cells come in sizes different from ordinary
flashlight cells.

I've heard about a new type of 1.5-volt lithium cell; haven't seen any, and
don't know about their relative energy-capacity.  If you put 3-volt lithium
cells in something designed for alkalines, use only half as many:  Modify
the battery holder, or make some "dummy cell" spacers out of wooden dowels,
unpainted thumbtacks, and wire.  (In the latter case, you can revert to
alkalines if resupply is a problem.)

Lithiums are expensive, but I must consider them cost-effective for AT
hiking because of their light weight and high capacity.  My previous
comment about one-cell flashlights being unreliable doesn't apply to those
with single 3-volt lithium cells.  I really like the Tekna "Splash Light,"
which uses a single lithium cell shorter/fatter than AA-size.  If you have
one, don't buy cells singly: It's far less expensive to dissect the
widely-available 6-volt (2-cell) camera battery, the same type used in old
IBM PS/2 comuters for the BIOS setup and clock.  (It costs ~$12.)

 --  Frank     reid@indiana.edu
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