solar batteries, NiMh batteries, NiCd Batteries
NiCad vs NiMh Solar Landscape Light Batteries
16/05/09 10:42 Filed in: Rechargeable Batteries
Most (but not all) solar path and yard lighting sets come with rechargeable NiCd - or Nickle Cadmium batteries. In the bigger world of electronic products and rechargers we've seen NiMh - Nickle Metal Hydride batteries become far more common and readily available off the shelf. Regardless of which your solar lights came with, there may be reasons to stay with the type of batteries that came with your solar lighting set.
The charging and operational characteristics of NiCd and NiMh batteries are very different. For example, NiCD batteries can store a charge longer and drain slower on the shelf - and can help your solar LED fixtures perform well after an extended sequence of overcast days. NiCd batteries also are more in-line with the slow, daily trickle-charging they'd experience during daylight hours - and not the rapid-charging that is expected of NiMh batteries for consumer electronics. The circuitry and design of the solar cell panel in the light itself is optimized for the specific kind of battery it originally came with - and swapping battery types may not be in your best interests in terms of overnight longevity performance, light output, or the life of the solar charging circuitry.
That said, it can't hurt to try. I have some old Malibu LED tier lights that came with 600Mah NiCad batteries that I swapped a few 2000mAh Sanyo Eneloop NiMh cells into and they're certainly performing better than the 4 year old NiCd ones - that's for sure.
Check out this complete Sanyo Eneloop Power Pack with Battery Charger, 12 (TWELVE!) AA and 2 AAA Batteries Plus 4 C & 4 D Size Adapters
. Now I've got plenty of cells for my landscape needs - as well as around the house. If you've priced Duracell batteries lately, you know a smart INVESTMENT IN A BATTERY CHARGER is something that will pay for itself in no time flat.
When it does come time to replace your rechargeable batteries: Do be aware that HIGHER-CAPACITY batteries are available. So you may see NiCd batteries available in 1000maH (milli-amp hour) versus the, say, 600mAh batteries that originally came with your fixture. Or path lights that came with 1500mAh Ni-Mh batteries you might try a set of 2100mAh cells. You may find the slight premium in price for a denser, longer-life cell - but it may help your outdoor solar LED lighting efforts shine brighter, longer, and stronger through the night.
From: LED Solar Landscape Lights, Ideas and Tips
The charging and operational characteristics of NiCd and NiMh batteries are very different. For example, NiCD batteries can store a charge longer and drain slower on the shelf - and can help your solar LED fixtures perform well after an extended sequence of overcast days. NiCd batteries also are more in-line with the slow, daily trickle-charging they'd experience during daylight hours - and not the rapid-charging that is expected of NiMh batteries for consumer electronics. The circuitry and design of the solar cell panel in the light itself is optimized for the specific kind of battery it originally came with - and swapping battery types may not be in your best interests in terms of overnight longevity performance, light output, or the life of the solar charging circuitry.
That said, it can't hurt to try. I have some old Malibu LED tier lights that came with 600Mah NiCad batteries that I swapped a few 2000mAh Sanyo Eneloop NiMh cells into and they're certainly performing better than the 4 year old NiCd ones - that's for sure.
Check out this complete Sanyo Eneloop Power Pack with Battery Charger, 12 (TWELVE!) AA and 2 AAA Batteries Plus 4 C & 4 D Size Adapters
. Now I've got plenty of cells for my landscape needs - as well as around the house. If you've priced Duracell batteries lately, you know a smart INVESTMENT IN A BATTERY CHARGER is something that will pay for itself in no time flat.When it does come time to replace your rechargeable batteries: Do be aware that HIGHER-CAPACITY batteries are available. So you may see NiCd batteries available in 1000maH (milli-amp hour) versus the, say, 600mAh batteries that originally came with your fixture. Or path lights that came with 1500mAh Ni-Mh batteries you might try a set of 2100mAh cells. You may find the slight premium in price for a denser, longer-life cell - but it may help your outdoor solar LED lighting efforts shine brighter, longer, and stronger through the night.
From: LED Solar Landscape Lights, Ideas and Tips
