Originally Posted By: 901Memphis
Originally Posted By: gathermewool
I just bought this same charger, since we're going to depend a lot more heavily on rechargeable batteries from now on.
I've followed their instruction manual and left it alone at 200mA, but have my 2k mah flashlight battery charged faster would definitely help, though I usually keep at least one backup battery.
I'll be following this thread closely, since what you're saying about the very low XC rate concerned me, as well. Glad to see someone else thought it was odd, as well.
Get some 18650 rechargeable batteries and compatible flashlights if you want superior performance and charge times. Plenty of quality chargers out now too. The Panasonic 3400 mah batteries are everywhere now.
Check out this stuff for tests.
http://lygte-info.dk/
When I purchased my last two flashlights I had a set of goals:
1. I'd like to keep it in my pocket or attached to a belt loop, for easy access.
2. I'd like to be able to replace the battery, if need be, with a standard Alkaline AA, which my department provides for free, and can be brought down to the deck plates to me by one of my colleagues or "persons in training", if need be.
3. I'd like it to be very bright. This requirement meant that I could use an alkaline battery, but that the battery life would die quickly, necessitating the use of a good rechargable NiMH.
The above are due to where I work, where I use my flashlight everyday and often for simple tasks, like checking the status of poorly-lit things (lower setting) to illuminating a work area (higher setting.) I crawl around in odd spaces and don't like the feel of a clunky, large flash light, so smaller is definitely better for me. I literally have my flashlight on me at all times, even if I'm not at work.
I initially purchased a Fenix LD15, which will actually last a good while on a standard alkaline AA, but nearly forever (relatively speaking) on a 2k mAh NiMH. This flashlight is now my backup flashlight, and mostly stays in the kitchen, in a drawer for backup use.
I now DC a Zebralight SC52w L2, which is substantially brighter, but the second high setting (there are two high settings) will not work after only a few short days with a standard alkaline, but will last for a week plus of casual use with 2k mAh NiMH battery, and will provide good illumination for weeks of casual use on all other settings.
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The battery I'm using now in the Zebralight is years old and has been used for many cycles, though I don't track use. I used to charge it exclusively with a cheap Energizer rapid charger. I just checked the capacity with the charger and it shows 2.0Ah. Even if that's off, it's heartening to see that the charger shows a full capacity.
I used the 700mA setting, based on this thread and other reading and it was nice to have a fully tested (takes longer) and charged battery, ready for use this morning!