Author Topic: Lithium AA cells at Sainsbury's (Read 6603 times)

Zoidburg · « **Reply #25 on:** 20 December, 2009, 05:24:59 pm »

For ordinary but good alkalines Asda are currently doing a 4 pack of duracell AA's for less than 2 quid with the multi buy thing so two packs are 3 quid.

I got some for the back up light, I don't like putting lithiums in stuff like a bog standard smart polaris or anything that doesn't have a regulated circuit as it seems to blow them, I killed a Tesco 3W cree torch with lithiums, blew the glass bead cover on the LED emiter.

teethgrinder · « **Reply #26 on:** 20 December, 2009, 05:25:14 pm »

Quote from: Dicky Mo on 20 December, 2009, 05:23:42 pm

Yes, I had read the thread.

I wasn't aware that it was a "closed" thread, so very, very sorry for any shock I may of caused you.

A positive reply to a negative response, with added punnery.

Zoidburg · « **Reply #27 on:** 20 December, 2009, 05:26:26 pm »

Handbags.

Moloko · « **Reply #28 on:** 20 December, 2009, 05:27:10 pm »

Quote from: Zoidburg on 20 December, 2009, 05:26:26 pm

Handbags.

You bite far easier.

Hummers · « **Reply #29 on:** 20 December, 2009, 05:31:07 pm »

More news on Energizer Lithium watch:

Robert Dyas are doing a pack of 7 for £7.99.

H

P.S.

Did anyone else find they wouldn't light easily and were a pretty crap smoke?

Zoidburg · « **Reply #30 on:** 20 December, 2009, 05:37:42 pm »

Quote from: Dicky Mo on 20 December, 2009, 05:27:10 pm

Quote from: Zoidburg on 20 December, 2009, 05:26:26 pm
Handbags.

You bite far easier.

Not over batteries I don't.

Biggsy · « **Reply #31 on:** 20 December, 2009, 06:50:59 pm »

Quote from: Wobbly John on 20 December, 2009, 05:07:06 pm

A warning to anybody using Lithium batteries -

They do not like the cold!

Alkalines dislike the cold even more. Lithiums are known for being relatively good.

rogerzilla · « **Reply #32 on:** 20 December, 2009, 06:55:53 pm »

Lithiums used to have an iffy reputation as camera batteries in the cold; silver oxide cells were preferred.

Biggsy · « **Reply #33 on:** 20 December, 2009, 06:58:41 pm »

Quote from: Zoidburg on 20 December, 2009, 05:24:59 pm

I got some for the back up light, I don't like putting lithiums in stuff like a bog standard smart polaris or anything that doesn't have a regulated circuit as it seems to blow them, I killed a Tesco 3W cree torch with lithiums, blew the glass bead cover on the LED emiter.

I've been using lithiums in bog standard and 5-LED Smart Polaris lights for ages and they haven't blown. They are regulated to some extent, by the way. "Smart peak voltage technology".

teethgrinder · « **Reply #34 on:** 20 December, 2009, 07:04:09 pm »

Quote from: Biggsy on 20 December, 2009, 06:58:41 pm

I've been using lithiums in bog standard and 5-LED Smart Polaris lights for ages and they haven't blown. I think they are regulated to some extent, by the way. "Smart peak voltage technology".

Same here. I run 4 rear lights and 2 front Polarisses. (I ran 3 until one was killed by rain) Never had any trouble. I think those Smart lights are great for the money.

Zoidburg · « **Reply #35 on:** 20 December, 2009, 07:54:19 pm »

It is the wikos version, tried the lithiums and the switching went all spazzy.

The smart one is a bit more sturdy though so that could be the issue, I still wouldnt go the trouble of getting lithiums for it, it blinks just fine with alkalines.

Biggsy · « **Reply #36 on:** 20 December, 2009, 08:09:28 pm »

Maybe now's a good time to stop calling the Wilkos light a Smart Polaris, or even a version of it. Even the LEDs are different: less white and bright.

Zoidburg · « **Reply #37 on:** 20 December, 2009, 08:44:11 pm »

Close enough for my tastes to keep calling it one.

Not something I am going to shed tears over.

Biggsy · « **Reply #38 on:** 20 December, 2009, 10:32:11 pm »

I think being much dimmer and bluer and not working with lithium batteries makes it different enough to call it by a different name. I'm just concerned that readers are going to be mislead in future threads.

Zoidburg · « **Reply #39 on:** 22 December, 2009, 05:44:07 pm »

Having comperd the two the recent wilkos ones are white and have the same pattern on both models, brightness seems the same now as well.

It's just a back up, I wouldn't go to the trouble of sticking lithiums in, it certainly is not a main light, it's plastic and plastic is not to be trusted.

Biggsy · « **Reply #40 on:** 22 December, 2009, 06:13:04 pm »

The light output of the Wilkos one I got is significantly different from a genuine Smart Polaris 5-LED's. It's most clearly seen when shining the light onto a white surface rather than looking at it directly.

I use one as a main light in town, and my brake levers are made out of plastic

frankly frankie · « **Reply #41 on:** 22 December, 2009, 06:32:24 pm »

Lithiums are especially suited for backup lights, because of their very long shelf life and light weight.

The new Boeing 787 is made of plastic, isn't it?

Zoidburg · « **Reply #42 on:** 22 December, 2009, 06:53:10 pm »

A Boeing may be plastic in places but I don't think it's the same tat they make most lights out of is it?, even the more pricey ones.

I found lithiums unsutied as they usualy cost the earth and don't up-gun the utility of the basic blinky light to any worthwhile degree.

Biggsy · « **Reply #43 on:** 22 December, 2009, 07:15:13 pm »

Lithium AAs are available from supermarkets at £1 each and make the Smart Polaris brighter than it is with NiMHs.

Zoidburg · « **Reply #44 on:** 22 December, 2009, 07:17:59 pm »

But not always.

If you want more poke go up to fenix or similar, trying to hot up a bog standard blinky isn't worth the aggro.

Biggsy · « **Reply #45 on:** 22 December, 2009, 07:27:26 pm »

There's no aggro, and run time is long.

Pics coming up shortly to show the difference between the Smart and Wilko light outputs. I won't need to say which is which. They're taken with the same batteries, from the same position, with the same exposure.

Zoidburg · « **Reply #46 on:** 22 December, 2009, 07:32:01 pm »

I did say that I have compared new wilkos ones.

Mine is white, not bluey-white, production runs seem to change the spec from time to time.

Im still not going to get all gooey about a slightly brighter output from what I use as a back up. A lithium will be brighter than a Nihm battery as voltage is that bit more constant, but the same is true with a new alkaline battery, rechargables tending to kick out a slightly lower voltage.

Biggsy · « **Reply #47 on:** 22 December, 2009, 07:52:20 pm »

I was mistaken in thinking the Wilkos one I got was much bluer, sorry, but you can see how much dimmer it is:

Smart:

Wilkos:

(Central part of the beam reflected off white paper)

Zoidburg · « **Reply #48 on:** 22 December, 2009, 07:53:22 pm »

How old is the wilkos one?

Biggsy · « **Reply #49 on:** 22 December, 2009, 07:57:22 pm »

Purchased on 16 March 2009 - as mentioned here: Smart Polaris 5 LED(from wilkos!)