More About Batteries
For a follow up to a battery article of a few issues ago, some added information. From personal experiences of having batteries fail on the water, not having enough or not charging well, I have a solution. Instead of using single ni-cads or ni-cad battery packs, I use all alkalines for my boat's receiver. Why do I put so much stock into the simple alkaline. They hold their charge for a long time. But that is not all, Some alkaline batteries include a battery tester strip in with their packs. This tester strip is the key to successful battery maintenance. Before I put any battery (alkaline or ni-cad), into my boat receiver and transmitter, it is tested with the tester strip.
If the battery falls below the GOOD range on the tester and the strip indicates REPLACEMENT, that battery is not used. This insures the batteries I am using have power. Since I have started doing this, I have had no problems with my batteries failing. Now I only use ni-cads in my transmitter. It is far easer to replace the transmitter's ni-cads in the middle of a heat. This is done by having an extra set in my pocket. Just pop out the used ones and put in new ones and keep racing!
Personally, I don't like soldered ni-cad battery packs. They are over priced and if a cell starts to fail, you may not know it until you are on the water. Plus, if you are going to sail in a regatta, you better have several packs charged and with you.
Again this leads me back to only using alkaline batteries. What do they do for me? Easy, I have been using the same batteries for my receiver for the past 3 regattas! I'm not only using the same batteries when I practice sail.
The point is this, check out the alkaline. It gives good long lasting power for a low price. If you want battery packs, solder alkalines together and make a pack. If you are on your way to a regatta, stop in at Circle K and buy pack. Who needs the extra work? The idea is to sail your boat without the worry of battery failure.