Battery tech Li On v Li Poly v NiMH

[heinzanova]

I see lots of mods and home brews using Li On cells. Sure they can provide 3-4v out of a single sell but isn't the reliance on a non standard battery increase cost/difficulty in parts?

Why not use something like a small container with 3xAAA NiMH wired in series for 3.75Volt and 2000-3000mah?

Most NiMH are 1.25v in the AA and AAA form factor, are cheap to purchase and can be located off the shelf. If your batteries ran out you could also swap in one or two Alk (although at higher 1.5 voltage) for a quick fix in line with an almost dead NiMH. This seems like a simpler solution than buying Li On with 600-1500mah in single cell configuration. If someone wanted a larger device a 3cell NiMH AA set up (2500 mAh each) would provide a total of 7500 mAh of vaping power.

I am pretty sure there is probably an obvious answer as to why this isn't done, but I am curious. Obviously LiPoly would be highest power per oz but at the cost of charging difficulty and danger/volatility of cell.

Thanks

 

[440BB]

Here's an approach http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/battery-mods/106016-how-build-puck.html I'm sure somebody more technical than myself will have reasons it's not more common. I do use a 4.8v stacked NIMH battery in my mods when I want more heat.

 

[Pepsifreak]

I made a puck about 2 months ago, its about all I use now. Love it, and batts last about all day even using 2.0 cartos in it. Made one for a friend also and she loves hers.

 

[madjack]

...as always, the choice and tradeoffs are yours...a number or two...the LiIo batt in my E-Power costs 5bux to replace, can be ordered from MANY places and with a 500+charge cycle rating, in rotation with the other 3 I have should last me a couple of years...have you done any cost projections for a couple of years with those AA/AAA batts........
madjack

 

[Pepsifreak]

Umm no, haven't projected costs for a couple of years. Figured since 2012 I won't need to project any further than this year. jk

 

[heinzanova]

...as always, the choice and tradeoffs are yours...a number or two...the LiIo batt in my E-Power costs 5bux to replace, can be ordered from MANY places and with a 500+charge cycle rating, in rotation with the other 3 I have should last me a couple of years...have you done any cost projections for a couple of years with those AA/AAA batts........
madjack

500+ Charge cycle only really applies if you are slow charging at only a few % higher voltage than discharge voltage of the cell, if you are charging a 3.7 at 4.5v vs 4.1 the difference in cycle count will be huge (think down from 500 to less than 100 with out having a high reduction in battery capacity).

I think mainly my biggest thing here is not having to buy batteries from a special location, off the shelf at any store is pretty nice. As well as the fact you could get 4000-7500 mAh easily.

OK Thanks for all the replies people. I was just curious if there was a bigger issue at hand (IE performance when loaded with LR @ <2ohm etc..).

 

[dearme]

I think there are safety issues as well, not that I am knowledgeable with mechanical/electrical issues....LOL............ but I think I read it in the sticky battery thread............

 

[madjack]

500+ Charge cycle only really applies if you are slow charging at only a few % higher voltage than discharge voltage of the cell, if you are charging a 3.7 at 4.5v vs 4.1 the difference in cycle count will be huge (think down from 500 to less than 100 with out having a high reduction in battery capacity).

I think mainly my biggest thing here is not having to buy batteries from a special location, off the shelf at any store is pretty nice. As well as the fact you could get 4000-7500 mAh easily.

OK Thanks for all the replies people. I was just curious if there was a bigger issue at hand (IE performance when loaded with LR @ <2ohm etc..).

...like I said, the choices are yours to make...my charger claims to output 4.2v@ 500ma...and since I only havvta buy batts every year or so, off the shelf batts are a non-starter for me...I order something every week or two so, it is no problem to get batts when I need them...since a pair of hi-cap AA are as expensive(and non re-chargeable) or more so as the industrial ones I am using, I'll stick with my 14650s, 14500s, 18650s, etc...we all pays our moneys and we all takes our chances.........
madjack

*EDIT* ...since you said "any store" I went to Radio Shack and saw nothing there in either non or rechargeable that changed anything I said above.....mj