Camera Labs

Most standard alkaline batteries come in a 1.5v flavor. Rechargeable batteries are mostly 1.2v. I think most flashes are also rated 4x1.5v batteries as are most electronic devices in general. Even my desk phone needs 1.5v x 3 batteries to run properly.

For most of us using rechargeable batteries will this cause under-performance or would it even be bad for the flash. The 1.5v batteries might perform better in terms of flash recycle ? I work with NIMH batteries and they are all 1.2v. They are 1.2v everywhere and Ive never seen them in a 1.5v version. My Nimh batteries perform kind of ok. I recently bought panasonic eneloop pros and even that struggles to keep up my desk phone running. So I'm wondering how efficient they will be in my flash sincethey are all .3v lesser than required.

Ive found 1.5v alkaline rechargeable batteries for sale online. Has anyone worked with these and how do they perform. Could anyone tell me if its possible to use my smart NIMH charger with auto cut-off to charge rechargeable alkalines ? Or do we need a specific type of charger for rechargeable alkalines ?

Hi,

If a battery works well enough in a device then, personally, I don't worry.

I've not tried them but Nickel Zinc rechargeable batteries are available and might be worth a look if 1.2V is insufficient as they operate at 1.6V. Here in the UK a four pack of AA Ni-Zn rechargeables and a dedicated charger are both available for about £7 (~$10).

Bob.

Hi Bob,

Ill keep an eye out for NiZn batteries you mentioned. But meanwhile what is a flash's default battery rating. I mean the company usually mentions the battery rating such as 1.5v or 1.2 right ? Whats the rating printed on your flash head please ? Mine doesn't say, since i work with a bunch of yongnuo's but im guessing most of these things are rated for 1.5v batteries as a standard. But then many of them will make do with 1.2v except for the fussy ones.

The chemical combo on the rechargeable alkalines im looking at says zinc manganese, ZnMn, wud i be ok trying to recharge these on my intelligent NiMh charger ?

Regards

.
Batteries are high energy devices. If you charge them with anything other than a well designed charger made for the type of battery you use it with then you do so at your own risk.