(N Deveau) wrote:

My understanding
is that they are 1.2 volts, does this make any difference to
radio operation?

The big difference between rechargeables and alkaline batteries is that as
soon as you start using alkalines, their voltage begins to drop.
Rechargeables stay pretty much at their initial voltage and then die
suddenly.

So even though rechargeables start out at a lower voltage, almost all
electronics are designed to operate over a range of voltages and the
performance with rechargeables is no different than it would be with a set
of alkalines at about the middle of their useful life.

But you'll get little warning about when the rechargeables are used up, so
you'll want to have a second set always ready.


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"CAndersen (Kimba)" wrote:

(N Deveau) wrote:

My understanding
is that they are 1.2 volts, does this make any difference to
radio operation?

The big difference between rechargeables and alkaline batteries is that as
soon as you start using alkalines, their voltage begins to drop.
Rechargeables stay pretty much at their initial voltage and then die
suddenly.

So even though rechargeables start out at a lower voltage, almost all
electronics are designed to operate over a range of voltages and the
performance with rechargeables is no different than it would be with a set
of alkalines at about the middle of their useful life.

But you'll get little warning about when the rechargeables are used up, so
you'll want to have a second set always ready.

One exception is the Sony-2010 which won't operate properly on three
NiCd 'D' cells (3.6-V) instead of alkalines (4.5-V). This is
particularly a problem on shortwave with the sync' detector on. That
mode uses the most power. The radio was designed to run at a nominal
voltage of 4.5-V which doesn't leave much head room for some of it's
circuits. I made an internal battery pack for my '2010' with four
2200-mah sub-C NiMh's (4.8-V). The '2010' can handle a little over
voltage with no problem.


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starman wrote:

One exception is the Sony-2010 which won't operate properly on three
NiCd 'D' cells (3.6-V) instead of alkalines (4.5-V).

Well, I did say "almost all".


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That depends. If you have multiple batteries in the radio, the total voltage
may be to low to run the radio. Stick reachable in a Sangean 818 and see how
long it lasts.

"CAndersen (Kimba)" wrote in message So
even though rechargeables start out at a lower voltage, almost all
electronics are designed to operate over a range of voltages and the
performance with rechargeables is no different than it would be with a set
of alkalines at about the middle of their useful life.