Rechargeable batteries tend to hold several times less energy than primary cells. That’s just chemistry.
But another factor is the lower cell voltage e.g. NICD are 1.2V, Eneloops are 1.4V, primaries are 1.6V (when fully fresh). And if a product decides to indicate “battery low” at say 1.2V, you can see the problem… If some clever chemist found a way to make 1.6V rechargeable cells, he would do super well. But nobody has succeeded over the past ~70 years.
The best primaries, for energy and shelf life, are the lithium 1.6V ones… at a price.
As regards connector life, what does that connector look like?
Peter wrote:
Eneloops are 1.4V
That would be great, but are they really? Every data point I can find says 1.2V.
Peter wrote:
As regards connector life, what does that connector look like
Vladimir wrote:
The problem is the power supply: The GA cable does not accept power from the airplane, so you need batteries. The 5-pin XLR takes power from the airplane and does not need batteries (except as backup). An adapter would not work in this case as it will not be able to provide the power and I can already use the headset (we have the GA connectors as well), but on batteries.
FWIIW, I use an A20 LEMO plug with a LEMO-to-GA adapter. It happily uses aircraft power when connected as LEMO and battery power when through the GA adapter (or aircraft master switch off). Wouldn’t an A30 react the same?
That would be great, but are they really? Every data point I can find says 1.2V.
That one was charged today. Pure old Nicad would be 1.2V.
Vladimir – that connector is a standard part (can’t remember which but I recognise it) which will withstand 1000s of insertions.
I have been using rechargable batteries since buying my first headset and never had any problems.
I’ve used the qc15 with uflymike, a20 and proflight.
At my previous airline we had usb ports at both seats and IKEA had a 2 battery usb charger that fits in my headset case. When my batteries ran out, i switched to my spares and charged the used ones. Never needed to charge them at home or in the hotel.
First used Duracell rechargeables and a while ago i switched to IKEA’s. I usually lasted 5 days of flying low cost short haul.
lionel wrote:
I use an A20 LEMO plug with a LEMO-to-GA adapter.Can you tell me which one exactly? There are a few around and one would assume it’s not a rocket science job to wire them correctly, but looking at the reviews it apparently is.
Moreover, what does it look like?
Various people sell prewired LEMO headset sockets like this
It is not hard to wire up unless the installer is stupid.
It connects in parallel to the existing two jack sockets, so you cannot use those concurrently, and the 28V supply wire goes back to a suitably rated CB, which can be a CB powering some existing item.
But if you want LEMO to two jacks (“GA”?), that’s a different thing. It needs to provide power, 24V/28V, so it needs a power unit. I built one of these – here. Another post from ~10 years ago says they can be found for $50 in the US.
Peter wrote:
That one was charged today.
Do you need (or should you use) a branded Eneloop charger or will any NiMH-charger do?