Rechargable battery pack for the Express/GT

[soop]

It's certainly about time I picked one up.  Does anyone know of a good model?  Maybe one I can mod with a new Li-ion battery?

[grahf]

If you use GOOD nickel metal hydride rechargeables you should get great battery life. I recommend Sanyo Eneloops, which are currently the best on the market. Energizer rechargeables are garbage, so avoid those.

[soop]

If you use GOOD nickel metal hydride rechargeables you should get great battery life. I recommend Sanyo Eneloops, which are currently the best on the market. Energizer rechargeables are garbage, so avoid those.

I currently have 4 duracells and some really cheap other brand, and I wasconsidering Eneloops for the Nomad I'm getting too.

The problem is, I heard the voltage dropped off on rechargables and could damage the system.  Is this no longer the case?

[Tatsujin]

The voltage drop of about 0.3V per cell which starts already after only a short use will not harm your system, but could shorten your playtime, since a total drop of approx. 2V could already turn of the system.

[soop]

The voltage drop of about 0.3V per cell which starts already after only a short use will not harm your system, but could shorten your playtime, since a total drop of approx. 2V could already turn of the system.

Well the AC voltage is 7.2v, and assuming the battery voltage required is the same, a 0.3v drop on each cell should bring it down 1.8v to 7.2.  So you want batteries that drop as little as possible.  I'll have a read up on eneloops

[soop]

If you use GOOD nickel metal hydride rechargeables you should get great battery life. I recommend Sanyo Eneloops, which are currently the best on the market. Energizer rechargeables are garbage, so avoid those.

Have you actually used Eneloops?  If what I'm reading is correct, they could be a good purchase.

[grahf]

Yeah I used Eneloops since they first hit the market. They work great in the Nomad as well as the GT. 
I've used a lot of different brands of rechargeable batteries over the years, and they really are good. 

Don't worry about the "rechargeable will damage your device" mumbo jumbo. All the important components inside the system run at 5v, and they get that through a regulator. The only thing they will damage is the companies ability to sell you a rechargable nicad battery pack for the outrageous price they went for back in those days.

[soop]

Thanks, this is really helpful

*columbo mode*
One last thing.  There's a new type of Eneloop with a greater mAh - any word on that?  I may just stick with regular eneloops.

Oh, and how long do they last in your GT may I ask?

[grahf]

I have a few of the newer ones, but I haven't used them in any high-drain devices. My GT and Nomad are back in the States, and it's been a few years since I used them. I recall getting about 3 or 4 hours though. In any case, it's waaaaaay longer than a set of alkalines.

[soop]

excellent, thanks for your help, I'll order some

[BEERS AND VIDEOS]

If you use GOOD nickel metal hydride rechargeables you should get great battery life. I recommend Sanyo Eneloops, which are currently the best on the market. Energizer rechargeables are garbage, so avoid those.

Second this. I think it's better than a battery pack. These things really extend the battery life and charge pretty fast. I have two sets of eight, and a charger that charges eight at a time.

[SignOfZeta]

I would try something like an AGM battery made for a motorcycle or a Miata or something. Add some resistors and and regulator and you'd actually have some great battery life, maybe as much as a 90s non-backlit system.



Yeah, its a bit big but...it will last for half a day, probably.

[henrycsc]

so THAT is what's in Zeta's backpack!

[Keranu]

I have that unofficial Chinese battery back for my Express. Still holds a charge to this day but the thing I like most about it is that is serves as a much better AC adapter than the official one since it doesn't fiddle around with the output and shut off your game!

[Vecanti]

This things work great.  Easy to recharge to.  And you can use more than one device.  I wonder how fast an GT/Express would drain one of these.

Oh, yeah, and don't forget to add on a shoulder strap.