Li-Ion D Cells

[kilogulf59]

AYL Starlight 700 1300 Lumens LED Lantern, which takes three D cells. I also have a couple of three D cell Maglites. All are are mainly used for emergencies.
I am concerned that the Energizer alkaline cells, which I keep in them, may eventually leak. I was considering Li-Ion D cells. Any thoughts?

 

[PaladinNO]

I did consider using rechargeable D-cells in my Mag-Lite 3D lights, previously used as emergency lights. I discarded the thought as I read alkalines are around 15000 mAh, whereas the rechargeables (at least the ones I would consider reliable brands) are at best only 3000 mAh (1,5 1,2 V NiMH-version).

My reasoning was I would be replacing the cells anyway (I don't know, every 5 years) way before a cell as big as a D-cell would leak.

EDIT:
Sorry, typo on the 1,5 V - I meant 1,2 V.

 

[kilogulf59]

I didn't know anyone made a 1.5 v Ni-Mh cell. I thought they were all 1.2 to 1.3 v.

I check them and they're fine, no signs of any leakage. My rule of thumb was primary cells if the item is unused and secondary cells if it's used frequently. I just got a bug up about ruining the lights and though maybe Li-Ion might be worth it.

Addendum: I use Energizer Max or Industrial EN95 D cells.

 

[WarriorOfLight]

If your lantern supports NiMH cells (=works with 1.2V cells) you could use i.e. eneloops and D to 3xAA parallel adapters. I do this with my Streamlight lantern.

 

[PaladinNO]

I didn't know anyone made a 1.5 v Ni-Mh cell. I thought they were all 1.2 to 1.3 v.

Sorry, I clicked too fast on the numpad. They are 1,2 V.

"VARTA Power Accu D 3000mAh B2" are the ones I looked at.

 

[kilogulf59]

@PaladinNO been there, LOL.

@WarriorOfLight I did that with our old Streamlite Waypoint. It takes four C cells. We'd have gone broke using primary cells as we used it every night. I got one to one adaptors and it worked fine. With the three to one units, which I have, I'd have to get 27 Ni-MH AA cells and then they'd just be sitting there, unused for the most part. Honestly, now that I'm really thinking about it, I'm probably better off sticking with the Energizers and checking/testing then once or twice a year.

 

[dc38]

best only 3000 mAh

I have some 10 year old blue tenergy "10000mAh" cells. On an Xtar VX4, 3 tested to around 8500mAh, 4 were hovering in the 6-7000mAh range, and one outlier at 3500mAh.

 

[PaladinNO]

I have some 10 year old blue tenergy "10000mAh" cells.

I was honestly shocked to only find 2000-3000 mAh available in a freakin' D-cell these days.
It's been years since last I looked at it (and I thought I had seen higher capacities earlier - and Tenergy sounds familiar), so I just figured they had simply disappeared from the market for whatever reason.

 

[kilogulf59]

Tenergy D 10,000mAh NiMH Rechargeable Battery

 

[aznsx]

I wasn't even aware that lithium-ion 'D' cells existed! Shows ya how much I know about cells & batts;-)

 

[kilogulf59]

Honestly, and I may be wrong here, but I believe they’re reletively new(er) on the market. I just looked them up for the hell of it to see if there was such a critter.

 

[aznsx]

Honestly, and I may be wrong here, but I believe they’re reletively new(er) on the market. I just looked them up for the hell of it to see if there was such a critter.

Ahhh, thanks! I get it now (it's still early in the day for me;-). They're likely those nasty, noisy, things with switching converters like the AAs and 123s I've seen. I get it. You know how I feel about those; they're 'dead to me';-)

 

[Macgravy]

There are Amazon Basics size D NiMH cells. I have been using like 20 of them for up to 5 years now and they are actually fantastic cells. Since they are in devices that are essentially emergency items, I do a discharge & charge cycle on a yearly cycle. They still all test out above 10,000 mAh....in fact they hit 11000 mAh on the charge cycle...

 

[orbital]

+

three D batteries is just over 180mm

Two 26800 Li-Ion with a 20mm dummy cell or extension would work.
Doesn't Five Mega have various extensions

 

[kilogulf59]

Well, that might work for the Maglites but the lantern has them side by side. Also, I got nothing but lottery sites when I searched "Five Mega".

 

[WarriorOfLight]

For me the D to 3AA parallel adapters works perfectly. Here a link to show what adapters I am having.

https://www.amazon.com/DSLRKIT-Parallel-Battery-Convertor-Adapter/dp/B00OUM17AQ

But be aware there are D to 3xAA serial adapters that are looking almost identically

Amazon.com: Lizusidtsy Serial Connection Cylindrical 3X 1.5V AA Battery Plastic Holder 5 Pcs, White, Silver Tone, 037290 : Electronics

Amazon.com: Lizusidtsy Serial Connection Cylindrical 3X 1.5V AA Battery Plastic Holder 5 Pcs, White, Silver Tone, 037290 : Electronics

www.amazon.com

If the springs are not all on the same side than it is not a parallel adapter!

 

[kilogulf59]

I hear ya @WarriorOfLight but, like I said, I'd need 27 AA cell Ni-MH.

 

[Schokokeks]

Oh, I fudging LOVE big ol' D-cells.

The Li-ion ones have a circuit that limits the output. They do create interference, though, so you can't use them with radios. Which might suck in an emergency if you're salvaging D-cells from a flashlight (which doesn't care about the interference) to the radio.

For emergencies, D-cells are GREAT, so I LOVE NiMH for their versatility. They hold their charge for quite a long time, too.

I did consider using rechargeable D-cells in my Mag-Lite 3D lights, previously used as emergency lights. I discarded the thought as I read alkalines are around 15000 mAh, whereas the rechargeables (at least the ones I would consider reliable brands) are at best only 3000 mAh (1,5 1,2 V NiMH-version).

My reasoning was I would be replacing the cells anyway (I don't know, every 5 years) way before a cell as big as a D-cell would leak.

EDIT:
Sorry, typo on the 1,5 V - I meant 1,2 V.

Powerex/Maha makes true 10,000 mAh NiMH cells, but they are pricey (~$30 for two cells).

The lower mAh ones are actually like AA cells in a giant spacer. They are a LOT lighter, but that's why the capacity isn't very good.
At that point, the Eneloop spacer sleeve is about as good. The Powerex 10 amp hour cells are HEAVY BOYS, like an alkaline D-cell.

FWIW, @Lumencraft (Matt) uses Amazon Basics NiMH D-cells. They're not as good as the Powerex ones, but they tend to be in the 8-9,000 mAh range from what I've seen. And they are cheap (a set of 4 is ~$25). I think it's safe enough to say, if they're good enough for Lumencraft, they're good enough for us, haha.

The harder part these days is finding a charger for D-cells that charges more than two at a time, haha.

I have a pair of Powerex cells in my 2D Maglite, to run Malkoff M31 modules.
I am going to eventually get some of the Scamazon cells to run in a 4D setup, to run M61 modules. I can take the 15% less capacity for 50% less of a price.

 

[lampeDépêche]

If an NiMH D-Cell is getting only 3000mah, then I am pretty confident that it is just an AA wrapped in a spacer of some kind,
I kinda love D-cells myself, especially the old-school alkalines that can generate 20k mah on very low-drain circuits. It's not a cell for EDC'ing, unless you routinely carry a Maglite. But it's good to have some around the house, along with some lights that will run them.
And in my various go-bags, I keep some of DatiLed's great cell-drainer creations, whose leads are long enough to use on a D-cell

 

[WarriorOfLight]

I hear ya @WarriorOfLight but, like I said, I'd need 27 AA cell Ni-MH.

I can only talk about ny requirements. I do not have any additional device using D cells, nor I own any D cells. Therefore for me the usage of three D to 3xAA works fine to me.
But if you need more D cells than NiMH D cells may make sense. A good low self discharge D cell would be the Ansmann max-e cell:

NiMH Rechargeable battery D / HR20 8500 mAh maxE 2 pcs.

Nickel metal hydride rechargeable battery D / HR20 / 1,2 V with very low self-discharge in consequence of the maxE technology

shop.ansmann.de

But it may be the case you can not get this cell in the US.