For AAs and AAAs, I have selected the Maha Powerex Imedion cells which retain a charge for an extended period of time (spec’d at 15% loss per year). I have invested in two of the MH-C9000 Wizard One chargers for my office and two MH-C401FS Mini chargers, one for my bedroom and one for the church sound booth. These are both available alone and in kits with cells from Paul’s Finest where he is selling the international version with a multi-voltage “wall wart” for a reasonably good price with great service.

While the MH-C401FS charges batteries individually, and does a good job of it, the MH-C9000 Wizard One is amazing. It will determine the remaining capacity and will even test and condition cells to the IEC standard. For example, I was having a problem with some cordless phones that used 3-cell NiMH battery packs. I took the pack apart and put the three cells in the MH-C9000 and it told me that they had a capacity of about 70, 40, and 40 mAh for each of the three cells. I immediately replaced these three cells with three new Imedion AAA cells that have about 800 mAh capacity each.

I have been using the Maha cells and chargers since April and am very pleased.

A special-purpose option in this are the 3.7 V 14500 lithium polymer AA-sized cells. These will obviously damage many devices that could physically accept them, but for the latest breed of LED flashlight, such as the 4Sevens Quark AA lights (USA site),  these provide superior peak output at the highest setting with the understanding that you can also use standard NiMH cells in an extended emergency with the loss of some peak output.

I have been using the AW-139 dual-cell fast charger also since April with great success. These will charge the 14500 cells mentioned above as well as 17670 cells which are the size of two 123 cells and work well in some LED lights that use two disposable 123 cells. I have been using the Pila version of these cells for about five years in my SureFire L4 LED light and have now bought four more cells for other flashlights. These are available from 4Sevens (USA) as well as other places such as www.dealextreme.com. Make sure you get the protected cells.

As I installed and de-installed the head, I got to thinking that the connector might not be positioned correctly (i.e. perhaps the wrong hardware had somehow found its way into the connector mounting system.

When I measured the bottom (oriented as if the head were mounted in the machine) face of the connector mounting flange referenced to the bottom of the mounting posts (using a straight-edge across two of them), I discovered that, indeed, this connector was recessed about 25 mils (0.025″) further into the head assembly than several other ones. Adding a 25-mil thick washer should solve the problem.

This is posted in case you’re scratching your head with a similar problem. This is something I wouldn’t have immediately thought of. I don’t know if this was caused by aftermarket work or if it perhaps represents a manufacturing error.

Recently, I did a thorough search for 9 V rechargeable batteries for wireless microphones at church. I was pleased to discover that iPowerUS (they have a Toronto office) was able to provide lithium polymer 9 V batteries that far outperformed the available NiMH offerings. We bought one DC9V charger and eight DC9V-520mAh batteries for alternate use in four wireless transmitters that we use regularly. We expect this system to pay off in a year or less.

I also bought their GC-60 tester/charger for my NiMH AA and AAA cells which, so far, looks excellent. Both chargers come with a “wall wart” and a car cord.

See updates in this article.

http://www.fixer.com/

The round-pin power cords using the PH-163 connector come in two versions. The difference between the two versions is that the hot and neutral are reversed. The ground is always in the same centre position.

Volex power cord model #17280 has standard polarity per UL 817 and CSA 895B.

Volex power cord model #17952 has neutral and hot lines reversed.

There is only a risk for maintenance operations. There is no user risk under most applications.

In viewing the PH-163 connector from the end so that the centre earth contact is above the other two, then the neutral is on the left and the hot or line is on the right in the standard #17280 cord set.

In viewing the PH-163 connector from the end so that the centre earth contact is above the other two, then the neutral is on the right and the hot or line is on the left in the reversed #17952 cord set.

There is a discussion of this at a Department of Energy site.

Both items are listed at www.allied.com

Newark Electronics has a page showing both.