U need Eveready's L91 lithium AA cells to stay in the game!
Written: Nov 10 '02 (Updated May 06 '03)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Revolutionary. 1/3 lighter. 2x-3x capacity. 10 year shelf life. Never leak!
Cons: Retail prices vary widely: from fair to gouging. Still too expensive for every application.
The Bottom Line: A great reason to standardize most of your electronic and battery operated equipment on AA size batteries. Prices are not predictable, the word lithium makes retailers greedy it seems!
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| zlotmachinskyr's Full Review: Energizer L91BP2 2-Pack of High Energy "AA" Lithiu... |
Eveready's L-91 Lithium AA batteries hit a Yankee homerun!!!
How exciting can a AA battery be, for Heaven's sake? I know! It's a simple product so why bother? The AA battery is an extremely popular battery size because Alkaline AAs pack a pretty solid energy punch, are compact, relatively inexpensive, work well in series and available worldwide. The "new" AA kid on the block is the Eveready L-91 lithium chemistry AA battery. The L-91 has been on the market since 1992. This is a sensational product, even revolutionary but the word has been slow to trickle out.
The Revolution is Eveready-inside.
I don't know how Eveready managed to get the voltage down to the 1.5 volt range expected in Alkaline and standard AA applications. Lithium batteries typically rate at 3 volts instead of 1.5 volts. Whatever Eveready has patented, r.e. it's Lithium AA chemistry, it is not showing up in other brand AAs as lithium AA batteries.
Initial Overvoltage (shocking, NOT!).
The L-91 produces an initial overvoltage (1.7 -1.8 v) to circuits when they are turned on and very rapidly drops down into a more typical voltage level. Quality circuits can handle this overvoltage as they should be able to handle a much higher overvoltage by design. Manufacturers of Cameras and sensitive AA battery operated electronics were wary at first release of the L-91 AA and claiming that the warranty of their products could be voided by use of L-91 AA lithium batteries. Now all the latest AA power products are allowing use of L-91 lithium batteries. I have used them from the beginning of their release and many of the first users were Professional photographers. I have not heard of any Everyready L-91 AA batteries ever damaging any device from their instantaneous overvoltage. And Eveready has promised to repair or replace (typically at their option) any equipment damaged by their L-91 AA lithium batteries. These batteries put out almost full power to the bitter end. This is a real advantage in photographic equipment and recycles AA battery powered flash units very rapidly.
Special properties of the Eveready L-91 Lithium AA batteries: Extra long run times of up to 3 times that of alkaline AA helps offset their initial triple or more cost. Excellent cold weather performance. Weight is 30% less than an alkaline AA. Each battery has a circuit breaker inside just in case they become short circuited. This prevents thermal and chemical burns, explosion and possible fire that can occur with any battery that is shorted. This is a nice safety feature. L-91s have a Ten year shelf life if not used. I have never seen any lithium battery leak and such is true for the L-91 AAs. Eveready's web page reveals the reason, each L91 battery is hermetically sealed.
No FEAR of Chemical LEAKS!
At last we can keep our AA powered cameras, flashes, flashlights, clocks, radios, pencil sharpeners, emergency equipment and everything imaginable always at the ready with L-91 AAs inside.
Save them batts or the Gas-House-Gang (Legendary Yankee team(s) of years gone by) will come and take your L-91s away, So:
Tape down power on/off switches to prevent accidental discharge of expensive lithium battery power with gaffer cloth tape (duct tape leaves a little too much goo). Even better is radio-box tape (RBT) which can be lifted and reset multiple times, is clear, super strong and virtually untearable. My estimate is 5 mils in thickness for RBT, almost a kind of supernormal scotch tape. Gots to get out the micrometer someday.
You can find Radio-Box tape at hobby shops that specialize in Radio Control models. Note that radio-box tape is so useful that you will wonder how you ever got on without it. It has so very many applications around the home, but that is fodder for another product review.
The most consistent price for two Eveready L-91 AAs has been at Office Depot at about $5.59 U.S.. There are 4 packs out now and a few but not many retailers sell at less than Office Depot's price.
Standard Issue Please!
This product should be standard issue for the U.S. armed forces and NATO and much of their electronics should be standardized to use them. This product would increase combat readiness and reliability greatly.
Recommended:
Yes
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zlotmachinskyr
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Location: California
Reviews written: 23
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