What do you look for in Halo batteries?

[st6212]

The charger has several settings for different batteries. Selecting a higher voltage than what you're supposed to have can cause that IIRC.

I don't own any of the customs packs like the Boost packs (friend has one though), because of 2 main reasons:
a) They are really only designed to work for the product they are intended. I can't use them in other devices without either risking burnout, or having them fit inside the device correctly
b) The charger is really meant for that product only.

I think the standard lithiums (energizers etc) are the way to go, they just work great. And with the new lithium rechargeables in standard sizes appearing, even better. Plus the charger can be used to charge the other types of batteries fast and safely.

[SpitFire1299]

Duracell Copper head 9v's.

[FallNAngel]

Well they do claim to put out higher voltage over a longer , flatter drop off curve. I know the rechargables I use are also only 1.2v per cell.

Both lithium and nimh / nicad batteries all do that. They're just able to supply more current than an Alkaline. They tend to keep maintain a steady voltage throughout their life then drop off at the end. Most any rechargable NiMH battery you get is going to be 1.2v per cell, standard Alkaline are 1.5v Keep in mind though, the Alkaline battery will drop down rather quickly from 1.5v, you don't get a huge benefit from the .3v the Alkalines have.

a) They are really only designed to work for the product they are intended. I can't use them in other devices without either risking burnout, or having them fit inside the device correctly

Kindof... The 10.6v packs won't work in a Reloader / Angry board, as it's too much voltage. Even with PWM, the board will be sending too much voltage to the motor and fry it. You shouldn't have a problem running the 8.4v packs on a Halo though. It'll be like running 6x 1.2v rechargable batteries. You're better off with the 10.6v pack, but there's nothing wrong with the lower voltage pack.

b) The charger is really meant for that product only.

Depends on what you mean "for that product only". If you mean that as "Boost products in general and not all rechargables", chances are you won't have other lithium batteries laying around that you need to charge anyway. If you mean that as "The battery pack that comes with the 8.4v pack can't be used on the 10.6v pack", then that's incorrect. I know for sure the 10.6v charger will charge the 8.4v battery on the correct setting.

I think the standard lithiums (energizers etc) are the way to go, they just work great. And with the new lithium rechargeables in standard sizes appearing, even better. Plus the charger can be used to charge the other types of batteries fast and safely.

I haven't seen any lithium rechargables that are AA size and 1.2v Only rechargables I've seen for energizer that would work are the 1.2v NiMH batteries and the charger isn't all that great.


Past all that, it doesn't seem like most anyone is reading the first post and actually answering the question posted. I wasn't asking what battery you think is best or what you're currently using... I was asking to rate those few things to get an idea of *WHY* you use what you do. This is not directed at anyone specific... just a general "you".

[Corbet]

Sorry to go offtopic but can someone help me:

I have a Halo B. Besides buying a Bone battery pack, what are the options for types of batteries and which ones are the best? Which ones are cheapest?

[rkjunior303]

Home Depot.

36 AA Energizers

$12 bucks.

[FallNAngel]

Sorry to go offtopic but can someone help me:

I have a Halo B. Besides buying a Bone battery pack, what are the options for types of batteries and which ones are the best? Which ones are cheapest?

Well, one of the reasons I was making this thread was to get an idea of *why* people buy batteries, as I'm planning on selling some. Thing is, many people apparently either can't read or just don't know why they want what they want.

So, you can go with

• 6x Alkaline AA's
• 2 or 3x Alkaline 9v's
• 1, 2 or 3x Lithium 9v's
• 6x NiMH AA's
• 6x lithium AA's
• Boost Battery pack
• Bone Battery pack

As for cost, it depends on whether you're looking long term or short term.

[FallNAngel]

anyone else?

[Dewok82]

This is one of the best writeups I've ever seen on the Halo. Heck, it is one the best tech writeups I've seen on paintball gear in general.

http://www.dcltech.com/haloreportv12.pdf

It has a section dedicated to the various power supply options and their pros and cons. You may want to take a look.

[FallNAngel]

Yes, I know... I've read it, several times; back when it came out and every once in a while since then. Honestly, I don't care. Don't take offense to this... It just that it has absolutely *NOTHING* to do with what I'm asking.

I already know what's out there. I know about lithium AA's... I know about the Bone and Boost battery packs. I know about the 2 9v and 3 9v mods. What I don't know is why people use what they do.... which is what I'm asking.

Do you use the Bone pack because it was the cheapest solution and don't care that it's life isn't as long as it could be? Great. That tells me you favor price over performance. It doesn't tell me what you think about the weight, but it's at least in the direction of what I'm looking for.

I'm sure this is coming across harsh, and for that I apologize. I'm not trying to be mean... it's just that out of all the replies (15) *very* few have actually addressed my question.

[Lohman446]

Because people have expressed there opinions, if you can't accept that they are not going to be worded and organized like a high school project, its really not a good idea to start topics of discussion.

As for me I use standard 9 volts.

A) Price is not that bad
B) I can replace them well before they go bad (once a month or before a tournament)
C) I never have to worry "did I charge these" or how long until they no longer hold a charge.
D) I can carry cheap backups (I buy in bulk)
E) I could care less about the few ounces of weight.

So none of your considerations. Ease of use. I spend a lot of money playing paintball - I'm not going to make it harder (having to charge batteries) to save a few dollars a year.

[FallNAngel]

Because people have expressed there opinions, if you can't accept that they are not going to be worded and organized like a high school project, its really not a good idea to start topics of discussion.

True, but when you get posts like:

The 'Bone'.

Dueydog is in the dealer forums. He sells the "bone" rechargable. I have one and am very happy with it. Good price too.

I think the standard lithiums (energizers etc) are the way to go, they just work great.

Duracell Copper head 9v's.

... it doesn't answer the question at all. If someone tells me they just go with 9v's, I can guess it's because ease of use (they don't have to carry different types of batteries), more readily available, relatively cheap, lighter... or I could be way off and it's just what they found in the bottom of their gear bag one morning.

You're right, my post didn't cover everything. But even reading your post, I can get *something*

A) Price is not that bad
B) I can replace them well before they go bad (once a month or before a tournament)
C) I never have to worry "did I charge these" or how long until they no longer hold a charge.
D) I can carry cheap backups (I buy in bulk)
E) I could care less about the few ounces of weight.

So none of your considerations. Ease of use. I spend a lot of money playing paintball - I'm not going to make it harder (having to charge batteries) to save a few dollars a year.

Ease of use sums up the whole reason you use them. From what I've read about your post, I could guess weight is at the bottom of the list and price is closer to the top. You're not worried about battery life (you toss them before they're dead) and the price isn't too bad. Even just knowing you don't care about weight... that alone is something I can pull from your post. Someone telling me to check out the Bone battery pack doesn't really tell me anything.

Did I oversimplify things? Obviously. Not everything is covered in the first post, because I didn't think people would want to take the time to try to rate a dozen different reasons for why they use what they do. If nothing else, they could tell me the other reason, like you did if it doesn't exactly fit what I was looking for.