Low battery warning doesn't show with rechargeables.

Question

On my Flip video, when I use rechargeable double A's (NiMH's specifically) the low battery indicator never displays. The batteries run their course, and just die with no warning. Is this typical of this type battery, and is there another type of rechargeable that WILL display the low battery warning?

Answer 1

Generally the low battery warning is triggered when the battery voltage falls below a set value, but depending on the algorithm used by a device is can be based on related things like the rate at which the voltage is falling, or the combination of voltage and current.

NiHM batteries run out in a different way than regular alkaline batteries (for example the always have lower voltage), and they often just die almost completely before some devices notice they are wearing out.  Odds are no other brand of regular NiHM battery will be any better.  There are special NiMH batteries with different discharge properties called eneloop (a brand name) that you might check out.

You might have better luck with AA-sized lithium batteries if you can find them. They also last a long time, but they fail very fast when they finally run out, so depending on how your device calculates the warning, so still might not get a warning.    They have other disadvantages though, such as cost and some risk of overheating if they are abused.