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Using and Recharging AA Batteries in the Field
Suggested TTPs (We do not create Army Doctrine)
There are many, many ways for soldiers to reduce carried load in the field, and this is one of them. It is an equipment and suggested TTP combination that is best utilized in longer, dismounted situations where carrying numerous disposable AA batteries due to resupply fears is problematic. It is also a stellar solution for long duration hide site missions. Rechargeable AAs last almost twice as long as disposables, pay for themselves in under three recharges, and can be recharged in the field with FREE ENERGY (!!!) from used x90 [e.g. BA-5590, BB-390] batteries.
Supplies
Thomas Distributing has proved to be the best place to purchase rechargeable AA batteries; great service and great prices. Field testing and several reviews indicate that the MAHA charger recommended below is the best for this application at this time, and the PowerEx batteries have the most stored energy. If this changes, we'll update this page.
| Part | Source | Part Number | Cost |
| MAHA AA Charger w/ Car Adapter | www.thomas-distributing.com/mhc401fs_buy.htm | MH-C401FS; Get PN: K-4018230DCW-GP | $70.97 |
| 5590 to Cigarette Socket Adapter | www.aceelectronics.com | 500102 or Do It Yourself | ~$70 |
| Extra 2300 mAH NiMH Batteries | www.thomas-distributing.com/mahapowerex-nimhbatteries-2300mAh-aa.htm | K-MH-4230 | Four for $12.97 |
Suggested TTP
- Pre-Mission Prep: Top off all your AA batteries with the charger and insert them into your NODs, GPSes, headlamp, PEQ-2, etc. NiMH AAs tend to disharge on the shelf, so they should be "refreshed" before going out.
- Bring: Equipment filled with freshly charged batteries, the charger and cig plug, the x90 battery adapter, and ~4 extra batteries for every 16 used (but bring a minimum of 4 extra).
- Get Dead x90s: Tell your RTO ahead of time that you want ALL the dead x90s before he destroys them.
- Swap and Recharge: As soon as dead x90s come in, swap your extras that are charged into your equipment, and start to refresh/recharge the ones that came out of the equipment. By rotating the batteries through and continually charging, you can always have fresh batteries ready to go.
Notes
- One "dead" BA-5590 can fully recharge about 10 NiMH AA batteries.
- Do NOT put disposable batteries in the charger. It will melt and they will leak.
- If time is not a constraint, it is always better to charge the batteries on "slow" instead of "fast."
- In a test done by 10th Mtn in the field, two sets of two soldiers compared notes on rechargeables. One team of two brought a TOTAL of 14 batteries and recharged once during the mission. The other team of two went through 54 disposable AAs in the same period of time. "Team Rechargeable" saved weight, changed batteries less frequently (since the rechageables last longer), and saved the Army $$$. In fact, the batteries paid for themself on just that mission.
Info for Geeks
Want to understand the difference between NiMH, NiCD, and Alkaline batteries? Want to know why faster chargers aren't necessarily better? Want the most updated battery comparisons? Want to understand the differences between mAH and Watt-hours? Dave Etchells has done it all, and the best review of this info is here.