| Re: When 12 volts is not 9.6 volts
dgk wrote:
> I like to use rechargable batteries in my lights, and for the most
> part using a rechargable AA in place of a regular battery works fine.
> But with cold cathode bulbs on my bike, the little transformer thing
> needs 12 volts....
> I looked a bit closer at my rechargables, which are, it turns out, 1.2
> volts, not 1.5 like regular batteries. ...
> So, why do some things work fine with 1.2, and others not? And why
> aren't rechargeables 1.5?
Werehatrack's answer was exactly right.
To put it another way, the voltage measurements that give you 1.5 volts
and 1.2 volts are taken when there's no current flowing. If you took
an ordinary incandescent flashlight and measured the voltage actually
delivered to the bulb while it's shining, you'd find the two types of
batteries delivered pretty similar voltages at the bulb. If, instead,
you were feeding voltage to something that required little current, the
voltage delivered by the two battery types would be different.
But I'm curious about your "cold cathode lights." What are they,
exactly? Sounds like a flourescent or neon-type bulb?
- Frank Krygowski
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