Best Batteries for Metal Detector

TOP 5 Best Metal Detector Batteries

Types of Batteries

Some metal detectors come with special batteries already included in the kit. However, in most cases, a metal detector comes with conventional batteries. You can use them for some time but it is better to get more reliable batteries for long and productive detecting.

Batteries can be of the following types:

• Salt Batteries are the cheapest and the worst batteries for metal detecting, which is why it is better to discard this type immediately.
• Alkaline Batteries is the most popular type of batteries but they have one significant drawback – a great internal resistance, because of which they serve much less than other types of batteries do. Also, Alkaline Batteries show poor performance at low temperatures, which can adversely affect metal detecting in cold weather or even harm your metal detector!
• Lithium Batteries don’t have these kinds of drawbacks but they are more expensive and much less common. Their price is too high, so it is better to buy more reliable batteries with this money.
• Nickel-Cadmium Batteries (NI-CD) are the most affordable batteries that have a re-charging limit (up to 1000 times). They are not afraid of cold temperature and can cope with high discharge currents perfectly well. Yet, they have a low capacity and get discharged quickly. The main disadvantage of Nickel-Cadmium Batteries is the ability to “remember” the previous charging level, and if they were not fully charged, their capacity is reduced accordingly.

One of the best types of batteries for the metal detector is Nickel-Metal Hydride Batteries (NI-MN). Their capacity is 2-3 times higher as compared with Nickel-Cadmium, but they also can lose their capacity due to difficult weather conditions, such as low temperature. Thus, it is better to choose a powerful battery with the capacity of more than 2000-2500mAH for a long-term metal detecting.

3 Useful Tips

• Before going to go metal detecting you should always check the battery level, even if it was previously fully charged.
• You must remember that batteries tend to self-discharge about 10-25% per week. There are some batteries with a lower level of self-discharge (about 10-15%) but their capacity is also lower. It’s better to use them as a spare kit.
• And the main thing. Good batteries are the key to success. I bet, you won’t be very happy if your metal detector stops working at the most inopportune moment?