A Geek Goes Flying

Until very recently, if you wanted rechargeable AAs you were stuck with NiMH batteries, which topped out at around 1.2V ( Rechargeable Batteries — compared and explained in detail ). Off the shelf alkaline AAs, though, at least started life as (at least) 1.5V cells: New Energizer alkaline AA battery, 1.5V As the battery was used, the voltage decreases over time. In 2014 I installed the first generation Kēvo smart deadbolt , and loved it. I got a set of rechargeable AAs and recharged them every few months or so and life was good. Until life happened and in 2019 I had to replace that lock; the only one available was the Kwikset Kēvo 2nd Gen . That lock is much more finicky. It would work on NiMH rechargeable AAs, but only for a short time (a matter of days), and immediately started complaining the batteries were low. Meanwhile, e.g., a set of (4) Energizer MAX batteries, packaged in November 2021 and bought and installed in mid-December 2021, lasted about 2 months. When I tested them wit...

Zendure SuperTank Pro Zendure SuperTank Pro I’m still enamored with the Zendure X5, but I went looking for a solution with at least 2 USB-C PD outputs, that could power both a MacBook Air and a 15.6" UPERFECT portable monitor (that I expect will become part of a flexible sit-stand setup ). The Zendure SuperTank Pro 100W PD 26800mAh power bank seems to have glowing reviews and the specs are there (and I like the OLED screen that shows what each port is delivering, how many watt hours of charge are remaining, etc), and Amazon had it as a lightning sale item marked down from $229 to $169, so I decided to take the plunge. Update: The SuperTank arrived today. To my surprise, it came with a carrying case, a USB-C to USB-C cable, and a USB-C to USB-A adapter. I hooked it up to the UGREEN 100W charger through the Klein and observed it charging (it came with about a 36% charge, and Zendure recommends fully charging it before use). Using the red 60W-rated cable showed 56.0W on the SuperT...