Powered Up remotes and rechargeable batteries - any reliability problems?

[heyitsdisty]

I need advice from the Eurobricks community! We're in the process of getting ready for an event this Thursday/Friday where we'll be driving Powered Up robots (Technic 4-port hub, three L motors) running on Pybricks and controlling them via Powered Up remotes.

We need to pick up batteries for the remotes. I'm wondering whether it might be more economical in the long run to get some rechargeable AAAs for the remotes; however I'm keenly aware that rechargeable NiHMs deliver a slightly lower voltage than disposables (1.2v versus 1.5v)

Does anyone have experience using rechargeable NiMHs in Powered Up remotes when controlling Pybricks-flashed vehicles? Does the lower voltage affect the reliability of the connection, especially when there's more than one vehicle being driven at the same time?

For context, the max number of robots we'll be running simultaneously at any one time is four; although if we can get to eight that'd be amazing too. (We won't be using NiHMs in the robots themselves, as we don't really want them running with lower speed and torque with the lower voltage!)

Edited July 16, 2024 by heyitsdisty

[Krxlion]

I believe that @kbalage has a video on this topic. Please take a look at his YT channel. 😉

[heyitsdisty]

26 minutes ago, Krxlion said:

I believe that @kbalage has a video on this topic. Please take a look at his YT channel. 😉

Can you share a link to the video in question? I've seen his videos on the XTAR 1.5v rechargeables if that's what you mean; sadly we don't have the budget for them, and in any case I'm looking for advice on using rechargeables in the remotes, not the hubs themselves.

[Lok24]

3 hours ago, heyitsdisty said:

Does anyone have experience using rechargeable NiMHs in Powered Up remotes when controlling Pybricks-flashed vehicles? Does the lower voltage affect the reliability of the connection, especially when there's more than one vehicle being driven at the same time?

I only use Eneloop since a long time and I can't remember that I ever changed them during an event (2-3 days).

(I use them for the Pybricks-Hubs as well)

Edited July 16, 2024 by Lok24