The Saft LS14500 button top battery, that we recommend for the Shearwater Research dive computers is no longer sold by Dive Gear Express. Hazmat shipping requirements for loose batteries make it impossible for Dive Gear Express to cost effectively ship replacement rechargeable batteries or battery packs if the package has any chance of travelling on commercial air transport. Recent incidents have triggered extremely strict enforcement of this restriction, even for services described as "ground" shipping.
The Saft LS14500 is a primary lithium chloride (Li-SOCl2) chemistry battery, NOT a rechargeable lithium-ion chemistry, and thus does NOT have the safety concerns of the lithium-ion rechargeable batteries. Although hazmat regulations are primarily aimed at rechargeable lithium-ion chemistry batteries, both DHL and UPS have recently begun using x-ray machines to detect loose batteries in our packages. We've learned the hard way that an indication on x-ray for any type of loose battery, regardless of chemistry, will trigger an automatic return to shipper.
We do NOT recommend purchasing the Saft LS14500 batteries via on-line marketplaces such as Amazon and eBay. The discounted price Saft batteries sold and shipped via third-party vendors through the on-line marketplaces are very often counterfeit and/or poor quality generic substitutes that are not suitable for the mission critical nature of diving applications. A recommended on-line retailer for genuine Saft batteries that has special shipping arrangements with the carriers is Battery Junction.
The Saft LS14500-BA size R6/AA lithium 3.6V cell is a mission-critical long life choice for the Shearwater Research dive computers and controllers, among others. Saft batteries are particularly recommended for cold water diving, where their lithium chemistry will significantly outperform alkaline and rechargeable. Compared to alkaline batteries, the SAFT cell is significantly more resistant to leaks by virtue of a sealed stainless steel body. In the Shearwater Perdix, the battery life of the Saft battery is typically 130 hours of diving at medium brightness offering performance under the widest conditions with the longest service life. Saft is the world leader in the manufacture of primary lithium batteries. Rated at 2.45 Ah, the LS14500 is UL Recognized.
Benefits include:
- Mission critical quality
- Stainless steel, leak resistant, body
- AA-size bobbin cell
- High energy density
- Enhanced capacity
- Excellent voltage response, stable during most of the lifetime of the application
- Wide operating temperature range (-60°C/+85°C)
- Low self-discharge rate (less than 1 % after 1 year of storage at +20°C)
- Superior resistance to atmospheric corrosion
Like all lithium chemistry batteries, the 3.6 volt rating is nominal and under load a fresh battery will be measured as less; typically 3.4 to 3.0 volts or less depending on the circuit resistance of the device doing the measurement. Ordinary multi-meters and battery testers are inaccurate because testing lithium based batteries is technically challenging. The nature of lithium chemistry is the battery will sustain the output voltage under load over the entire service life, the voltage does not gradually drop as the battery is depleted.