Rechargeable batteries for the RCX

[Evenstar_342]

My FLL team tried using rechargable batteries for their RCX in 05-06 since we've always had problems with batteries. Although we didn't do anything incredibly scientific, we found that the rechargables were used up a lot faster during the constant repetative runs on the table. We do a lot of those (fixing programs and drilling our table people), so we found that the best solution was to replace regular batteries every so many runs or before each table run at competition.

Another thing our team didn't like was how unrealiable Robolab's battery meter was. At the 2006 World Festival, one team was commended for writing a program that allowed them to measure their battery level (I guess showing it on the view screen). Has anybody else heard of this or know how such a program works?