Rechargable Batteries

[diamond lil]

Oooh yes TV thingy I forgot about that I thought you meant battery batteries. em. Proper batteries !
No radios with batteries, one watch only, no torches with batteries, one bedside clock yes. And I'm sure Jimmy is battery operated but I just cant find it.

[southernPrepper]

I am not, under any circumstances, asking about Jimmy.

[piglet]

Hello
I am a great lover of rechargeable batteries because I have many small devices like walkie talkies etc that run on replaceable batteries.

As already mention Li-ion are the best way to go but a bit expensive.

But all around my house I have small PIR battery powered Led lights for those times when mains lights are not required (not a lot different to having lots of small side/table lamps). For those, cheaper batteries seem to be adequate, and generally 3 or 4 AAA per light, seem to last me about a month..ish before requiring recharging.

Solar recharging works ok if you have a good stock of batteries to cover you during those 11 months of the year in the uk, when the sun barely shines.
But, if like me you hate using your own electricity to rechage batteries, then perhaps those of you that work in an office or similar...could possibly ask your employer if they would agree to let you charge them at work using their electricity.............................. or something of similar wording........
(I couldnt find an innocent smiley icon)

piglet

[lynx]

I've used the 7 day shop ones before and they have been fine, but now I tend to get the smallest pack of AA batteries I can from poundland, 99p etc now - kodak alkaline, ford alkaine etc (not zinc!)

see link for results of battery testing - http://www.batteryshowdown.com/

[cumbrianprep]

With rechargeable batteries the technology has really come on, even in the last year. There are few things you need to be careful of, but if you avoid that then they will really be economically viable for you (and thats what we are talking about lets face it). One of the best ones on the market right now are NiMh batteries, the 'low self discharge' ones. A good example are Sanyo Eneloop batteries, in AA/AAA format, and you really pay for it. They have now been bought by Panasonic, hence the link below going to them.

http://www.eneloop.info/eneloop-product ... eloop.html

They are quite good because being careful with them they have no 'charge memory' in that if you recharge them half empty they won't 'assume' that thats all they can charge up to, if that works. They are low self-discharge, and Ive tested this, they really do (admittedly not the full 90% as they advertise - but its reliant on ambient conditions of storage etc) keep their charge. I haven't tested their multi year claims... I'm not that pedantic. The new ones will recharge up to 1800 times, which is a jump from my old ones I have. They are a bit costly but then if you put together the costs of buying the charger, and the battery packs, then think of the electricity charge to recharge them (and I use a solar 'trickle charger', then they really become economical over just 'use 'em chuck em' batteries. For a cheaper option my friend actually swears by UNIROSS though I cant say I've used them. They don't stay charged as long, nor will allow as many recharges before they croak, but they are significantly cheaper.

They don't produce as much power as lithium batteries (as opposed to lithium-ion which are not available as AA/AAA rechargeable, but are in different formats for high usage devices), but dont have some of the nastier difficulties of storage and use/transportation. Newer varieties of NiMh that are coming out this year would seem to match the lithium AA for power output.

I hope thats perhaps useful...

[jansman]

Does anyone know how long a brand new sealed pack of rechargeables wiil last?

[12mp82]

Does anyone know how long a brand new sealed pack of rechargeables wiil last?

From my experience it is better to use and rotate rather than store, I bought several packs from Aldi and thought I would store them unopened, when I got them out to charge them about three years on they were totally dead and wouldn't take a charge.

I also bought a re-charger for normal AA batteries as well, that works really well and gives you a few extra cycles for your batteries.

http://www.mysmartbuy.com/p-472-Lloytro ... tAoddQkAdA

[Triple_sod]

Yeah, not really experimented with storage but the 2 AAA energizers I use between my Dictaphone and a digital camera have been working away for about 4 years now.

Also had a few instances where mobile phone/ laptop batteries have died after long periods left dormant so I suspect as 12mp82 said, they’re better rotated than stored.

[junmist]

Oooh yes TV thingy I forgot about that I thought you meant battery batteries. em. Proper batteries !
No radios with batteries, one watch only, no torches with batteries, one bedside clock yes. And I'm sure Jimmy is battery operated but I just cant find it.

Ok DL if you have an electric cut ( you do have electricty up there don't you) what do you use As for Jimmy are you sure that you have looked every where for the opening

[nickdutch]

I was personally thinking more of a solar rechargeable "power monkey".