Rechargeable Batteries

Q : I've been told that rechargeable batteries are rubbish!!

If you've used rechargeable batteries in the past and they did not perform or you've been told that rechargeable batteries are simply no good then the chances are that older alkaline rechargeable batteries were being used, which were rubbish..  

The latest NiMH rechargeable batteries are SUPERB. Today's NiMH rechargeable batteries will easily outperform everyday 'throwaway' alkaline batteries in most modern digital equipment and perform fantastically in almost every application.

 Q :  If rechargeable batteries are so good why is it that I never see them for sale in supermarkets along with the Duracells for example ?

Simply because a rechargeable battery can be recharged a thousand times. Supermarkets can sell you a thousand packets of 'throwaway' batteries for every packet of rechargeable batteries!! They make an absolute fortune by only selling you throwaway batteries and they know that you'll probably be back for more next week. That's why they are always so conveniently stacked up by the checkout. Don't be fooled by the big 'value' packs, two for the price of one and all that nonsense..  It's probably one of the biggest  marketing cons of all time! 

 Q : I'm New to rechargeable batteries, tell me a little bit more ..

There is nothing technical or 'specialist' about rechargeable batteries. They are intended for everyday use and come in everyday sizes (AA, AAA, C ,D, and PP3) They are exactly the same size as the throwaway batteries you would buy in any High Street store or supermarket. The beauty of rechargeable batteries is that they can be recharged a thousand times and generally they greatly outperform standard everyday batteries such as Duracell and Energizers in devices that 'eat batteries'. The fact that rechargeable batteries can be used again and again represents a massive saving over their useful life.

 Q : How Green are rechargeable batteries ?

Rechargeable batteries have the greenest environmental credentials. Using rechargeable batteries reduces household waste massively. Globally, 15 billion ordinary batteries are thrown away every year, all of which end up in landfill sites. Rechargeable batteries can be reused again and again which significantly reduces the impact disposable batteries have on the environment. 
The most ecological rechargeable batteries available are NiMH rechargeable batteries (Nickel Metal Hydride).

The following outputs may be useful as a rough guide

• Standard battery charger 100mA
• Fast Charger 250/300mA
• Ultra Fast charger 1000mA

A NiCd battery generally performs well in devices where you would normally only replace the battery when it has become exhausted. For example, TV controls will either work if the battery is good or not work if the battery needs replacing.  The point here is that you would never put new batteries in a TV remote control until the existing batteries were flat. Any device that fits this example would be very happy with NiCd batteries. For everything else choose NiMH Rechargeable batteries.

Q : How long will a rechargeable battery last ?

The chances are that once you get into rechargeable batteries you will never use a throwaway again. Let's say you use a portable CD player and you replace the batteries once a week. To simply the sums we'll say that there are 50 weeks in a year.  You can recharge most rechargeable batteries 1000 times so : 1000 recharges / 50 weeks = 20 years. If you look after batteries they will last however long it takes you to recharge them a thousand times. 

Q : How much performance improvement can I expect using NiMH batteries instead of everyday throwaway  batteries in high drain devices like a digital camera?

 NiMh rechargeable batteries will easily outperform 'throwaway' alkaline batteries in almost every application.

Have you ever noticed when using high powered alkaline 'throwaway' batteries in a digital camera or similar device, that things can soon start to slow down and you need to replace the batteries a lot sooner than you'd like to?  DO NOT throw these batteries away (well not just yet!) as you will probably find that the batteries will work perfectly satisfactorily in less demanding equipment such as radios or TV controls. Try it!. The point here is that the battery still has plenty of power left in it, it's just not able to deliver it quickly enough. That's why everything stutters and slows down and drives you mad. It does not matter which make of alkaline battery you try to use as there is no getting away from the fact that alkaline batteries are quite simply not capable of operating today's power hungry digital devices due to the outdated chemistry of alkaline batteries. Alkaline batteries can store the power, it's just that after a relatively short period of use, they simply can't satisfy the needs of modern digital equipment where full power is required 'in a flash'.

 NiMH batteries are at the cutting edge of today's rechargeable battery technology and are specifically designed for modern power intensive applications.

Q : What is "mAh" all about?  Please tell me a little bit about capacity.

Capacity counts. Rechargeable batteries are rated in "mAh" which stands for "milli-ampere h s". 

What this means is that a 1000mAh battery would be capable of delivering 1000mA of current consistently for one h  whereas a 2000mAh battery would be capable of delivering the same 1000mA of current for two h s. Do not allow this figure to confuse things.

This number simply tells you what the capacity of the battery is. For example, a battery with a capacity of 2000mAh would run the same device for twice as long between charges as a battery with a capacity of 1000mAh as it has twice the capacity. 

Basically, the higher the number the better it is in high drain applications as you will benefit from longer run times. 

Q : Can I use 1.2 V rechargeable batteries in devices that usually take 1.5 V throw away batteries?

Yes, most definitely. Using 1.2 V rechargeable batteries will have no effect on the use of the equipment. In fact an alkaline battery only benefits from 1.5 V voltage at the beginning of its discharge. Then, it drops constantly to well below 1.2 V. Finally, it drops to around 0.6 V.  Most equipment will work happily on anything between 0.9 V and 1.5 V. Unlike alkaline batteries where the voltage drops quickly, rechargeable batteries offer a more constant voltage around 1.25 V throughout the entire period of use.

That is why the latest rechargeable batteries will actually outperform alkaline batteries in equipment calling for a constant and high level of energy input, such as digital cameras, flashes, camcorders, computers, portable phones, CD players, toys, gadgets - well just about anything.

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Q : Can I recharge NiMh and NiCd batteries at the same time ?
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 No. You should never charge NiMH and NiCd batteries at the same time.  TIP: You should always try to use and charge batteries in sets.

Q : Do I need to charge my new batteries before first use?

Yes. All   NiMH and NiCd rechargeable batteries are supplied uncharged and must be charged before first use. Best performance is reached after the first two or three recharges.

 Q : What's the difference between NiCd and NiMH batteries ? The main difference between the two battery types

• NiMh Nickel Metal Hydride and

• NiCd Nickel Cadmium often referred to as NiCads

is capacity and memory effect. If you are under the illusion that rechargeable batteries are not very good then the chances are that you have been using older Alkaline rechargeable batteries (which ARE rubbish) or NiCd batteries suffering from memory effect and you have not been aware of the effects of Memory Effect.

Modern NiMH rechargeable batteries do not suffer from memory effect and have a much higher capacity than NiCd batteries. 

If you are NEW to rechargeable batteries and are confused by the two battery types, then go straight to NiMH rechargeable batteries and you will not be disappointed. 

• Performance:  NiMH batteries greatly out-perform standard NiCd batteries in high-drain applications. 

• Voltage:   Both NiMH and NiCd have virtually the same voltage (1.2v).

• Capacity:   NiMH batteries have more than twice the capacity of standard NiCd batteries. This results in much longer battery usage.

• Memory effect: NiMH batteries have No Memory Effect. NiMH batteries can be charged or ?topped-up? at any time without affecting battery life. For NiCd batteries on the other hand, they should occasionally be fully discharged before recharging in order to achieve optimum performance.

• Environmentally friendly:  NiMH batteries are free of toxic or hazardous elements such as cadmium, lead, mercury or lithium and can be used repeatedly and disposed of safely when finally thrown away 

• Charging time: NiMH batteries generally take longer to charge than NiCd batteries due to their increased capacity 

• Size: Both NiCd and NiMh batteries are exactly the same size.

NiCd batteries can generally perform well in devices such as TV controls, clocks, radios or torches for example, where they will happily operate until they run flat. Modern power hungry devices like digital cameras, video cameras or remote control toys on the other hand are better suited to NiMH. If you have used NiCd rechargeables before and you are happy with their performance then we have some great NiCd prices.

 If you are unsure about which type of battery is best for you then choose NiMH.

  Q : Why is it necessary to discharge NiCd cells before the process of charging?

You should discharge NiCd cells before every fifth to tenth process of charging in order to avoid the feared memory effect. The memory effect has the consequence that the not used parts of the cell due to partially discharging are no longer in a position to receive and produce energy. Consequently their operating times become shorter and shorter and the cells have to be recharged more frequently. This often misunderstood feature of NiCd batteries has possibly given some users a bad impression of rechargeable batteries in the past. Memory effect does not occur with NiMH batteries. 

  Q : Can I leave my batteries in the charger until I need to use it?

When used with an overnight charger or a rapid charger with automatic switch off, NiMH batteries can be left in the charger for an extended period of time without leakage, explosion, or deformation. However, do not store the batteries in the charger if it is not necessary, and do not leave batteries in the charger if it is switched on and charging (unless it has an automatic timer to switch it off). Always store charged batteries in a cool location.