Rechargeable batteries what's that all about?

[Steven W]

Don't ask me why, but for some reason I've never used a battery recharger to recharge batteries in my house. I just go out and buy new ones year after year.

I go through loads of batteries and must have spent a fortune on them.

Today I bought a battery recharger and some various packs of batteries. I've filled every item in my house that uses batteries, so now I no longer have to buy any more? Right?

The thing I don't understand is how I could have been so stupid to keep on buying batteries year after year, or am I missing something here?

Why doesn't everyone buy a battery recharger?

[Stewart]

Why do people buy water when its free?

[Steven W]

Originally Posted by Stewart

Why do people buy water when its free?

Because it's hard to find a tap when you're out for the day?

[HSK]

I've always mainly used rechargeable in the past, although after a while they don't perform as well.

there are these Sanyo eneloop rechargeable batteries that are supposed to be better then the usual ones, but they are quite expensive!

[Steven W]

Originally Posted by HSK

I've always mainly used rechargeable in the past, although after a while they don't perform as well.

there are these Sanyo eneloop rechargeable batteries that are supposed to be better then the usual ones, but they are quite expensive!

I was wondering if there might be performance issues. Will these rechargeable batteries keep my two Duracel bunnies hopping all night?

[HSK]

Originally Posted by Steven W

I was wondering if there might be performance issues. Will these rechargeable batteries keep my two Duracel bunnies hopping all night?

I guess you just gotta be careful u dont forget to take em out of the re-charger once they are full. but if they charger switches off automatically once they are done then thats ok.

plus i think its good practise to completely run them empty before you recharge.

your bunnies will be hopping all weekend.

[stevie lee]

you'll still have to buy new batteries, it just depends on how much you recharge them. i think it's around 1000 times before the full charge only lasts 1 minute or so.. the cells inside degrade due to heat flex, i'll ask my workshop boss when i go back to shopmobility after my stress induced holiday.

mobility scooter batteries on the other hand have many uses other than just for mobility scooters. we've got a 12v 35 amp, hooked up to a 'not portable now but it used to be - drill', the standard battery pack lasts 30mins, the new pack lasts around 14 hours..

i wonder if a laptop can be powered off one of those things?


the gadget show did a comparison test on batteries in the last series, the duracell lithiums won, but they recommend getting morrisons own brand (non-rechargeable though)

edit: if you completely drain some batteries before a recharge, then the stuff inside them can degrade/collapse and no amount of re-charging can bring them back to life. so effectively you have knackered your new battery after just one use.. and with a brand new rechargeable battery, its always adviseable to give it a full charge before using it the first time (for the above reason).

[Stewart]

Originally Posted by Steven W

Because it's hard to find a tap when you're out for the day?

Bring a tap with you!

[Funkstar]

Originally Posted by Stewart

Bring a tap with you!

Rangers tap


or a Celtic tap

[kidzer]

roffle, excellent

[Rave]

Most rechargeables self-discharge pretty rapidly, which makes them crap for clocks and other low-drain devices. Apart from that though, rechargeables all the way; anyone who uses Alkalines in cameras/ torches/ music players etc. is a fool IMO.

[sammyc]

as i understand it you shouldn't have to drain NiMH rechargeables before charging - quote from Battery Logic UK website who have lots of info..

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.

i use them for most things especially DAB radio & camera which eat batteries (not that that's news or anything)

[Stringent]

They don't last as long as normal batteries thats for sure. But its handy, I now use rechargables in the Wii remotes. handy with a charging station.

[Lucio]

I bought rechargables once.

Then I threw them away without thinking...

[Behemoth]

Originally Posted by Lucio

I bought rechargables once.

Then I threw them away without thinking...

Plonker

I've got rechargeable batteries coming out of my ears here at the moment, but thats due to the sheer amount of Digital Camera's we have, 5 is the current standing. So yeah we need them lol

I actually find with AA camera's if Duracell M3 Ultra's are used, after about 5 minutes they are dead, well not dead as such but half drained. 2700 mAH NiMH batteries all the way

[hitman67]

For things like TV Remotes, clocks, stick with your Duracells.

For My Digicam I have no fewer than 16 batteries, all over 2500maH, but then they get nicked to use in other things!