Which Rechargeable Batteries Do You Use?

kramer2718 asks: "I go through a lot of batteries in my digital camera, remote controls, etc. I'd like to go to the rechargeable route for the environment and for my pocketbook, but I don't know which rechargeable batteries are the best. Can anyone out there give me some advice about which brand and types of batteries work well?"

Comments

Ni-Metal

[stonefoz]

I still don't trust lithium-ion for regular uses, the device really needs an onboard controller just to keep them safe. Can't overcharge, voltage spike, drain too far, temp ect. However any device will be happy with Ni-Metal. Ni-Metal has the closest performance next to lithium-ion with the only drawback is weight, nickel is heavy.

I use NiMH

[grishnav]

To learn about the different chemistries:

http://batteryuniversity.com/

I've found NiMH to be the best balance for all my applications.

I've had good luck buying NiMH in bulk from this company:

http://www.shorelinemarket.com/

I've purchased AA and AAAs in bulk from them (Tenergy AAs and Powerizer AAAs). While they aren't the highest capacity batteries available, they are pretty close, and I haven't been able to beat the price per cell on comparable batteries or the price per MaH.

The AAs seem to do a bit better in high-drain, as they seem to bleed a full charge in about four-six months, which means something that might run practically forever on a set (like a transistor radio you don't use often, or a small scanner), usually won't eat the batteries before they eat themselves. But they've done really well for me.

I'm not real happy with the Powerizers. They seem more like 400-500mah than 850, but alas, I can't really test them. I'm tempted to buy some of the Tenergy AAs to try, but unfortunately I've already got a bunch of the Powerizers.
I also purchased their 10-position AA/AAA charger/discharger. It works fine, but makes this annoying buzz every second or so as it charges and discharges, I'm assuming because of cheap components. Invest the extra bucks for a nice Maha.

Anyway, read up at battery university before you go making any purchases. There is a lot of good info there. Just keep in mind they are operated buy the guy who runs Cadex.

Re:Cheep Ni-Cad ones

[Anonymous Coward]

The only issues with them are that I go through them faster and therefore more end up having to be disposed of properly and I have to carry more of them around for high drain devices.

So then don't. Not only is the Cadmium part of NiCad significantly more toxic than anything that's used in NiMHs, you end up with just a quarter of the capacity of NiMHs (>2400mAh and 1200mAh for AA and AAA respectively) and even less of it usable, since NiMHs work significantly better with high drain devices. NiMHs can be charged faster, they don't degrade as quickly as NiCads. Their only drawbacks are higher price and a higher self discharge rate, i.e. they lose charge by just resting on the shelf.

Re:I've given up on 'em.

[evilviper]

A few years back I made a big push to try to save money by using rechargeable batteries. I gave up on them.

Your experience is seriously out-of-date, and just about the exact opposite of reality now.

How well devices on 1.2V rechargeable batteries varies a lot from one device to another. Some work just fine. Quite a few work poorly enough to be a nuisance.

1) The more batteries a device has, the more chance that there will be a problem. Anything that only uses 2 batteries will be fine. 4 should be okay as well. 6-8 and you've got a real issue. In that case, some higher-end devices have extra compartments for extra rechargable batteries. On my Sega Nomad, I added a couple myself.

2) Panasonic's NiCD batteries are rated at 1.25 volts, which helps.

3) Alkaline batteries offer lower voltages over time, as they become drained, so just about everything has to be able to operate on 1.2V anyhow, otherwise it will have horendous battery life. NiCD batteries, unlike Alkalines, will hold their 1.2V until they're almost completely drained. That works great in most modern devices, but is considered a drawback in flashlights because you get no warning.

4) But more than that. Modern Ni-MH batteries, though rated at 1.2V, really offer 1.5V (in my own tests) when freshly charged, and slowly go down, like Alkalines.

Rechargeables store distinctly less energy, i.e. don't last anywhere near as long on a single charge as a disposable.

This hasn't been true for over a decade.

1) "High capacity" AA NiCDs from Radioshack (850mAH?) have just slightly less power than Alkalines, and have been sold for at least a decade now.

2) High Capacity AA Panasonic NiCDs (1100mAH) last as long or longer than Alkalines, DESPITE the lower voltage of NiCD.

3) NiMH AA batteries, as sold by Energizer and Duracell (2000+ mAH), last nearly TWICE as long as disposible Alkaline batteries.

Rechargeables lose energy if not kept in the charger.

1) True for NiCD, but absolutely not true for NiMH. NiMH batteries will hold their charge for months.

2) I haven't seen an always-on charger in well over a decade. So your experience is obviously very out-of-date, and not remotely applicable or helpful.

3) Recent batteries and chargers have gotten charge time down to 30 minutes, so unless you are in a situation desperately need a battery R

4) Leaving NiCD batteries constantly charging will significantly reduces their lifespan. That may have been causing some of the other issues you listed.

Rechargeables die fairly quickly, typically in about two years. And suffer reduced capacity as they age.

1) Really crappy NiCDs, under an extremely heavy duty cycle, may have the life you describe. The better ones will last far longer. And in more realistic usage, even the crappy ones will last far more than a year.

2) NiMH have no such problems. They'll last for many more years, and exhibit very little capacity loss.

you cannot just replace all the alkaline disposables in your house with rechargeables,

Not true. With NiMH batteries, EVERYTHING I have is operating on rechargables.

("the charger on the left is with the charged batteries that are ready for use and just being kept topped up...") you can't really share rechargeables with other family members

Yeah, 20 years ago that was a real problem. Ever since, it's been trivially easy.

it is not at all clear that you actually save money using them in a general way.

It's been overwhelmingly proven, time and time again, in study after study, that you save significant money, even with the cheapest, oldest rechargables.

Today, the situtation is worlds better, and extremely clear-cut.

Tell me, does your laptop computer operate on disposible Alkaline AA batteries, or does it use rechargeables? How about your iPod?