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rechargeables vs standard batteries
- Thread starter Chrono
- Start date
NiMH and NiCads have a self-discharge rate of about 1% per day. If you charge them and use them often this isn't an issue, but as you noticed letting them sit they discharge all by themselves. I believe the self-discharge rate on alkaline was about 1% every two weeks. Lithium is about 1% every two months. As of now you can only get lithium in AA, 9v and some really expensive D and C cells.
The Tourist
Banned
- Joined
- Dec 23, 2001
- Messages
- 2,796
A while back I asked this same question, myself. Just about everything at my home and office runs on AA batteries. My boss' digital camera takes four of them, and when we shoot on high-rez, it just gobbles up the power.
I bought a bunch of NiMH batteries for my personal stuff, and began to use them; however, the radio batteries are used constantly, and the flashlight batteries only used occasionally.
Get this, they're still on the initial charge! I have not yet had to recharge them, and I check them periodically. Of course, I listen to the radio nightly before I doze off. Could be because my batteries are new.
They come in a green casing, and I bought them at Radio Shack, along with a 4-station charger. The price has dropped here. I bought the charger with 4 batteries included for about 17 bucks.
I bought a bunch of NiMH batteries for my personal stuff, and began to use them; however, the radio batteries are used constantly, and the flashlight batteries only used occasionally.
Get this, they're still on the initial charge! I have not yet had to recharge them, and I check them periodically. Of course, I listen to the radio nightly before I doze off. Could be because my batteries are new.
They come in a green casing, and I bought them at Radio Shack, along with a 4-station charger. The price has dropped here. I bought the charger with 4 batteries included for about 17 bucks.
- Joined
- Apr 29, 2002
- Messages
- 1,273
Besides the self-discharge rate that Brock mentioned, there's also the fact that NiCd and NiMH cells only push 1.2V, as opposed to 1.5V in alkalines.
Although the voltage of rechargeables can be quite high after charging (can't remember how high, somewhere in the range of 1.5-1.7V), the voltage drops relatively rapidly compared to alkalines. So if you're using electronics that absolutely requires a voltage of about 1.5V, rechargeables will seem to have a very short battery life.
NiMH batteries tend to have really high capacities (the mAh figure). The added capacity comes at a cost. The higher the capacity, the higher the internal resistance of the battery (well, for a given size of battery). So if you're using the batteries in a high current situation (e.g. large motors), you might want to go with nicad batteries.
Although the voltage of rechargeables can be quite high after charging (can't remember how high, somewhere in the range of 1.5-1.7V), the voltage drops relatively rapidly compared to alkalines. So if you're using electronics that absolutely requires a voltage of about 1.5V, rechargeables will seem to have a very short battery life.
NiMH batteries tend to have really high capacities (the mAh figure). The added capacity comes at a cost. The higher the capacity, the higher the internal resistance of the battery (well, for a given size of battery). So if you're using the batteries in a high current situation (e.g. large motors), you might want to go with nicad batteries.
Cougar Allen
Buccaneer (ret.)
- Joined
- Oct 9, 1998
- Messages
- 75,552
Rechargeable alkalines have the same voltage and shelf life as regular alkalines. You have to buy a special charger for them but it's well worth it IMHO.