Batteries

[scarey55]

I think they are generally OK but I don't use my camera that often so, when I do want to use it, the charge has gone. We use them in lots of other things and they seem to work quite well and, as many have said, they are better for the environment.

[rana]

Rechargeable NiMH AA and AAA batteries are only 1.2V instead of the standard 1.5V. While this is OK for running things with a low drain such as remote controls and clocks they are less suitable for electricals that require the punch of 4 full alkaline AAs (6v) such as doorbells.

[quark1]

I prefer rechargables - even if they've travelled a bit - they're going to work out far better all round in long run.

I'm even going to consider getting a solar-recharger which will be even better!

Any spent disposables - or rechargables past their best - we do acquire can now be included in the doorstep recycling in my area now - so that is great.

[Dottie]

Rechargeable NiMH AA and AAA batteries are only 1.2V instead of the standard 1.5V. While this is OK for running things with a low drain such as remote controls and clocks they are less suitable for electricals that require the punch of 4 full alkaline AAs (6v) such as doorbells.

Other than for bedside clock and remote control, I previously didn't have anything that required batteries. But now need 4 AA batteries to try out a dance mat, scart lead plugs into tv. I would assume a dance mat will need a fair bit of power, as it has lots of things all working at the same time?

[Flummery]

Is it the poundland USB charger? The one I saw recharged 2 AA batteries at a time.

Dunno - I haven't actually seen a charger for AAAs but then I've never looked before.

[Two_Sheds]

[QUOTE=grannymem;807963]

OOPs, I feel slapped wrists for that question, sorry!!

lol, not at all

USB rechargeable units, that you plug into your laptop.

Laptops don't charge as fully as mains do - they're OK for a quick top up

I am frequently frustrated with rechargeable batteries especially in my camera. They lose their charge so quickly

What battery are you using? AA? You need to buy a high-charge battery, something like a 2600 MaH. Some AA batts in the pound shop are as puny as 800 MaH.
oh, and you should remove the batts if not in use, they do drain even if camera is off (well, my mum's does)

So now I need to also consider how long a rechargeable battery holds it's charge!

I change our remote controls about once every other month, our clocks last for months, as do my bike lights and torches. The trick is to buy high MaH batteries, not the low numbers

Dunno - I haven't actually seen a charger for AAAs but then I've never looked before.

I have a really simple plug in charger like this one, does AA and AAA with the flick of a switch

[Florence Fennel]

It's getting towards Spring and I feel like I need to recharge my batteries, preferably somewhere quiet and calm.

[Dottie]

Thanks TwoSheds, that's cleared things up.

I didn't think the laptop charger seemed like a great idea, and a duracel recharger seems a much better bet. Even if something is only a £1, I'm only interested if it does the job.

[bigt1888]

what i have found with batteries is that you get what you pay for as in the cheap ones are cheap for a reason....they dont last long

the best advice given to me was that you should always buy your batteries from a shop that sells a lot but does does not stock too many as they have a very short shelf life and start losing charge as soon as they are made so really if you buy from a shop that has rtow upon row of batteries you are paying for the time they have sat upon the shelf

[Dottie]

what i have found with batteries is that you get what you pay for as in the cheap ones are cheap for a reason....they dont last long

the best advice given to me was that you should always buy your batteries from a shop that sells a lot but does does not stock too many as they have a very short shelf life and start losing charge as soon as they are made so really if you buy from a shop that has rtow upon row of batteries you are paying for the time they have sat upon the shelf

Well when I was checking the web last night, it said that batteries actually have around a 7 year shelf life and if you see them on offer to stock up.

[bigt1888]

Well when I was checking the web last night, it said that batteries actually have around a 7 year shelf life and if you see them on offer to stock up.

batteries should be stored in dark cool dry conditions to give a shelf life anywhere near 7 years.....unfortunately most shops tend to place them on display in light warm centrally heated conditions which will reduce theor shelf life by at least 50% making a max of 3.5 yrs in ideal conditions less the time on display....

i know i expect my remote control batteries to last at least a few years so i will always go for shops with a large volume turnover such as Tesco or other supermarkets (has anyone noticed why the battery section in tesco only has about oned tag of each size/type)

[rana]

I recently bought some C6 1.5V batteries manufactured by a leading photographic company. They were purchased from a market at an incredibly cheap price (20p/pack of six). The packaging had a use by date of 2009. They have performed exceptionally well comfortably surpassing the performance of alternative budget price batteries. Perhaps they were stored in near perfect conditions.

[Two_Sheds]

(has anyone noticed why the battery section in tesco only has about oned tag of each size/type)

Is that more to do with the fact they are a highly-thieved item?

[Hilary B]

Rechargeables do seem to lose charge if stored too long charged (well the ones we use do, but I think they were ones that had been recharged a lot already).
OH uses AAs in torch and camera for work, we always take spare rechargeables with us, but I like to have a pair of Duracell equivalents too (got some from Halfords recently that turned out to be pretty good value, not least because you got a pack of 12 half-price when buying anything else), just in case the charged ones turn out to have lost their charge at just the wrong time.....

[bigt1888]

Is that more to do with the fact they are a highly-thieved item?

not in north lanarkshire.......tut tut ........the very thought