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Batteries Updated: 05 Oct 2011

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Use a good battery charger = longer life Posted by: Roger Dennis 17 Oct 2011 7:23pm

The standard cheap battery chargers will reduce the life of your batteries significantly - what you need is a quality charger where you can alter the charge. I have a Lacrosse BC900 which is extraordinary. More information here:

http://www.galttech.com/research/buying-online/best-battery-charger.php

Rechargeable batteries. Posted by: Alan Pike 12 Oct 2011 8:29pm

I have found a serious problem with these when a number are used in series to get the required voltage, eg 4 batteries at 1.5V = 6V for non rechargeable but 4 at 1.2V= 4.8V. A considerable number of devices that are rated to work on 6V perform poorly or not at all at 4.8V

Alan Pike.

Rechargeable batteries. Posted by: Alan Pike 12 Oct 2011 8:29pm

I have found a serious problem with these when a number are used in series to get the required voltage, eg 4 batteries at 1.5V = 6V for non rechargeable but 4 at 1.2V= 4.8V. A considerable number of devices that are rated to work on 6V perform poorly or not at all at 4.8V

Alan Pike.

Suspect & uncertain results Posted by: V M McMahon 11 Oct 2011 5:49pm

> I am actively involved with sourcing NimH batteries from China for use in high volume products for worldwide sale.
> All batteries here will come from generic large scale Chinese producers (probably BYD, BPI & GP). The reported variation in top brands is 'interesting".
> I find these test results both immensely surprising in a number of aspects and woefully lacking in meaningful content, to the extent that it is hard to obtain substantial meaning from them. eg how a battery can rate poorly due to a low cycle life, yet still be amongst the highest capacity performers at the end of its life is uncertain.
> Access to detailed test results on a web page would be easy to achieve and would be of value and interest to a substantial number of people.
> I have no involvement with Panasonic - but they generally sell high quality products. It is extremely surprising that their batteries score ~50% compared to "the best".
> Claims that LSD and standard batteries had very similar self discharge characteristics is suspect. This is not the general experience.
> GP (Goldpeak) are among one of the 3 largest Chinese suppliers (HK based) but are not mentionedhere. Their "ReCyko" (strange name) LSD NimH are superb.
// I'm Russell - Val's husband. apptechnz@gmail.com

milliamp-hour example wrong Posted by: Valerie Blennerhassett 11 Oct 2011 5:39pm

Where the article says: "For example, a 2000 mAh battery should last for eight hours in a gadget needing 250 milliamps per hour."

The "per hour" is wrong and should be removed.

The gadget needs either "250 milliamps." or "250 mAh per hour."
(or 900 Coulombs per hour)

Avoid Energizer rechargeable. Posted by: Sam Lim 03 May 2011 5:29pm

Have over 10 of Energizer rechargeable that I used for 2 cameras, 2 wireless mouse and Wii remote. Now, after a recharge, they lost their power within 2 days, this is without using them or put them into the device. Zero... not a drip of power.
My 6 years old Sanyo and Panasonic rechargeable still going strong. Not worth the money and doesn't last near 50 recharge.

voltage Posted by: Motueka Family 25 Mar 2010 12:26pm

All the NiMH rechargables I have seen for sale are 1.2V. I have a LED head lamp and the packaging recommends using 1.5V rechargables. I believe LED's are very voltage sensitive. Is there such a thing as 1.5V NiMH battaries? There was no mention of voltage in the consumer test.