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Are Rechargeable Batteries That Great?
Submitted by v.west88 on Fri, 06/20/2008 - 10:18am.
There are numerous claims that rechargeable batteries are the way to go, but are they that much better than our everyday alkaline batteries? And are they truly worth all that extra money? It's a guarantee that batteries will die. After providing power to everything from cameras, to remote controls and your kids toys, there comes a point when batteries must move on to battery heaven. This year alone, one person will throw away an average of 8 batteries and Americans together will purchase close to 3 billion dry-cell batteries. So how do you stop yourself from following the crowd of battery tossers and buyers? RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES! Not only will you save money, but you will be taking advantage of renewable energy. Clearly it is cheaper to reach for our old friend alkaline (whether it be those AA, AAA,C,D or 9-volts that we love so dearly), but once you pay the initial expense (Best Buy offers a Duracell 4 pack of AA batteries and charger stand for $12.99) for rechargeable batteries, there is no more expenses to owning these batteries. Rechargeable batteries can last up to 1,000 charges (longer if stored in the fridge) saving you about $80 a year, on average. As for the environment, batteries can and will leak harmful chemicals (mercury, lead and cadmium) into landfills. Probably the best news is that rechargeable batteries are easy to recycle. And, because batteries can be recharged and reused numerous times, they contribute less waste to landfills, overall.
So now that you're interested in rechargeable batteries, here are your options:
Nickel Cadmium (NiCd) - known for its long life but lower voltage potential than its competitors. And even though rechargeable batteries live longer than alkaline, there comes a time when they will die as well. But don't go throwing them away, check out the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (http://www.rbrc.org/call2recycle/) or call 877-273-2925. If there is not a site in your area to recycle your other rechargeable batteries, like those old cell phone batteries, check out EarthWorks website (http://earthworksboston.org/page/home) and they can send them off for you. source: http://www.healthgoods.com/Shopping/Conservation_Products/Rechargeable _Batteries_Chargers.asp (9 votes) »
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lithium contains pressurized sulfur
A lithium battery contains pressurized sulfur
dioxide gas. They are not safe for the enviorment The gas is toxic, and the battery MUST NOT be abused in any
way which may cause the battery to rupture.
Do NOT heat, short circuit, crush, puncture, mutilate, or disassemble batteries.
DO NOT USE any battery which shows signs of damage, such as bulging, swelling, disfigurement, a brown liquid in the plastic wrap, a swollen plastic wrap, etc.
You shouldnt dispose of lithium batteries with ordinary trash/refuse.
a bad lithium battery can become hot to the touch, if you hear hissing or burping (i.e., battery venting), or smell irritating gas (sulfur dioxide),
IMMEDIATELY TURN OFF the equipment and leave the area.
1. Allow the equipment to cool at least one hour.
2. Remove and replace battery after the equipment has cooled to the touch.
3. If there is a safety incident, or if you believe a safety hazard exists, notify you should contact hazmat.
ALSO DO NOT use a Halon type fire extinguisher on a lithium battery fire.
In the event of a fire near a lithium battery(ies), rapid cooling of the lithium battery(ies) is important. Flood the equipment with water, or use a carbon dioxide (CO2) extinguisher. Control of the equipment fire, and cooling, may prevent the battery from venting and potentially exposing lithium metal. In the event that lithium metal becomes involved in fire, the use of a graphite based Class D fire extinguisher is recommended.
DO NOT store batteries in unused equipment.
DC NOT store lithium batteries with other hazardous materials. Keep them away from open flame or heat
So Lithium isnt as great as this article
It should be pointed out
It should be pointed out that lower temperatures cause condensation, so a fridge may be too cool...just keep them cooler than average, but not cold.
All the info you'd ever want on all types of rechargeables (i.e. never let lead-acid go dead) can be found at batteryuniversity.com
No, I have no affiliation with them, other than finding the detailed info useful...
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What happens after Vinge's Singularity...one wonders...
you can even get a solar
you can even get a solar powered charger for the rechargeable batteries.
The things solar power can do....
You could just use as little
You could just use as little battery operated items as possible......I think the only thing that I use that is battery operated really is my digital camera, and those are rechargeable. Other than that I don't see a need for batteries!
There is myth and fact to
There is myth and fact to everything...just like food can cause cancer one year, and prevent it the next
I put my batteries in the fridge..always have and always will
I researched the myth behind
I researched the myth behind refrigerating your batteries and it looks like mixed reviews. Some say it slows the chemical reactions in the battery, therefore prolonging their life. Others say it's just a bunch of bull and room temperature is best suited for batteries. So I guess it's up to you and your preference.
the fridge?
I didn't know you could put batteries in the fridge. How does that make them last longer? Very interesting
Maybe this will help
Accorrding to greenbatteries.com
"Putting batteries in the freezer or refrigerator doesn't necessarily prolong their life
Alkaline batteries stored at "room temperature" self discharge at a rate of less than two percent per year. So normally refrigerating or freezing them will only help maintain their charge by a tiny amount. Hardly worth the effort of chilling them. However, if alkaline batteries are stored at higher temperatures they will start to lose capacity much quicker. At 85 degrees F they only lose about 5% per year, but at 100 degrees they lose 25% per year. So if you live in a very hot climate or are storing your batteries in a very hot location, it may be worthwhile for you to store your alkaline batteries in a refrigerator instead.
NiMH and NiCd batteries self discharge at a MUCH faster rate than alkaline batteries. In fact, at "room temperature" (about 70 degrees F) NiMH and NiCD batteries will self discharge a few percent PER DAY. Storing them at lower temperatures will slow their self discharge rate dramatically. NiMH batteries stored at freezing will retain over 90% of their charge for full month. So it might make sense to store them in a freezer. If you do, it's best to bring them back to room temperature before using them. Even if you don't freeze your NiMH batteries after charging them, you should store them in a cool place to minimize their self discharge."
Rechargeable all the way!
Batteries are harmful if not disposed of properly no matter what kind they are. However, rechargeable batteries not only save you money, but discourage the need to buy more batteries therefore lessening the amount that are not disposed of properly.
Rechargeable all the way!