Batteries for Gadgets

Selection - Recharging - Recycling


Rechargeable Batteries

Low Self Discharge - Advanced Capacity Protection
Precharged - Ready2Use
Types: 1.2 volt: AA, AAA, C and D


A new generation of precharged ready-to-use rechargeable NiMH gadget batteries are appearing. They have a new internal separator that now ensures these batteries are Low Self Discharge (LSD). This enables them to hold their charge for much longer periods and thus are sold precharged and ready-to-use.

As these new batteries combine the benefits of being rechargeable and having a long shelf life, they should make a further dent in the in the disposable battery market. Buy them for your gadget hungry friends, kids and encourage everyone to ignore those disposable Alkaline and Heavy Duty types conveniently displayed at checkouts like candy bars, as if buying them will change your life. Really disposables wont do it, but these new precharged rechargeables will change your life.

For general use your average digital camera, these should last much longer between charges and still have ample power when you need it. If you demand a lot of power from your batteries, these may run out sooner, but you should think of moving to a Rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery. Unfortunately Li-Ions are not available in 1.2 volt AA and AAA sizes.

LSD (Low self-discharge) NiMH battery - Wikipedia

Powertech Enekeep Long Life Precharged Rechargeable NiMH Batteries
Available from JayCar Electronics York Street Sydney

Sanyo Eneloop Long Life Precharged Rechargeable Batteries (NiMH)
You-Tube Interview Available from Amazon.com and Dick Smith Electronics.
Capacity: AA 2000mAh, AAA 800mAh. C and D size adaptors available
If you have a SMART battery charger, you wont need the Eneloop charger.
Outside the USA, avoid the NC-MQN05 charger which is 110V only.

Varta Long Life Ready2Use Rechargeable NiMH Batteries
Available from your Dick Smith Electronics and your local supermarket.

Regular Rechargeable NiMH Batteries

Powertech Rechargeable NiMH AA & AAA Batteries
Available from JayCar Electronics York Street Sydney


Chargers

ReZap Battery Recharger
Recharge Non-Rechargeable Batteries ???
Don't attempt this unless you have a device designed to do it.
This charger has specially designed circuits to continuously test charge and re-test batteries checking for faults, and charging to keep them healthy. It will reject batteries that are faulty or have discharged so low that they can't be saved. It is a fairly safe device as long as you don't put in Lithium batteries or older heavy duty (zinc carbon) batteries.

The ReZap is for sale from Todae online or in Glebe.
Do a search for ReZap as it is hard to find on their menus. They also have a good info on the charger.

At this stage, I have minimal info on the performance of batteries recharged by this charger, but so far it is very promising and I will post more info after I have done some tests.

Lacross BC-900 Charger
This charger has had great reviews on Amazon.


Maintaining Battery Performance


Nickel Metal Hydride - NiMH

Many NiMH batteries don't work well when cold. If you put them in your pocket they will warm up and work better. That's not much help if you need to take a photo fast. Try out the Eneloop batteries or the ReZap charger to keep the charge higher and longer.

Another option is to get an external, portable battery pack which you keep in a pocket on your body and a power cable you plug into the camera. You must get the correct voltage and current rating for your camera. I'd aim at getting around twice the normal capacity (mAh) of your usual camera batteries. See 'Battery Space'

For expert advice on maintaining rechargeable batteries check out
Battery University.


Mobile Phone Batteries

Lithium Ion (Li-Ion) batteries are better maintained if kept topped up and the charge capacity is not left to drop below ~75% for long periods. With current mobile phones, this can be achieved by charging once or twice weekly depending on how much you use the phone. Let it run down to 25% once every 3-6 months so the phone charge indicator is properly reset (ie calibrated). More about Lithium based batteries and Green Batteries

Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) batteries are better maintained if you run them down to about 25% before recharging them and don't leave them on charge for longer than required to charge them, they can get warm and shorten their life. They are not completely free from 'battery memory' as originally claimed, but they have much less battery memory than the older Nickel Cadmium (NiCad) technology. More about Nickel based batteries

For expert advice on maintaining rechargeable batteries check out Battery University and Cadex


Battery Recycling

Don't throw your batteries in the bin. You know that many of them contain dangerous chemicals. Australia is slowly getting its act together and it is now possible to recycle batteries without much trouble.

Mobile Muster

Mobile Muster Online allows you to search for your closest collection point.
Phone shops and ANZ Bank Branches usually have a phone and battery collection box. Usually the collection box is a transparent perspex box about a metre high and 7x7 inches square with a slot in the top and they are tucked away in a spare corner. Or just ask the staff.

Council and other collection points

Some Councils organise a chemical clean-outs and will collect batteries and send them to a recycler in France. Check out Recycling Near You for your local details.
The site is great, but not perfect. After doing a search by product, you will be presented with a result page, where you may need to click another link to find out if your council collects the product you searched for.

Master Instruments have info on battery chemistry, care and recycling.
MRI is the company that ultimately collects most batteries and sends them to France for recycling.


Updated May 2008