Rechargable batteries - How do they compare to standard ones?

JIM_BOB7813 said:
google "mh-c9000" for more info.
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Now that's a serious charger.

Five modes of operation:

Charge: Recharges the battery at the selected rate - for batteries used frequently

Refresh and Analyze: Charges the battery, rest for one hour, discharge, rest again, then recharges it. Selectable charging and discharging rate - for batteries stored for more than two weeks but less than 3 months or those showing poor performance

Break-In: Also known as IEC capacity measurement and "Battery Forming". Charges battery at 10% of the battery capacity for 16 hours, rest for one hour, discharges battery at 20% of the battery capacity, then recharges again at 10% for 16 hours - for new batteries and those stored for more than 3 months

Discharge: Discharges the battery at the selected rate

Cycle: Performs charge-discharge cycle for up to 12 times with discharge capacity stored in memory. Recharges battery after final cycle - for batteries with poor performance

The WizardOne has independent charging circuits for each cell position, allowing you to perform a different operations on each cell position at the same time. So you could be breaking in 2 new batteries in slots one and two while charging another battery in slot 3 & cycling a poorly performing battery in slot 4

The large backlit LCD shows the operation mode, battery capacity, charging/discharging voltage, charging time and charging current for each slot in turn so you know exactly what is going on at all times. With 29 user selectable charging and discharging speeds, charging current from 0.2A to 2.0A and discharging current from 0.1A to 1.0A in 0.1A increments. there is a staggering 10,000 plus programming possibilities, putting you in total control.

In most devices, usually two or more batteries are used together. When batteries are used in a series, the performance is limited by the worst one. In other words, one poorly performing battery can significantly reduce the device runtime. The WizardOne charger allows you to match batteries with the same actual capacities to get the maximum possible performance from your equipment.
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CHokKA said:
Just bought myself one of these for £22 delivered:

http://www.tantronics.co.uk/acatalog/Info_chg-ans-pl5-mob.html

The Ansmann Powerline 5 Mobile (Mobil) is a Microprocessor controlled Universal-charger with individual supervision of each inserted cell for 1-4 AAA; AA; C; D cells as well as 2 x 9 V block. Automatic matching of charging current and charging status indicator. Discharge function for cylindrical cells. Incl. AC- and DC-adaptor for home and mobile use.

Intelligent High-Tec charger with discharge function
Desktop charger for 1-4 AAA or AA, C or D cells in addition to 1- 2 PP3 (E-block)
-dV charging for all NiCd/NiMHcells;
Individual supervision of every cell position, excluding the PP3 (E-Block), faulty cell detection for cylindrical cells
Charge any combination of rechargeable NiCd/NiMH cells at the same time
Trickle charge once charging is complete
The cells can remain in the charger until they are needed
UK Power Supply and In-Car power lead.
Charge Status LEDs for each charge slot.
Battery Discharge Button for Cylindrical cells.
3 year warranty

Anyone know if that's any good?
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Looks good, but interestingly the £9 Fujicell SCH509F seems to charge a lot quicker due to a higher current?!
 
bledd. said:
I'm lazy, I just buy Duracell M3's in packs of 40, it's £16.49 delivered for 40, great if you have a friend who also needs 20..
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That's my problem, environmentally, with non-rechargeables. That's 40 batteries thrown in the ground vs a fraction of the total charges a couple of rechargeables can take. I'm not particularly anti landfill but there's a lot of nasty stuff in dry batteries that can't be recovered or processed.

Even if a rechargeable battery only ever takes half the number of charges the manufacturer claims it's still one battery, one charger and 500 recharges compared to 500 dead batteries in landfill.
 
Jonny69 said:
That's my problem, environmentally, with non-rechargeables. That's 40 batteries thrown in the ground vs a fraction of the total charges a couple of rechargeables can take. I'm not particularly anti landfill but there's a lot of nasty stuff in dry batteries that can't be recovered or processed.

Even if a rechargeable battery only ever takes half the number of charges the manufacturer claims it's still one battery, one charger and 500 recharges compared to 500 dead batteries in landfill.
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Asda have started putting battery recycling points in their stores. I'm not sure how efficient the recycling of batteries is, but as the advert on the radio says 'you cant just throw them in a normal bin,' I assume they don't get thrown straight into landfill, and something can be recovered?
 
Apparently this about batteries is abit of a myth now, this is coming from someone who deffenitly knows what he's talking about when it comes to electronics:




The "memory" effect is basically a myth. In the early days of nickel cadmium (NiCd) batteries there was a grain of truth in this (if you discharged a battery to exactly the same level repeatedly then perhaps you might see a hint of this. Nowadays, it's not a problem. Lots of armchair experts seem to think that it still is though....

Some people confuse "voltage depression" with "memory effect" which they shouldn't as they are two different things.

Voltage depression occurs when a battery is repeatedly overcharged. Repeatedly overcharging is bad for batteries, so don't do it. Look up the manufacturer's charging guidelines and stick to them.
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Although most rechargeable batteries perhaps aren't as good as a fresh set of Duracells it does feel like a waste to continue buying a throwing away normal batteries.
 
The key to a good NiMh is if they are precharged. This indicates the low self discharge variant that lose 20% over 1 year rather than 30% in 30 days.

Basically they switched from acrylic acid grafting to sulphonated separators within the battery, that and the use of Encapsulated Ni(OH)2 has massively reduced the self discharging. I wish my car batteries had the same type!

GP Recyko is what you want.
 
willhub said:
Apparently this about batteries is abit of a myth now, this is coming from someone who deffenitly knows what he's talking about when it comes to electronics:
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Is that from Dansdata by any chance? Because if it's not I'm about to go find his memory effect page and link it.
 
No it's from someone I know who did a degree in electronics at one cambridge uni, or oxford. He certainly knows what he's talking about .
 
Jonnycoupe said:
The key to a good NiMh is if they are precharged. This indicates the low self discharge variant that lose 20% over 1 year rather than 30% in 30 days.

Basically they switched from acrylic acid grafting to sulphonated separators within the battery, that and the use of Encapsulated Ni(OH)2 has massively reduced the self discharging. I wish my car batteries had the same type!

GP Recyko is what you want.
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I hope the Ansmann 2850s (I've ordered) don't lose too much charge too quickly when not in use! THey'll most likely be sitting in Wii controllers for a month or two at a time...
 
willhub said:
Apparently this about batteries is abit of a myth now, this is coming from someone who deffenitly knows what he's talking about when it comes to electronics:
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So it's overcharging that's the issue? So will my UniRoss Easy Charger overcharge the batteries if left too long?

A compact fast charger with universal voltage for worldwide usability. Ideal for everyday Hi-tech electronic devices such as Cameras, mp3 and model making.

# LED charge indicator Left & right
# LED status indicator Green Led = Charging
# Safety features include:
# Reverse polarity detection
# Short Circuit protection
# Timer 10hrs​


It apprears to be quite a simple one so my guess is to get either:-

Fujicell SCH509F (£8.99 delivered):-

# It's a well known Japanese brand and quality assured;
# Microprocessor controlled, intelligent, quick charger
# Output current: 800mA, i.e. can charge a 700mAh AAA battery in about an hour
# Can charge any combination and 1 to 4 pieces of AA/AAA Ni-MH/Ni-Cd batteries at a time
# Auto power cut-off to prevent over-charging, i.e. kind to batteries.
# Over-current protection
# Detection of defective batteries
# Refresh function to discharge and recharge batteries
# LED display accurately showing the charging process​

or as someone else has suggested, Ansmann Powerline 5 Mobile (£22 delivered):-

* Intelligent High-Tec charger with discharge function
* Desktop charger for 1-4 AAA or AA, C or D cells in addition to 1- 2 PP3 (E-block)
* -dV charging for all NiCd/NiMHcells;
* Individual supervision of every cell position, excluding the PP3 (E-Block), faulty cell detection for cylindrical cells
* Charge any combination of rechargeable NiCd/NiMH cells at the same time
* Trickle charge once charging is complete
* The cells can remain in the charger until they are needed
* UK Power Supply and In-Car power lead.
* Charge Status LEDs for each charge slot.
* Battery Discharge Button for Cylindrical cells.
* 3 year warranty​
 
What sort of question is that, it's obvious if the battery has overcharge protection it won't get damaged from over charging.
 
willhub said:
What sort of question is that, it's obvious if the battery has overcharge protection it won't get damaged from over charging.
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Ummm... Well, it appears from my limited understand that my current charger does not have this feature so could damage the batteries. I'm not certain, hence the question. This is what the UniRoss Easy Charger spiel says:-

# LED charge indicator Left & right
# LED status indicator Green Led = Charging
# Safety features include:
# Reverse polarity detection
# Short Circuit protection
# Timer 10hrs

^^ Doesn't seem to suggest it does it? Unless I'm missing something?

If I'm not missing something then I've listed my two choices for a replacement, which I'd appreciate any advice on...
 
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