- Q. How do Alkaline batteries compare to
rechargeable batteries?
- A. Alkaline batteries can not deliver
their full capacity for long periods. Alkaline batteries may be
rated at a higher capacity than rechargeable batteries, but they
will only provide their full power if the power drain is slow.
Rechargeable NiMH batteries can last 3-4 times longer than
Alkaline batteries in digital cameras and other high drain
electronic devices and are the preferred option.
- Q. What is the difference between Nickel
Cadmium (NiCd), Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) and Rechargeable
Alkaline Manganese (RAM) rechargeable batteries?
- A. Besides the environmental impact of
containing highly toxic Cadmium, NiCd batteries also lose their
power faster than NiMH batteries during storage and have an
issue called memory effect, which may prevent the battery from
completely recharging to full power capacity. NiMH batteries are
considered to be free of the memory effect, especially when used
with a technologically advanced battery charger. RAM batteries
have lower capacities than standard alkaline batteries and can
only be recharged about 50 times. NiMH batteries can be
recharged up to 1,000 times.
- Q. What is the memory effect in NiCd
batteries?
- A. Memory effect is the condition that
develops when a NiCd battery is not fully discharged before
recharging. The battery will only recharge to the last power
capacity level it "remembers". New technological battery
chargers such as our
AccuManager series can help to reverse the memory effect
in old batteries and prevent it from happening in new batteries.
- Q. How many times can a rechargeable
battery be recharged?
- A. The amount of times a battery can
be recharged depends on the quality of the battery, what the
capacity level was at the time of recharge, the drain rate and
care of the battery. Rechargeable batteries last for 100's of
charges and under optimum care and conditions can last up to
1,000 charges.
- Q. What does the capacity rating mAh mean?
- A. The capacity or energy storage of a
battery is measured in milli Amp hour designated as mAh. For
example, a 2300 mAh battery will last for one hour at a 2300 mA
discharge rate. It is not a measure of battery strength. The
higher the mAh rating the more energy it can store and the
longer the battery can supply power to an electrical device at a
given discharge rate.
- Q. Should there be concern with voltage
differences between Alkaline and rechargeable NiMH batteries?
- A. Voltage is the measure of battery
strength. For example, AA Alkalines have a voltage rating of 1.5
volts. AA NiMH rechargeable batteries have a rating of 1.2
volts. Alkaline batteries only deliver their full voltage when
they are new and fully charged. As the alkaline battery is used,
the voltage of the battery continuously drops to a level that
may be below 1.0 volts. Rechargeable NiMH batteries hold their
voltage rating through much of their discharge cycle. So, on
average during use, the NiMH battery type will have a better
voltage output level. Some electronic devices that indicate
battery life and use voltage level as the indicator may not
display the battery life of rechargeable NiMH batteries well as
the voltage remains constant through most of its use.
- Q. How long does it take to recharge
batteries?
- A. The charging time of a battery is
related to the capacity rating of the battery, the amount of
battery discharge and the charge rate of the battery charger.
Higher capacity batteries that have been discharged completely
will take longer to recharge than lower capacity batteries that
are not fully discharged. A higher charge rate of the battery
charger will also speed up the recharge time. There is no
industry standard for the term "Rapid" or "Quick" with battery
chargers and they may or may not recharge faster than battery
chargers without this designation. An approximation to determine
recharge time is to take the capacity of the battery and divide
by the charge rate and multiply by an additional 20% to allow
for inefficiency. For example, take a 1800mAh battery and a
charger that outputs 600mA:
- 1800mAh/600mA x 120% = 3.6 hrs.
- Q. How do I care for rechargeable
batteries to get the longest useful life?
- A. Batteries should be kept dry at all
times. Excessive heat exposure will compromise the battery
quality. Storage of batteries in a freezer will help retain
their power level once fully charged. Do not drop the batteries
on a hard surface as this may damage them or cause leakage. Do
not carry batteries loose in a pocket or purse as contact
between them can short them out and cause them to get hot. Do
not overcharge batteries. Using an advanced technology battery
charger like the
AccuManager
series will prevent the batteries from
overcharging and will monitor batteries during the charging
process for optimum capacity and useful life.
- Q. Can battery chargers damage
rechargeable batteries?
- A. Battery charger technology has
improved significantly in recent years. Old battery chargers
were designed for NiCd batteries, which were popular many years
ago. These chargers are not suitable for NiMH batteries that
require different charging parameters. Battery chargers that
operate for a fixed period without a charge control function can
overcharge batteries, which is the primary cause of battery
failure. If a battery charger can not detect the discharge level
of a battery, the charger may overcharge a partially discharged
battery or if a charge cycle is interrupted, the charger will
start over to begin a full charge cycle. The small additional
cost to purchase a quality NiMH battery charger with
microprocessor control over charging and monitoring batteries
will provide the longest battery life and performance to protect
your investment in rechargeable batteries. In the long term, you
will save money on rechargeable batteries which will pay back
the incremental cost in purchasing the advanced battery charger.
Always select a battery charger appropriate for the batteries
being charged or damage to the charger/batteries can occur.
- Q. What is a battery charger float charge?
- A. This is a low charge rate that is
applied to the battery after charging is complete and the fully
charged battery is in storage in the battery charger. NiMh and
NiCd batteries can loose a slight amount of capacity daily,
around 1%, depending on environmental factors. The float charge
is a charge level that is low enough to prevent overcharging,
but still keep the battery fully charged.
