Why only idiots use disposable batteries
Sat 24 Mar 07 04:14 | Tags: Green, Hardware, Profit
Note: I'm still feeling a bit sick, but I figured I really needed to get an article done today lest I be revealed as considered a lazy blogger. As the old head's still a bit cloudy, please forgive me if this article has a few more examples of bad grammar, typos, and just plain idiocy than normal.
Is that title provocative enough for you? Cool bloggers always use eye-catching titles, even if they're edgier or more hostile than the text of the actual article. Still, it's the twenty-first century. Why are people still buying disposable batteries?
Cool bloggers always use images in their articles. (This blog now sponsored by Quantaray! …Not really.)
Their use must be declining, to be sure; if not volume-wise, than by the percentage of the devices that use them. Laptop and palmtop computers, digital audio players, portable video game systems, cell phones, and other common consumer electronics come with their own rechargeable batteries built-in nowadays. But there's still many other devices that do not come with their own batteries; remote controls, video game controllers, and flashlights, to name some common examples. If you're smart, you're buying and using rechargeable batteries in those devices too. Here's several reasons why you should use rechargeable batteries instead of disposable ones in any electronic device that gives you the option.
Cool bloggers always use lists
- There's less of an environmental impact. Now I'm far from a tree-hugger, but it's a fact that batteries contain a soup of chemicals that aren't a lot of fun to have around. If you can have one set of batteries that you use five hundred times, you're keeping four hundred ninety-nine servings of that soup out of landfills. You're also not wasting the metal casings the batteries are made of, and are avoiding the environmental impacts of the batteries' manufacture and shipping. Every little bit helps.
- You won't run afoul of the law. What the heck do I mean by that? This goes along with the ecology thing. Here in California, it is actually illegal to throw away batteries nowadays; they are classified as hazardous waste and must be either recycled or taken to a hazardous waste disposal facility. Granted, this law is often flaunted flouted, but if you want to live within the letter of the law, you cannot throw them away. You may have similar laws on the disposal of batteries on the books in your area; ask around at electronics stores. Needless to say, if you have to dispose of batteries in some annoying way, rechargeable batteries are a great choice since they do not have to be disposed of as often.
- You'll save money. Starting to use rechargeable batteries is initially expensive; the batteries themselves can be around three times the cost of disposable batteries, and you must buy a charger as well. Consider the cost an investment; depending on how quickly you burn through batteries, this cost will eventually pay for itself because you will no longer be having to run to the store whenever you need new batteries. And keep in mind that you don't have to buy all the rechargeable batteries you need all at once; you can mitigate the cost over time by simply waiting until the disposable batteries your devices expire, then replacing those with rechargeable batteries instead of disposable ones. Like disposables, rechargeable batteries are typically fully-charged when they're sold.
- You'll never run out of batteries. If you keep a spare set of rechargeable batteries available, then whenever a device's batteries expire, you can just swap those for the spare, then recharge the expired ones and set those aside as the spare set for the next time. You'll have very little down time for the battery-eating device, and since you'll always have a set set aside as spares, it's like you have a bottomless well of batteries to draw from.
How to get started
So have I convinced you to take up the rechargeable battery cause yet? Glad to hear it. Here's how to get started.
The first thing you need to do is choose which type of rechargeable battery you wish to use. There are four types of rechargeable batteries in common use today; lithium-ion (Li-ion), nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cad or Ni-Cd), nickel metal hydride (Ni-MH), and rechargeable alkaline.
Lithium-ion batteries are typically the types used in cell phones, video game systems, and "built-in" to other consumer electronics. To the best of my knowledge, no company makes li-ion batteries in standard forms (AA, AAA, etc), so don't worry about those.
Rechargeable alkaline batteries are basically like disposable alkaline batteries, but with a special composition which makes them more conductive to recharging than disposable alkalines. (Don't try to charge a disposable alkaline; it may work, or it may explode!) When I first started using rechargeable batteries, I used rechargeable alkalines; you may recall that Rayovac had a huge advertising push for their Renewal brand of rechargeable alkalines. However, I wouldn't recommend using rechargeable alkalines, because by my own experience, the batteries can be prone to leakage. (In a possibly related note, Rayovac has discontinued their Renewal line, though other companies still sell rechargeable alkaline batteries and chargers.) If you see a crystalline white grit on an alkaline battery or in a charger or device, this is leaking battery matter! It's corrosive, so try not to touch it with your bare hands, and wash with plenty of water if you do. Dispose of the batteries, put on some gloves and try to swab the white gunk out of the device with some water and paper towels -- if it's worth trying to save it.
Or just avoid the risk of leakage and go with nickel-cadmium or nickel metal hydride batteries. Ni-Cad and Ni-MH batteries can usually use the same charger, so long as you only charge one type at once (you should not put these batteries into an alkaline charger or vice-versa). I've been using the same set of Ni-MH batteries in my digital camera pretty much ever since I got it two and a half years ago, and have been satisfied with their performance. The main difference between Ni-Cad and Ni-MH batteries is that Ni-MH batteries are less susceptible to the memory effect; with Ni-Cads, it's recommended that you discharge the batteries as fully as possible before charging them again, but this is not necessary for Ni-MHs. UPDATE: Matt says in the comments that I've got this wrong, and that you should recharge batteries "when they're close to discharged, but not fully discharged." Hmm, perhaps I got confused.
One disadvantage that nickel-based batteries have compared to rechargeable (and disposable) alkalines is that their voltage output is actually a little bit less; an alkaline AA battery will put out about 1.5 volts when fully charged, whereas these batteries will put out 1.2 to 1.3 volts. However, modern devices are smart enough to deal with battery output this low, since battery voltage drops over the life of a battery anyway; for example, a flashlight with fresh batteries puts out a brighter light than one with nearly-dead batteries. I've never had the lower output of Ni-MH batteries be an issue in any device I've used them in. Another disadvantage is that nickel-based batteries take longer to recharge than alkaline ones, if I'm not mistaken. Still, I think that Ni-MH batteries are a better choice.
Once you've decided the type of batteries you'll use, you'll need to get a charger to charge them in. Picking chargers can take a bit of forward-thinking; you'll want to get a charger that charges all types of batteries you intend to use. Personally, I don't use C or D batteries in anything anymore, so I just have a small charger (shown in the picture) which charges AA batteries. It does not work with AAA batteries, but fortunately, I don't have a need for any of those at this point in life either; I imagine I may have to buy a charger which supports those at some point in the future, though. One essential feature to look for in a charger is a charging auto shut-off that can detect when the batteries are full and stop charging; over-charging can cause batteries to leak or explode. Most good chargers you'll find will have this feature, but some cheaper ones may not.
So get out there and get your charger, and the next time the batteries die in your digital camera or remote control, replace them with rechargeables instead. Whether you're interesting in saving the Earth or just saving some money, you can't go wrong with rechargeable batteries. (Cool bloggers always end their entries with energetic, positive sentences.)
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#1 | Josh | 24 Mar 07 11:47
FWIW: Microsoft has been selling built in rechargeable controller packs with their X360 system line. I don't believe its included, but its cheap and built BY Microsoft, no a third party.
So the point is video games are starting to include rechargeables as well
Cool bloggers don't need to narrate their blogging styles when posting cool blogs. They just do it. (Cool commentators use constructively witty feedback to make their point...and emoticons. =P They have to use emoticons)
#4 | Who cares? | 10 Apr 07 22:53
When Costco stops selling 48 packs of AA and AAA for under $5 Ill stop using disposable batteries.
#5 | Matt | 10 Apr 07 23:08
Memory Effect:
ARG BLARG ARG! NO! NiCad batteries only suffer memory effect in lab settings when they can be discharged to the exact same point every time. NiCads just wear out over time, and completely discharging them before you recharge them will SPEED this process up. You should charge your batteries (and this goes for all rechargables with the exception of Alkalines which are weird beasts) when they're close to discharged, but not fully discharged.
#6 | Anonymous | 10 Apr 07 23:33
I think you mean flout, not flaunt.
#7 | Garrett Albright | 11 Apr 07 04:03
Matt: Thanks for alerting me to my mistake. I've updated the article with your info.
Anon: And thanks to you too for catching my mistake. I've fixed that as well.
#3 | Garrett Albright | 25 Mar 07 18:35
Cool bloggers always reply to comments in their own articles.
The "cool blogger" thing was just a bit of cheesy irony inspired by various "How to get/keep more readers for your blog!!!!!!!!!" articles I keep tripping over on the web. They often say the same things over and over…