Originally posted by: xwave558
ha, The alkline batteries are getting big challenge. A Question, does Nimh AA Batteries loose any charge over a period of time? that's to say, If I don't use them for a long time, will they still hold charge?
Originally posted by: quincy2002
Originally posted by: xwave558
ha, The alkline batteries are getting big challenge. A Question, does Nimh AA Batteries loose any charge over a period of time? that's to say, If I don't use them for a long time, will they still hold charge?
I've read they lose about 1% of their charge per day. You'll need to recharge them periodically to keep them "full".
How long can the batteries hold their charge if I leave them on the shelf ?
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At normal room temperature, NiMH batteries can generally retain 70% of their charge after 30 days. Normal self discharge of NiMH batteries is about 1 percent per day at normal room temperature. Of course, environmental factors and higher temperatures will play an important role in the above said value and will cause NiMH batteries to discharge at a slightly higer rate. Lower temperatures ( 40° to 60° F ) on the other hand will cause NiMH Batteries to hold their charge longer.
Battery News
The rechargeable batteries of today are at least twice as good as the ones we had just five years ago. In fact, some of our newest Nickel Metal Hydride batteries have 10 times the power of some of the wimps sold only a few years ago. Manufacturers have been able to pack in more power by making the internal plates thinner and improving production techniques.
Q. Which battery is best: Nickel Cadmium (NiCad) or Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH)?
A. NiMH batteries have more power by far. In fact, they sometimes have twice the power of the best alkaline batteries and can be recharged up to 500 times! They work extremely well in high drain situations such as a digital camera or CB radio. Unfortunately, NiMH batteries lose their power without use at a rate of 30% a month. Unless you use them often, they are not the right battery for you. NiCad batteries, on the other hand, are less expensive and will last six months with only occasional use without recharging. When you buy rechargeable batteries, remember that they need to be charged and discharged at least three or four times to come up to capacity. If you?re using an older-generation battery charger, a new one will make a big difference in the performance of your rechargeable batteries.
Originally posted by: ChoppedBroccoli
Ok some stupid quesitons:
1) When you first get your batteries....do you charge them full and then use them? Or drain them, charge them, and then use them?
2) I just got some 2000mah batteries (the cheapie 2000mah Lenmars from Fry's). I have a charger that came with my kodak digital camera kit with 1600mah batteries. The charger has an auto-off timer after 8hrs, is ni-cad and nimh compatible, aaa/aa compatible, and outputs 220ma x 2. I know its not near any of these advanced chargers shown in this thread, but is it safe to charge my 2000mah batteries in this charger (my estimates says it should take 9 hrs for the 2000mah vs 8 for the 1600mah)?
I have tried other brands (panasonic), but these were the same 1600mah rated batteries as the stock 1600mah kodak batteries....I haven't tried any other capacities yet.
Thanks for your help
Originally posted by: Chevydriver
I have alot of problems when using NiMH batteries. I think its because of the difference in voltage. My digital camera eats them in around 10 pictures when normal batteries last a hell of alot longer. My wireless mouse don't even work when using them (possibly voltage problem?). Theres a few other items where I had problems using them so now most of my batteries are rayovac renewals. I doubt its my batteries cause I have used several DIFFERENT brand name batteries and DIFFERENT chargers. I took some over to my friends house to use in his digital camera and well it lasted 5 shots then wasn't enough to power up the camera. But the rayovac renewals seem to work in anything I put them in.
Originally posted by: semitool
Originally posted by: ChoppedBroccoli
Ok some stupid quesitons:
1) When you first get your batteries....do you charge them full and then use them? Or drain them, charge them, and then use them?
2) I just got some 2000mah batteries (the cheapie 2000mah Lenmars from Fry's). I have a charger that came with my kodak digital camera kit with 1600mah batteries. The charger has an auto-off timer after 8hrs, is ni-cad and nimh compatible, aaa/aa compatible, and outputs 220ma x 2. I know its not near any of these advanced chargers shown in this thread, but is it safe to charge my 2000mah batteries in this charger (my estimates says it should take 9 hrs for the 2000mah vs 8 for the 1600mah)?
I have tried other brands (panasonic), but these were the same 1600mah rated batteries as the stock 1600mah kodak batteries....I haven't tried any other capacities yet.
Thanks for your help
Timer-charger may not fully charge your 2000mah, most time you have to charge twice to get full.
Originally posted by: Boomer2
These are great. My kids have these flashlights shaped like hippos that they take to bed and read and blind each other, etc. We were buying alkalines like crazy. With the rechargeables, life is easy. Of course, the kids fall asleep without turning off the flashlights, so they are on all night. Can't remember the last time I needed to recharge them, though. The capacity on the 1800s has been really good.
Originally posted by: quickgun
sweet deal.....
What i am concerning is these 1.2V batteries (NiMH) work with my 2x1.5V cameras?
Originally posted by: Chevydriver
I have alot of problems when using NiMH batteries. I think its because of the difference in voltage. My digital camera eats them in around 10 pictures when normal batteries last a hell of alot longer. My wireless mouse don't even work when using them (possibly voltage problem?). Theres a few other items where I had problems using them so now most of my batteries are rayovac renewals. I doubt its my batteries cause I have used several DIFFERENT brand name batteries and DIFFERENT chargers. I took some over to my friends house to use in his digital camera and well it lasted 5 shots then wasn't enough to power up the camera. But the rayovac renewals seem to work in anything I put them in.
Originally posted by: ckmoocow
Originally posted by: Chevydriver
I have alot of problems when using NiMH batteries. I think its because of the difference in voltage. My digital camera eats them in around 10 pictures when normal batteries last a hell of alot longer. My wireless mouse don't even work when using them (possibly voltage problem?). Theres a few other items where I had problems using them so now most of my batteries are rayovac renewals. I doubt its my batteries cause I have used several DIFFERENT brand name batteries and DIFFERENT chargers. I took some over to my friends house to use in his digital camera and well it lasted 5 shots then wasn't enough to power up the camera. But the rayovac renewals seem to work in anything I put them in.
Yeah i have the same experience as Chevydriver with my NiCd and NiMh batteries. The voltages on these batteries are capped at 1.2V, where normal alkaline batteries have voltages of 1.5. As I learned from high school chem class, a battery is made so that it holds a constant charge between its positive and negative terminal. For AA and AAA alkaline batteries (those typical duracell or energizers that you buy), that voltage is 1.5V. When you use the battery, you are slowly decreasing that voltage. A battery becomes dead to a device when it looses its ability to maintain a sufficient amount of volts between its positive and negative terminals. The amount of voltage that each electronic device requires is different... some can handle a smaller voltage (a battery with less charge), some absolutely need a voltage close to 1.5 (a really fresh battery).
This is why if you have a battery that doesn't work in something (i.e. it won't even power up a cd player) but put it into something else (i.e. a calculator), it can still work for a while. So if you put a set of fully charged NiMh batteries into a device that absolutely requires a voltage of, say 1.3V or above, it won't last long at all. This was the case for my Logitech Cordless mouse. I found myself needing to recharge them every week or so. So i also switched over to Renewal. They are alkaline rechargable batteries, which mean they charge up to 1.5 volts. These work MUCH better with sensitive devices such as my mouse (or digital cameras, cd players, etc). However, the thing about Renewal batteries is that their capacity dwindles with each recharge. They are only designed to last up to 50 recharges. Therefore, you'd need to buy more of these. However, I save myself a lot of time by not having to keep swapping rechargeables all tlhe time. Renewals usually last about a month on my mouse =). The last time i checked, though, RadioShack and Staples were the only stores I could find that carried them.