Recharging non rechargable batteries?

[compuwiz1]

Here is my thought: I have a battery charger which charges 1.5v batteries from AAA to D cell sized.....you know, flashlight type batteries. My theory is that if a battery can slowly be discharged it should be able to be recharged. Am I correct? If so, why pay extra money for rechargable batteries? I haven't tried it yet, but it seems when I was a kid, one of my friends' parents was always recharging standard type flashlight batteries.

Any thoughts or additional knowlege on this?

 

[IronWing]

If I recall correctly, this will work on old timey zinc-carbon batteries but alkaline batteries can rupture if recharged.


Edit: Looks like zinc-carbon batteries can also rupture if recharged.

 

[Mike Gayner]

If you try to recharge normal cells, they will leak.

 

[compuwiz1]

So, it looks like trying this outside, where no damage can occur would be the correct way to attempt this. So, if the batteries don't rupture, I might be good to go. I just think of how many batteries I go thru with my cordless mice and keyboards and was just thinking of how to save some battery $$$

 

[Rubycon]

Only secondary cells can be safely recharged. Disposable alkaline, carbon zinc, mercury, silver oxide, etc. were never designed to be recharged. With common "flashlight" carbon zinc cells low current chargers were available in the 70s before nickel cadmium cells in common AA/C/D sizes became available. Only a fraction of their original capacity can be restored and the number of "cycles" was quite limited. Additionally any heating incurred on recharging and its associated increase in internal pressure assured leakage would be highly likely.

Today it makes little sense to NOT use nimh or li-ion technology in frequently used devices.

 

[Mike Gayner]

Alkaline batteries are so cheap I don't know why you would bother with rechargables TBH.

 

[IronWing]

Do you have a digital camera that takes the same size battery? If so, use the batteries in the mouse and keyboard until they're dead. Then use them up the rest of the way in the digital camera. This works because devices that require a continuous minimum voltage stop working when the battery can no longer deliver it. Cameras charge capacitors on a non-continuous basis and can continue to suck power off a battery at lower voltages than can sustain a even power device.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

costco 50 pack for 8.99 FTW

 

[Fritzo]

Alkaline batteries are so cheap I don't know why you would bother with rechargables TBH.

Buy one set that lasts for 2 years, or several dozen sets over that same time period. Check your math.

 

[daw123]

How long roughly does the charge hold for in rechargeable batteries when they are not being used?

The reason that I ask this is because normal non-rechargables have expiry dates. Presumably, rechargeable batteries are the same,; i.e. they lose their charge over time when not in use.

 

[Mike Gayner]

Buy one set that lasts for 2 years, or several dozen sets over that same time period. Check your math.

I've done the maths, and it's still cheaper and more convenient to buy alkalines.

 

[l0cke]

The internet will save you

http://www.afrotechmods.com/reallycheap/batteries/batts.htm

 

[Newbian]

Don't do it or you will rip a hole in the space–time continuum and the anal eating monkeys will come for you.

 

[0roo0roo]

alkaline recharge was tried in past, even the special ones were full of fail, to get max charges of about 20times you needed to charge before the battery was used much at all, in otherwords u had to constantly charge and use a fraction of the capacity or you'd rape the remaining charges possible down to nothing in no time. to reverse charge you had to barely use it. totally impractical

 

[Locut0s]

Normal alkalines will just leak if not explode if you try to charge them.

 

[Jeff7]

Not all processes are reversible. If you burn a piece of paper, freezing the ashes won't give you paper again.

Low-self-discharge NiMH cells are probably the way to go. Oddly enough though, I don't see them as being cost-effective in things like remotes or thermostats - those things are very low-drain devices, so they'd use very few alkalines in the first place. By the time you'd reach the break-even point on a LSD NiMH, there may well be some better battery technology available.

But on high-drain devices, rechargeable is the way to go.

 

[duragezic]

How long roughly does the charge hold for in rechargeable batteries when they are not being used?

The reason that I ask this is because normal non-rechargables have expiry dates. Presumably, rechargeable batteries are the same,; i.e. they lose their charge over time when not in use.

They do have a decent drain out of them. I don't know specifics but it can be an issue. There are some like Sanyo Eneloops that have much less drain when not being used.

 

[Eli]

Alkaline batteries are so cheap I don't know why you would bother with rechargables TBH.

Alkaline batteries are expensive as all hell.

I've done the maths, and it's still cheaper and more convenient to buy alkalines.

Nonsense. Show me this math. The only time alkaline batteries make sense is in low drain devices like TV remotes. Devices where the self discharge rate of rechargeables is higher than the actual current draw.

 

[Tiamat]

Don't do it. Primary cells are not the same as secondary cells, the latter of which are rechargeable. Primary cells specifically use electrochemistry that is NOT reversible. Primary cells exist because their chemistry, although not reversible, is useful for devices that require only small currents for a long time. The chemistry is such that the self-discharge is very very slow compared to secondary batteries that lose their charge much more quickly.

 

[Lucky777]

My conclusion from years of experience:

They will work for a couple of charges and probably start leaking very soon.

Also: They might blow up. (no kidding)

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Crazy idea here.

Buy "rechargeable batteries" and "recharge them".

/thread?

 

[Sasiki]

A standard rechargeable battery will be dead after sitting for a couple months. Sanyo Eneloops are supposed to discharge close to what a standard non-rechargeable battery does.

All standard batteries ARE NOT the same. I bought some Panasonic AA from a gas station one time for a camera. I took, no lie, 1 picture with flash and the batteries were shot. Maybe I just got bad batteries. They were within the expiration date though.

On Amazon, you can get 4 AA and a charger for $20 or a bundle pack with some AAA and 8 AA for $34. Just search for it.

 

[Mike Gayner]

All standard batteries ARE NOT the same. I bought some Panasonic AA from a gas station one time for a camera. I took, no lie, 1 picture with flash and the batteries were shot. Maybe I just got bad batteries. They were within the expiration date though.

/facepalm at people who buy heavy duty batteries for cameras and then get a surprise when they don't last past a couple of pictures