Rechargeable batterys

[Dogman]

This is one of the irritating things in life that happens to most of us.

I have several battery operated toys around the house that use non-off the shelf rechargeable battery's. And it seems to never fail, that with the devices that are not used often the battery packs self discharge and are flat when I suddenly decide to use the dam things.

(out of sight, out of mind)

My cameras suffer the biggest problem of when I need it, the battery is flat.

I am in my second day now cycling (charge/discharge) to refresh my battery packs on all of my toys that do not see the light of day much.

To keep the packs charged and to not let them discharge totally, I have just noted on my computer/tablet calender's a reminder to send me a reminder to charge my battery packs every month on the same day, and also send a reminder a few days ahead just to make sure I do.

Just a note, to those that suffer from c.r.s. to remind those of us that suffer the same as me.

[k-os]

I have come to the sad realization that rechargeable batteries are a scam.

[Dogman]

I have come to the sad realization that rechargeable batteries are a scam. With good one they do work. And with some things you have no other choice but to use them. The biggest thing that is wrong is people (like me) do not treat them right and do not run them through a reconditioning session. (Several full charge and then recharge cycles) Now and then on a regular basis.

I have a 6v 4 amp ni-mh for my camcorder that is almost 10 years old that I am doing now. When I first tried to use it. nada/zilch it was flat. After a quick charge it lasted for about 45 minuets, not good! Now its in its third refresh cycle and it will run the cam for over 4 hours.

The old nicad battery's were the ones that were iffy when it came to value. imho!

[Twisted Titan]

Eneloops

Will hold a charge for over a year and half of non use in a device

Read the reviews....they have a cult like following

http://www.amazon.com/Sanyo-eneloop-Pre-Charged-Rechargeable-Batteries/dp/B004UG41XW/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1353216261&sr=1-1&keywords=eneloop

[Dogman]

Eneloops

Will hold a charge for over a year and half of non use in a device

Read the reviews....they have a cult like following

http://www.amazon.com/Sanyo-eneloop-Pre-Charged-Rechargeable-Batteries/dp/B004UG41XW/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1353216261&sr=1-1&keywords=eneloop

Yep!

Been using them almost from the time they hit the market, and now I do not use anything else in my electronics. The reason for my first post is about the rechargeable ones that are not common that you can find at any store. Like my camcorder, digital camera and my ham radio handy talkies battery packs for example that are made to fit the unit and almost nothing else.

Eneloops are almost if not better than buttered toast with jam!

[Twisted Titan]

AFTER Sandy i got a bucket load coming

Question

Will any charger work on you need the Sanyo Charger?

[Dogman]

AFTER Sandy i got a bucket load coming

Question

Will any charger work on you need the Sanyo Charger?


Get a smart charger that will handle ni-mh and such. The chargers are well worth the cost.

This is what I am using.

http://www.amazon.com/La-Crosse-Technology-Battery-Charger/dp/B000RSOV50/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1353263453&sr=8-1&keywords=bc-700

There are several good chargers on the market, just do not try to charge Eneloops in a nicad charger.

[ArgenteumTelum]

Try this for rechargeable info: http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/forumdisplay.php?9-Flashlight-Electronics-Batteries-Included
I have great success with Eneloops and the Maha C9000 charger
AT

[Dogman]

Try this for rechargeable info: http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/forumdisplay.php?9-Flashlight-Electronics-Batteries-Included
I have great success with Eneloops and the Maha C9000 charger
AT


Candlepower is a great forum, bunch of good info and lights

[gunDriller]

a typical "12 volt 50 watt" solar panel puts out 19 volts (no load) and 35 watts in maximum sun.

i have been using mine to recharge sealed lead-acid batteries - although in the case of a bad battery, that can be dangerous - the pressure builds up and if it explodes at the wrong time ...

i have a bunch of energizers which, unless they have put a diode or something in them to prevent re-charging, i was going to re-charge too. stack of 8 x 1.5 volts would 12 volts.

plus it helps to have a power resistor between a solar panel and the thing you're re-charging.


but in the mean-time - i just have a few hundred Energizers to practice on, the solar panel, and several appliances that need new batteries that I refuse to buy new batteries for ... too expensive.

[Dogman]

a typical "12 volt 50 watt" solar panel puts out 19 volts (no load) and 35 watts in maximum sun.

i have been using mine to recharge sealed lead-acid batteries - although in the case of a bad battery, that can be dangerous - the pressure builds up and if it explodes at the wrong time ...

i have a bunch of energizers which, unless they have put a diode or something in them to prevent re-charging, i was going to re-charge too. stack of 8 x 1.5 volts would 12 volts.

plus it helps to have a power resistor between a solar panel and the thing you're re-charging.


but in the mean-time - i just have a few hundred Energizers to practice on, the solar panel, and several appliances that need new batteries that I refuse to buy new batteries for ... too expensive.

Yea I have used a open solar panel to recharge some of my battery's, the trick is to closely watch them so you do not over charge them. Two of the best ways to shorten the life other than driving the battery voltage to 0 v. Another thing to watch is heating as the battery's come up to full charge, that is another way to shorten the life cycles of some battery's.

There are some simple circuits out there for both voltage and current limiting battery chargers that one can build, I have made several over the years in my ham shack for emergency backup and operations when mother nature has a hissy fit and the power goes out.

But with the flood of cheap Chinese electronics out there now, it is usually cheaper to buy than to build one.

With multicell battery packs there is a threshold voltage you do not want to go below. Some battery's have a nasty habit of reversing polarity in cell packs if discharged to low of a voltage.

I have had varying results over time rebuilding battery packs for my toys. Sometimes the hardest part is cracking the case in a way that I can reuse it, just to see what kind of cells are used in it.

Finding replacement cells for the packs on the net is easy, and usually cheaper buying them and rebuilding the battery packs instead of dishing out bucks for a new pack.

In some ways we are our own worse enemy's when it comes to our battery powered stuff. We ignore our due diligence on proper care for the battery's we use.

For example, how many here that use laptops run them on ac power all the time and rarely use them on battery power?

Then when you really need them when you have no power, the battery is crap or the run time poor? They need to be exercised on a regular basic.

Full charge and discharge cycles on a regular schedule. Or they will sit and trickle charge and lose capacity because they are not worked. (sorta like muscle building)

The same apply's to all of our battery powered stuff!

Good luck with your Energizers, they are good cells if treated and fed properly.

[chad]

your charger is worthless if you have no electricity. make sure to buy a pocket socket from k-tor.

[Dogman]

your charger is worthless if you have no electricity. make sure to buy a pocket socket from k-tor. Dam that looks like a huge amount of cranking! Some of my battery packs need at least 4 hours to fully recharge!

But it looks like something like this would have it's uses.

This thread is more geared to dealing with battery's and such, while we still have some form of civilization and its perks. Of course the next level down would be generator/solar power to do the work of recharging.

This is more about the proper care and feeding of rechargeable battery's to get the most use and their life time charge/recharge cycles.