Click
here to Search
or
Click on
a Category below :
FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS
Q: Should I recycle my old batteries? What is the proper disposal method?
A: Local ordinances dictate the proper disposal methods; generally, all Ni-Cd batteries need to be recycled. They SHOULD be recycled - Cadmium is a heavy metal, and does not belong in landfills. Also, the steel canisters that batteries are essentially made with should be recycled also. Imagine how much steel is thrown into landfills every year. Billions of batteries worldwide are thrown out (that is NOT an exaggeration); in these times, that steel truly needs to be recycled. You can also visit www.rbrc.com (RBRC is short for Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation) to learn more about the importance of recycling old batteries.
Q: What rate should a Nickel Cadmium or Nickel Metal Hydride battery be charged at?
A: The "ideal" Slow-charging rate for Ni-Cd (Nickel Cadmium) or Ni-MH (Nickel Metal Hydride) batteries is 1/10 of the rated capacity of the battery pack. If a battery pack is 700mAh in capacity, the ideal charge rate is 70mA for 12-16 hours (12 hours for "constant current" chargers - which are relatively expensive, and 16 hours for "tapering current" chargers, A.K.A. wall warts/wall cubes, which are usually low-cost). Charging Voltage should be equivalent to the # of batteries in the pack X 1.5v. A 4.8volt pack (made of 4 cells) gets charged normally at 6 volts. “Smart” chargers usually set the charge Voltage automatically; wall cubes have a pre-set output voltage, and that output can vary from product to product. Furthermore, the POLARITY of the chargers vary from product to product, so GREAT CARE must be taken to confirm that the wall charger being used is the proper item for a particular battery pack.
Batteries will usually last longer if you Slow-charge them. In fact, almost ANY rechargeable battery will last longer if you can Slow-charge them. If a battery is constantly fast-charged, it WILL be ready for use quicker, BUT it will probably wear out faster (i.e. it will lose the ability to store current; i.e. it will stop taking a charge).
Q: A battery says it is "2700mAh" capacity. What does that mean, and will the battery provide all that capacity for any device?
A: 2700mAh means 2700 milli-amp hours. It is an electrical measurement.
In the real world, it could mean that if some device requires 2700milliamps
(also known as 2.7 Amps) of current to operate properly, a 2700mAh battery pack
would run the device for about 1 hour.
SANYO Corporation, as an example, determines their
battery capacities by analyzing them under controlled lab conditions.
A Nickel Metal Hydride battery cell is charged up to 1.47 volts, the peak is
detected, and then discharge analysis begins. A common discharge
rate is C/4. In the case of a 2700mAh battery, this means that the
discharge current is 2700 divided by 4. The battery is discharged down to
a measured voltage of 0.8 - 0.75VDC per cell. The test results eventually produce
the capacity ratings that are assigned to the mass-production runs of the
product.
So, the rated capacity of a battery is typically
achieved under ideal circumstances. In any particular device, the actual
expended capacity can vary. The variance depends on a number of things,
such as:
(1) The voltage tolerance of the device (the V level that the device shuts
off at)
(2) Whether or not the battery is fully conditioned and actually fully charged.
(3) The time that has elapsed since the battery was actually charged up.
(4) The actual real measureable capacity of the battery.
A digital device with strict voltage cutoff levels will probably
never draw the full capacity out of a battery. The device will shut itself
off, even though there is still useable current remaining in the battery.
An analog device (such as a small radio) may very well deliver the full running
time associated with the battery capacity. Analog devices without voltage
cutoff will keep drawing current out of batteries until they aren't worth
operating anymore. A high-amp electric motor will usually not draw the
full stored capacity out of a battery, because they typically cause batteries to
get hot, which causes the battery impedance to increase, which hinders the
release of the current, which slows down the performance, and then usually
convinces the person to stop operating the motor. There will almost
certainly be current still stored in the battery or battery pack; it just isn't
feasible to use it. The user will be better off letting the battery cool
down, and then re-charge it.
Finally, it should be noted that high battery
capacities are intended to imply "reliability". By this, we mean that they
will typically run devices longer than other batteries with lower
capacities. If you want to take more pictures with your digital
camera, you should consider buying a higher capacity battery to accomplish the goal. The
device will probably never use the absolute full capacity stored in
the battery, due to voltage cutoff levels, but the improved performance is evident and achieved nonetheless.
Q: How should Ni-Cd and Ni-MH rechargeable batteries be stored when not in use?
A: It depends on the usage. IF the battery in question is
a rechargeable flashlight or other emergency-type battery product, it is a good
idea to have it on "trickle charge" at all times; this enables the battery to be
KEPT at full charge, and makes it useable WHENEVER you need it.
IF the battery in question is not for emergency/immediate use, it
should be stored UNCHARGED in a cool dry place. It will lose its charge
after about 2 months, and it will have to be fully recharged when you bring it
back out of storage.
Q:What is the difference between Nickel-Cadmium and Nickel Metal Hydride?
A: Nickel Cadmium rechargeable packs/cells have been on the consumer market
since the mid-70s. They typically offer standard running times (known as "Capacity")
for portable electronic devices such as Camcorders, Cellular Phones, Walkie-Talkies,
Laptop Computers, etc.
Nickel Metal Hydride rechargeable packs/cells represent a newer chemistry, and have
been on the consumer market since the early 90s. They provide longer running time
without increasing physical size. Also, they contain no materials classified as
"heavy metals", such as Cadmium. This means that they do not require the
stringent disposal methods that Nickel Cadmium batteries do.
They CAN, however, be recycled. Recycling regulations do vary based on
location.
Q: Can my batteries develop a "Memory"?
A: This phrase relates to a internal symptom of some rechargeable batteries known as the "Memory Effect". This was confirmed to have existed in at some of the older generation productions of Nickel Cadmium batteries. Basically, if the battery was not effectively & fully discharged prior to recharging, it might not deliver the full expected run-time (capacity) during the next discharge cycle. It is important to understand that this lowering of capacity was and can be related to a number of other factors, such as: (1) charging time; (2) sensitivity of 'smart' chargers; (3) inadvertent overcharging; (4) charging current; (5) battery age. Any of these factors, alone or in combination, can give the impression that a battery has lost its capacity, whether the battery actually has a memory problem or not.
Q: What is Lithium Ion?
A: Lithium Ion is the catchphrase representing a new, lightweight rechargeable battery. Lithium Ion batteries are often supplied with cellular phones, laptop computers, and newer, compact handheld transceivers. Lithium Ion batteries typically offer even greater capacity (operating time) than Nickel Metal Hydride batteries of similar size or mass. It is important to note that Lithium Ion battery cells are usually not compatible with Ni-Cd or Ni-MH cells. Whereas a Ni-Cd or Ni-MH cell is 1.2 volts nominal (Alkaline cells are listed as 1.5v nominal), a Lithium Ion battery cell is 3.6v nominal. A Lithium Ion AA-size cell CANNOT be used in place of an Alkaline, Ni-Cd, or Ni-MH cell. Furthermore, the discharging and re-charging characteristics of Lithium Ion products are VERY DIFFERENT from anything else. Lithium Ion battery products should ONLY be recharged with approved, dedicated Lithium Ion chargers.
Q: What is Lithium Polymer?
A: Lithium Polymer is a new rechargeable battery product. It is very lightweight, while possessing high capacity. A Lithium Polymer cell is nominally rated at 3.7 volts, and the measured capacity varies with the physical size of the cell. The actual battery is a vacuum-sealed mylar-type exterior material, with thin synthetic & metallic sheets inside. There are usually 2 tabs extending out of the battery, one (+) and one (-). These cells are now being used in Cellphone battery packs, Palmtops, PDAs, and are also used in R/C hobby applications (such as receiver packs and slow-flight electric motor packs)
Q: My pack says 7.5 volts. Is that MORE voltage than 7.2 volts? OR, my pack says 10.8 volts. Will an 11.25 volt pack hurt my radio?
A: Short answer: 7.5 volts = 7.2 volts in performance. 10.8 volts = 11.25 volts in performance.
Long answer: Some manufacturers list a single rechargeable
Ni-Cd or Ni-MH cell as 1.2 volts (Sanyo & Panasonic, for instance). Other
manufacturers (Motorola, for instance) list a single cell voltage as 1.25 volts.
In actuality, there is NO difference in the cell voltage. However, when a
manufacturer declares the extra 5/100 of a volt per cell (it is certainly a
permitted activity), it ADDS UP when you have a lot of cells in a battery pack.
And the net result is a battery pack that APPEARS to have higher voltage than
another. It looks impressive, and it is intended to. BUT, it is NOT
actually a higher voltage.
