to batteries
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for your equipment
Batteries...
The last thing you think of. However, you can save money by
picking the right batteries for your equipment. There are two
main types to choose from:
Disposable batteries
Alkaline batteries are much longer lasting than ‘heavy-duty’ zinc carbon batteries and have longer shelf lives. They provide
good all round performance and can be split into two groups:
Premium alkaline - used for high-tech devices and provide 20%
more power than standard alkaline batteries
Standard alkaline - ideal for everyday household devices such
as remote controls and smoke alarms and provide dependable
long-lasting power.
Lithium batteries provide excellent performance in high-drain
devices such as digital cameras or MP3 players,
lasting up to seven times longer than standard alkaline. They are the best
performing of all the disposable
batteries, and work well at
extreme temperatures.
Rechargeable batteries
If you buy batteries at least once every six months for a
particular device, then you should consider switching to
rechargeable batteries.
Rechargeable batteries save you money and, in certain applications, out-perform disposable batteries. They cost about
twice as much but you will recoup your money back hundreds
of times over many years. All rechargeable batteries sold in Maplin can be recharged up to 500 times. Unlike alkaline
batteries, where the voltage drops quickly, rechargeable
batteries are more constant.
Nickel-Cadmium (NiCd)
Good value for money and offer adequate performance inq
middle-drain appliances such as radios and torches.
They
suffer from ‘memory effect’. (See below).
| Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH) The best choice for intensive high-drain usage. High-capacity NiMH rechargeable batteries last up to four times longer on one charge than alkaline batteries in a digital camera and don’t suffer from ‘memory effect’. They offer much longer run-times and are better for the environment. NiMH batteries are, however, not suitable for standby applications such as smoke alarms. |
What is memory effect? Batteries need to be ‘exercised’. If you to continually use and recharge only half a battery, the unused half of the battery ‘muscle’ would eventually waste away, leaving you with only half the battery power. It is advisable to run these batteries flat before recharging to maintain performance. |
| Alkaline batteries are 1.5V, rechargable cells are 1.2V. Does this matter? | |
| Hybrid NiMH (Hybrio) The latest generation of rechargeable battery batteries offer all the advantages of rechargeable whilst performing like alkaline batteries. They come charged up and ready to use out of the pack and hold their charge for much longer than ordinary NiMH batteries. They are much better for low-drain uses such as remote controls and clocks than any other rechargeable battery. |
An alkaline battery is only 1.5V before it's first used. Once used, the voltage drops quickly to well below 1.2V. It finally drops to around 0.6V. Most equipment will operate on anything between 0.9V and 1.5V. Unlike alkaline batteries, where the voltage drops quickly, rechargable batteries offer a more constant voltage around 1.25V throughout their life. |
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| Choosing a charger The three main types of charger and how long they take to charge: Manual charger: 8 - 16 hours Great value for money, they are the slowest and cheapest type. It is up to the user to manually shut off the charger. Timer charger: 5 - 8 hours Mid-range chargers with the added convenience of a timer control. Will charge for a set period then shut off. Intelligent charger: 15mins - 5 hours The quickest available. The charger constantly senses the batteries until they are fully charged and then shuts off automatically. Disposal: Make sure you dispose of your batteries in a responsible way. |