Forgive the length of this blog, I am trying to cram a lot of info into this...And be sure to click on the links in this to see examples!
1. Intro
2. Short Version
3. Long Version
4. Battery & Charger Recommendations
5. Battery Recycling
1. INTRODUCTION
Like light bulbs, we use many batteries throughout our houses and apartments. Perhaps, you have more than you realize. And when those batteries dies, they get thrown into the trash to be replaced with new ones. Every battery that gets thrown away introduces very powerful and harsh chemicals into the environment. Think about your living room...do you have a remote? TV, VCR, DVD, Stereo, CD Player, Cable/Satellite, video game system controllers, ceiling fan remotes...I am sure I am forgetting some. What about flashlights? Portable radios? All of these items use batteries. What if you were able to reduce your expense on those batteries? That would be great! And if you could reduce your impact on the environment at the same time? It just makes sense.
2. SHORT VERSION
Here's what you need, for best results (in my opinion)
1) Rechargeable NiMH batteries (nickel-metal hydride)
2) A "smart" or "peak" charger (NOT timed!!!!)
That's it, that's all you need. There are other types of batteries and chargers, but these prove to be the best in many ways.
3. LONG VERSION
For common AA, AAA, D, C, & 9V cells, your choices are basically NiMH or NiCd (nickel-cadmium) The biggest problem with NiCd is the environmental impact. The Cadmium is a very powerful pollutant. Another problem is that they do not have as long of a lifespan as NiMH. Additionally, the NiCd requires discharging and suffers from "memory" effects. Memory effect basically means that over time it loses it's ability to be fully charged. To help offset that, you must periodically "discharge" your battery using a discharger. The only benefit is that they are inexpensive to buy.
NiMH batteries have no memory effect, require no maintenance, and aren't nearly as bad for the environment. And don't forget they last longer, too!
For chargers, there is a variety available. The best, as I mentioned, is a Peak/Smart charger. This charger type monitors each battery being charged and will automatically shut off when the cell is charged. The other most common battery charger is a timed charger. It will charge for a set amount of time then turn off. The problem with this is you can end up overcharging your battery, shortening the battery's life.
4. BATTERY & CHARGER RECOMMENDATIONS
I use eBay to purchase my batteries and charger. Simply put, it's amazingly cheaper for the same quality. I buy from All-Battery. They are simply the cheapest supplier I have found and I have many of their products.
Your biggest investment will be your charger, since it can extend or shorten your battery's life.
I use this charger. However, they also have other Smart Chargers with slightly different features. Just be sure to consider what battery sizes you want to charge & make sure the charger will handle all of them.
For batteries, you can't really go wrong. I encourage you to compare the per-battery price here to that of the ones you find in Wal-Mart or Best Buy. Even including shipping, these will almost ALWAYS be less. I will sometimes call friends or family when I am making a purchase to save money on shipping and get even better deals. Also, they offer many assortments for batteries. You can get 16AA, 12AA + 12AAA, or any other combination thinkable.
On a personal note...In my house, we have acquired enough rechargeable AA's and AAA's that we have a box of them next to our charger on the microwave. When a battery is dead, we just put it in the charger and pull out a freshly charged one. We NEVER go without batteries...it's so convenient & easy!
5. BATTERY RECYCLING
Not only do we use the common AA, AAA, C, etc. battery types, we also use rechargeable batteries in Remote Controlled Cars & Cordless Power Tools. Eventually, these batteries will all die. They lose their ability to hold a charge and are n good. (Usually after literally 1000+ charges, mind you) Now you have a chance to AGAIN help the environment. First you used rechargeable batteries and reduced waste. Now you can go and RECYCLE your used rechargeable batteries. To find out where you can recycle near you, try looking at the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation. You can search by location and find a drop off near you. Near my house, I can go to Lowe's or Radio Shack. What about you? Be sure to poke around the site, it is full of useful battery related information.
Thanks for reading this blog. I hope it was informative, and I hope you really consider switching to rechargeable batteries. And don't forget, you don't have to replace every battery at once. Like you change lightbulbs, consider changing a few at a time or as finances permit. You will absolutely come out ahead financially, and environmentally. If you have any questions about these batteries or what I've said, feel free to email me at "broncojd78@yahoo.com."
Thanks again,
Joe
