[Big Mac]

Is everyone on MacNN switching to rechargeable batteries from conventional AAs, AAAs, etc.? I am trying to get everyone I know to switch. Rechargeables are a little more expensive than conventional ones, but they have higher charge capacities and Duracel claims its rechargeables are good for 1000 charges. You no longer have to buy batteries over and over again, and you don't have to worry about constantly recycling them. Is everyone on board?

[IceEnclosure]

one word: HEATER.

no way bro.

[Chuckit]

Eh, I know they'd get lost well before they reached their limit anyway.

[forkies]

welcome to like 5 years ago (for me)

[smacintush]

Originally Posted by forkies 

welcome to like 5 years ago (for me)

Ditto.

[Doofy]

The only items I have with non-specific rechargeable batteries are the TV remotes. And they last years anyway.

[Big Mac]

Originally Posted by IceEnclosure 

one word: HEATER.

no way bro.

Your heater uses direct current?

[Person Man]

Originally Posted by Big Mac 

Is everyone on MacNN switching to rechargeable batteries from conventional AAs, AAAs, etc.? I am trying to get everyone I know to switch. Rechargeables are a little more expensive than conventional ones, but they have higher charge capacities and Duracel claims its rechargeables are good for 1000 charges. You no longer have to buy batteries over and over again, and you don't have to worry about constantly recycling them. Is everyone on board?

I use them for specific things, but not for everything. If it's something like a remote control, I just use regular batteries, especially since it usually takes my remotes about 3-4 years before I need to change the batteries.

My digital camera has rechargable batteries, as do most of the things that eat batteries like no tomorrow.

[Gossamer]

Originally Posted by IceEnclosure 

one word: HEATER.

no way bro.

As soon as you start using your radio, they're GONE.

[mac128k-1984]

Originally Posted by Big Mac 

Is everyone on MacNN switching to rechargeable batteries from conventional AAs, AAAs, etc.?

I generally don't use rechargable batteries, heck I should own stock in duracell. With twins, eveytoy they own needs batteries. They're more expensive, they take a while to recharge and after only a handful of recharge cycles they hold less and less. No thanks, I'll keep buying the regular disposable batteries

[TurboMac]

Energizer's rechargeables are way better then Duracell's! Also if you have high drain devices you can use Energizer Lithium cells, as they last 7x longer then akalines. You cannot recharge them, but they last a whole lot longer.

And yes I do work at Energizer! Thanks~

[Uncle Skeleton]

My apple wireless keyboard ran for 9 mo on alkaline batteries, without ever turning it off. The rechargeable ones can't even keep the thing on straight out of the recharger. Conclusion? Rechargeable batteries are total crap.

[Mastrap]

Originally Posted by Uncle Skeleton 

My apple wireless keyboard ran for 9 mo on alkaline batteries, without ever turning it off. The rechargeable ones can't even keep the thing on straight out of the recharger. Conclusion? Rechargeable batteries are total crap.

Not necessarily. Good rechargeables can outperform disposables with no problem. I use rechargeables in my Olympus SLR and with a fresh charge get about 180 images out of them. Fresh Duracell will die after half that amount.

I also don't like to use anything disposable. We're running out of space for landfill.

[RAILhead]

No.

[reader50]

Originally Posted by Big Mac 

Originally Posted by IceEnclosure 

one word: HEATER.

no way bro.

Your heater uses direct current?

Maybe he's talking about his guns.

[Atheist]

Originally Posted by Uncle Skeleton 

My apple wireless keyboard ran for 9 mo on alkaline batteries, without ever turning it off. The rechargeable ones can't even keep the thing on straight out of the recharger. Conclusion? Rechargeable batteries are total crap.

Unfortunately my results have been similar. I spent a bunch of money on the Engergizer Rechargeables. I got the Charger and a bunch of AA and AAA. I don't even use them anymore. They would last maybe a week at best in my wireless mouse and keyboard. I tried using them in my remotes but they would die too quickly. I think the technology isn't quite ready.

[Big Mac]

Originally Posted by mac128k-1984 

No thanks, I'll keep buying the regular disposable batteries

How do you dispose of them? The thing that first made me think about the issue was when my environmental chemistry professor let us all know that anyone who throws out batteries is committing an "environmental crime." They should be recycled, not disposed of.

[Big Mac]

Originally Posted by Atheist 

Unfortunately my results have been similar. I spent a bunch of money on the Engergizer Rechargeables. I got the Charger and a bunch of AA and AAA. I don't even use them anymore. They would last maybe a week at best in my wireless mouse and keyboard. I tried using them in my remotes but they would die too quickly. I think the technology isn't quite ready.

Then why are recharageables recommended for high drain devices like cameras? I know that from personal experience my Belkin Tunecast would eat through conventional duracells within a few hours of use, while my rechargeables keep it powered for far longer.

[Atheist]

Originally Posted by Big Mac 

Then why are recharageables recommended for high drain devices like cameras? I know that from personal experience my Belkin Tunecast would eat through conventional duracells within a few hours of use, while my rechargeables keep it powered for far longer.

I'm glad you are having a good experience with your rechargeables. However what works for one person doesn't always work for another.

[Railroader]

I use rechargeable batteries in my: DSLR and p&s cameras, and RC transmitter. That's it. Everything else seems to last longer with traditional batteries. For some reason my BT Mighty Mouse drains rechargeables in a couple weeks but alkaline batteries last months.

Our kid's don't have too many battery driven toys, but the ones they do have use their batteries very slowly. I probably change a couple AAs once a month or so.

And I recycle all of my batteries. Putting them in a land fill is horrendously destructive to the environment.

[nonhuman]

What specific rechargeable are people using with the digital cameras and other high use electronics? I'd love to switch to rechargeables for my camera, but I really know nothing about them and from the sound of it, some just aren't that good.

[SSharon]

I got tons of free batteries when I worked at the university of maryland. we used disposable batteries in the wireless mics and we would only use them for one show/event since the risk of them dying on someone was too great. Instead of tossing them I would keep them and I use them in my KB and mouse.

[centerchannel68]

Originally Posted by Mastrap 

Not necessarily. Good rechargeables can outperform disposables with no problem.

Ditto. I thinkt he problem is some people here are cheap and bought crappy rechargables. I use rayovac renewals from like 10 years ago and they still work pretty decently.

[Atheist]

Originally Posted by centerchannel68 

Ditto. I thinkt he problem is some people here are cheap and bought crappy rechargables. I use rayovac renewals from like 10 years ago and they still work pretty decently.

Ah yes... just because we don't get good results..we much be cheap. If you consider Energizer Rechargeables cheap... then yes, I'm cheap. I suppose it couldn't be the fault of the product. It seems to me that rechargeables MAY work better in high-drain devices... but for other items like remote controls and mice/keyboards, they perform worse than standard alkaline batteries.

[TurboMac]

It's all about the Milliamps or mAh's. Current new batteries are around 3000 mAh's. Just a couple of years ago they were around 1700 mAh's. So technology is moving very quickly in this realm, and if you bought a while ago you are not getting the results that new batts offer.

[Railroader]

Originally Posted by nonhuman 

What specific rechargeable are people using with the digital cameras and other high use electronics? I'd love to switch to rechargeables for my camera, but I really know nothing about them and from the sound of it, some just aren't that good.

I am using Duracell 2650 mAh rechargeable batteries. I have some Energizer ones also and they work just as well. I use the "rapid" chargers.

I also have some AAA Radio Shack rechargeable batteries they were marketing towards the users of their XMods cars. VERY cheap and they work great.

[mac128k-1984]

Originally Posted by Big Mac 

How do you dispose of them? .

Trash

edit: never mind

[wallinbl]

I've tried rechargeables a few times, and they sucked.

[analogika]

I thought it was common knowledge that rechargeable batteries will lose their charge over a few weeks, REGARDLESS of whether they are used or not.

This is why rechargeable batteries are not useful for things like remote controls, wireless keyboards & mice, or anything else that uses very very little power over a long period of time.

However, they tend to have much higher capacities than regular batteries, so anything that's going to need power over a few days (like digital cameras, R/C servos, or basically anything other than what's mentioned above) is way better off with rechargeables.

Rechargeables don't suck; just don't use them for stuff they're not good at.

[Wiskedjak]

I use rechargeables in everything that takes AA or AAA: remotes, digicams, wireless keyboard, wireless mice. I haven't had any issues with discharge. I can't remember the last time I charged the batteries in my remotes. Keyboard and mice get charged about once every month or two, which doesn't bother me since the software tells me when they're getting low on charge and I just stick 'em in the charger over night.

I've been using rechargeables in all my devices for 15-20 years.

[forkies]

i use rechargeable batteries in many things too, no complaints.

[Uncle Skeleton]

Originally Posted by analogika 

I thought it was common knowledge that rechargeable batteries will lose their charge over a few weeks, REGARDLESS of whether they are used or not.

This is why rechargeable batteries are not useful for things like remote controls, wireless keyboards & mice, or anything else that uses very very little power over a long period of time.

However, they tend to have much higher capacities than regular batteries, so anything that's going to need power over a few days (like digital cameras, R/C servos, or basically anything other than what's mentioned above) is way better off with rechargeables.

Rechargeables don't suck; just don't use them for stuff they're not good at.

Thanks (not as common as you thought I guess)

[mac128k-1984]

Originally Posted by analogika 

I thought it was common knowledge that rechargeable batteries will lose their charge over a few weeks, REGARDLESS of whether they are used or not.

That makes sense as I mentioned that the rechargeable batteries did not last as long in the toys then regular batteries.

[Railroader]

Originally Posted by analogika 

I thought it was common knowledge that ...

As the two guys above me stated, I was not aware of this.

Spread the word brothers!

[analogika]

Originally Posted by Wiskedjak 

I use rechargeables in everything that takes AA or AAA: remotes, digicams, wireless keyboard, wireless mice. I haven't had any issues with discharge. I can't remember the last time I charged the batteries in my remotes. Keyboard and mice get charged about once every month or two, which doesn't bother me since the software tells me when they're getting low on charge and I just stick 'em in the charger over night.

Well yes, that's in tune with what I said - they will last weeks ("every month or two") as opposed to the *years* that a non-rechargeable will last in a remote.

[zro]

I use them in toys, remotes, wireless keyboard/mouse, Wii remotes, Wavebirds, digicam.... pretty much everything except the smoke alarm. We do keep some alkaline around for "emergency" situations and trips, though.

[hayesk]

I've been using rechargeable batteries for about 20 years. They were pretty expensive at the time ($15 for 2 AAs), but they did pay off.