Re: Using rechargeable batteries?

Dean Cashen (deanc@hpbs114.boi.hp.com)
Wed, 8 Feb 95 18:24 PST

Brian Fliege wrote:
> > The BuddyL rechargers are available at Radio Shacks for an
> > outrageous price; they're also available from mail order
> > places like Damark for around $20.
> Actually, they were discontinued from R.S. months ago. If you can
> actually find one, they are now selling for something like $20 or $25.
> Just an aside: but I would not suggest using one of those Alkaline
> "Rejuvinators." I gave one to my father on his birthday last year, and
> have not had much luck with it. The gimmick is: it will only recharge
> partly used batteries. It will not recharge batteries that have been
> drained to nothing. It does not recharge them to anywhere near their
> original condition. It will only recharge a particular battery 3 or 4
> times until it's completely drained. Because of all these conditionals,
> it is hard to tell if it is actually doing its job... IMHO, it's more
> trouble than it is worth.

One of the few times I've read Consumer Reports, they had an
article on batteries. Included in the article was an evaluation
of Alkaline rechargers, like the BuddyL, and the concluded the
same things you did, that they really don't work well at all.

Another subscriber to this list asked about using Lithium
batteries in the Zoomer. Well, Consumer Reports tested a variety
of batteries -- alkaline, nicad, and lithium -- and (surprisingly
to me) they found that lithiums provided little extra time
in standard applications (walkmen and such) than alkalines.
While I don't claim to understand why, despite their higher
power capacity, they apparently are best at providing long shelf-life
and high, but short, current draws (such as camera flashes).

So, based on the article, lithiums shouldn't perform much better
than alkalines, and you shouldn't put too much faith in alkaline
rechargers.

For me? I'm delighted with the life the zoomer gets from standard
alkalines, it's more than I expected. I don't welcome the hassle
of nicads or the expense of lithium.

Dean

--
.... ___ \   ____/   __  \         \ . | Dean Cashen, SW Development Engineer|
... /    /  /       /    /   \    / .. | Hewlett-Packard Company, SSD        |
.. /    /  __/      __  /     \  / ... | 11413 Chinden Blvd.                 |
. /    /  /       /    /   / \  / .... | Boise, ID  83714   MS 202           |
 _____/ _____/ __/  __/ __/  __/ ..... | (208) 396-3635  Fax: (208) 396-5117 |
                                        | deanc@hpbs114.boi.hp.com            |