Comments on: Adventures in Rechargeable Batteries

Adventures in Rechargeable Batteries

grumblebee — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 06:58:13 -0800

I'm not sure what the exact definition of geek is, but I think "enjoys recharging batteries" has to be very high on that list.

By: Dr-Baa

Dr-Baa — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 07:12:59 -0800

Why mess around with battery chargers when all you need are some good batteries and electrical tape?

By: GuyZero

GuyZero — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 07:13:24 -0800

I know someone else who has posted to their blog going on about this charger. It brings something out in real geeks. I must buy one.

By: cerebus19

cerebus19 — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 07:13:55 -0800

I think Jeff Atwood already had the definition of geek covered with "writes a programming blog."

By: DU

DU — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 07:17:25 -0800

My wife has been complaining a LOT about her rechargable batteries. Maybe I should get her one of these to discover the real problem.

By: From Bklyn

From Bklyn — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 07:22:34 -0800

Wow, I'm literally drooling. Damn, what a mess.

By: sourwookie

sourwookie — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 07:28:27 -0800

Damn, Dr-Baa, that had me going for a minute.

By: justkevin

justkevin — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 07:35:22 -0800

I bought a MAHA 8-cell charger a year ago. It's twice as much as the La Crosse in the blog above, but it can recharge up to 8 batteries in any combination of AA/AAA/D. The main problem with rechargeables is that they dissipate over time, even if not in use, it's nice to be able to keep the charger always full of 4 AA and 4 AAA at all times, so when my Wii or Wireless mouse dies there's always enough batteries on hand to immediately replace.

By: graventy

graventy — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 07:43:12 -0800

Holy crap, that's my charger! Now I feel dumb for not knowing how to use it properly.

By: Dizzy

Dizzy — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 07:55:29 -0800

I'm taking all your names down.

By: contessa

contessa — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 08:02:38 -0800

Like we need to be giving my boyfriend any ideas.

By: Uther Bentrazor

Uther Bentrazor — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 08:05:05 -0800

On my way to the gym, I'm totally taking this guy's lunch money and stuffing him into a locker.

By: MrMustard

MrMustard — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 08:10:07 -0800

This should have been hideously dull, but was actually fascinating. Seriously. Thanks for posting it.

By: Skorgu

Skorgu — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 08:28:32 -0800

I love rechargeable batteries. See also Dansdata's take on the "memory effect", one of the many times he's covered this topic.

By: papakwanz

papakwanz — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 08:36:11 -0800

My wife has been complaining a LOT about her rechargable batteries. Just what exactly is she using the batteries for that they need such regular discharging, hmmmmmm DU?

By: Dizzy

Dizzy — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 08:38:58 -0800

I just assumed that she really really really enjoys that "Fresh from the dentist feeling" that comes from a Genuine Waterpik Appliance, papak...

By: designbot

designbot — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 09:09:06 -0800

I have this charger. It really is ridiculously nerdtastic. It comes with a sturdy nylon carrying case with a shoulder strap and multiple zip-up pockets (you know, for accessorizing when you go to fancy battery parties), and these little adapters so you can use AA's as C's or D's. I have no idea what the little displays really mean, but look, there's four of them!

By: stupidsexyFlanders

stupidsexyFlanders — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 09:09:18 -0800

I didn't like how he darkly dismissed the sanyo eneloop, given that I've invested about $40 at this point in that type. Why is the hybrid or "precharged" so much better? What's wrong with my eneloops? What's wrong with the little charger they come with? WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME????

By: Dizzy

Dizzy — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 09:13:22 -0800

ssFlan-- Stop licking the 9-volt. Worked for me.

By: zeoslap

zeoslap — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 09:14:21 -0800

I don't believe he is dissing the Sanyo Eneloop, it is a precharged hybrid battery even though it doesn't state that in the name, he was just referring to Energizer type.

By: DU

DU — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 09:18:16 -0800

Digital camera. Some candid photography, nudge nudge.

By: nzero

nzero — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 09:22:40 -0800

more than doubled 2500 < 1300 * 2

By: VicNebulous

VicNebulous — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 09:27:02 -0800

Then color me geek.

By: spiderskull

spiderskull — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 09:52:59 -0800

Real geeks would just build their own charger circuit.

By: Mister_A

Mister_A — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 09:53:52 -0800

Missus_A is going to know exactly where I got the idea to upgrade our battery chargers.

By: anotherpanacea

anotherpanacea — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 10:06:04 -0800

Impressed ---> Geeky ---> Pretends Disinterest ---> Fails

By: quin

quin — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 10:25:12 -0800

Damn, I was hoping this was some new update about the, thus far, vaporlicious inductive recharger, the Splashpower. Because if that shit ever happens, I'm pretty sure that I will fall into the geekified realm of 'enjoys recharging batteries' Though, after reading through this, and knowing what I know about the number of battery chargers in my house, I'm actually not sure that this doesn't already apply.

By: lazymonster

lazymonster — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 10:28:09 -0800

I switched to eneloops earlier this year and I've not looked back. I also went with an 8-cell MAHA since I have to charge large batches. I did some reading late last year on the candlepowerforums (mentioned in the original link) and I highly recommend their geekery; it's a curious blend of Y2K DIYers, sportsmen & flashlight enthusiasts that overlap on battery fetishism. If you're curious about eneloops, this is the 1 year and running Eneloop Self Discharge study thread over at candlepowerforums.

By: fearfulsymmetry

fearfulsymmetry — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 10:43:30 -0800

The first nanosecond I saw the charger I thought, 'cool'... the second nanosecond I thought 'I want one'.

By: Free word order!

Free word order! — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 10:56:26 -0800

There is this comfortable and stylish zone of geekery where Stephen Fry likes to hang out. This article is in that zone, so I have no problem allowing myself there. Although I don't like things with replaceable batteries. It is sad that things wear out because of me.

By: TungstenChef

TungstenChef — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 10:57:39 -0800

Now my Amazon wishlist knows my shame. My geeky, battery-loving shame.

By: Ambrosia Voyeur

Ambrosia Voyeur — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:01:04 -0800

I love rechargeable batteries and I haaaaate proprietary batteries. O for a phone that, like my camera, could run on rechargeable AAs. There's only one thing I won't run on rechargeables: my vibrator.

By: stupidsexyFlanders

stupidsexyFlanders — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:05:32 -0800

Why not?

By: Ambrosia Voyeur

Ambrosia Voyeur — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:36:52 -0800

They just don't seem to stay at peak output as long. The last thing one wants is a vibrator that loses kick minute by minute. It's like being jacked off by a narcoleptic.

By: Zed_Lopez

Zed_Lopez — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:41:10 -0800

My Amazon order history knows my shame. Worse, I ordered a Kill-a-Watt while I was at it.

By: punilux

punilux — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:41:27 -0800

On September 14th last year I finally replaced 4 NiMH AAs I had kept in constant rotation for exactly eight years and 9 days. My poor, poor babies just couldn't hold more than a weeks power for my radio or mouse any more, but in their lifetime had probably saved me hundreds, if not thousands of pounds. I actually considered keeping them as 'backups' for the 6 new replacements I bought and I was genuinely regretful when I finally came to my senses and binned them. I am a battery nerd, and I am both relieved and a little scared to discover that I am not alone.

By: aubilenon

aubilenon — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 13:35:48 -0800

Ambrosia Voyeur: Actually for high drain applications, NiMH tend to out-perform alkalines.

By: Ambrosia Voyeur

Ambrosia Voyeur — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 14:53:11 -0800

Hrmmm. I have my doubts. Obviously, Doing Science is in order! I knew I had several identical MIB vibrators for a reason... But what should I use as the non-neurological sensor of vibrator torque? I could see dissasembling them and actually doing lifting or spooling with the motors, but somehow shell-intact restricted directional movement, like, say, measuring spring-loaded drilling through a soft cheese, seems like a good analog. Sure, an ammeter is cheaper than several wedges of good camembert, but this is sexy science we're talking about, there has to be some snacking afterward.

By: contraption

contraption — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 14:54:07 -0800

The problem with NiMH for, um, high-output applications like running little motors is that they top out at 1.3V, where fresh alkalines come in around 1.7V. This makes a noticeable difference in some small appliances.

By: contraption

contraption — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:02:54 -0800

So AV, the upshot of all this is that we should mod the thing to accept 3 AA's instead of the current 2, giving 3.6V of juice after a fresh charge, which should be close enough to the 3.2V of two new alkalines to give some extra power without smoking the motor. You'll just have to be aware of temperature and discontinue use if it gets too hot. We'll have to come up with some way to avoid making it too bulky, but it shouldn't be difficult. I can get started after work.

By: contraption

contraption — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:07:17 -0800

Oops, sorry, it'd be 3.9V. Should be fine.

By: Ambrosia Voyeur

Ambrosia Voyeur — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:08:54 -0800

But, but... :( I wanna please the cheese!

By: contraption

contraption — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:15:06 -0800

Camembert's not consistent enough in firmness to yield useful results. I'd go with something like this instead.

By: loquacious

loquacious — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:20:25 -0800

What in the hell? Nerds? Sex? VIBRATOR SCIENCE!? I'm... so confused. Hold me.

By: contraption

contraption — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:21:24 -0800

It's ok, loq. Here, have some of this cheese.

By: aubilenon

aubilenon — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:21:58 -0800

contraption: Alkalines start out at a higher charge but will drop below their nominal 1.5v charge pretty quickly. NiMH also start out charged more than 1.2 (1.36 is what I usually see) but they'll stay above 1.2 longer than a comparable capacity alkaline battery, under high load. If you only want to use the first 20% of the battery then I suppose alkaline is the way to go.

By: contraption

contraption — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:24:18 -0800

aubilenon: that's exactly why the real solution is supplying more NiMH voltage from the outset. It's the best of both worlds.

By: Ambrosia Voyeur

Ambrosia Voyeur — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:25:02 -0800

contraption, velveeta? Seriously? Did you miss the visual pun in my runny wedge of velvety-rinded camembert? I think we have to break up.

By: contraption

contraption — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:26:46 -0800

Dammit, woman! Are we doing science or aren't we?

By: contraption

contraption — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:32:49 -0800

Hey, wait, you don't think Velveeta is hot? We might have to break up. Also, for anybody concerned about AV's health: that "visual pun" is almost entirely metaphorical.

By: Dizzy

Dizzy — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:36:58 -0800

Thank God I'm typing this sitting down. PS: Velveeta is hawtness pers0nified.

By: lattiboy

lattiboy — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 19:59:44 -0800

I get what he's saying about the Energizers, but if you're using them in an oft used digital camera, they cannot be matched. I took 500 (50 with flash) pics, 25 minutes of video, transferred it all to my PC, deleted it, and still had about %20 charge left on my chdk Canon A570 IS on TWO AA BATTERIES (!). That is just silly. For a remote or something that doesn't need changing at least once a month, the other batteries are superior.

By: kenlayne

kenlayne — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 21:39:07 -0800

If you've got these "children" creatures, you will notice their many hundreds of accessories all require every size of battery, always, all the time, every day. Each little Thomas train needs a Double A, which lasts until the poor train is left in the dirt outside until the little engine gives out. The baby-rocker device takes about 70 D Cells. The "soothing vibrations" on the sleeping chair takes several batteries. There are flashlights, toy buses that sing "Wheels On The Bus," a cloth frog that sings "A-B-C," the music table with its little instruments, the little Casio keyboard, etc. Rechargeable batteries are not Geeky in this world. They are sanity. I've got one of those deals in the garage that can charge whatever size/type, and it is always full and always charging. Also, if you feel guilty tossing a stray battery here and there in the garbage, wait until you have HUNDREDS OF DEAD BATTERIES EVERYWHERE. (And no, you can't plug the shit into the wall outlet, because then it will kill the babies somehow.)

By: aerotive

aerotive — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 14:48:22 -0800

Anybody who likes geeking out over batteries and recharging should get one of these. I've posted about them on a couple of deal sites as well. Very cool device with the now de rigueur overly bright blue LED.

By: contraption

contraption — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 09:50:18 -0800

SEE?!? Velveeta is sexy!

By: contraption

contraption — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 09:52:16 -0800

oops. SEE?!?