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I loved going to warehouse clubs like Sam's Club and BJ's. What does this have to do with kids? Bear with me, this connects. One of the reasons I loved going was so I could buy good batteries in bulk. Why? Because I have kids who own toys that talk, buzz, beep, bleep, bang, and drive around via radio control. And all those types of toys require batteries. Lots of them. As I found out, lots and lots and LOTS OF THEM. I now have 4 kids. And, ironically, my youngest (7 weeks old) requires the most batteries. His bouncing seat and mechanical swing needs several D size cells, also the most expensive of portable, conventional batteries.
So I would go to Sam's Club or BJ's and get what I supposed as a great deal on batteries. And, 6-9 months later, I'd have to try to explain to my hopeful boys that Daddy can't get anymore batteries for Buzz Lightyear because we can't afford it at the moment. Then, I'd have to hear the whining and crying and "why's" and stomping and wonder why I don't just throw away all those toys that need batteries. That is one possible solution, as long as I can weather the aforementioned whines until they can get used to their non-electronic (and, some would argue, less fun) toys. Don't get me wrong, they WERE a good deal on disposable batteries. But I unfortunately do not have disposable cash.
So I am days away from our yearly tax refund. And I was considering going back and continuing the insane action of buying disposable batteries so I could be a hero to my kids for a few more months. Or do I dare spend a considerable amount more on rechargeable batteries and a recharger and remain a hero for my kids indefinitely? Ok, yes, I'm being a bit melodramatic. I'm a hero to my kids just by cutting the grass and fixing their Transformers. But the reality is that I was looking at spending $75 for a charger and 8-15 batteries (more on this in a minute) or $10 for a pack of 24 batteries.
Now, I've had experience with rechargeables in the past. Granted, it's been over 8 years ago since I had bought Kodak rechargeable batteries for my now-ancient digital camera. The problem was that they did not have a powerful charge, which did not last long. It seemed I was charging and recharging every few days. The whole ordeal turned me off to rechargeables for several years. Like I said, that was over 8 years ago and rechargeable battery technology has come a long way. I did my research and here's what I found:
Batteries
NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride) batteries are better than older NiCad (Nickel Cadmium), so steer clear of the latter. By the way, if anything I say is inaccurate, I apologize. I am not a techie. Please comment here to correct me. Anyway, theses batteries all have an MaH rating (don't ask me what it stands for - it is a unit of measurement of electricity).The higher the MaH, the more power it will provide, but the shorter shelf life its charge will have. Some batteries go all the way up to 10,000 MaH, but they do not possess "low discharge" as other batteries with lower MaH. Get a battery with an MaH somewhere around 2000 - 3000. That will give good power with long shelf life. Sanyo "Eneloop" and Rayovac Rechargeable Hybrids offer these qualities. Sonys and Duracells are also good brands to look for. Now, no matter what battery you choose, the charger can have a large impact on how long your rechargeable will last.
Heard enough and want to purchase Sanyo Eneloop batteries? Click here.
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Rechargers
Most rechargeables tout they can be recharged up to 1000 times! Whoa. That's like a thousand year's worth of batteries. Let's say 500 times, conservatively. The trick is how you recharge them. There are two types of rechargers out there: the fast and the slow. Fast rechargers work, well, fast. Two hours is all it takes for most. But be warned: If you use a fast charger too much, it will fry out your batteries. Convenience loses in this case. Use a slow charger, one that takes 6, 8 or 10 hours and preserve the life of your really expensive rechargeable batteries. Just have a few extra, already-charged batteries on hand if you get in a bind.
A few more things about rechargers:
- Some require you charge batteries in pairs. Fine if all your devices use an even amount of batteries. Mine don't. You might think it is not a big deal, just take another battery from another device to even up things. But read on...
- Some lower end rechargers will charge based on one battery's charge, regardless if the other battery's charge is higher or lower. So you might end up with not enough charge for one battery or too much, thereby frying it again eventually.
The solution to both of these potential issues is a higher-end recharger, one that not only allows you to monitor each individual battery's charge with some sort of read-out or series of lights, but also is able to charge each individual battery according to its need. These sort of rechargers also do not require pairing up batteries in similar type. So, if you need to charge 3 AA and one AAA, not a problem. I have suggested a recharger at the bottom of this blog.
Adapters
And finally, I've saved the best for last. In my research, I've found you no longer have to buy C or D size batteries! What? Yes, it's true! You can now buy adapters to put around your AA batteries so they will fit into your devices that take C and D batteries. Please note, these adapters may not fit EVERYTHING. But they have been designed to be as universal as possible. Yes, you can get quality rechargeable batteries in C and D size, but you will also have to buy a recharger that accommodates C and D batteries and has all the aforementioned features I recommended for rechargers. I've found these rechargers to be quite expensive, indeed.
So remember these points:
- You will only need AA and AAA batteries with 2000 - 3000 MaH to give you maximum power with good shelf life
- Get a SLOW recharger that can do batteries individually and allows you to monitor its charge
- Shop around to get your best pricing
- Stay with brand names for your batteries. Read the reviews of both batteries and chargers.
- No need for C and D size batteries, as long as you have ample adapters and AA batteries. Buy in Bulk!
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