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General discussion

Batteries

Sep 6, 2004 2:08PM PDT

Using rechargeable alkaline batteries in mouse and keyboard.The keyboard (labtec) takes aaa and they last for weeks but the mouse (logitech) takes aa and they only last a few days befor need a recharge.There are several brands and types of batteries.I guess the brand doesnt make much differance but would like to know if one type better than the other such as alkaline or nickel cadmium.Tks. Bob

Discussion is locked

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Re: Batteries
Sep 6, 2004 10:53PM PDT

Nicad batteries last much longer on a charge than Alkaline.

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(NT) (NT) Tks will try them
Sep 7, 2004 10:15AM PDT
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WRONG INFO...use NIM-H
Sep 9, 2004 11:51PM PDT

ARGHHHHHH...I put in the wrong thing when I wrote the reply to you.

You don't ever want to use Nicad batteries these days, you the Nickel Metal Hydride last much longer and are the preferred battery.

Sorry I wrote the wrong thing in the last reply.

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alkaline are NOT rechargeable
Sep 7, 2004 4:57PM PDT

There are three commonly available rechargeable battery composition types, and alkaline is NOT one of them.

The oldest kind, is the Nickel-Cadmium (Ni-Cd).
It has virtually been replaced in almost all applications because Ni-Cd has a tendency to take a "memory set," that is where it's usual usage, and that is generally being trickle charged, makes the battery to be very poorly responsive when you finally need it most.

The second oldest rechargeable in use has been the Nickel-metal Hydride (Ni-MH). This composition is much less prone to taking a "memory set." It still can have some small memory issues, but an occasional deep-discharge and recharge will usually correct that.

The newest commonly available rechargeable is the Lithium-ion (Li-ion). Li-ion batteries have been taking over just about everywhere except in high-current demand situations.

There are other makeup's based on these three basic compositions (using different electrolytes and polymers) but not trying to get too confusing here. Besides you can Google a search for anything you really want to learn about batteries.

The point here is that if you are trying to recharge alkaline batteries, while it might appear to take a recharge, it really doesn't. You'd almost get as much an effect by placing the alkalines in a warm oven (DON'T DO IT! It is too easy to have then accidentally explode - first hand experience here Sad ).

Use Li-ion batteries for your application. They used to be much more expensive than Ni-Cd, but being so much more common now, the prices have come down. For your application, in a mouse, it would be the best of the rechargeable to use.

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Whoops! forgot about lead-acid
Sep 8, 2004 8:53AM PDT

Before I get flaming messages regarding the three types of rechargeable batteries I mentioned...

The very oldest, one of the most dependable, I forgot to mention; the lead acid.
That is the type of battery you have in your car.

That type usually does not find its way into small portable electronic gear, but I wouldn't rule it out.

Sorry, didn't mean to forget it.
And I am sure there are some other, experimental or exotic, rechargeable types around (thinking fuel cells) but I just wanted to bring up what is most likely going to be used for the aforementioned application.

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Re: Whoops! forgot about lead-acid
Sep 9, 2004 2:37AM PDT

Tks for info but but i use alkaline RECHARGEABLE and thats the only type the charger will take,any other may leak or explode.Bob

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Re: RECHARGEABLE alkaline
Sep 9, 2004 7:21AM PDT

Well, I still learn something every day. Thanks.
I never heard of rechargeable alkaline batteries. Your response made me check a little more. Turns out there is such a thing. I still haven't spent the time to figure out how it works yet. I wonder how well it works also, since I can't imagine the recharging process rebuilds the material. But no matter, for the moment, there are "RECHARGEABLE alkaline" batteries. Cool.

I have read that alkaline batteries, rechargeable or not, do have the same tendency to start dropping off voltage fairly rapidly as the cell discharges. The NiMH and the Li-ion types hold their voltage fairly constant (drops a little) until they are nearly expended, at which time they drop fast. Since the alkaline batteries drop off relatively fast that may be why your mouse only lasts a few days. You might try other rechargeable types. Granted the initial voltage will be a bit lower, but it might hold at a usable level much longer. Just a thought.

The recharger you have, being only for alkaline batteries (a 1.5v cell) can't be used for recharging NiCd or NiMH or Li-ion batteries because the voltage of those cell compositions is much less than 1.5v.

However, there are some rechargers that have a switch on them to change the charging voltage for the different compositions. Perhaps there are rechargers for alkaline and other rechargeable types.

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Re: RECHARGEABLE alkaline
Sep 10, 2004 12:20AM PDT

Tks. Guys. This is info i needed.Will go with the Nickel Metal Hydride.Bob