Rechargeable batteries

[NotOnlyButAlso]

In the grand scheme of things, is it better to use rechargeable batteries?

I know both are bad when you consider the amount of energy you have to put in to make/dispose of them, but how do the manufacturing processes differ, and are there major benefits to recharging that make rechargeable batteries worthwhile?

Thanks,

NOBO

[buttthrax]

How much energy goes into throwing them away? I mean walk over to the garbage can and drop them in, how hard is that?

[NotOnlyButAlso]

Recycling. Also, way to go about replying to the actual question.

[Soda_Can_Sniper]

There was a good thread by the guys in RFA about the life expectancy and recharge cycles.

It's better to use them anyway, less resources wasted. Think if everyone used them.

[ArgonPlasma2000]

You can recharge alkaline batteries, too. They only last about 100 recharge cycles and you have to make special charging circuits, but it does work.

But I would rather use rechargables and recycle them.

[NotOnlyButAlso]

Cheers guys.

[Prometheus]

Have you seen how Lithium ion batteries are made? They aren't that complicated. In fact, I'd wager that potato battery you made in third grade is more complex.

Anyway, I recycle my batteries when they won't hold a charge anymore. There's some funky stuff in there.

[NotOnlyButAlso]

Strangely enough I've never toured a battery factory, but thanks anyway.

[Terri]

I assume that rechargeable are better, but im not 100% sure

[deus-redux]

More and more devices are coming with integrated batteries anyway. Media players, cameras, phones, etc. being examples.

I haven't actually used AA batteries in ages.

-deus-

[Runaway_Stapler]

Say you had a dead alkaline or any other battery, used up of all it's charges, what would you have to do to make it usable again?

[Eat A Queer Fetus For Jesus]

Diy alkaline charger (http://www.afrotechmods.com/reallycheap/batteries/batts.htm)
If you're lazy/dumb, there are alkaline chargers you can buy, but they may not charge as high as one that it homemade to prevent popping and resulting lawsuits.

Spatula Tzar's battery dissection page (http://godlovesmeat.com/spatulatzar/alkaline_battery/)

I use NiMHs because alkaline batteries don't work in my camera and they save money if not drained or overcharged.

[SilentMind]

I couldnt really care about how much energy it takes and how bad it is for the environment.

Rechargables suck for strictly functional reasons. After the first dozen or so charges, they dont last nearly as long.

[gunjah]

Im gunna say rechargeable are better and cheaper only because you dont see any alkaline powered cars...


But ya, I understand your question. It depends in my opinion. If its for a device like your remote or something that your rarely use, go with alkaline. However, I use rechargeable for my MP3 player only because alkaline wouldnt make much sense.

[Connor MacManus]

I couldnt really care about how much energy it takes and how bad it is for the environment.

Rechargables suck for strictly functional reasons. After the first dozen or so charges, they dont last nearly as long.

That's pretty true with nickel-cadmium and alkaline batteries, but it's pretty untrue with nickel metal hydrides (NiMH) and lithium ions.

http://www.nimhbattery.com/nimhbattery-faq.htm#Question%20#5:%A0

I understand that lithium ions are quite a bit better than the NiMHs.

[Eat A Queer Fetus For Jesus]

NiMHs work in my camera. Alkalines always drop their voltage unexpectedly.

[vancouver222]

any risk of losing the device ? do batteries last more than 3 months in it, without recharging? then use disposables.

[woopsueypigs77]

The irony is killing me. You're all talking about saving energy, while you're sitting on your computer that's just sucking watts.

[MunkeyQ]

Li-ion batteries take 10 times more energy to recycle than it does to make them. So if everyone's driving Li-ion cars which need new packs every two years, what the fuck happens to all the waste batteries? If they'er recycled, it'll take huge amounts of energy.

Before everyone uses electric cars, we've gotta come up with another battery technology first. Sorry, but electric cars are NOT gonna be a miracle which saves the earth overnight.

I read a white paper on batteries and the environment, and with the current battery/motor efficiency, if everyone owned an electric car, the power consumption of all those houses would triple. So we'd need three times more power stations...so we'd need power stations which are more efficient than car engines, otherwise the situation would go nowhere.