In the United States, 3 billion batteries are thrown into the garbage annually. Nearly 15 tons of such waste then end up in landfills. Worldwide, of course, the numbers will be much more alarming. However, there is a simple way to contribute less to the littering of our planet. And, importantly, it will save a lot of money! All you have to do is switch from ordinary batteries to rechargeable ones.
Every year, we try to do more and more to support our planet in the fight against piling up garbage and global warming. We are segregating waste, investing in renewable energy sources, and reducing consumption. The most significant changes should, of course, take place at the highest level, but all of these small gestures contribute if only to the fact that more and more people are opposing unlimited pollution. So today will be about how to generate less electro-waste with AA and AAA rechargeable batteries, which carry several other benefits.
Swap normal batteries for rechargeable batteries
Each of us has at least a few devices at home powered by popular AA or AAA batteries. Remote controls, clocks, game controllers, smoke detectors, flashlights, blood pressure monitors, children’s toys – you can list endlessly. Every time the batteries in the devices run out, we throw them in the trash and replace them with new ones. And when you realize that batteries can be recharged several hundred times, it suddenly becomes clear that this is not only a greener solution. It doesn’t take a long count to realize that this is a huge money saver! While you replace batteries relatively infrequently in a TV remote control, in the case of children’s toys, the investment in batteries can pay for itself after just a few months. Importantly, you’ll also save a lot of time. Recall how many times discharged devices have forced you to make unscheduled visits to stores where batteries are sold. When you use AA or AAA batteries, simply place the discharged cells in the charger and wait until they are ready for use again. Less trash, more time, and more money in your pocket!
Rechargeable batteries: what to look out for?
When looking for rechargeable batteries compatible with your devices, you’re bound to come across some mysterious names and abbreviations. AA and AAA are, of course, the types of cells. Double A’s are the larger ones, and triple A’s, are the smaller ones. However, there are more variable characteristics and parameters.
AA and AAA rechargeable batteries: NiCd or NiMH?
On rechargeable batteries, there are often markings indicating the base materials – NiCd or NiMH. The former abbreviation refers to nickel-cadmium cells. These are becoming less and less popular, due to the so-called memory effect. It is related to the fact that batteries that were recharged before full discharge quickly lost their maximum capacity. While this is not a problem in the case of a TV remote control, some devices are always worth keeping charged to 100% (such as photographic flash units). That’s why nickel-metal-hydride (NiMH) cells are becoming increasingly popular today. Using them, you do not have to worry about the “memory effect”. The cells maintain a long life, plus they are environmentally friendly.
Low self-discharge
When choosing batteries, it is also worth paying attention to whether the cells lose their power when not in use. This parameter is called the self-discharge rate. It is it that determines what percentage of energy can be lost when the battery is not used. If a fully charged cell retains 80% of its capacity after 12 months of storage, we can talk about a really good result.
Capacity and number of charging cycles
From the point of view of ecology and your budget, an important parameter to pay attention to is the number of charging cycles. This refers to how many times you can completely discharge and recharge the cell before its capacity significantly decreases. In other words, the number of charge cycles indicates how long the battery will serve you. You should also pay attention to the capacity of the cell, which is expressed in milliampere hours (mAh). You will often find that rechargeable batteries are also a great way to extend the operating time of the device you are powering. By choosing high-capacity cells, you can ensure that you will be able to work longer (for example, with an audio recorder, flashlight, or lamp).
AA and AAA rechargeable batteries: storage
For your chosen rechargeable batteries to serve you for many years, you need to remember one important rule. Never forget about discharged, unused cells. Take a remote-controlled car as an example. If your child got bored with the toy and the discharged vehicle ended up in the closet, take out the batteries and charge them to full capacity. This is the only way to preserve their full life. Keeping the batteries charged will ensure that when the child wants to play with the car again, its operating time will not be shortened due to the loss of battery life.
What kind of rechargeable batteries to choose?
In our offer, you will find 2 types of rechargeable batteries: rechargeable batteries Newell NiMH AA 2500 and Newell NiMH AAA 950. Depending on what devices will be powered by them, you can save a lot of money and significantly reduce the amount of electro-waste generated. One rechargeable battery will allow you to replace up to 1,000 batteries!
Newell NiMH AA 2500 and NiMH AAA 950 rechargeable battery
Newell rechargeable batteries are designed to power devices with high energy consumption. These include flashlights, game controllers, electric toys, sensors, flashlights, walkie-talkies, and many others. Using them daily, you can be sure that your devices will last much longer. The best quality nickel metal hydride (NiMH) cells were used in their production. The capacity quoted in milliamps is real and ensures a long operating time. The technology used makes it possible to significantly extend the operating time of devices with high energy requirements. The batteries have been pre-charged and are ready for use right out of the box. According to the latest standard, AAA batteries from Newell are extremely resistant to self-discharge. Charged to full capacity, they retain about 80% of their capacity after 12 months of storage. Their service life is about 500 charging cycles. The cells can operate at temperatures from -20 to as high as 60ºC.
What charger to choose for AA or AAA batteries?
There remains one more topic worth discussing. To use rechargeable batteries, you need the right charger. Newell Smart C8 and Newell Smart C4 Supra models are the ideal choices not only for owners of Newell cells but also for those from other manufacturers.
Newell Smart C8 and Smart C4 Supra
The Newell C4 Supra and Newell Smart C8 are universal chargers that are compatible with most cylindrical batteries on the market. This means that support for AA and AAA batteries is not the end of their capabilities. Both models feature a backlit LCD showing voltage, amperage, charging time, internal resistance, and percentage of charge of the cell. A specially designed housing allows charging batteries in all channels simultaneously. The Newell C4 Supra model will hold 4 cells, and the Newell Smart C8 will hold as many as 8! Importantly, you can charge different types of batteries at the same time.
Both chargers automatically determine the charging current based on the characteristics of the batteries. It is also possible to set the intensity manually. Before charging, the devices measure the internal resistance and estimate the capacity of the cells. In turn, when charging is complete, we can read the estimated capacity of the battery on the display. There is also protection against incorrect battery insertion and short-circuiting, as well as automatic stopping of the charging process when the cell is fully replenished. This makes the whole process safe and energy-efficient.
Repair of excessively discharged batteries
Most chargers are unable to charge over-discharged or 0-volt cells. Newell Smart C4 and Smart C8 can help in such situations if you are working with lithium-ion batteries. Once such a cell is detected, the devices will attempt to reactivate and repair it. However, it’s worth remembering that cells discharged below a certain level will deteriorate and reactivation may not be possible.
There is something else you need to know. All our products come with a 40-month warranty. If anything bothers you, let us know and the claims department will help resolve the problem with express speed.
Do you have questions about AA or AAA batteries? Or are you interested in our chargers? Write to us on Facebook or Instagram! We will certainly help you!
