solar battery charger nimh

solar battery charger nimh

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Opinions And Recommendations Of The Rechargeable Batteries

Rechargeable batteries are the preferred battery type: Within this group, Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) batteries are the current standard-setter. They offer an excellent long-term value for powering GPS receivers, headlamps, flashlights and bike lights. They're also a good choice for small household items used frequently or continuously (toys, for instance) and "high-drain" devices such as digital cameras.

The upside of NiMH batteries:

• They typically can be recharged and reused 150 to 500+ times. One set could do the work of hundreds and hundreds of single-use ("disposable") batteries. Nearly 3 billion single-use batteries, mainly alkaline batteries, are sold in the U.S. each year. The majority wind up in landfills. Ouch.
• They outperform single-use batteries in "high-drain" devices such as digital cameras and GPS receivers. Early in their life cycle, NiMH batteries discharge energy more steadily (and thus longer) than single-use batteries. In a camera (which involves repeated power bursts), alkaline batteries start strong but fade quickly. In GPS units, alkalines generally perform well.

Downside:

• They require fairly regular maintenance. NiMH batteries lose power when sitting idle, 1% or more per day. To keep them operating near their peak, standard NiMH batteries need to be recharged (and preferably used) every 1 to 2 months.
• They grow less predictable as they age. Late in their life cycle, NiMH batteries hold charges for shorter periods. Tip: If you own many NiMH batteries, avoid mixing older and newer cells—keep them paired or grouped. Tape ID tags on them.

Precharged NiMH batteries are the best rechargeables now available: Precharged NiMH batteries are also called "hybrid," "ready-to-use" or "low self-discharge" batteries.

Upside:

• Ready for action. They can go straight from the package into a device. No initial charging needed.
• Lower "self-discharge" rate than standard NiMH batteries. All batteries experience "self-discharge"—a loss of stored power when a battery is not in use. Standard NiMH batteries may lose up to 40% of their stored energy in a month and be fully empty in as little as 2 months. Precharged NiMHs, which employ a type of modified ion, minimize that loss, surrendering only 10% to 25% of their stored power over 6 months. They can serve as backup batteries for trips lasting a couple of weeks or a few months.

Downside:

• Some maintenance is still required. If left idle, recharging is suggested every 6 to 9 months.
• Slightly less energy capacity than standard NiMH batteries. During periods of continuous or intense activity in a short time frame (shooting photos at a wedding, for instance), standard NiHM batteries will probably outlast precharged NiMHs due to their modest advantage in energy capacity.

Single-use batteries make excellent backup batteries: I always carry some as spares, though precharged NiMHs will also do. They store well for years, are always ready for action and offer high energy capacity. Pricey lithium batteries are superb performers (especially in cold weather), but check your gizmo's instructions first before using them. Lithium batteries (at 3 volts per cell) can overpower some devices (headlamps in particular) and fry their circuitry. Alkaline batteries, meanwhile, are tried-and-true workhorses suitable for any device. In a GPS unit, for instance, they typically deliver about 2 days' worth of continual service. Their chief downsides: 1) rapid depletion when used in a digital camera and 2) their unending cycle of use-discard-replace.

No ideal battery exists: As the charging cycles add up, rechargeable batteries hold charges for progressively shorter stretches. No rechargeable battery lasts forever, though they can usually be counted on for years. Single-use batteries, meanwhile, are predictable and convenient, but over the long long-term are more expensive due to the endless need to replace them. Plus, each year billions wind up in landfills because many people aren't aware they can be recycled or don't make the effort to do so.

Battery performance is not predictable: Many factors—the type of device being powered; the frequency or strength of a power drain; the temperature; battery age—make it difficult to forecast how consistently a battery will perform from one application to another or from one device to another. Please be aware that the guidelines offered in this article are all presented with an implied fudge factor. The old consumer bromide rings true when it comes to batteries: Your results may vary.

Batteries are evolving: Just like the microelectronic devices they power, today's mass-selling batteries will become tomorrow's dinosaurs. On the horizon: fuel cell batteries, thin-film polymers and batteries modified by nanotechnology.

Solar chargers are worth considering: For extended stays in remote corners of the planet, these ever-improving energy collectors can supply a moderate amount of power to your devices each day.

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