Right we seem to have had plenty of useful sources posted for AA batteries but I'm after a box of AAs to put away for emergencies. I want alkaline as a backup to the Nimhs I usually use - like for if the power goes off for a week or more. Suggestions?
Sam
IKEA
(Usually on the checkout desk)
Good and very cheap
Cheers, but the 160 mile round trip might make them a little uneconomical :-)
Sam
Um, why would the suggestions be different?
Christian.
Box of 40 AA or AAA is a tenner. Stick it in the freezer. Alternatively, zinc chloride batteries are about 4 quid for a pack of
On the other foot, you might try a 12V car battery (obtainable cheap from scrapyard, most will work, for this sort of application, test to make sure they are over 10V when you buy) put it on a lead-acid float charger, and use a 12V AA charger.
That really isn't such a bad idea. I will look into it. Cheers.
Any suggestions on an AA 12v charger? The Uniross I bought from 7dayshop packed up after just over a year and had the habit of frying batteries.
Sam
Being 80 miles from the nearest IKEA would be considered a desirable situation to many people. :))
"Sam" Right we seem to have had plenty of useful sources posted for AA batteries
What do you actually want them for? It might be better to buy a wind-up torch or radio for emergencies if that's all they are for
Too right. We've rejected a local one here in Stockport umpteen times yet the council still try to get it re-instated. Democracy in action - not !
I'd ask over on one of the caravanning groups. Checking on ebay, for "12v aa" results in three hits, the third of which looks appropriate. My german is a bit lacking trhouhg. You want something that detects when the batteries are charged, and stops charging them.
572221198, or 3841846708. I have never dealt with either seller.
So what is the problem?
Batteries have a shelf life. OK it might be 5+ years but storage conditions will affect them and do you really want to be relying on something possibly at the end of it's shelf life in an emergency? If you rotate the emergency stock thats fine but you have to do it and keep doing it.
What are you trying to maintain the use of? Torch, MP3 player, toy train?
Just for headlamps, Mini-Maglights and Palm devices.
I actually have a Freeplay original torch in the clear plastic. It's really really cool and a design classic but to be honest it's pretty useless as a torch :-) I keep it in a cupboard and take it out once in a while to admire it, one day it might be worth more than the silly amount I paid for it. Actually I think it could do with a new battery pack - something else to search out.
I also bought one of those wind up solar torch/radio/sirens that Maplin have periodically on special offer. Now that really is useless, with alkalines in it, it makes a bad radio which only gets used where even my battered and beloved 30 yo National Panasonic tranny (radio ;-) )dares not to tread. It never held a charge for more than a couple of days and as to the solar and wind-up mechanisms I really doubt they have any wires at all connected to the charging circuit. The siren is about the only bit that works well, shame we don't have decent earthquakes which is where I'm sure it would excel :-)
It was after these dissapointments, and more wasted money on NiCad powered lanterns, that I decided to go for a more conventional approach with NiMh batts when the power is on and a stock of alkalines for when the power fails.
I must say the best emergency/utility portable lighting solution I have found so far seems to be the LED headlamps I bought in Argos the other day - hence why I'm asking about batteries for them - Light, bright and nicely compact. How reliable they turn out to be is anyones guess.
Sam
For a little used emergency lantern, you're better off with a lead acid type. Available in the sheds for silly money. They don't self discharge at anything like the rate of others. Of course, they're heavier and larger, like for like, but at least they'll work when needed.
They pay your petrol costs if you have to return faulty goods. My girlfriends parents came down from north east scotland to Edinburgh, at Ikeas expense, because this is their nearest store ! As they sell so much shoddy crap, you could easily take advantage of this.
Alex
Slightly OT, but I've noticed a few devices that recommend one should _not_ use rechargeable batteries, eg I think my Sky remote control recommended that. I always use rechargeable batteries and they seem to work OK, so why do they tell you not to?
Rechargeables generally have lower cell voltage. Ni-Cds are 1.2V per cell whereas normall akaline, etc are 1.5V. Most appliances that use batteries use them in series, losing 0.3v per cell can add up to quite voltage loss when four or more batteries are used.
Rechargeable batteries are hopeless for remotes because they self discharge quickly (i.e. they will be flat in weeks/months rather than years, even if not used). Alkaline would be a much better bet. An alkaline will be in pretty good condition and fully charged 5 years after manufacture.
Christian.
Well, there are those who will tell you the manufacturers are in league with the battery makers, and maybe they are...
I believe the "real" reason is that rechargeables have a lower internal resistance. Were a fault to develop in a child's toy (for example) (or be induced by said child) the short-circuit currents that could flow are much larger than with normal alkaline batteries, leading to increased risk of burns and fire.
Due to starting out with a lower voltage and self discharge, they'd probably not last long. And the case/contacts might not be up to continual battery changing - after all remote batteries usually last several years.
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