Lost Battery Power

Davey · 2013-05-23T23:04:10+00:00

If only I could save all the power that I have to throw out in batteries because I have no way of using it. We use two portable radios, both of which decide on their own that their AA battery power level has dropped below what they will accept, and they shut off. But there is plenty of power still in the batteries. The only use we have for AA batteries, other than the radios, is MiniMaglite torches, but they are used only on rare occasions, so the supply of useable batteries is getting bigger and bigger. Considering the cost of batteries, we are throwing away lots of pounds'-worth of battery power. How can I make sensible use of this lost power? Over a year, it must add up to a quite considerable amount. I hate to throw it all away.

May 23, 2013 45 Replies

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meow2222 13 years ago

to make it work seamlessly:

radio has flat fixed contact areas for robustness, battery has sprung strips
dry cells/nicads etc go thru a diode connected transistor, and the lead acid puts out a little more V, so when the external battery makes contact it takes over seamlessly.
(Or you could use a relay with very low value R to limit the momentary i surge into the dry batteries. Use a fusible R in case the relay fails.)
If you want you could add a comparator & LED that lights when the external batt's powering the set. Or change the display backlight LED for a bicolor and have it change colour when external power's in use.

It may be easier to use audio distribution. Once in place you can use it forever with all types of feed, and the cost & minor hassle of portable radios & batteries ends.

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Davey 13 years ago

Now that's a project for a rainy cold winter.......

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Grimly Curmudgeon 13 years ago

Sky box on a radio channel and a cheapy FM broadcaster plugged into it?

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Grimly Curmudgeon 13 years ago

Pah, NiMh will sort her out.

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Davey 13 years ago

How would you delay the sound to match the timing of the digital vision? Just try listening to a radio programme on both an FM radio and via the TV, the time delay drives you nuts.

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Grimly Curmudgeon 13 years ago

Radio only.

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