Rechargeable Batteries

[leadfootlevi]

Are they worth the extra money? i was thinking maybe for the Wii remotes since they seem to eat batteries.

There's a charger that plugs into the USB port of a computer. Anyone have any feedback on that?

 

[JB2K]

Though I've never used one -- in theory, a USB battery charger should work, just fine.

And yes, with Wii remotes and other high-tech toys, rechargeable batteries will be well-worth the (initial) extra expense.

 

[minnie1928]

I bought our battery charger when we bought our wii for the same purpose, and yes it works very well. I bought an Energizer charger and it came with 4 batteries (I think). But what I found was that I ended up using the batteries for much more than just the Wii. I now use the batteries for wireless mouse, tv remotes, wii balance board, leapster, etc.. I ended up buying additional rechargeable batteries, but it was sooo worth it! Now I don't find myself constantly buying batteries at the store. It used to be so frustrating when you were going to play or do something only to find out that the batteries were dead and you didn't have any more left. Now I have everyone trained that the dead batteries go right into the charger and then once they're charged they go into the drawer. When you need a fresh battery it's all ready and waiting!

PS-our charger is a wall unit, but very small. It charges 4 batteries at one time.

 

[Hannathy]

Yes they are worth it! Just for our camera alone it is worth it not to mention all the other stuff. Especially if you have kids.

You can but 2 different kinds one is 15 minutes and the other is 2 hours (at least the ones we have) The 15 minute is harder on the batteries but very convenient when you realize you don't have any charged and you are leaving for the school concert in a few minutes.

 

[RachaelA]

We have two sets and love them. We use them for our wiimotes and then rotate the 2nd set between all the other PS3 game remotes we have.

One of the sets has adapters that turn them into bigger batteries like D battery which I really like as well.

 

[daydream32]

It would only be for the for the Wii, but you might want to check Amazon's sales this week. They have had a couple Wii chargers on sale including the induction chargers (The ones where you just sit the wiimote down on the pad and it charges it).

 

[poohfriend77]

We bought a few sets of Eneloop AAs a couple years ago. They're great! We use them in the Wii remotes, DD's Leapster, and both DDs' cameras. We bought extra, so we always have 4 charged and ready to go. When something dies, we replace with the fresh batteries and immediately recharge the others, so they'll be ready the next time.

 

[pixiewings71]

For our Wiimotes we have a Nyko charger that charges them so we don't use rechargable AAs for that. But we do for other things so yes we have a charger. It's a wall charger not a USB/computer charger but it's easy to use and quick to charge. They really are great things to have.

 

[mrodgers]

Rayovac NiMH batteries are $5 for 4 AA size. Energizer or Duracell AA are around $5 for 4. Not much of a cost difference other than $10 for a charger...

 

[dzorn]

We got ours at sam's club the charge (wall plug in but very compact) and came with AA and AAA. It has saved us a lot of money.

Denise in MI

 

[TLuvsD]

Love them. W use them at home and at the business (wireless mouse for each computer). It's so much easier than buying batteries all the time.

 

[Calliaz]

I love rechargeable batteries and highly recommend the Rayovac Hybrids. They are like Enloops in that they hold a charge well, but are actually usually better. The Rayovac Hybrid Platinum are the best, but harder to find. Amazon has them. They only thing I don't use the rechargeable batteries for are smoke alarms and the thermostat.

Edited to Add:

Chargers are important. I usually buy one based on the type of battery I'm going to use. There are quick chargers and slow ones. I have an energizer 15-minute charger that works well.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Check sales at Radio Shack for the charger. They usually have great deals. I have had mine for years and absolutely love it.

DS has an Xbox and uses the batteries continuously, lately I have found that the Duracell's have been lasting longer than the others. (I buy what is on sale and yes after a while they don't hold a great charge - those get put in items that don't require a strong battery aka the TV remote).

 

[leadfootlevi]

Check sales at Radio Shack for the charger. They usually have great deals. I have had mine for years and absolutely love it.

DS has an Xbox and uses the batteries continuously, lately I have found that the Duracell's have been lasting longer than the others. (I buy what is on sale and yes after a while they don't hold a great charge - those get put in items that don't require a strong battery aka the TV remote).

How many charges do you typically get out of a battery - is it different based on manufacturer, size of battery (AA or AAA), charger, or...?

One particular rechargable battery (I can't remember which), said that they shouldn't be used on remotes (or smoke detectors, and possibly some other things). Why shouldn't you use them on remote controls? If that's the case, would it be wiser to just buy one of the Wii rechargeable kits?

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

How many charges do you typically get out of a battery - is it different based on manufacturer, size of battery (AA or AAA), charger, or...?

One particular rechargable battery (I can't remember which), said that they shouldn't be used on remotes (or smoke detectors, and possibly some other things). Why shouldn't you use them on remote controls? If that's the case, would it be wiser to just buy one of the Wii rechargeable kits?

Never saw a warning on ours about remote controls. DS uses his for his Xbox, no problems, and I use them for the TV remotes. I usually get a good 6 months of charges for the Xbox and a lot longer for the TV.

Now you have me thinking about the remote, so I will have check that out.....

 

[browneyes106]

I have Rayovac charger and I use their brand of batteries for my Wii-motes and a few other electronic items. Rechargable batteries are worth the money.

 

[Calliaz]

One particular rechargable battery (I can't remember which), said that they shouldn't be used on remotes (or smoke detectors, and possibly some other things). Why shouldn't you use them on remote controls? If that's the case, would it be wiser to just buy one of the Wii rechargeable kits?

I think it is because so many rechargeable batteries cannot hold their charge over a long time when all it is doing is providing short bursts of power. This is why the Enloop and Rayovac Hybrids are so much better. Their technology allows them to be used in this manner. The same holds for cameras.

 

[leadfootlevi]

How many charges do you typically get out of a battery - is it different based on manufacturer, size of battery (AA or AAA), charger, or...?

One particular rechargable battery (I can't remember which), said that they shouldn't be used on remotes (or smoke detectors, and possibly some other things). Why shouldn't you use them on remote controls? If that's the case, would it be wiser to just buy one of the Wii rechargeable kits?

Here's where I saw the information about not using rechargeables in remote controls: http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=10242691&findingMethod=rr

"Rechargeable batteries are not recommended for remote controls, radios, and medical or safety devices, such as smoke detectors — use alkaline batteries in these products "

 

[Calliaz]

I still think that for remotes, they are basing that off of standard rechargeable batteries and not ones with the technology that prevents discharging. It is true that you should not use rechargeable batteries in smoke detectors.

This is what Duracell has to say:
"Which devices shouldn't you use rechargeable batteries in?

You can use rechargeables in any device; however there are devices where you will have higher consumer satisfaction than others.

19.
Is it correct that you shouldn’t use rechargeables in smoke alarms?

Good Housekeeping rationale: "when rechargeable batteries run out of power, they do so very quickly, whereas disposable alkaline batteries tend to ‘die’ slowly. This means you won’t get the warning beeps that tell you when the battery in your smoke alarm needs changing if you use rechargeables."
Due to its safety nature, the smoke alarm is not an ideal device for standard rechargeable batteries. Indeed standard rechargeable batteries discharge with time, and this means that for essential safety devices such as a smoke alarm, it is not recommended. We also need to remember that even if disposable batteries are used in smoke alarms, it is highly recommended to change the battery a minimum of once a year.

20.
What about gadgets' you don't often use? Will the battery drain itself if the gadget's unused for a while?

Again, standard rechargeable batteries do discharge overtime and are therefore not ideal for devices not used often or low-drain equipment. The new Duracell Staycharged, a low self discharge rechargeable holds up to 75% of its charge even after a year when not used, and overcomes this problem, thus can be used in low-drain devices or gadgets that are not often used.

21.
Is there a safety concern about using rechargeables in some toys?

There are no safety issues with rechargeable batteries in toys.

22.
Is it OK to use rechargeable batteries in any device?

You can use round cell rechargeable in absolutely any device where you would normally use an alkaline battery unless stated otherwise by the device manufacturer. There are no interference implications using rechargeable battery brands that are different to the device brand. (Please note that this is referring to round cell rechargeables, the lithium different shaped batteries are often developed by the manufacturer specifically to fit a certain cavity size, and therefore only the brand battery might work)."

http://www1.duracell.com/power/za/faq.aspx

 

[bboyneko]

I have a lot of experience with rechargeable batteries. Most of the ones they sell at retail stores are junk, barely any better than regular AA batteries.

What you want is a Nickel-metal hydride battery (NiMH) rechargeable battery with at least 2700 Milliamp Hour (mAH).

The best brand of those type of batteries I have used are these:

Powerex AA 2700mAh NiMH Rechargeable Batteries w/holder- 4 Batteries Per Pack (search for it on amazon, I am not allowed to post links on this DC yet sadly)


and This is a very good battery charger:
La Crosse Technology BC-700 Alpha Power Battery Charger

Hope this helps! You will find that these type of batteries last WAAAAAAAY longer than regular alkalines, and recharge for years and years without a hitch.