Mst5000 asked:


I read the batteries were to be replaced in 8-10 years. I just don’t want to buy a used Prius with a battery that’s about to go dead on me. Thanks.

Aleksandr

ralph w asked:


My digital cameras and my cellphone use Lithium Ion rechargeable batteries. I also have a set of four rechargeable AA NiMH batteries.

With the primary goal of preserving their battery lives, what is the proper way to use and store these batteries?

Is it always best to fully charge and then fully use/discharge them before recharging?

When not in use, is it preferable to keep them fully charged or discharged? Or does it not matter?

Alasteir

johnxuster asked:


Because of the high failure rate of fleet batteries and the uncertain situations such failures create, some organizations assign a person to maintain batteries. This person checks all batteries on a scheduled basis, exercises them for optimum service life, and replaces those that fall below an accepted capacity level and do not recover with maintenance programs. Batteries perform an important function; giving them the care they deserve is appropriate.

A personal user is one who operates a mobile phone, a laptop computer or a video camera for business or pleasure. He or she will most likely follow the recommended guidelines in caring for the battery. The user will get to know the irregularities of the battery. When the runtime gets low, the battery often gets serviced or replaced. Critical failures are rare because the owner adjusts to the performance of the battery and lowers expectations as the battery ages.

The fleet user, on the other hand, has little personal interest in the battery and is unlikely to tolerate a pack that is less than perfect. The fleet user simply grabs a battery from the charger and expects it to last through the shift. The battery is returned to the charger at the end of the day, ready for the next person. Little or no care is given to these batteries. Perhaps due to neglect, fleet batteries generally have a shorter service life than those in personal use.

How can fleet batteries be made to last longer? An interesting contrast in the handling of fleet batteries can be noted by comparing the practices of the US Army and the Dutch Army, both of which use fleet batteries. The US Army issues batteries with no maintenance program in place. If the battery fails, another pack is issued. Little or no care is given and the failure rate is high.

The Dutch Army, on the other hand, has moved away from the open fleet system by making the soldiers responsible for their batteries. This change was made in an attempt to reduce battery waste and improve reliability. The batteries are issued in the soldier?s name and the packs become part of their personal belongings. The results are startling. Since the Dutch Army adapted this new regime, the failure rate has dropped considerably and, at the same time, battery performance has increased. Unexpected down time has almost been eliminated.

It should be noted that the Dutch Army uses exclusively NiCd batteries. Each pack receives periodic maintenance to prolong service life. Weak batteries are systematically replaced. The US Army, on the other hand, uses NiMH batteries. They are evaluating the Li-ion polymer for the next generation battery.



Aldric

Christine Harrell asked:


Although a motorcycle battery and other types of vehicle batteries are built for longevity, over time batteries will slow down and eventually wear out. This occurs when the sulfate that flows over the plates begins to build up a residue on the plates, slowly diminishing the conductivity. In this article you’ll find useful information for choosing, installing, and maintaining your next motorcycle battery.

Choosing the correct size:

In order to choose the right size motorcycle battery, you’ll need to know the cold cranking amps (CCA) of your bike. Technically speaking, CCA is the number of amps a lead-acid battery at 0?F can deliver for 30 seconds and maintain at least 1.2 volts per cell. Once you determine the required CCA, you’ll need to measure the length, width, and height of the cavity to ensure a correct fit.

Removal and installation basics:

When the time comes to replace your motorcycle battery, never remove the battery while the engine is running. If for reason it does not have a charge, always remove the negative cable before the positive. When installing the new battery, reverse the order and connect the positive cable first before connecting the negative. Take extra caution to identify the positive and negative terminals before attaching the cables. Accidentally reversing the polarity can cause the battery to explode or inflict a great deal of damage to your bike’s electrical system.

Recharging:

If the battery won’t start or seems dull, you may only need to recharge it. Always check the voltage of your motorcycle battery before recharging and never charge your battery at an amperage more than 1/6 the rated capacity of your battery. For example, it you have a 7 amp-hour battery, you should not charge it at an amperage of more than 1 amps. If you have an 18 amp-hour battery, you can charge it at a maximum of 3 amps. Therefore, most battery tenders offer charging amperage of from 1/2 amp up to 2 amps. NOTE: NEVER USE AN AUTOMOBILE BATTERY CHARGER ON YOUR POWERSPORT SEALED BATTERY. Although recharging seems like a simple process, as a general rule of thumb always wear protective eye wear and refrain from smoking as you are working with explosive gasses.

You’ll also want to ensure that there is no electrolyte covering the plates before adding water or recharging. Once you add the water, make sure that the vent caps are reinstalled before charging. Never recharge a motorcycle battery or any type of vehicle battery with the vent caps open. When you’ve finished charging, turn off the charger before removing the charger cables from the motorcycle battery.

Activating your new battery:

If you recently purchased a conventional battery, you may need to activate your motorcycle battery. Activating a non-sealed battery is the process of adding acid and charging the battery to the point of optimum functionality. To do this, remove the sealing tube and filling plugs, fill the battery with electrolyte, let the battery stand for about 30 minutes, then charge the battery for 3 to 5 hours at approximately 1/6 of the rated capacity. Sealed motorcycle batteries require much less maintenance and never require additional electrolyte.

If you find yourself needing to recharge your battery on a consistent basis, it’s probably time to replace it to avoid getting stuck when you’re ready to ride. To ensure that your new battery has a long life, it’s imperative to find the right size for your bike and not to overcharge. Using a battery that is too large for your bike or overcharging the battery are the two most common causes reducing a battery’s lifespan. Spending a little time choosing the right battery now means enjoying years of enjoyable, stress-free motorcycle rides in the future..



Alessandro

ackmondual asked:


The LED flashlight uses 4 AA. Also, the box says if you’re not gonna use the flashlight for extended periods of time, to keep the batteries out of the flashlight to prevent leakage and other bad stuff.

Just how long of non-usage would I want to keep the batteries out?

Would I have this same concern with alkaline batteries since they’re supposed to be (more) leak proof?

Adrick

sportykat66 asked:


It doesn’t matter the camera that I had and own, the batteries are the issue. They seem to not hold a charge, I take a few shots and they are half dead or completely dead. I have tried the expensive batteries. Lithium, Titanium, but none seem to measure up. Even rechargeable don’t hold a charge. Any thing else I can try?

Ali

courtsdrummertoy1982 asked:


I need to get new battery for my Airsoft gun and I have found a website that makes batteries but I need to know what kind of cells I should get . I dont know the differance between these kinds of batteries so I need help .

Adolph

BunnuvaSitch asked:


In things like my laptop, cell phone, and iPod — things that need to be plugged in and recharged. How can I make sure that their batteries stay healthy? I heard once that you’re supposed to let the battery die completely before plugging it in to recharge, is that true?

Ab

Tancecom asked:


Rechargeable camcorder battery can cost $40 or more, so knowing how to prolong the life of your battery and the perils of not caring for your battery properly saves you money as well as heartache from missed shots. First, you need the right battery for your camcorder. This is no big deal when you purchase your camcorder because a battery and charger are normally included in the purchase. The more you use your camcorder, though, the more you’ll notice that your battery doesn’t seem to stay charged as long as you would like or that it takes too long to recharge.

Now you have entered into the never-never land of camcorder rechargeable battery dilemmas. You ask yourself (because you don’t know who else to ask) the following questions:

Is it okay to partially charge a battery before taking it off the charger and putting it back in the camcorder?

Yes – providing you own a newer camcorder, such as a digital camcorder. Newer camcorder manufacturers typically provide lithium ion batteries. These batteries can be partially recharged before reuse. Other batteries – especially nickel-cadmium (NiCad) batteries – can be damaged by only partially charging them.

Is it okay to recharge a battery when some charge remains?

If it’s a lithium ion battery, yes. If it’s a NiCad battery, no.

How do you know when to purchase a new camcorder battery ?

Battery manufacturers generally consider a rechargeable battery to have reached its useful life when it can provide only about half of its original consumption. For instance, if your battery could originally provide an hour’s worth of power, you should replace it when it can provide only a half-hour’s worth.

You can save yourself a lot of trouble by purchasing an extra battery or two when you buy your camcorder. That way, you always have a backup in case the primary battery runs out of power. When purchasing batteries for your camcorder, consider the following:

Camcorder batteries have different specifications on how long they last. How much recording time relates to how much battery power?

Most professional camcorder operators tell you that the camcorder battery should be rated to operate for a period of time that’s twice that of the tape. Don’t assume that the battery that’s provided with your camcorder is the best battery for your circumstances. A manufacturer usually provides you with a battery that’s good for about an hour of camera usage. Because digital camcorder and Digital8 tape is usually 60 minutes long, you may think you have the correct battery, but chances are you don’t. Most people run their camcorders in the nonrecord mode as much as they do in the record mode because you can’t look through the viewfinder of a camcorder unless it’s turned on. So, if you’re using a 1-hour tape, you would be wise to use a 2-hour battery. Besides, a 2-hour battery is good for 2 hours only when it’s new. Within a year or so, your 2-hour battery will have become a 1-hour battery due to normal aging factors. This inevitable aging is accelerated if you don’t take proper care of your battery.

When buying a new battery, what type should I consider?

Always buy batteries that are made for your charger. And, obviously, always buy batteries that are rated for your camcorder. For example, the Canon GL1 is rated as 7.2 volts DC.

Caring for your camcorder battery doesn’t mean that you must have an emotional attachment. But you do need to discipline yourself to certain practices, or you’ll waste money and lose valuable shooting opportunities because you’ll be tending to sick batteries. Follow these basic guidelines, and your batteries should serve you well:

1. Never expose your batteries to elevated temperatures. The numero uno enemy of batteries is heat. Anton/Bauer claims that heat can accelerate your battery’s aging process by as much as 80 percent! Heat can also cause a lithium ion battery to lose its ability to hold a charge.

2. For long-term storage between uses (as in weeks), keep your batteries in the refrigerator. But before you nestle the batteries between the lettuce and rutabagas, put them (the batteries, that is) in a plastic bag to avoid the rare possibility of the battery seeping and causing food contamination.

3. Don’t put a cold battery on a battery charger! If you take a battery out of cold storage or out of a cold environment (such as your car in winter), always allow your battery to reach room temperature before charging. Batteries have been known to explode if placed on a charger while cold. Charging creates heat.

4. Don’t allow your batteries to jostle around while you’re carrying them. Jostling directly affects your battery’s life and performance. Also, never use a battery that has been physically damaged. The coating on the battery is supposed to keep the battery acid from seeping out. If the battery is damaged, these chemicals (which can be unstable and dangerous) can leak and cause damage to anything they touch.



Adan

sanjoseskater asked:


I am wondering why one would want Dual batteries in a Car Audio Setup?

Is this done so that when the audio system is on when the car engine is off it will have more current to give?

Will dual batteries have any effect on the power delivery to the audio system when the car is running?

Can I just hook two identical model batteries in parallel?

Some wisdom is appreciated, Thanks.

Alfred