Battery Geek - Batteries Resources and Advice for All

Batteries Plus - Featured as Growing Battery Business on CBS news

2009-03-18T11:31:00.000-07:00

Batteries Plus was featured on Monday March 16th as a expanding business, growing and hiring despite the current economy.

Watch this video now!

Battery Franchise Store Sales Continue to Climb

2008-11-12T10:33:00.000-08:00

While the economy continues on a negative downturn, the battery retail segment remains positive with Batteries Plus leading the charge.

Batteries Plus, the nation’s first all-battery franchise with more than 340 locations, has consistently realized increases in same store sales, and year to date has a 20 percent increase in same store sales compared to 2007. The increased same store sales figures have contributed to increased interest in the Batteries Plus franchise opportunity, particularly among candidates who are shying away from struggling concepts.

2008-11-07T09:38:00.000-08:00

Why is my lap top battery dead and it will no longer charge?

2008-10-14T10:57:00.000-07:00

Laptop batteries have a limited amount of cycles they can go thru until they start to loose progressively the amount of charge they can hold.

1 cycle = 1 discharge and 1 recharge. Laptop batteries are usually good for 1000 cycles, so depending how often you go thru cycles will determine the life of your battery.

Batteries Plus can sometimes rebuild laptop batteries. This might be an option if you have tight budget or if your laptop is old as it will cost you half the cost of a new one and will work like new.

Always remember the cycle process I talked about above.

If you charge your battery when it's half full all the time instead of waiting for it to be empty, your battery will die twice faster.

Also, one good advice to expand the life of your battery, when it's full and you intend to work for a long period of time, just plug your laptop to the wall and TAKE OFF the battery so it doesn't overcharge and die prematurely

If my motorcycle battery is dead, should I jump start it from a car or truck?

2008-10-14T10:54:00.000-07:00

You can but make sure you do the following:

1. Never start the car or truck when jump starting the bike.

2. Only Plug the positive cable onto the bike's battery, the negative cable should be touching a metal part on your bike.

This two steps will avoid you to overcharge the battery or damage your electrical system.

Ask a Question on Lively

2008-08-26T13:24:00.000-07:00

Batteries Plus offering $15 off Laptop Batteries

2008-08-26T13:13:00.000-07:00

Laptop Batteries are usually expensive, Batteries Plus is offering $15 off Laptop batteries until the end of September.

Rebate can be downloaded here and is also available their local store.

What is Capacity and why should I care?

2008-08-26T13:08:00.000-07:00

Capacity is the measure of the energy stored in a battery. Expressed in Ah (Ampere hour) or mAh (milli-Ampere hour), capacity defines the ability of a battery to perform under specified discharge criteria over a set period of time.

Rechargeables - How Long can they last ?

2008-06-19T13:41:00.001-07:00

The rechargeable battery life operating under normal conditions should be between 500 to 800 charge-discharge cycles.

This should be about one and a half to three years of battery life depending on how often you use them.

When your rechargeable battery begins to die, you will notice a decrease in the running time of the battery. When your two hour battery is only providing you with twenty minutes worth of use, it is time for a new one.

When a battery is not used for extensive periods of time, it is important to remove it from the device and stored in a cool, dry and clean environment. Self-discharge will occur when the battery is not used for an extended time period.

It is also very important to fully charge the battery before use after storage. Long term storage will have permanent effects on the battery's capacity.

Batteries Plus CEO - Fox Business Interview

2008-06-13T07:37:00.001-07:00

Russ Reynolds, Batteries Plus CEO, discusses the battery industry and the changes it sees with mobile devices, rechargeable batteries, custom battery pack and recycling.

Batteries Plus offering Buy 1 Get 1 on Camera and Camcorder Batteries

2008-04-30T10:44:00.000-07:00

Batteries Plus is offering buy 1 get 1 on all camcorder and camera batteries. Don't miss out this incredible deal!

Are lead acid batteries recycleable?

2008-04-11T07:59:00.000-07:00

Yes. Lead acid batteries are the most commonly recycled product in the world! The lead in the battery is re-used in new batteries. The plastic containers and covers of old batteries are neutralized, reground and used in the manufacture of new battery cases. The electrolyte can be processed for recycled waste water uses. In some cases, the electrolyte is cleaned and reprocessed and sold as battery grade electrolyte. In other instances, the sulfate content is removed as Ammonia Sulfate and used in fertilizers. The separators are often used as a fuel source for the recycling process.

How do I dispose of batteries?

2008-04-11T07:58:00.000-07:00

All rechargeable batteries must be disposed of properly, through approved recycling facilities. Rechargeable battery types include; NiCd, NiMH, Li Ion, and Lead Acid (Pb). Batteries Plus is associated with EPA recognized recycling facilities for proper recovery and re-use of battery components. Locate your nearest Batteries Plus store for best recycling options. Be environmentally conscious. Recycle your batteries.

What is a Deep Cycle battery?

2008-04-09T14:17:00.000-07:00

Deep cycle batteries are designed for multiple, extended discharge/charge cycles. Deep cycle batteries can be discharged as much as 80% time after time and fully recover. This term generally refers to lead-based batteries designed with thicker lead plates than a standard automotive battery. Deep Cycle batteries provide outstanding performance in marine, RV, wheelchair/mobility and security applications.

Why use Rechargeable Lithium Ion batteries?

2008-04-09T14:16:00.000-07:00

Li-ion (lithium ion) batteries use lithium compounds which are much more stable than the elemental lithium used in non rechargeable lithium batteries. A lithium battery should never be recharged while lithium-ion batteries are designed to be recharged hundreds of times. Rechargeable Lithium Ion batteries have a higher energy density than most other types of rechargeables. This means that for their size or weight they can store more energy than other rechargeable batteries. They also operate at higher voltages than other rechargeables, typically about 3.7 volts for lithium-ion vs. 1.2 volts for NiMH or NiCd. This means a single cell can often be used rather than multiple NiMH or NiCd cells. Lithium-ion batteries also have a lower self discharge rate than other types of rechargeable batteries. This means that once they are charged they will retain their charge for a longer time than other types of rechargeable batteries. NiMH and NiCd batteries can lose anywhere from 1-5% of their charge per day, (depending on the storage temperature) even if they are not installed in a device. Lithium-ion batteries will retain most of their charge even after months of storage.

Voltage and Amps Differences?

2008-03-26T10:33:00.000-07:00

What is the difference in a charger where one is 24V 2.5amp and the other is 12V 5 amp?

Voltage is the force of the push on the electrons. In a light bulb, it will burn brighter at a higher voltage. In an electric motor, it will spin faster at a higher voltage.

Amperes is the flow rate of the electrons. In a battery, Amp hours or milliamp hours is the storage capacity of the cell in potential chemical energy. The higher the capacity or amp-hour rating, the more run time you will achieve. In a rechargeable battery, increased capacity also equates to increased charge times.

Watts, or power (P) is the multiplied elements of volts (V) and amps (I). P = V x I

So 24V, 2.5Ah and 12V, 5Ah, they BOTH produce 60 Watts of power.

The 24 volt will spin faster or burn brighter but for half the time.

The 12 volt will spin slower of burn dimmer but for twice the time.

How Long does a standard AA alkaline battery Last ?

2008-03-14T08:04:00.000-07:00

How long does a AA last? I've seen some asking these question and well that really can't be answered by a single time frame and be true.
The truth is that batteries can last for months, even years if they are used in low drain devices such as your wall clock or your TV remote control. However, the same exact battery will last 10 to 20 minutes if you use it on a very high drain device such as a digital camera.

Type of Rechargeables

2008-03-04T13:10:00.000-08:00

There are 3 types of Rechargeable batteries out there. Here is a summary of each type:

Nickel-cadmium battery (NiCd):
Used for motorized equipment and other high-discharge devices. NiCd batteries can withstand even more drain than NiMH; however, the mAh rating is not high enough to keep a device running for very long, and the memory effect is far more severe.

Nickel-metal hydride battery (NiMH):
Used for high-tech devices. NiMH batteries can last up to four times longer than alkaline batteries.

Rechargeable alkaline battery:
Uses similar chemistry as non-rechargeable alkaline batteries and are best suited for similar applications. Additionally, they hold their charge for years, unlike NiCd and NiMH batteries.

what does the alphabet "A" represent / mean (with regard to battery sizes) ?

2008-02-27T12:10:00.000-08:00

Does it stand for "alkaline"?

Well....no.

The alphabetical system originates from the physical size, not the chemistry (alkaline). One of the first portable power cells was termed an “A” cell. Subsequent cells that were introduced were larger (C, D) or smaller (AA, AAA, AAAA) and were termed as variations off of the “A” cell. Alkaline was not formally introduced to consumers until the 1960’s and only became the dominant chemistry for the standard sizes in the late 1970’s, long after the physical sizes were established in other chemistries like carbon zinc (general purpose) or zinc chloride (heavy duty).

When it comes to battery exploding - I trust Duracell

2008-02-21T08:17:00.000-08:00

When my wireless keyboard, mouse or my wall clock are thirsty for Alkaline liquid, I trust Duracell......

I really don't understand why this has been happening to me very frequently. And only with Duracell.
3 Batteries exploded or should I say "vented" in my equipment within a year.
This batteries were purchase in the US at stores like Wal-Mart and came from three different packages. Two batteries were AA and one AAA. The company always seems to say that this is due to counterfeit product from china. Well, Wal-Mart sells a lot of stuff from china but if they sell counterfeit Duracell product....Duracell gotta start to worry.

The scariest was on my wireless mouse. the batteries just popped while in use and it really scared the hell out of me.

I have been using brands like Rayovac, Werker, Energizer without having any problem ever ever ever.

Does keeping batteries in a Refrigerator preserves their lifetime?

2008-02-01T13:14:00.000-08:00

We've all heard that but in fact, it is not really recommended. Batteries should be stored in a dry location at room temperature. Storing at a lower temperature will decrease the natural/self discharge of a battery, but generally it is not recommended since the high humidity levels inside of the refrigerator can cause the battery cell container and terminals to rust. If you currently have batteries stored in a refrigerator, be sure to allow them to warm up to room temperature before using them in your device.

How much current flows through Two 5 1/2V batteries connected in parallel to a 3ohm resistor?

2008-01-29T10:15:00.000-08:00

Based upon Ohms law (Ohms = Volts/Amps), the draw against this battery will be 1.83 amps. How long the battery will last with this type of draw will vary by chemistry and the capacity of the battery itself.

Best AA batteries for your Camera

2008-01-24T07:35:00.001-08:00

A lot of us need AA to power our digital camera. Alkaline are just plain terrible and rechargeable is the best option for this high drain device. Now, in the rechargeable world of batteries. I found that the best AA batteries to power your camera are made by Powerex.
Forget Duracell or Energizer... They won't last as long as this Powerex AA batteries. PowerEx NiMH rechargeable batteries capture both ultra high capacity and long life and can also be recharged hundreds of times. PowerEx rechargeable batteries are specifically designed for high drain applications such as digital cameras and other portable electronics.

Why batteries of different sizes have the same voltage?

2008-01-22T08:20:00.001-08:00

The voltage is based upon the chemistry of the battery. The base unit of a battery is called a cell. When you combine 2 or more cells, you have a battery. A single cell will have what is called a nominal voltage based upon what chemicals are used to make up the battery. For alkaline, the chemistry is generally a magnesium dioxide mix, which has a nominal voltage of 1.5V per cell, regardless of the size. Rechargeable chemistry types like Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) and Nickel Cadmium (NiCd) have a nominal voltage of 1.2V per cell (even though some people list it as 1.25). The chemical reactions inside the cell will determine the output voltage. The capacity or run time can definitely be impacted by the size. Compare an alkaline AAA to a D cell. Even though they have the same voltage based upon the chemistry, the D has a much greater capacity based upon the volume of chemicals in the can. If you want to change the voltage, the only way you can go is up by connecting the cells or batteries in a series connection (positive of one cell to negative of the other). To increase capacity, but keeping the same voltage, connect the cells or batteries in a parallel connection (positive of one cell to positive of the other cell).

Rayovac, Duracell or Energizer - Which one is best?

2008-01-17T08:36:00.000-08:00

The best battery out there is Rayovac.
Now you may ask why are Rayovac batteries better?

First of all, they are cheaper to buy, Rayovac doesn't spend billions on advertising every year.

But the best part of all is their money back guarantee policy if their Rayovac battery doesn't last as long as Duracell or Energizer batteries of the same type.

I can't find a better deal than this elsewhere. Can you?

Rayovac Money Back Guarantee Infos