Rechargeable battery is better investment than non-rechargeable one. We can use the rechargeable battery again and again instead of one-time use of non-rechargeable battery. Many of us buy battery what seller suggests. Then, this is for you who want to know on this matter. Here are some points you should take in mind while buying battery:
1. mAh
It stands for milli-Ampere hour which means that the capability of the battery to draw current in an hour. For e.g. your battery has 2700 mAh i.e. you can draw 100 milli-Ampere for 27 hours, or 50 milli-Ampere for 54 hours etc. Higher the mAh value, better the battery is. It sustains more. So, if you are bargaining for the batteries with different mAh with same price or little difference price, go for higher one.
The higher the mAh rating, the longer the battery will last once it has been charged. For e.g., a rechargeable battery that is rated at 2000 mAh, will power your electronic device twice as long as battery that is rated 1000 mAh. That's simple!
2. NiMH vs NiCd vs Alkaline
You guys can find these very much in the market. Alkaline is rubbish and old technology used; and I suggest you not to go for it. So, I compare NiMH with NiCd here.
NiMH refers to Nickel Metal Hydride and NiCd refers to Nickel Cadmium. NiMH is newer technology than NiCd. NiMH differs from NiCd due to these three factors: high capacity, no memory effects and environmentally friendly.
i. Capacity: the amount of energy stored by battery. NiMH stores more than twice the capacity of standard NICd. So, NiMH is highly useful for highly drain devices.
ii. Memory Effects: NiMH batteries can be charged or “topped-off” at any time without affecting battery life. In order to achieve optimum performance from NiCd batteries, they must be fully discharged before recharging. Unlike NiCd batteries, NiMH has No Memory Effect. For e.g. if you are using NiCd battery, you have to completely discharge before recharging. If your battery level is 5%, NiCd takes it as zero level for the next time you recharge. If your battery level is 20%, NiCd takes it as zero level for the next time you recharge. Consequently, the battery performance gradually decreases. But, in case of NiMH, you can recharge it any time at any level.
iii. Environmentally Friendly: For NiCd, Cadmium is very hazardous to health and environment.
So, I suggest you to go for NiMH.
3. Self-Discharging Rate
NiMH batteries also have approximately twice the self-discharge rate of NiCd batteries when in an used state. For e.g., when your radio is off, a 1650mah NiMH battery can discharge itself nearly twice as quickly as a NiCd battery, typically within one week. Therefore, you must charge your NiMH batteries the night before each use.
4. Reuse Theorem
We found out that NiMH is better than NiCd because of longer run times and higher storage capacity. NiCd is better than Alkaline because of higher storage capacity. If you are using higher capacity battery in heavy devices, you can reuse them in low-consuming devices if they reached in lower battery level. E.g. If you are using NiCd battery in radio, you can reuse it in remote control when reaches lower level.
NiCd batteries can generally perform well in devices such as TV controls, clocks, radios or torches for example, where they will happily operate until they run flat. Modern power hungry devices like digital cameras, video cameras or remote control toys on the other hand are better suited to NiMH.
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