Battaries, brands, quality and price

[bugmenot]

Hi guys!

I found this website by Googling for "batteries forum", I hope this is the correct place to ask such a question.
If not, I'll be grateful if you move it where it belongs.

I'd like to order new rechargeable AA batteries, but I'm lost among the variety of options in eBay.
I hope you can shed some light about the topic and help me make the right choice.

Some questions:
* Is the brand important? Is it worth to pay up to x3 more?
* How important is the mAh value?

For example, consider the following:
4x GP Rechargeable AA 2500mAh, $15.49
-vs-
8x (unknown brand) AA 3000mAh, $4.87

As you can see, the GP batteries are about 8x the price of the ones of an unknown brand.
Does it make any difference for the end consumer? Does it make sense to overpay so much, does it worth the money?

Also, the ones of an unknown brand have a higher mAh value, 3000 vs 2500.
How important is it?

Thanks in advance for any help,
Michael.

 

[wesnewell]

All alkaline batteries are rechargeable. I've been recharging them for 30 years. Don't waste money on expensive ones. The ma rating is the capacity of the battery. Higher the better, but I wouldn't count on it being too accurate. The ones with higher capacity will usually weigh more. Don't discharge them below 1.3V and you can get lots of charges from them. Charge back to 1.6V-1.62V.

 

[Hillhater]

some background reading for you ..
http://lygte-info.dk/info/ComparisonOfAABatteryChemistry%20UK.html

 

[bugmenot]

Thanks for your reply.

Don't discharge them below 1.3V and you can get lots of charges from them. Charge back to 1.6V-1.62V.

What do you mean by that?

All alkaline batteries are rechargeable.

Here it's said that:
"Alkaline and Lithium are primary batteries, i.e. not rechargeable, NiMH is rechargeable."

Am I missing something?

 

[wesnewell]

I meant exactly what I said and the only thing you are missing is the money you are wasting throwing perfectly good discharged batteries in the trash. Which is what the manufacturers want you to do. See alkaline in this table. I've recharged lithium button cells to, but by the time they go too low to function, they've usually been damaged so much they won't come back to full capacity. And they're small, cheap, and hard to charge, so not worth the time.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rechargeable_battery#Table_of_rechargeable_battery_types

 

[circuit]

bugmenot, if you are looking for good AA NiMH batteries, Sony Eneloop is probably the best choice. Not very cheap, but will last for several years. I am using some in my old photo camera which is now as good as average mobile phone, so it has aged morally, however the batteries are still good and can stay charged for several months.

About charging alkaline cells... Well, everyone is telling in bold font not to charge them, so I'd be very cautious about that.

 

[wesnewell]

Not everyone, just the manufacturers and people that don't know better. They want to sell you more, or sell you the rechargeable alkalines for 10 times more, which are basically the same battery with a supposedly stronger case.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recharging_alkaline_batteries
Like I said, I've been recharging all types of alkaline batteries for at least 30 years. Just one thing to worry about, and that's over charging them. Do that and the case can leak. I got my charger (GN WY-108) at Radio Shack probably at least 30 years ago. Does aaa-d cells, 9V, plus button cells. Just like this one.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/GN-Delux-Universal-Battery-Charger-Tester-Model-WY-108-/310739330298

 

[wesnewell]

After at least 30 years just bought a new one.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Battery-Charger-Nicad-Alkaline-9V-AA-AAA-D-C-/261278797847