FAQ's

1: Where can I use Rechargeable Alkaline batteries? Answer
2: What makes a Rechargeable Alkaline battery rechargeable? Answer
3: Do I need to recharge a Rechargeable Alkaline battery prior to first use? Answer
4: Do I need to pay much attention to charge time with Rechargeable Alkaline batteries? Answer
5: Can I recharge a Rechargeable Alkaline in a NiMH \ NiCad charger? Answer
6: What is the construction difference between a NiMH \ NiCad and a Rechargeable Alkaline battery? Answer
7: Why is a Rechargeable Alkaline battery 1.5V and NiMH \ NiCad 1.2V? Answer
8: How should I use a Rechargeable Alkaline battery to get optimum life? Answer
9: Are there any toxic materials used in Rechargeable Alkaline batteries, such as Cadmium or Mercury? Answer
10: Is the Rechargeable Alkaline battery capable of solar charging? Answer
11: Are Rechargeable Alkaline packs available for camcorders, video cameras, cordless and cellular phones, etc? Answer
12: Could a Rechargeable Alkaline battery replace a lead-acid starter battery? Answer
13: Is fast 15-Minute charging possible? Answer
14: Why does it say not to use rechargeable batteries in my Walkman and Gameboy? Answer
15: How long will Rechargeable Alkaline last in my device as compared with a regular alkaline. Answer
16: How do Rechargeable Alkaline batteries compare to Heavy Duty (Zinc Carbon) batteries? Answer

Answers to FAQ's

1: Where can I use Rechargeable Alkaline batteries?
Answer: Rechargeable Alkaline batteries meet the same specifications, for battery dimensions, as specified by ANSI & IEC standards, as single use alkaline batteries; therefore, can be used in all applications where single use (disposable) batteries are currently being used. Top

2: What makes a Rechargeable Alkaline battery rechargeable?
Answer: Although Rechargeable Alkaline batteries have principally the same physical construction as single use (disposable) alkaline batteries, there are a number of patented differences in the details of chemical formulation, material selection and hardware design that make Rechargeable Alkaline rechargeable. Top

3: Do I need to recharge a Rechargeable Alkaline battery prior to first use?
Answer: No. A Rechargeable Alkaline battery is manufactured in the charged state and keeps the charge unused for up to 5 years. Top

4: Do I need to pay much attention to charge time with Rechargeable Alkaline batteries?
Answer: No. The Rechargeable Alkaline chargers are designed to stop charging when the battery is fully charged. If one forgets Rechargeable Alkaline batteries in the charger, even for several weeks, no damage will be done to the batteries. Top

5: Can I recharge a Rechargeable Alkaline in a NiMH \ NiCad charger?
Answer: No. A NiMH \ NiCad charger applies constant current without any voltage regulation, therefore, a Rechargeable Alkaline would leak/vent in this type of charger making the battery useless. The venting results from a pressure build-up caused by the electrolysis of the electrolyte in the Rechargeable Alkaline battery. Top

6: What is the construction difference between a NiMH \ NiCad and a Rechargeable Alkaline battery?
Answer: A NiMH \ NiCad battery is constructed from flat electrodes that are wound ("jelly roll") and inserted in the cylindrical can. This is also one of the reasons why the NiCad is more expensive. Top

7: Why is a Rechargeable Alkaline battery 1.5V and NiMH \ NiCad 1.2V?
Answer: Voltages of electrochemical couples (batteries) are specific for a given combination of elements - a law of nature. Top

8: How should I use a Rechargeable Alkaline battery to get optimum life?
Answer: Optimum life can be achieved by frequently recharging a Rechargeable Alkaline battery prior to complete discharge. In a simulated Walkman application test in the lab (4 hours of use then recharge), approximately 60 single use alkaline batteries could be replaced. Complete discharge to a voltage where the device does not function any longer in each and every cycle would result in a replacement of up to 25 single use alkaline batteries. Since there is no "memory effect", complete discharge is not required to get full capacity. Top

9: Are there any toxic materials used in Rechargeable Alkaline batteries, such as Cadmium or Mercury?
Answer: The Rechargeable Alkaline system is essentially free of any toxic materials; therefore, extremely environmentally responsible. In addition, the rechargeable nature of Rechargeable Alkaline batteries leads to a reduction of waste as less batteries are thrown into landfill sites. Top

10: Is the Rechargeable Alkaline battery capable of solar charging?
Answer: Yes. The Rechargeable Alkaline battery's excellent high temperature charge retention and charge acceptance characteristics allow an effective use of solar panels for recharge. Solar chargers have been designed to recharge Rechargeable Alkaline batteries, however, typically, the amount of sunshine available in most of North America (excluding the South) makes this an inefficient charging mechanism when electrical power is readily available.
Note: NiCad and NiMeHydride batteries are very inefficient at higher temperatures, e.g. 45° C, therefore, solar charging is not very successful with NiCad or NiMeHydride batteries. Top

11: Are Rechargeable Alkaline packs available for camcorders, video cameras, cordless and cellular phones, etc?
Answer: All these so called OEM (original equipment manufacturing) applications use battery packs. Currently NiCad and NiMeHydride packs are available for these applications, and are very unpopular due to problems with the "memory effect" and self discharge under actual use conditions. However, some of these newer applications have after-market packs which allow the consumer to remove and replace batteries when they no longer have any useful life, allowing rechargeable alkalines to be replaced, at the consumer's choice. Top

12: Could a Rechargeable Alkaline battery replace a lead-acid starter battery?
Answer: The lead-acid battery is doing fine in the SLI (starter-lighting-ignition) application. It is not planned to replace it with Rechargeable Alkaline batteries. Top

13: Is fast 15-Minute charging possible?
Answer: No. The cell construction of Rechargeable Alkaline does not permit a 15-Minute charge. The fastest charge that can be achieved is in the 1-2 hour range. However, typically most reasonably priced chargers are designed to recharge fully discharged Rechargeable Alkaline batteries in 5-12 hours. Note that if you do not drain the battery completely, less charge time will be required and a 1 hour 'top-up' may be all you need. Top

14: Why does it say not to use rechargeable batteries in my Walkman and Gameboy?
Answer: Other rechargeables, such as Nicads, have a very high rate of self discharge resulting in the batteries always being empty when needed causing frustration to the consumer. Rechargeable Alkalines keep their charge and are always ready to use. Top

15: How long will Rechargeable Alkaline last in my device as compared with a regular alkaline.
Answer: In all cases, this depends on how much power is required to run the device. Lower drain devices will give longer service hours while high drain applications will give less hours of service. Performance, therefore, varies by device. However, on average, the initial performance of a Rechargeable Alkaline will be up to 80% of that of a regular alkaline. Overall performance of Rechargeable Alkaline will be 10 times or more than that of a regular alkaline because Rechargeable Alkaline is rechargeable. Frequent recharging will prolong the life of Rechargeable Alkaline batteries. Top

16: How do Rechargeable Alkaline batteries compare to Heavy Duty (Zinc Carbon) batteries?
Answer: On initial performance, a Rechargeable Alkaline battery will provide more than twice the service hours of a Heavy Duty battery. Overall performance of Rechargeable Alkaline will be 30 times or more than that of a Heavy Duty battery because Rechargeable Alkaline is rechargeable. Top