charging 3xAA - with an extra

[ps56k]

We have a weather radio that takes 3xAA batteries.

When I charge & replace the batteries,
I'm never sure what to do with the extra 4th battery from the charger.

I happen to have two Maha C204F chargers (4xAA/AAA).

So - when I take the 4xAA batteries out of the charger,
and place 3xAA into the weather radio - I always have an extra AA.

I tend to rotate it to the "back of the line" of batteries
waiting their turns at the charger,
or leave it to be used as the "next outta the charger".

Any other suggestions ?

 

[Lynx_Arc]

get a 1AA high power LED flashlight to play with or get a charger that has seperate channels for each battery.

 

[Marduke]

Three options:

1)
If recharge rotation is less than a couple weeks, only charge two cells from the radio. Pair two fresh cells with older fresh cell and use all three. Next recharge, you have 4 dead cells. Use three fresh and set one aside.

Rinse and repeat.


2)
Get a cheap (or good) 4-channel smart charger so you can charge any combination of AA, AAA cells in any number, 1-4.

3)
Get something which uses 1xAA, and run it down to approximately the level of the other dead cells. Charge all 4 every charge cycle.

 

[jerry i h]

...Any other suggestions ?

Buy an L1D and stick it on your keychain.

 

[Probedude]

Get a LaCrosse BC900 and just charge what you need when you need it.
Plus having the conditioning programs, mAH IN and OUT is very useful for matching cells.

 

[SilverFox]

Hello Ps56k,

While the best solution is to replace your charger with one that charges individual cells, let's see if there is a way to do this with what you have.

Marduke was on the right track, but let's see if we can expand on this a little.

You start off with 4 cells charged and use 3 of them. This leaves one cell to self discharge while you are using the other three. Take that cell, put it into a zip loc bag and put it in your refrigerator. This will limit the self discharge rate of the cell.

When your 3 cells in use are discharged, take 2 of them and charge them up. At the end of the charge, take them off the charger and remove your cell that you stored in the refrigerator. Let them sit overnight, then put them into your radio.

Now you have one cell in a discharge condition. Store it that way. When your radio discharges the other three, you will have 4 cells to charge.

You will have to develop some way of identifying your spare cell as being charged or discharged, but that can be as easy as using 2 zip loc bags with one having charged written on it and the other discharged. I am sure you can come up with something that will work for you.

You still run a risk of imbalance between the cells, so you may have to do a little fiddling during charging. Every once in a while, the frequency depends on how fast you run through the cells, you should swap cells in the pairs that are charging.

Let's say that you number your cells 1, 2, 3, and 4. You charge 1 and 2 as a pair, and 3 and 4 as a pair. If the cells get out of balance, they may not balance in the charger, so you would change the pair. First charge 1 and 2, and 3 and 4 as pairs. When the charge is completed, pair up 1 and 3, and 2 and 4, and charge them again. This top off charge will tend to bring all the cells back into balance, but it is not the best way to do it.

Once again, the best way is to have a charger that can charge each cell independently, but this should work until you can get another charger.

Tom