Dave_H
Flashlight Enthusiast
For about the last dozen years I have been scavenging battery recycle depots at various places
I have worked; and now have several years' supply of partially-used but still useful alkalines: AAA, AA
C,D, 9v and some lantern batteries. They are being used in a host of small LED devices: lanterns,
flashlights, nightlights, motion-detector lights; and other devices such as FM radio, small amplified
speaker, smoke alarms, digital multimeters, calculators, remotes, wireless mice, and more...
Cells are triaged bypassing those obviously corroded/leaking or damaged. The rest are checked with
voltmeter, usually keeping anything above 1v. Cells are rinsed, dried, somewhat sorted and bagged.
I even keep zinc-carbon if they are good. Hands are washed of course; cheap disposable gloves can be used.
Sounds like a lot of bother? Perhaps but the outcome is worth it to me.
What I find is a bit surprising. Many cells are well used but lots in the 1.2v-1.4v range (no load).
I see a good mix of name-brand plus secondary brands. Some appear virtually new (1.59v). My theory
is that people don't use battery testers much, get used and new cells mixed up but just toss the lot
and get new ones. I'm pretty sure cell vendors don't mind this as it sells more product, and takes
advantage of recycling programs which don't cost them anything.
I've developed a knack of which cells get used in which devices to extract most remaining life,
then they go to recycling. High drain devices including toys are part of the reason these cells
go out, I usually avoid (unless the cells are "new"). Some small lights using boost converters can
take cells well below 1v. Series arrangements can do this; light level decreases but this
is managed.
A 6v lantern battery typically down to 4-5v is used to power small LED desk lamp which is designed
for 4.2v supply. I can take it down to less the 3v where light is rather dim but fine as a nightlight.
As cells get run down so far there is issue of leakage. It does happen and sometimes makes a
bit of a mess. Most times it can be cleaned up. Many of the LED devices are low-cost and not the
end of the world if lost, but I keep an eye on things, try to be pre-emptive. Once battery terminals
get corroded past a certain point, device operation ceases or becomes unreliable, so I have lost
a few items, but overall not bad (I recently replaced corroded battery spring in a small LED lamp
and it is back to life).
Why do I do this? It's not that I can't afford buying new cells, but would rather not, as ones
perfectly good are going to recycle (or worse, landfill) before their time. It costs energy and time
to recycle, so getting the most out of something matters.
I also use a fair number of rechargeable cells, and battery packs in equipment. Many NiMH
recovered from recycle are usually somewhat weaker than new. Many do not want to charge
properly in NiMH fast-chargers (another battery vendor advantage) but I use slower chargers and
run them successfully in lower-drain devices. Dead/unusable ones go to recycle.
In the last dozen years I met one lady who was reusing alkaline cells, but not on my scale;
any nobody else. She stopped after converting to rechargeables.
Dave
I have worked; and now have several years' supply of partially-used but still useful alkalines: AAA, AA
C,D, 9v and some lantern batteries. They are being used in a host of small LED devices: lanterns,
flashlights, nightlights, motion-detector lights; and other devices such as FM radio, small amplified
speaker, smoke alarms, digital multimeters, calculators, remotes, wireless mice, and more...
Cells are triaged bypassing those obviously corroded/leaking or damaged. The rest are checked with
voltmeter, usually keeping anything above 1v. Cells are rinsed, dried, somewhat sorted and bagged.
I even keep zinc-carbon if they are good. Hands are washed of course; cheap disposable gloves can be used.
Sounds like a lot of bother? Perhaps but the outcome is worth it to me.
What I find is a bit surprising. Many cells are well used but lots in the 1.2v-1.4v range (no load).
I see a good mix of name-brand plus secondary brands. Some appear virtually new (1.59v). My theory
is that people don't use battery testers much, get used and new cells mixed up but just toss the lot
and get new ones. I'm pretty sure cell vendors don't mind this as it sells more product, and takes
advantage of recycling programs which don't cost them anything.
I've developed a knack of which cells get used in which devices to extract most remaining life,
then they go to recycling. High drain devices including toys are part of the reason these cells
go out, I usually avoid (unless the cells are "new"). Some small lights using boost converters can
take cells well below 1v. Series arrangements can do this; light level decreases but this
is managed.
A 6v lantern battery typically down to 4-5v is used to power small LED desk lamp which is designed
for 4.2v supply. I can take it down to less the 3v where light is rather dim but fine as a nightlight.
As cells get run down so far there is issue of leakage. It does happen and sometimes makes a
bit of a mess. Most times it can be cleaned up. Many of the LED devices are low-cost and not the
end of the world if lost, but I keep an eye on things, try to be pre-emptive. Once battery terminals
get corroded past a certain point, device operation ceases or becomes unreliable, so I have lost
a few items, but overall not bad (I recently replaced corroded battery spring in a small LED lamp
and it is back to life).
Why do I do this? It's not that I can't afford buying new cells, but would rather not, as ones
perfectly good are going to recycle (or worse, landfill) before their time. It costs energy and time
to recycle, so getting the most out of something matters.
I also use a fair number of rechargeable cells, and battery packs in equipment. Many NiMH
recovered from recycle are usually somewhat weaker than new. Many do not want to charge
properly in NiMH fast-chargers (another battery vendor advantage) but I use slower chargers and
run them successfully in lower-drain devices. Dead/unusable ones go to recycle.
In the last dozen years I met one lady who was reusing alkaline cells, but not on my scale;
any nobody else. She stopped after converting to rechargeables.
Dave
