What do you use your rechargeable batteries for?

[Muse]

I find that I suddenly have more rechargeable AA and AAA batteries than I have a practical use for (bought a charger that included 4 AA's and 4 AAA's and got as many Hybrids, so I have extra normal NiMH batteries). I'm wondering what people use theirs for. I have a digicam that uses 2 AA's, my primary usage of AA's and a remote I use a lot (Home Theater Master MX-700 universal remote control), that uses 4 AAA's. I'm trying to think of other practical uses. My other remote controls are seldom used, so I figure I'll keep alkalines in those. I have a flashlight or two that might do, but most of my flashlights are seldom used and the discharge rate of NiMH batteries makes me think it might be impractical to use them in them.

What do you use your AA and AAA rechargable cells in?

 

[paulr]

Practically everything: flashlights, digital camera and camera flash, several mp3 players and an audio recorder, GPS receiver, palmtop computer (that unit no longer in use though), etc. As mentioned elsewhere I'm looking all over for a cell phone that uses AA's or AAA's. I hate the proprietary lithium ion packs that gadget vendors want to put in anything, and whenever I shop for a gadget I -always- get an AA or AAA powered model if I can, instead of a lithium ion one.

 

[Muse]

...whenever I shop for a gadget I -always- get an AA or AAA powered model if I can, instead of a lithium ion one.

Cool. I'll be doing the same, since I have so many AA and AAA batteries. Thanks for the ideas.

 

[VidPro]

everything BUT, thermostats, smoke alarms,remote controls,clocks.
and i am thinking that enloop MIGHT work for the thermostats, which need replacement yearly.
and that fenix that i cant get to work with li-ion, cause it runs to high/hot.

 

[n3eg]

Ham radios. I buy AA cases, even though the manual calls you an idiot in Japanese if you use rechargeables. If they aren't available, I cut the original battery open eventually and replace the cells with AAs.

All my flashlights use alkalines.

 

[LiteTheWay]

EnVee laser - 2 x AA. Not in my several flashlights

 

[randyo]

I use AA & AAA Eneloop or Eneloop clones practically everywhere.
I also have 3 Titanium 5000 mAH NIMH batts in an ALX-233C light, and 4 Powerex 11000 mAH D-cell NIMH batts powering my CC Radio. I get excellent play time and self discharge has never been an issue with the big D-cells. Only downside is the 24+ hours it takes to recharge them, although in the last year they've only seen 2 charge/discharge cycles.

 

[Muse]

Only downside is the 24+ hours it takes to recharge them, although in the last year they've only seen 2 charge/discharge cycles.

I have a flashlight that was a freebie at Radio Shack over 20 years ago that I put NiCD's in (4 C cells) and adapted with a plug for a trickle charger. I use it as a headlight on my bicycle. I even power a taillight from it.

Recently I replaced the failing cells with new tabbed NiCD's, which allowed me to solder almost all the internal connections, which has almost completely eliminated the discontinuity problems I have experienced. I got NiCD's because people told me they self-discharge slower than NiMH, and besides that, they better tolerate a trickle charger that has no overcharge protection. The charge rate of the trickle charger is so slow that it takes me two days to recharge the light. However, the 2800 mah capacity of the cells is so far above what I used to have it seems like the charge lasts forever. I am now intentionally discharging the light every 6 - 8 weeks in order to maintain the capability of the cells and then recharging. This light is far more powerful than any bicycle light I have ever seen. It actually illuminates the road not unlike a car headlight, I like to think. I can see potholes, debris, etc. in time to swerve. 🙂

 

[bill_n_opus]

Flashlights
Vibra ... errr ... check that.
Kid's toys, and I mean a ton of them. I bought a whole bunch of NiMh AAA for my kid's Geotrax train setup. That thing eats AAAs. 3 for the train itself and 3 for the controller. We have 6 of them. Yep.
Battery Extender.
.....

 

[LiteTheWay]

er .... yes. I forgot about the kids' toys - I was just thinking of the adult toys in my earlier post. i certainly use rechargeables in kids' toys - i'd be broke otherwise.

 

[Biker Bear]

I mainly use NiMH's in my MP3 player (an iRiver T10 1GB, in case anyone cares). I think the built-in LiIons in some models are an excuse to sell people lots of charging gadgets, whereas I just have a few spare AA's with me and I'm going again in seconds.

I also use NiMH's in my digital camera because - as we all know - they're better suited to the current draw than alkalines. I run a few of my often used flashlights on NiMHs, but there's always some with lithiums on hand just in case... 😉

 

[SoundMix]

Everything except smoke alarms.

 

[Zigzago]

I also try to standardize on AA's so I can use my rechargeables.
I currently have these AA devices:

Flashlights (of course)
Radio
Digital camera
LCD TV
Shaver
Nose hair trimmer
Drill
Screwdriver
CD Walkman
Charging device for cell phone and palm pilot

 

[LiteTheWay]

I try to standardise on AAA and AA. There are MANY gadgets these days that use AAA and some remotes also seem to be going to them instead of AA

 

[paulr]

I still do use alkalines in some low powered and/or infrequently used devices. I have several 5mm led flashlights (Arc AAA, CMG Ultra, etc.) with alkalines installed, plus a few rarely used radios (on hand in case of power outage or whatever), my film camera stuff (I shoot all digital now), etc. Basically I'll use alkalines if they need replacement less than once or twice a year.

 

[tvman]

everything except smoke, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, and similar type alarms/detectors. The only non-rechargeables purchased separately in the last 5 years are 9v alkies. I have some 9v rechargeables but I don't trust them in alarms and detectors especially at about 270mah.

 

[Pellidon]

Wireless game controllers, Cameras & flashes, torches all sorts of junk. With a Mag85 you can't have too many battery's.

 

[jumpstat]

I use extensively Nimh batts for my wireless flash setup, in all 15 + another 15 or so spares. Kids toys, and all other creature comfort equiment are also on rechargeables except for my electronic safe and heat detectors in the house.......