Mumsnet Talk

Advice please
Need some information so Xmas isn't ruined by flat battery misery.
Are there any recommendations for recharge batteries (for remote control toys etc) or is it better to buy boxes of regular Duracell type ?
Cheers

It's trial and error, we find, if the toy will work at all. I think the volts are slightly lower with the rechargeables, is the problem.

Best bet is some high milli-amp-hour Nimhs, like 2700s. I suggest get a single 4- or 6-pack and try them in the toys & see which ones they work with; then you'll know if they are worth further investment.
Any Nimhs sold by Maplin will be good value for money.

for things like cameras you get a lot more life out of rechargeables - I don't know if this also applies to toys

I got this Energiser one from amazon, which is v fast & will charge single batteries, not just pairs (& does AAA as well as AA) - it's good

you can get rechargeable batts from eg Aldi at good prices too

Re-chargeable batteries are perfectly OK but one needs a bit of discipline in their usage.

Initially they are more expensive to buy and the charger must match the battery type (they can be slightly different) but they may be re-charged hundreds of times if used properly and it only costs pennies to re-charge them.

There are two types , the Nickel Cadmium (NiCD) and Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH). The NiMH types are more powerful and it’s best to make sure that NiCD batteries are fully discharged before recharging because they suffer from 'memory effect' which means that they last for a shorter time after they’ve been charged.

They don’t last quite as long as ‘ordinary’ batteries because the voltage is 1.2v (as opposed to 1.5v) but the latest NiMH rechargeable batteries are very good.

They are best for most frequently-used devices such as wireless mice/keyboards, telephone headsets, radios, pagers, cameras, calculators, walkie-talkies, remote controls, torches and toys, etc.

New re-charge batteries may need to be charged before using.
The first charge is important and can take slightly longer.
It’s a good idea to buy two sets of batteries per a device (particularly a camera) and be re-charging one set whilst using another.
They are ideal for children’s torches and toys.

Caveat: Don't use them in Emergency equipment. The voltage of ordinary batteries drops at a predictable rate. Rechargeable batteries remain at a steady rate up until their power is nearly completely discharged and then it drops swiftly.

Thanks for all the advice
Cheers