Talk to us about batteries - for a chance to win £500 and free Energizer batteries!

[HelenMumsnet]

Hello.

Energizer wants to talk batteries with you!

Do you simply buy the cheapest, or are you a battery connoisseur? Are you a power planner or a power player? Do you leave batteries in when appliances are out of use for a long time? Or do you take them out (and then lose them)?

Please do post and tell us on this thread.

And also feel free to share your best battery tips - or your worst battery disasters - particularly if they're Christmas-related.

Energizer's expert Clare Burke will be monitoring this thread and then coming on to answer your questions, and provide lots of info to help you save money and ensure you have the right power source for all the gadgets in your home this Christmas.

Everyone who adds a question, tip or comment to this thread (or who shares a battery disaster) will be entered into a prize draw to win £500.

The draw will be made on 10 December and the winner's cheque will be mailed out, via special delivery, on 11 December, so it'll definitely arrive in time for Christmas.

And that's not all! The first 100 Mumsnetters who post a question, comment, battery tip or battery disaster on this thread will receive free Energizer batteries worth up to £15.99.

In order to claim your batteries, you need to complete your details, including a UK address here

Please include an indication of what type of batteries you would like or the type of product you need batteries for.

Your details will only be used to send out the batteries and will be destroyed after the mailout. You will not receive any additional marketing.

Many thanks - and good luck!
MNHQ

Rechargeables have been mentioned by a number of you as a good but expensive alternative over the past few days. While the initial investment is far greater than standard disposable batteries, rechargeables can represent great value for money. As a guide if you use them 5-6 times you will usually be saving money. However, I do understand that in busy households keeping track of rechargeables can be difficult, in which case I would recommend you continue to use disposables. The important thing is to make sure you consider what the batteries will be used for and choose the type that will last the longest in each of your devices and deliver value for money.

LeninGrad ? you asked what NiMH means in relation to rechargeables. I do apologise in advance if this sounds a bit technical ? it?s one of those things that is very difficult to put simply!

The chemical definition of NiMH is Nickel-metal Hydride and it refers to the type of battery. There are four different types of rechargeable batteries: NiMH (nickel metal hydride), NiCd (nickel cadmium), Li Ion (Lithium Ion), SLA (Sealed Lead Acid).

NiMH is the most common type of rechargeable battery because they maintain a consistent power for longer. So, I would recommend this option particularly for devices that require more power such digital cameras and Wii remotes. Plus, they are considered more environmentally friendly because they don?t contain any heavy metals!

Rhubarb ? you mentioned that you would like the process of recharging to be speedier. There is a huge range of chargers available in the UK, from those that charge in 8 hours (overnight) to fast chargers that take around an hour! Again it is important to you consider what you will be using the batteries for before you go out and make a purchase.

I would definitely recommend going to our rechargeables website which has a series of questions to help you determine the most suitable charger for you. The link is www.energizerrecharge.eu/en/range/chargers

It is also worth knowing that the milliamps ratings on rechargeable batteries indicate the capacity. As a general rule, the highest capacity batteries (e.g. 2650 mAh) will taker longer to charge than lower capacity batteries but they will last longer in high drain devices.

A variety of chargers should be available on battery fixture in most major retailers. So, do look out for these when you?re next on the high street or doing grocery shopping.

In fact, for anyone interested in finding out more about the rechargeables I would recommend checking out the ?Recharge the Facts? section on our the website ? it has lots of helpful information

www.energizerrecharge.eu/en/recharge-the-facts/

Thanks for that.

I wish you could reduce the price though and make them more affordable and therefore give people more of an incentive to buy them.

Each year on average around 30 batteries are thrown away per person. The population of Britain is 61,000,000 - so times that by 30 and that's how many batteries are thrown away in Britain each year.

Make rechargers more affordable, slash the prices of rechargable batteries and put battery recycling points in every supermarket and possibly every newsagents.

If you make them then you need to take on your fair share of responsibility in ensuring that they do not pollute our environment.

Mustrunmore ? you mentioned that you can?t charge rechargeable batteries once they have fully drained. This definitely shouldn?t be the case as you can recharge NiMH (Nickel-metal Hydride) batteries at any time, fully drained or not, it shouldn?t make any difference.

However, in saying this, with the old NiCad (Nickel Cadmium) rechargeable batteries it was recommended to fully drain the battery before recharging in order to overcome what was called ?memory effect?. Memory effect was the property of Cadmium to ?remember? the last charge amount and to replicate it in the future. Basically, if a NiCad battery was still 50% charged when placed on the charger (and will only be charged 50% to reach it?s full capacity - 1000 mAh for a AA 2000 mAh) the next time the battery will charge only 1000 mAh (50%) despite being fully drained as this is what has been remembered by NiCad battery. Does that help?

And can you change the name to Energiser please for us English folk who know how to spell properly, unlike them there Yanks

Rhubarb ? Thanks for your comments it?s great that you and many others are considering the impact batteries have on the environment.

I just want to assure you that Energizer are working closely with Battery Compliance Schemes to place collection boxes in as many schools, libraries, offices and local amenity sites as possible. This will certainly make recycling points a lot more accessible and we hope that it will also raise awareness and encourage more people to get involved.

We do take responsibility and are working to involve as many people as possible in recycling with the intention to grow the number of batteries being recycled in 2010. This commitment is reinforced externally through working partnerships and internally through a company recycling program.

DwayneDibbley - you mentioned the cost of rechargeables as being a barrier, however as I mentioned in a previous post, while the initial investment is far greater than standard disposable batteries, rechargeables can represent great value for money. As a guide if you use them 5-6 times you will usually be saving money. Plus, there is a wide range of units available to choose from in all different shapes and sizes as well as a variety of price points.

I hope this information is help and somewhat reassuring to you.

Also, number of you have asked why some gadgets and toys warn against using rechargeables. I can confirm that this is usually because the product manufacturer has not tested rechargeable batteries in the device and is therefore unable to recommend them. Unfortunately, this is advice you should follow!

Have a lovely evening!

Last year i found it so hard to get batteries for my watch and pedometer[you know the small type of battery needed for them?I wanted to purchase good quality ones that would be reliable and last.Myself and my sister walked everywhere last summer trying to loose weight and god knows how many cheap small batteries i went through,as it is hard to find these small batteries needed from local shops that are decent quality.I remember quite a few times our walks would last 4 to six hours especially if we went on a ramble and my pedometer battery went dead after an hour,which annoyed me.It's hard to believe you can get so wound up about having a reliable battery but it is so maddening when you are seriousaly trying hard to get fit and the battery in your equipment let's you down.Why is it difficult to get these small batteries needed for watches,pedometers that are good quality?Are your batteries any less powerful than the larger ones and if you do the small batteries at energiser how powerful are they?

As a few of you have mentioned storage I thought it was worth a post as it is not something people generally think about but is important so I?m pleased to see so many of you are.

We recommend that any unused batteries are stored in their original packaging, in a dry environment at a stable temperature, away from any metallic objects which may short circuit them - so avoid the cutlery drawer! Likewise, storing batteries at temperatures above 21 degrees can shorten the storage life. This shouldn?t be a problem for many of us here in the UK!

With the forthcoming EU battery directive it is important to separate new and used batteries before recycling, as this will impact the recycling process.

A couple of other storage tips worth remembering are:

Don?t leave any batteries, new or used, within reach of toddlers or animals, although batteries are a safe & reliable power source they are not designed to be chewed by children or dogs.

You shouldn?t store batteries in a fridge or freezer ? some people think it makes them last longer but sadly it doesn?t!

Don?t put dead batteries in the oven to extend their life - batteries do work better when in a warm ambient temperature, but heating them up accelerates chemical reaction which can cause them to leak, another very good reason to store batteries in a cool, dry place.

This brings me to my next point ? leakage. Battery leakage can occur if new and used batteries are mixed, so avoiding storing them in the same place. I think most of you do this already but worth remembering as it also helps with recycling.

Prettycandles ? you asked if the gunk that leaks from batteries is dangerous. Battery leakage is extremely caustic and contact with bare skin should be avoided. If this does ever happen it?s advisable to wash the contact area for 15 minutes with as much water as possible and seek medical attention.

Have a great weekend!

I normally buy Duracell as the cheap ones don't last very long they are ok for TV remotes but not kids toys, have tried rechargeable ones but they are hassle.

I like to use rechargeables as much as possible, but they do fail eventually and then it's often difficult to know if both (of a pair) have died or just one. I use normal batteries too and have found that while cheap unbranded ones work OK sometimes, the branded ones are much more reliable. I don't usually remember to take batteries out if I'm not using an appliance for a while but I do have a box of batteries some dead & some with life in that is a right pain to sort out the good from the bad. I really need to do this & take the dead ones to be recycled, but never seem to get around to it. Disposing of old batteries is a bit of a nuisence. Far too many things need batteries - I use them in remotes, phones, torches, fire alarms, scales, headsets, mice etc.

Thanks, Clare. So my chuck-em-all-in-a-tub-until-we-visit-my-mum attitude is probably not a good idea, seeing as the tub can get quite crusted with leakage by the time we go!

I hope you all had an enjoyable weekend.

DanJARmouse ? you mentioned that you?ve bought GO GO Hamsters for your kids for Christmas and you are looking to purchase good quality long lasting batteries in order to avoid disappointment. This is definitely a good idea! As the GO GO Hamster is a high drain device, I would recommend Energizer Ultimate Lithium. These will definitely last the longest and hopefully mean the kids are kept entertained throughout the holiday season! Alternatively, if you are looking for a rechargeable option a 2450 mAh rechargeable battery will perform best.

Many of you have mentioned including batteries with gifts that require battery power, which is a great idea. Looking at the Toy Retailers Association (TRA) top twelve toys for Christmas this year it is definitely worthwhile stocking up on extra batteries for gifts as they may not be included.

For those of you who haven?t seen the top twelve yet, some great toys made the list:

Bakugan Battle Pack, Spin Master

Battle Strikers starter Set, Mega Brands

Ben 10 Alien Force Kevins DX Action Cruiser, Bandai

Bendaroos Mega Pack, Spin Master

GO GO Pets Hamsters, Character Options

GX Racers Tightrope Terror, Flair

Kidizoom Multimedia Digital Camera, V-Tech

LEGO Games Minotaurus, Lego

Princess Peppa's Palace, Character Options

Transformers Movie 2 Voyagers Figures, Hasbro

Source: click here

I try to use recharageable batteries in the children's toys, TV remote controls etc. That way we are not sending stacks of batteries to landfill.

I still do end up buying non-rechargeable ones now and again and which I buy depends on where and how. If we are going on holiday and need decent batteries for torches etc I tend to get branded batteries with good life. If it is for a toy or something that may not be used a lot or is low power, or if I am desperate I will grab the cheapest or what is available.

I do take batteries out of toys if they are getting put away (eg from daughter to wait for son to grow into them - 2 years difference) but not if they thing is just sitting on the shelf not being played with for a while.

We keep dead batteries in a special pot and dispose of them in a designated battery disposal place.

Half-dead batteries get kept in a different pot and if we aren't sure of a battery status and we need several (where one duff would ruin the set) we get the volt-meter out and check the charge left on a battery before using it.

I bought rechargeable batteries and the first time I used them they went flat within hours. . Duracell. Am hoping it's just because they hadn't been charged properly.

I think I only buy Duracell when I have the choice, probably because I'm a sucker for the ads with the grotesque pink bunny. If Energiser are cheaper and do ao rechargeable one, I'll try them.

I only buy a decent brand, either Duacell or Energiser, depending on what is cheapest at the time. No point with cheapie £1 shop batteries, a false economy.
However, I am tight as ever with most things I buy.

I always mean to use rechargables but DH keeps buying the conventional type - sees a decent make on a 2-for-1 offer and gets a lot. Therefore usually Duracell as they seem to do more offers than Energizer.

The one thing I do ensure I use rechargables in is my portable radio as I've a bad habit of forgetting to turn it off.

I've got a boxful of old batteries awaiting recycling ... I've been separating them for ages because they are such an obvious no-no for landfill but I don't know what to do with them. Maybe the local dump has a special container for them, but now the kerbside recycling is so good for everything else I never go there. Would be good if batteries were collected too.

I buy cheap batteries if they are for something that isn't going to used much

And for things that are going to be high use I buy 'branded'. I have to say that I don't stick with one brand, usually buy the one that has a deal on

The thought of using batteries is always a pain, to the point of trying to avoid new gadgets/toys etc which require them.

However, they are unavoidable at times, so we have been using rechargable batteries for a few years now. We find them pretty good on the whole but the problem is that they don't stay charged for very long, and they also take a day or so to charge up. Sometimes this can lead to a disappointed child who wants to play with a toy straightaway. I always keep some charged up ones in a drawer, but as I say, they don't stay fully charged for long!

I also keep a few ordinary batteries around just in case the item cannot use the rechargable ones.

I want to do the right thing, I really do. But rechargeable batteries don't hold the same charge as branded batteries.

I can understand why a battery company wouldn't want them to TBH (as you're getting rid of your market by providing them with something that will last).

Which are the best rechargeable batteries to buy? Do any of them hold their power for longer than others?

I buy them in the pound shop...

Haven't read whole thread but here's my two penn'orth:

Rechargeable don't last forever contrary to popular belief! They are ok for a bit then just refuse to recharge.

Only use Duracell for anything that uses a fair amount of juice. Nothing else works long enough - even Energizer sorry!

El cheapo batteries - well usually have some in for kids toys etc or minimal power drainers otherwise waste of money.

HTH