Accus & Batteries

Energy balance

Compared to the energy balances of disposable batteries and rechargeable batteries, there are major differences: Batteries consume 400x and zwischen50 as much power as they provide for use in their production. This makes battery power very expensive. However, these costs are hardly noticed by the user as they extend over a long period of use.

Comparatively expensive rechargeble batteries, by contrast, have a very favourable energy balance. Although energy is also needed for their manufacture, this is spread over the energy used during the entire lifespan of a battery. A rechargeable battery's lifespan is determined by its capacity and number of cycles. With proper charging and maintenance (e.g. avoid deep discharge) and the right charger, this number can reach over 1000 cycles.

This is reflected in the capacity comparison of rechargeable and disposable batteries. Here an alkaline battery (2700 mAh) can be directly compared to an NiMH battery (1600 mAh) in the short term. But even after 500 charge cycles, the rechargeable battery has a usable capacity of 800 000 mAh available.

Battery/battery costs for different consumers

List of battery/rechargeable battery costs for various consumers

This list only compares the acquisition costs. The additional costs for charging the batteries or for buying the batteries again were not taken into account. Only Conrad energy products were used for comparison. Different consumers have been tested for the different battery sizes.

PMR-wireless device

Power supply 4 micro batteries
Current requirement Ø approx. 150 mA (reception/transmission = 50/250 mA)

RC model car
power supply 4 AA batteries
current requirement approx. 300 mA

Torch
Power supply 4 mono batteries
Power requirement approx. 800 mA

Review:

• Even if a 1.2 V battery has a lower voltage than a 1.5 V battery, almost all battery-powered devices can also be operated with rechargeable batteries without any significant loss of performance.
• Regardless of the consumer and the size of the rechargeable batteries, all devices will sooner or later experience an economy effect. The longer the operating time of the consumer, the greater the saving effect.
• In devices with long operating times, hohem and thus also hohem battery consumption, the use of rechargeable batteries prevents the generation of hazardous waste in the form of old batteries to a large extent.
   

Other advantages of batteries:

• When the batteries are fully charged, a precisely defined operating time of the consumer is guaranteed. When operating with used batteries, there is no information about the remaining capacity and no one can predict exactly how long the batteries will last.
• If a consumer is not accidentally switched off after use, rechargeable batteries only need to be recharged. When using batteries, the complete set must be replaced.
• If a device is only used temporarily, the batteries used for this purpose can also be used in other devices in the meantime.

Conrad energy endurance - the perfect mix of battery and rechargeable battery

Here is the perfect mixture of battery and rechargeable battery. With the battery type Conrad energy Endurance we have succeeded in combining the advantages of batteries and rechargeable batteries.

• Ready to use immediately
• Minimum self-discharge: Long shelf life without large energy losses
• High current carrying capacity for powerful consumers
• Good performance even at low temperatures
• Environmentally-friendly and inexpensive to use
• Rechargeable up to 1000 times
• Available in all common sizes (AAA, AA, C, D, 9V block)
• Low cost purchase price
• Can be charged with any standard NiMH charger
   

Conrad energy endurance
The causes of the disadvantages of rechargeable batteries (charge first before commissioning, long charging times) are mainly due to self-discharge. With Conrad energy Endurance, this process has been significantly slowed down and thus brought to a disposable battery level.

After 6 months, Conrad energy Endurance batteries still have 90% of their initial energy level available - and after one year they still have 85% available. To put this in context: a high-quality rechargeable battery has, on average, 75% still available after 6 months and 0 % after a year. It's not just these figures that show how innovative Conrad energy Endurance is: if you completely discharge and recharge a Conrad energy Endurance battery once a week, it will theoretically last for 19 years.
Conrad energy Endurance batteries therefore cover the majority of application areas for batteries and rechargeable batteries in equal measure.

Nickel-zinc rechargeable batteries - the new alternative to disposable batteries

Many devices need alkaline batteries with a voltage of 1.5 V per cell to work. If nickel-metal hydride batteries (with a voltage of 1.2 V/cell) are now used instead of batteries (with a voltage of 1.5 V/cell), proper functioning is not always guaranteed. The 20% undersupply when using NiCd or NiMH batteries means that many manufacturers are opposed to their use.

This is where new NiZn rechargeable batteries come in: these have a voltage of 1.6 V per cell. This type of battery was patented over 100 years ago by Thomas Alva Edison. The first NiZn batteries, however, only survived a small number of charge cycles. The zinc electrode quickly became ineffective due to passivation.

Only in recent years have resourceful battery specialists managed to counteract this and increase the necessary cycle durability of nickel-zinc batteries.

The otherwise battery-operated consumers are now supplied with sufficient voltage thanks to the clever battery technology and because new batteries do not have to be bought again all the time, the environment and the wallet are also considerably relieved.

Furthermore, when used correctly NiZn batteries have the same usable capacity and cycle durability as 1.2 V rechargeable batteries. You do, however, need a special NiZn battery charger.

Advantages of nickel-zinc batteries:

• Extremely durable – over 1000 charge cycles
• Nominal voltage 1.6 V
• Easy to use in small appliances
• High potential in industrial applications thanks to low production costs

Disposal of Batteries and Rechargeable Batteries

Many supermarkets and shops also have used battery collection bins in their stores. Disposal in the domestic waste is prohibited! Find out about legal obligations and help for the proper disposal of batteries and rechargeable batteries, as well as a disposal note for starter batteries and information on the obligation to pay and return.

More information on battery disposal »  

Of battery lies and battery myths

Batteries and rechargeable batteries are indispensable in countless areas of life. However, as the everyday use of mobile power stores is obvious, the myths and the semi-knowledge about energy cells are also widespread. Whether reports on treatment, care and disposal, circulating Internet messages about toxic substances and exploding cells or supposedly clever "expert tips" for a longer life: Batteries and batteries often make very contradictory or simply wrong indications the turn. What was really the most stubborn rumors?

The “memory effect”
of the legendary classics is the story of the so-called “memory effect”. This means that a NiCd battery loses some of its capacity and cannot be fully charged if it is not completely discharged and thus recharged too early. If the battery still has a residual charge of 25% at the beginning of the charging process, it will only discharge up to this 25% limit the next time. In this example, the battery would eventually lose a quarter of its total capacity. What was previously observed in the use of nickel-cadmium batteries (NiCd) is no longer true today. Nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) cells have long been standard and they do not know a "memory effect". Lithium-ion and lithium-polymer batteries are also not affected. NiMH and lithium rechargeable batteries are sensitive to over- and deep discharge. For this reason, intelligent chargers should always be used for these types of batteries, which automatically regulate the charging current.

In addition, the cellar instead of the refrigerator
prevents modern charging stations from overheating the NiMH batteries, which would not be good for the energy cells at all. Because basically, rechargeable batteries tend to be cooler. However, you should not store your electricity stores like perishable foods and believe in the very popular tip of refrigerator storage. Apart° from the fact that rechargeable batteries feel "most comfortable" at around 15 to 17 C, the very low temperatures or negative temperatures in the fridge and freezer cause the loss of electrical voltage. Furthermore, there is a great risk of condensation forming here – and this would ultimately destroy the rechargeable battery. ERGO is a dry basement the best storage location for a battery

Life-prolonging measures
Refrigerated batteries have proven to have a higher "life expectancy". Although each energy cell ages and loses power with each charging cycle regardless of temperature, higher temperatures further accelerate this "aging process". This also explains the probably already observed performance drop of a typical notebook lithium battery by each user. If it is stored at 25° C, it has only 80% of its original output power after one year. The fact° that normal operating temperatures of about 45 C do not extend the service life straight is obvious. For this reason, you should switch to mains operation at home as often as possible and give the battery a cool rest until the next mobile use.

Hot rumor
Given the fact that it may be cooling down batteries and batteries, another persistent rumor may be unmasked by itself: Of course, empty batteries cannot be "fit" on a heating system again. Instead of "tickling" the last minimal reserves from the small power store, there is a risk of overheating and tearing the shell. And since disposable batteries are usually filled with nickel and alkali solutions, corrosive substances and flammable gases could be released. Get away from this "explosive tip!

Explosive stories
Explosions are rather associated with lithium batteries. Again and again, there are "credible" reports from the circle of acquaintances or "live recordings" on video portals on the Internet that allegedly want to prove these exploding mobile phone and notebook batteries. But be careful: Due to production defects in untested low-cost products or manipulation, damaged battery cells and thus theoretically an explosion can occur. However, this is more than unlikely, as modern batteries have a temperature control that prevents overheating or even worse.

Batteries or rechargeable batteries?
Finally, a real story: It is quite right that batteries – however environmentally friendly and powerful they may be – are not always preferable to batteries in every device. Because wherever energy is only consumed for a short time, such as in remote controls, clocks, smoke detectors or flashlights, the disposable product is the better choice. Since NiMH batteries always emit some current, even if they are not used and thus discharge themselves over time (up to 60% in a month), they would have to be replaced much more frequently than a battery. The new NIMH batteries in LSD technology (Low Self Discharge) are an exception. With these battery generations, the self-discharge is similarly low as with primary batteries.

Chargers – smart helpers who charge more than just a battery

The demands on rechargeable batteries are now enormous. It is no wonder that their development is continuing and that new technologies are constantly conquering the market. Years ago, lead-acid and NiCd rechargeable batteries were mainly used, today there are a variety of different battery technologies, which are perfectly optimized for special applications.

But what was the best and most modern battery, if it wasn't charged correctly? He cannot fully exploit his performance potential. But that's not all. If older generations of rechargeable batteries were still relatively unproblematic, was it

Lithium rechargeable batteries in particular attach great importance to maintaining the maximum charging voltage, so that they do not acknowledge the service at an early stage. In the worst case, these batteries can also react with drastic smoke development and open fire to incorrect charging processes.

For this reason, it is absolutely necessary to use the appropriate charging technology for each battery technology. This is true for round cells in the classic designs such as AAA, AA, C, D or 9 V block as well as for the seemingly unmanageable number of rechargeable device batteries and battery packs for a wide variety of applications.

Modern chargers can charge much more than just batteries. With appropriate charging and discharging programs, tired batteries are made fit again in no time at all and the usable capacities are determined. The clever devices monitor the most different parameters. They can also reliably charge at high currents thanks to a variety of safety circuits and a precise detection of when the battery is full. As a crowning icing on the cake, the charging curves of some devices can also be evaluated on the computer.