Rechargeable batteries lose varying amounts of power in storage. Top up your batteries now for optimal performance in case of winter storm power outages, not to mention possible Y2K problems.

(If you have never used your rechargeable NiCads, the experts, like CCrane.com, advise inserting them into a flashlight or radio and letting them run completely down. Starting them out thus will ensure reacharging capacity lasts for many years.)

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), December 06, 1999

Answers

Question: I have a Universals Solar Battery re-charger but need to know how to know when the batteries are charged. There is no "full/empty" thingie to tell me. The box just says, for example that 2 AA batteries take 3-4 hrs and that "recharging times will vary depending upon the strength of senlight or the level to which the batteries are discharged."

It also says that it has a "Built-in Blocking Diode in the circit, thus preventing the reverse flow of electricity from the battery to the solar panel during night time, or when sunlight is not available." I don't understand that, but does it have anything with possibly emptying it out once full?

Advice appreciated!

-- GardenGal (finishing@myhome.com), December 06, 1999.

If you go here:

http://www.gardeners.com/sell.asp?ProdGroupID=10529&mscssid=TFB78FH3MU SH2H0C00A3HAV096J615M7

you'll find a neat battery storage rack for $12.50 (the cheapest I've seen) and it has a built-in battery tester. Don't worry about the diode thingie; it stops your batteries from draining the charge.

You might like to look at ccrane.com--they have a solar charger which charges four batteries of different sizes.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), December 06, 1999.

Hey there OG...when using your recharged batteries do you let them go dead before recharging them? AND...if I can only charge 4 batteries at once and need to use 9 of them to run something how can I keep the batteries charged first from draining while charging the others. I thought I remembered reading that we weren't supposed to use batteries together that hold a different level of charge. Is that correct?

beej

-- beej (beej@ppbbs.com), December 07, 1999.

Beej, logic dictates that if you have an appliance that needs 9 batteries and you can only charge 4 at a time that you: 1) Get more batteries because you sure don't have enough and/or 2) Get a larger charger so you can charge more batteries at once.

-- James Collins (jacollins@thegrid.net), December 07, 1999.

Beej, you wouldn't believe how many battery chargers we have. Solar, car cig lighter, conventional--and we have some solar panels to run the conventional ones! I usually run my batteries down completely but I understand that once you've gone through the initial "breaking-in," you don't have to run them down every time. Perhaps someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), December 08, 1999.