Battery business...
Mar. 27th, 2013 07:48 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alexpgpThis year is turning into the Year of the Rechargeable Battery around this place.
I recently fired up my old HP-28C calculator, only to find that the three 'N' batteries had finally run out of steam. Turning to my late stepdad's HP-41C, I found the same problem.
So I did a little digging on the 'net and found a place that not only offered rechargeable 'N' cells at a reasonable price (below $2), but also charged a reasonable amount for shipping a dozen of them in my direction (less than $4).
The package arrived today, and I have to admit that when I first laid eyes on one of the batteries, I was sure it was the wrong size. However, comparing the new and old batteries suggests my concern was the result of an optical illusion (mostly, since the new cells are just a hair longer). Check it out (nonrechargeable Radio Shack Enercell on the left, noname rechargeable on the right):
The trick to charging such cells, however, is their unusual size. Most popular chargers will accommodate AA and AAA batteries, and while the 'N' size appears to be compatible in diameter with the AAA design, it is quite a bit shorter. And so, with the help of a small pair of pliers and some paper clips, I made do:
My only remaining concern is that I wasn't careful enough when ordering to make sure the batteries were LiMH units. As it turns out, the batteries are NiCd, which means having to fuss with them more over the time I use them, since NiCd batteries have a tendency to lose charge over time while doing nothing.
We'll see how this experiment works out over time.
Cheers...
I recently fired up my old HP-28C calculator, only to find that the three 'N' batteries had finally run out of steam. Turning to my late stepdad's HP-41C, I found the same problem.
So I did a little digging on the 'net and found a place that not only offered rechargeable 'N' cells at a reasonable price (below $2), but also charged a reasonable amount for shipping a dozen of them in my direction (less than $4).
The package arrived today, and I have to admit that when I first laid eyes on one of the batteries, I was sure it was the wrong size. However, comparing the new and old batteries suggests my concern was the result of an optical illusion (mostly, since the new cells are just a hair longer). Check it out (nonrechargeable Radio Shack Enercell on the left, noname rechargeable on the right):
The trick to charging such cells, however, is their unusual size. Most popular chargers will accommodate AA and AAA batteries, and while the 'N' size appears to be compatible in diameter with the AAA design, it is quite a bit shorter. And so, with the help of a small pair of pliers and some paper clips, I made do:
My only remaining concern is that I wasn't careful enough when ordering to make sure the batteries were LiMH units. As it turns out, the batteries are NiCd, which means having to fuss with them more over the time I use them, since NiCd batteries have a tendency to lose charge over time while doing nothing.
We'll see how this experiment works out over time.
Cheers...
