Battery Blog by CheapBatts

Battery chargers maintenance tips

2009-06-12T02:55:00.001-07:00

upBattery chargers maintenance tips

Almost every individual makes use of battery chargers to recharge various electronic gadgets. Battery chargers recharge the batteries of cell phones, digital cameras, and laptops among others. Battery chargers help an individual to cut the costs of purchasing new batteries, every time their gadget runs out of power.

Most of the battery chargers usually have a span of 300 to 400 recharges it expires. However, there are certain tips, which need to be followed if an individual is looking forward to maintain battery chargers for a long period. These tips include:

One of the main reasons why people come across charging problems is the fact that the battery is exposed to harmful substances. It is advisable to clean the battery charger either with a lint free cloth or by cleaning it with a cotton swab, which is soaked in alcohol. However, an individual needs to make sure that absolutely no amount of alcohol is exposed to the charging points.

A common mistake done by a large number of people is that they leave their battery chargers on even after the process of charging their batteries is complete. People simply remove their cell phones and other technological gadget from the charger. It is equally necessary to unplug the battery charger from the electrical source; else, the batteries will start losing charge on their own if they are left used for an extended duration of time.

It is advisable to store the batteries and the battery chargers in a cool and dry place, which is away from all potential sources of heat.

People need to understand that excessive heat can spell doom for the life of the battery charger. Battery chargers are an electronic device, which can perform their best when they are placed in a moderate room temperature, which is neither too hot nor too cold. In addition, it is important to protect the battery chargers from dust.

Dust is bad for life of the battery charger, whether it is on the surface or inside the interior components of battery chargers. Battery chargers for laptops, generally have a tendency to develop dust by static electricity. Thus, it is better to blow out the battery charger with a slight vacuuming from time to time.

Well, keeping in mind the above-mentioned tips will definitely help you in keeping your battery safe and long lasting. This will help in extending life of the battery in manifold ways.

How Do I Prevent Overcharging Rechargeable Batteries: Some strategies and tips

2008-11-24T01:35:00.000-08:00

In order to understand how do I prevent overcharging rechargeable batteries, first of all we must know that overcharging batteries occur when the battery is charged beyond its capacity. Overcharging generates excessive heat that can cause battery plates in the cells twisted while emanating active material. The batteries react to overcharging by producing oxygen and hydrogen in excessive amounts which are the results of water molecules breakdown within the electrolytes. In sealed maintenance free batteries, this causes permanent loss of capacity. The threat to overcharge a battery arises through excessive connection to a source of power, improper handling and other such common mistakes. As a solution to how do I prevent overcharging rechargeable batteries, you can take these easy precautionary methods on regular basis:
· Keep a check of your battery to identify any possible problems with it. Seek proper solution in time so that overcharging does not become a possibility.
· Monitor the temperature around the battery. Hot and humid surroundings can create fluctuations in the charger, thus creating a possibility for overcharging.
· Make use of digital timers for determining the time required for charging the battery. Batteries that are put to charging overnight can have a reduced performance because of being worn-out. Keep a track of required charging time so that you get reminded when it is time to change the battery.
· Periodically charge the battery to boost its power. Equal periods for charging as well as non-charging can be used in order to prolong the battery life.
· Open ventilation during the charging in order to prevent any heating up in the battery. Let the battery come in contact with fresh air for some time so that it can cool down.
· Replace the controller if an uneven distribution of power is encountered in the device. Defective controllers fail to regulate current from batteries to devices which may lead to power overloading or overheating.
· Consult with a professional mechanic in case you are encountering frequent overcharging of your battery. This person will use diagnostic equipments on the battery for determining the sources of overcharging before it can cause a serious damage to your valuable device.
If you are looking for a way for how do I prevent overcharging rechargeable batteries, keep the above mentioned precautions in mind while recharging your battery and seek professional help if you think that these safety measures are not solving your purpose.

Does the AC adapter get hot? Does it need ventilation?

2008-11-24T01:33:00.000-08:00

Individuals who use latest technological gadgets on a frequent basis are generally well aware of both its pros and cons. Although these latest technology products can be quite easy to use and offer a lot of convenience while making the work a lot simpler, it is possible that an first time user may encounter several problems while handling them.

Most of the latest technological gadgets operate on battery or need to be plugged into an electrical source for power. For this purpose, they make use of AC adaptors. One of the most common problems faced by individuals is that their AC adaptors tend to get too hot while they are charging the battery. There could be individuals who may hit the panic button even when their AC adaptors get slightly warm. On the other hand, some other people may not even care when their AC adaptors get excessively hot.

People need to understand that it is perfectly normal for an AC adaptor to get heated while charging an electronic gadget. However, in case the AC adaptor does not get heated, one needs to unplug the gadget immediately and check whether it is functioning correctly or not.

Some people may come across times when their adaptors does not get heated while performing simple operations on their notebooks/ laptops. However, their AC adaptors can become excessively hot when they try to perform other high-end operations, such as viewing HDTV or other high-quality digital images on their notebooks.

Some individuals may even worry about a short circuit or a fire hazard, once their AC adaptor starts getting heated. In such situations, it is better to seek technical support from the company from which the gadget was purchased. Most of these companies generally provide the facility of replacement of AC adaptors, provided the product is still in the warranty period.

However, another extremely simple situation to this problem is to simply unplug the gadget and allow the AC adaptor to cool down on its own. Keeping the AC adaptor in a well-ventilated place will make it cool down on its own, thus eliminating the chances of any probable fire hazard altogether.

The basic truth about AC adaptors is that it is perfectly normal for them to get heated up. However, in order to cool them off, one should see that the AC adaptors come with proper ventilation that lets air inside the adaptor and cooling its machinery. Apart from it, one should keep it in a well-ventilated place to bring its temperature back to normal temperature before using it again.

Digital and camcorder replacement batteries for uninterrupted shoot

2008-11-24T01:29:00.000-08:00

For a photographer, nothing can be worse than missing an exquisite shot just because the battery of the camera exhausted. Thus, it is very essential to carry extra replacement batteries if you want to take many of photographs. Usually, there are different kinds of batteries available in the marketplace including the digital replacement batteries and camcorder replacement batteries.

The digital replacement batteries are the prime source of supply power for camera in order to capture amazing pictures and videos without any interruption. The digital batteries are robust and efficient and give great performance with various cameras. These batteries could be easily attached with the camera and various other accessories through readily accessible adaptors and cables.

Sony, Kodak, Canon, JVC, Nikon, Minolta, HP, Panasonic and Fuji are some of the major digital replacement batteries providers. The digital replacement batteries are engineered with great precision and are rigorously tested for capacity, voltage, safety, compatibility, and high performance. Several highly popular digital replacement batteries offered by some of the highly prominent providers include:

• Canon BP-511A Li-Ion rechargeable digital batteries
• Lithium replacement battery for Sony NP-FR1 Battery
• Canon NB-5L Li-Ion Rechargeable digital camera batteries
• Amstron-Canon NB-4L Battery
• Sony NP-FC10 Digital camera replacement battery
• Li-Ion digital replacement batteries for Pentax, Fuji and Panasonic Digital cameras

On the other hand, the camcorder replacement batteries are especially designed in such a way to be free from the constant charging of batteries on regular basis than during the shoots. These batteries are highly efficient and offer long lasting results with the application of lithium ion (Li-Ion) chemistries, the camcorder replacement batteries give excellent results in terms of battery replacement at cost effective rates.

Reputable camcorder replacement batteries manufacturers include Sony, JVC, Sony, Hitachi, Sharp, Canon and Panasonic. These brands offer camcorder replacement batteries such as:

• Canon BP 911 camcorder replacement battery
• Extended Li-Ion camcorder replacement battery
• VSH-L241 camcorder replacement battery
• Sony NP-F500 camcorder replacement battery
• VHI-27 camcorder replacement battery
• VPA-D320 camcorder replacement battery

Majority of the camcorder replacement batteries comes with a warranty of minimum four years and has no memory effect. The run time of all the camcorder replacement batteries offered by the prominent manufacturers varies from 2 hours, 3 hours, 3.5 hours, 4 hours and even 7 hours. Apart from it, to make sure that you battery has a longer life, do not rewind or fast-forward your video tapes of your camcorder on frequent basis as leads to loss of charge.

Comparing brands of replacement batteries

2008-08-25T05:06:00.000-07:00

Comparing brands of replacement batteries

Almost every individual makes use of batteries of some or the other kind in their latest tech gadgets. A person could require batteries to charge an emergency light or to operate the television via remote control. The basic truth is that batteries have become an indispensable part of our everyday life. There are a number of brands available in batteries that are being used by individuals today.

Some of the most prominent brands of battery include Duracell, Energizer and Rayovac among several others. It is easy to see that most of these battery-producing companies pose a stiff competition for each other. With the availability of such a large variety of choices in replacement batteries, the consumer often tends to get confused. This is the reason why a large number of people prefer to research the brands available in order to determine which brand of replacement battery is best amongst the rest in terms of quality, performance and pricing.

The replacement batteries are generally available in two versions i.e. AAA and AA. It is better to compare the brands in terms of their performance and durability in order to determine which one is the best among them all.
In order to compare the performance of different brands, one may choose to perform the flashlight test. Three different replacement batteries, belonging to different brands respectively will be placed in three flashlights. These flashlights can then, be left turned on until they diminish and run out of power on their own. I personally, preferred to compare Duracell, Energizer and Rayovac. Among the three brands, it was Duracell, which lasted for the longest duration of time i.e. 7 hours and 12 minutes followed closely by Energizer.

In terms of performance, it is definitely Duracell, which leads ahead Energizer and Rayovac. However, different battery brands also need to be compared in terms of their price, quality assurance and warranty. Most of the people tend to believe that the cost of a product is directly proportional to the level of its quality. This however is not true. It is possible that particular brands, such as Rayovac are quite moderately priced but fare poorly in terms of their performance and durability.

It is noteworthy to see that most of the branded replacement batteries are competitively priced. Hence, while comparing brands, it is better to judge them in terms of their performance and durability as the real test of any replacement battery is found by its use rather than popularity.

Be careful when shopping for a replacement laptop battery

2008-08-25T05:01:00.000-07:00

Be careful when shopping for a replacement laptop battery

When you have decided finally to buy a replacement laptop battery, you must ensure that its manufacturer is of dependable and reliable reputation. Numerous brands deal in manufacturing replacement laptop batteries including Apple, Toshiba, Acer, HP, Dell, Sony, Gateway and IBM. The foremost thing to consider is to be careful when shopping for a replacement laptop battery is the price of the battery. Generally the third party battery producers of the laptops offer replacement laptop at very low rates, thus it is feasible to buy the batteries from the third party. Apart the low rates you might also avail supplementary benefits like the replacement offers and extended warranty. At least one-year warranty replacement is very essential for your laptop replacement warranty, thus in no way settle for less than one-year warranty.

Another thing to be careful when shopping for a replacement laptop battery is the kind of battery. All the prominent brands manufactures essentially uses four kinds of technologies for producing laptop batteries. They are Ni-MH, Ni-Cad, Li-Poly and Li-Ion, among these nickel batteries or Ni-Cad are the most rarest commodity. Always remember not to choose Ni-MH when the option of Li-Ion or Li-Poly battery is available. Since these two batteries are the most advanced laptop batteries available.

Finally be careful when shopping for a replacement laptop battery by analyzing the power ratings of the kind of replacement battery you are purchasing. With advancing technology, the batteries are getting smaller and increasing in its power. The replacement laptop batteries generally have two marked ratings on them one is for voltage and other is for amperes. When purchasing the replacement laptop battery buy the battery with the high ampere rating and same voltage rating like that of the previous laptop battery. Most of the batteries are also rated in wattage hours, which perhaps is the most easiest way to select a battery and its performance. The wattage of the replacement laptop battery is measured through multiplying the amperage with the voltage in order that a battery with 14.4 voltage rating and amperage rating of approximately 3.6 amps have a wattage rating of 51.84 watts.

If the rating power of the battery is 51.84 wattage hours, in that case it means that the replacement laptop battery can provide power of 1 watt continuously for almost 51.84 watts or 51.84 hours for whole one hour. Few times the power ratings of the replacement laptop batteries in amps and volts also depend on the category of the replacement laptop battery. Thus, it is very essential to be careful when shopping for a replacement laptop battery.

Battery price comparisons

2008-08-25T04:58:00.000-07:00

Battery price comparisons

As the society is witnessing immense technological advancement, we are increasingly using cell phones, laptops, PDA and other electronic appliances on daily basis. All these technological gadgets run on batteries that need to be chosen with great care. It is pertinent that you have a great deal of knowledge regarding the batteries so that you can avail the best battery. When you are in the need to purchase batteries for your concerned electrical gadget then you can also avail the help of the online companies that deal in selling batteries. As these company websites have a plethora of options regarding batteries to choose from, it becomes very easy and convenient to make battery price comparisons before buying them.

Some of the batteries that are in much demand are listed below. They may help you in making effective battery price comparisons:

1. APC SUA1500 Smart UPS System- 1500VA

This battery comes with a lot of attractive features. Its creative line interactive design makes use of the DC-to-AC power-inverter “in reverse” as a charger for battery during the normal operations besides providing really great performance and amazing efficiency. In fact, this product alerts you towards any potential problems like the missing grounds, reversed polarity and else. As it is available at discounted prices, you can save up to 45% of the cost price.

2. Amstron PP17- Universal Rechargeable Battery

Amstron PP17 is one of the portable and very compact sources of power for charging the iPods, PDAs, cell phones, MP3 players and other USB input devices. It is so small that it will easily fit in your palm and yet very effectively charges the electrical device you wish to charge. It is also a quite affordable battery option.

3. external-universal titanium battery

This Amstron PP66S is a combination of lithium polymer technology with ultra sleek and portable titanium design finish. It uses the original laptop’s adapter thereby saving you from carrying a separate and bulky adapter for charging it. This external-universal battery is specially designed for using in Acer, HP, Dell and many notebooks. They might cost you a little higher than usual.

4. lithium ion replacement battery for IBM ThinkPad T20

These lithium ion batteries are generally seen to possess to have longer lives than the traditional batteries. They also do not need to be replaced really often as they have a long shelf life. This 8 celled lithium ion primary-battery from the famous company Dell aids in powering up the system for the vacations and the business trips. It also has capacity of about 66 WHr and allows the user to work. It might be a little costlier in comparison to other batteries owing to the incredible features it possesses.

Once you have browsed through the various available options on the websites, you will be able to draw battery price comparisons and will be able to decide which battery pack is most suitable for your operations.

Battery chargers maintenace tips

2008-07-20T15:11:00.001-07:00

Battery chargers maintenance tips

Almost every individual makes use of battery chargers to recharge various electronic gadgets. Battery chargers recharge the batteries of cell phones, digital cameras, and laptops among others. Battery chargers help an individual to cut the costs of purchasing new batteries, every time their gadget runs out of power.

Most of the battery chargers usually have a span of 300 to 400 recharges it expires. However, there are certain tips, which need to be followed if an individual is looking forward to maintain battery chargers for a long period. These tips include:

One of the main reasons why people come across charging problems is the fact that the battery is exposed to harmful substances. It is advisable to clean the battery charger either with a lint free cloth or by cleaning it with a cotton swab, which is soaked in alcohol. However, an individual needs to make sure that absolutely no amount of alcohol is exposed to the charging points.

A common mistake done by a large number of people is that they leave their battery chargers on even after the process of charging their batteries is complete. People simply remove their cell phones and other technological gadget from the charger. It is equally necessary to unplug the battery charger from the electrical source; else, the batteries will start losing charge on their own if they are left used for an extended duration of time.

It is advisable to store the batteries and the battery chargers in a cool and dry place, which is away from all potential sources of heat.

People need to understand that excessive heat can spell doom for the life of the battery charger. Battery chargers are an electronic device, which can perform their best when they are placed in a moderate room temperature, which is neither too hot nor too cold. In addition, it is important to protect the battery chargers from dust.

Dust is bad for life of the battery charger, whether it is on the surface or inside the interior components of battery chargers. Battery chargers for laptops, generally have a tendency to develop dust by static electricity. Thus, it is better to blow out the battery charger with a slight vacuuming from time to time.

Well, keeping in mind the above-mentioned tips will definitely help you in keeping your battery safe and long lasting. This will help in extending life of the battery in manifold ways.

How to enhance the life of a battery

2008-07-15T19:46:00.001-07:00

How to enhance the life of a battery

Laptop are the most convenient option in the world of technology, as they helps in doing work whether making excel sheet, surfing internet or downloading important files at any point of time from any place provided the battery of the laptop remains charged and do not get exhausted completely. In order to avoid the interruption in your work due to the battery failure it is very essential to know how to enhance the life of a battery.

Some of the things to be considered include:

Avert the memory effect
Keep the battery of your laptop healthy via completely charging the battery and then discharging the battery fully at least one time in a week or maximum within the span of three weeks. An exception to rule is the Li-Ion battery as it do not experience from memory effect. Never leave the battery dormant or without use for longer period of time. Make sure to use the battery charger that is by the similar manufacturer as of your phone as it offer more battery life. In addition, it also assists if the battery of your laptop is over charged every now and then.

Maintain the battery of your laptop

It is a nice idea to clean off the dirty battery contracts via cotton swab and alcohol. This further assists in maintaining an excellent connection between the battery as well as the portable device i.e. your laptop. Do not leave your laptop close to any form of warm or hot equipments. The battery in addition also operates better in the room temperature as well as the extreme cold temperature. When your laptop remains off it consumes more battery, thus when not in use make sure to charge it fully and then turn it off.

Battery storage

If you do not plan to use the battery for a month or more than that, keep it at a clean, cool and dry place away from the metal and heat objects. Battery generally tends to get discharge at the time when not using, thus ensure you charge them again prior to using or turning it on or it may interrupt your work. The performance of any laptop battery, regardless of how cautiously you cared for it, generally diminishes after a span of one year. It is feasible to replace your battery after some time.

How to enhance life of a battery do's and don’ts

Discharge or fully charge the battery up to four cycles achieving full-capacity of a novel battery
Discharge the battery fully and than recharge the battery in every 2-3 weeks
Operate the device until it shuts down itself or until signal of low battery is shown. Than recharge the battery as stated in the users manual
Optimize the power management feature for maximum or superior performance
Do not short circuit as it might cause acute damage to a laptop battery
Do not hit abuse or hit the battery or else it might not be able to get charged again
Never expose the battery to rain or moisture

It is recommended to turn off your laptop, take the battery out, place it in again, and give a minimum rest of twenty-four hours before charging. Thus, it is necessary to know how to enhance the life of a battery to achieve long working hours on a laptop.