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Re: voltage of dead/good alkaline batteries |
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| message from Martin Angove on 14 May 2004 |
IME there is no easy answer to this question, but as a rule-of-thumb
this is what I do:
A brand new alkaline will register well over 1.5V (between 1.6V and
1.7V) on a high-impedance multimeter off load.
A part-used alkaline which has been off-load for several hours and
measures less than 1.5V doesn't have much life left.
Down to about 1.4V you'll still get a reasonable amount of use from an
Alkaline in low-power devices such as clocks, remote controls and small
portable radios, but not in high-power devices such as torches or
anything with a motor.
Below 1.4V it is rarely worth re-using the cell and I dispose of them.
9V alkalines get thrown when they are down to maybe 8.5V.
For example, a Maglite which takes 2 AA batteries may begin to look a
bit dim so you change the batteries. You may find however that there is
enough life left in them to power your 2xAA tranny for a week or two of
normal use.
As others have said though, the amount of use to expect varies depending
on the actual load. These figures of course only apply to alkaline cells
and *not* to zinc-carbon or zinc-chloride batteries which have the same
nominal voltages but different characteristics. Rechargeables have both
different voltages and different discharge characteristics and there are
other experts on this group in that field.
Just my 2p.
Hwyl!
M.
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| nick smith replied to Martin Angove on 14 May 2004 |
Martin,
I reckon your voltmeter is reading about 0.15 volts high - alkalines still have usable
life left in them at 1.35 volts off load.
and I have rarely checked new cells at above 1.60 volts - measured using professional
(calibrated) test kit, and at normal
UK room temperatures, and my findings are consistent with manufacturers data.......
Nick
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Archived message: Re: voltage of dead/good alkaline batteries (UK DIY Home Renovation)
