Batteries

[Mr Pig]

If you buy a packet of crisps it tells you on the side of the pack how much you've got in it. If you buy a bottle of washing up liquid it tells you on the side how much you've got in the bottle. How come you can buy any brand of battery you like and it will never tell you how much of a charge you're actually buying!?

I'm sick of it. That's one of my rear lights dead again, the batteries only lasted a few days and I've got a big packet of them!

How hard would it be to devise a couple of standard tests to see how long the batteries lasted then make the manufacturers print a rating on the pack? Why do we have to guess whether or not the batteries are likely to be any good, usually by price and how many times the word 'super' is printed on the packet.

Rant over.

 

[Fnaar]

There used to be some batteries where you could touch top and bottom with your fingers, and it'd tell you how much charge was left.

 

[Gerry Attrick]

FWIW....buy good quality batteries. I get mine in bulk packs from Maplins.

 

[Chuffy]

Unless you know the 'drain rate' of the device you're using them in, such info would be pretty much useless. By and large, you get the quality that you pay for.

 

[Theseus]

Rechargeable ones let you know how much you can put in them. The (old) ones I have in my front light currently say 1.2v - 2300mAh. Which I think says that from fully charged they will deliver 1.2 volts at 1 milliAmp for 2300 hours. But I could be wrong.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

That's the beauty of those 9v batteries, you can stick 'em on your tongue and you know if they've got any juice left. I did read people have died doing that, adds to the excitement though!

 

[ianrauk]

Yep, Duracell do

There used to be some batteries where you could touch top and bottom with your fingers, and it'd tell you how much charge was left.

 

[Archie_tect]

There used to be some batteries where you could touch top and bottom with your fingers, and it'd tell you how much charge was left.

Duracell.

I try to use rechargeable ones whenever I can but never sure if they are as good at holding their charge -should check.

{Edit: wow people are fast!]

 

[Mr Pig]

There used to be some batteries where you could touch top and bottom with your fingers, and it'd tell you how much charge was left.

Yes, but that's not the point. It doesn't tell you how good the battery is in the first place.

You could have a few standard tests using different types of load to give each battery an average rating. I just think it's wrong that they can sell you something with virtually none of the product you're actually paying for!

 

[Chuffy]

Yes, but that's not the point. It doesn't tell you how good the battery is in the first place.

You could have a few standard tests using different types of load to give each battery an average rating. I just think it's wrong that they can sell you something with virtually none of the product you're actually paying for!

To use your washing up liquid analogy, what you want to know isn't how much is in the bottle, it's how much washing up the contents will actually do.

 

[Dayvo]

Lick 'em and see!

 

[cisamcgu]

I understand what you mean ... if they said 100mAh or something, then at least you could compare them...

 

[Chuffy]

Lick 'em and see!

Are you sure you're replying to the correct thread?

 

[siadwell]

There used to be some batteries where you could touch top and bottom with your fingers, and it'd tell you how much charge was left.

Or you could get one of these: http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/pro...ins&siteid=20363&source=webgains&siteid=20363

 

[Fnaar]

Or you could get one of these: http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/pro...ins&siteid=20363&source=webgains&siteid=20363

I have one of these (see pic)
Or you could do that old fashioned thing with a torch bulb, battery and a pair of scissors