Which Batteries Are Best?

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of the IBM Laptop Battery   First post by: www.itsbattery.com

Home Clinic: I need some help sorting through all the household batteries on the market. There are so many to choose from and quite a bit of variation in price. Which is the best? Also, when batteries run down, should I just dispose of them in the household trash? S.G.H., Renton

Dear S.G.H.: You said it! Buying batteries isn't what it used to be. The best choice depends on what the battery is going to power, the cost and the battery life.

The major types are general purpose, heavy-duty, alkaline and rechargeable. Of these, rechargeable batteries last longest, cause the least environmental damage and cost less over time. Savings over disposable batteries might be $100 to $275 over the life of the battery such as IBM ThinkPad T61 battery, IBM ThinkPad X41 battery, IBM ThinkPad X40 battery, IBM ThinkPad X20 battery, IBM ThinkPad R60 Battery, IBM ThinkPad T60 Battery, IBM 40Y6797 Battery, IBM 40Y6799 Battery, IBM FRU 92P1139 Battery, IBM FRU 92P1141 Battery. For example, one pair of rechargeable AA batteries can replace as many as 150 alkaline batteries!

Although there are several types of rechargeable batteries, nickel cadmium (nicad) is the type you are likely to buy for toys and home gadgets. Like disposable batteries, nicads contain their share of toxic heavy metals. Since nicads can be used longer than disposable batteries, however, they significantly reduce the number of batteries entering the waste stream.

Nicads can be recharged and used hundreds of times. Expect an initial cost of $2.50 to $8 apiece, depending on the size. They are available at most stores. The electricity to charge them cost pennies, but the charger may run anywhere from $15 to $50.

Nicads lose about 1 percent of their charge daily even when they are not being used. They are unsuitable for devices like cameras, smoke detectors and flashlights that are left idle for long stretches.

Consumers will see new types of batteries entering the market as technology advances. Keep your eyes out for nickel metal hydride batteries (now powering many laptop computers). They function the same as nicads, without the toxic cadmium, although they still contain nickel, another toxic heavy metal.

The new rechargeable alkaline batteries, available in some stores and catalogs, eliminate the problem of nickel and cadmium and have virtually no mercury.

Battery disposal

Americans use 2.5 billion batteries a year - about 2 pounds of batteries per household. Recycling programs for household batteries have yet to be fully developed, and most used batteries wind up in local landfills. However, many communities have placed a heavy emphasis on ensuring the safest method of land-filling expired batteries.

If you live outside King County, contact your solid-waste department for disposal information. In King County, residents can throw general household batteries into their household garbage.

For waste-disposal information, call 296-4466. For information on hazardous waste call 296-4692.

Written by Jason DeLeon from the Education and Information Network of the Washington State Energy Office. People with disabilities should call (800) 962-9731 (voice or TDD).