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Rechargeable NiMH Battery FAQ
What does NiMH stand for? - The material is Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) which has many advantages over other battery construction materials.
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What is meant by battery memory? - Older generation and batteries with other chemical make-up were subject to a memory effect. This is when a battery must be fully drained before recharge or their capacity is reduced. The New Generation of NIMH batteries do not develop a memory effect and can be recharged at anytime during usage cycle. When uncertain about battery charge level or condition, recharge it.
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What is the mAh rating mean? - This is a rating of energy storage capacity mAh = “milli-ampere hours”. So if you are comparing batteries to a AA with a 2000 mAh rating, it will have twice the capacity of a 1000 mAh rating.
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What is the best application for NiMH batteries? - Most all applications where there is a high energy consumption and demand, is where NiMH belongs. The most popular applications are digital cameras, PDA’s, hand held games, portable music players, video devices and toys. If you find yourself constantly buying alkaline batteries for an application then you should consider using rechargeable NiMH.
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How many times can a NiMH battery be recharged? - Lower capacity rechargeable AA batteries -1700 up to 2000mAh mAh can be recharged up to 1000 times in overnight slow charge mode. 2100 to 2400 mAh rechargeable batteries can be recharged up to 600 to 800 times in overnight slow charge mode. The new Higher Capacity AA 2500 mAh rechargeable batteries have greater power capacity but can only be recharged approx 500 times in the overnight mode. Capacity improvement or quick charging will always decrease the number of cycles. Every cell available on the market above 2100 mAh will have below 1000 charge cycles.
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What applications are not good places to use NiMH batteries? - Any situation where the battery is not used within a 30 day period or low energy draw devices, for example smoke alarms, emergency flashlights, clocks, TV remotes, etc.
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Why won’t NiMH batteries work in some applications such as smoke alarms? - NiMH batteries self discharge about 1% per day so if used in a low energy consummation or stand-by device the battery will only last about 90 days before requiring recharge.
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Can I use a higher rated mAh battery in my electronic device (i.e. 1800mAh vs. 2000mAh)? - Yes, the mAh rating will give you longer run times between recharges. The higher rated mAh of a battery has no effect on electronic devices other that allow longer term use.
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Why are AA and AAA batteries rated at 1.2 volts and alkaline batteries rated at 1.5 volts?
- In fact, over the course of their discharge, alkaline batteries actually average about 1.2 volts. The main difference is that an alkaline battery starts at 1.5 volts and gradually drops to less than 1.0 volts. NiMH batteries stay at about 1.2 volts for almost 80% of their discharge cycle. Once alkaline batteries discharge to 50% capacity, it will be delivering a lower voltage than a NiMH battery.
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What you NEVER want to do.
Never mix batteries from different manufacturers.
Never mix batteries of different capacities.
Never mix batteries of different chemistries, i.e. NiCd, NiMH, Lithium. Etc
Never DROP the battery if you can help it as NiMH batteries damage internally quite easily.
Never store NiMH in the refrigerator.
Never expose to extreme heat
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Do NiMH batteries lose capacity over time? - Yes, but nothing drastic. About 10 to 15% of the battery mAh capacity will be lost at the 400 to 800 recharge level. This will vary greatly because of battery and charger quality, along with how the consumer treats their batteries.
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When I receive my batteries do I need to charge them? - Yes, before you use your new NiMH batteries for the first time you need to charge them fully. Please note that for new NiMH batteries, it is often necessary to cycle them at least three to five times or more before they reach peak performance and capacity. The first several times that you use your NiMH batteries you may find that they run down (discharge) quickly during use. Don’t worry, this is normal until the batteries actually structure internally.
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Is there a difference in chargers. i.e, fast, slow, microprocessor controlled, etc?
- Yes, there are differences in the different chargers on the market today. If the charger was designed and sold in the past couple years and specifically says it is made to charge NiMH batteries you are probably okay. Most of the new chargers use a small computer chip to manage the charge and you should be getting at least 500 charges from your batteries. If not, buy a new charger. Some of the no name batteries sometimes have a short life. Fast chargers also tend to give shorter battery life of less than 500 charges.
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How do dispose of old NiMH batteries? - NiMH batteries are safe and legal to dispose in a landfill, no hazard to the environment.
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Lenmar Product and Performance
What does NoMEM® mean? - NoMEM® is a registered Lenmar brand name. On older technology batteries you would need to fully drain the battery before charging or a "memory effect" would develop and limit run time and reduce its effective life. With Lenmar NoMEM batteries you will not need to fully drain the battery before charging to maintain their maximum capacity.
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Do Lenmar batteries work with OEM chargers? - Yes, Lenmar batteries are designed to be 100% fully compatible with the OEM equipment and the OEM chargers.
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What kind of warranty does Lenmar have on their products? - All Lenmar products carry a Performance Guarantee. Lenmar guarantees their products to perform to its specifications for a specified period of time (1-3 years) or we will replace the unit free of charge. To contact us about a product under warranty click here.
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Can I charge or power my equipment in the car? - Yes, we have a variety of car cords that work for camcorder, cell phone and laptop computer. Also note that most of the Lenmar chargers will charge the batteries in the car and some will even power the equipment without the battery on board. Refer to the product category you are looking for or click here to find your accessories.
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Do Lenmar chargers work internationally? - Several Lenmar chargers, including the Mach 1 Speed Charger Series are international ready as it comes with a 100-240v power supply. All you need is an adapter plug that corresponds to the plug type of the specific country. Models marked 110V input may need a power, and plug converter to use outside the U.S. and Canada.
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Does rapid charging reduce the life of batteries? - Fast chargers such as the Lenmar Mach 1 Speed Charger with NeoTherm® Technology, will simultaneously rapidly charge and condition the battery thus extending the life of the battery. Overcharging and overheating a battery will adversely effect the life and performance of a battery.
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What are the benefits of rechargeable alkaline batteries? - Rechargeable alkaline such as Lenmar's Chargeables® can save money because they can be recharged many times. Chargeables® are best suited for low drain devices such as Personal radio, CD players, toys, flashlights and all other devices where disposable alkaline cells perform well. Lenmar Chargeables® may be used over and over again- up to 50 times longer than disposable alkaline batteries. Lenmar Chargeables® have no memory, in fact they will last longer if they are charged often, without fully being discharged. Chargeables® will perform about 80-90% on its initial use compared to standard disposable alkaline.
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Why are Chargeables® marked "10 times the Life?" - Lenmar Chargeables® rechargeable alkaline batteries may last up to 50 times the life compared to standard alkaline cells. However, to maximize their performance it is recommended to charge the batteries after each use. In the worst case scenario of fully charging the cells and completely discharging the cells, one Chargeables® would be charged 25 times and will cumulatively perform the equivalent of using 10 disposable cells. Therefore, Chargeables® will run 10-50 times the life of alkaline batteries saving you money as well as environment friendly.
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Which are better, NiCd or NiMH batteries? - For most electronic devices it is better to use NiMH batteries than NiCd batteries. NiCd batteries use Cadmium, a toxic heavy metal that can damage the environment if not disposed of properly. (They should be recycled not discarded). NiMH batteries have a higher capacity without a bigger size battery with no memory effect compared to NiCd.
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Do NiCd batteries really have a memory effect? - NiCd batteries do suffer from a memory effect. Depending on the severity of the memory it may be reversible by conditioning them. There are a variety of Lenmar chargers that will condition and charge your NiCd batteries.
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Technical Questions
Why won't the lights on my PRO99 charger light up when I plug it in? - The cardboard that is put between the batteries and the contacts for shipping reasons, needs to be taken out before use.
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Can NiMH batteries be substituted for alkaline batteries? - Usually. However some devices are specifically marked. Check inside the battery compartment of your device or your user manual to make sure they are compatible. Note the discharge curve of alkaline batteries continuously reduces voltage capacity. In fact, over the course of their discharge, alkaline batteries actually average about 1.2 volts. The main difference is that an alkaline battery starts at 1.5 volts and gradually drops to less than 1.0 volts. NiMH batteries stay at about 1.2 volts for almost 80% of their discharge cycle. Once alkaline batteries discharge to 50% capacity, it will be delivering a lower voltage than a NiMH battery.
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Why don't my AA rechargeable Alkaline batteries last in my digital camera? - Alkaline batteries are best suited for low drain personal electronic devices such as toys, portable radios, CD players and television remote controls. A digital camera is a high drain device, which needs a Nickel Metal Hydride battery such as our NoMEM® PRO Rechargeable batteries and chargers. Click here to see the variety of Nickel Metal Hydride battery we offer for your digital camera.
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Can I charge 1-4 AA NiMH batteries at a time? - Yes, many of the Lenmar chargers allow you to charge 1,2,3 or 4 AA or AAA batteries at the same time. Some chargers need to charge in series of 2 or 4. Refer to Lenmar charger specifications for further details.
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What kind of AA batteries can I charge in which of your Lenmar AA charger? - Never charge Nickel-Metal Hydride batteries in a rechargeable Alkaline Manganese charger or Alkaline Manganese batteries in a Nickel-Metal Hydride charger. Charging batteries in a non-compatible charger may cause damage to your batteries and charger. Never recharge "standard" alkaline batteries. Use specifically marked NiMH chargers for 1.25V NiMH (Lenmar NoMEM® PRO) batteries and Rechargeable Alkaline Manganese chargers for 1.5V Alkaline Manganese (Lenmar Chargeables®) batteries.
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Does putting batteries in the freezer or refrigerator make them last longer? - It depends on which type of batteries and at what temperature you normally store them. Alkaline batteries stored at "room temperature" will retain 90% of their power for years without refrigeration. Under normal circumstances, refrigerating alkaline batteries will do little to extend their life. NiMH and NiCd batteries, start to lose power when stored for only a few days at room temperature. But they will retain a 90% charge for several months if you keep them in the freezer after they are fully charged. If you do decide to store your charged NiMH cells in the freezer or refrigerator, make sure you keep them in a tightly sealed bag so they stay dry. Also, let them return to room temperature before using them.
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How many times can a rechargeable battery be recharged? - The number of times a battery can be recharged depends on many factors. These include the discharging drain load, the frequency of use, the length of time in a discharged state, charge temperature and conditioning. Rechargeable batteries do NOT last forever and need to be replaced at some time. However, you should expect many years and hundreds of charge cycles of good performance.
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If the milliAmp hours (mAh) of my current battery are rated differently than the mAh of the Lenmar battery, will it still work in my device? - Yes, it will work. The mAh is a measurement to compare run times. For example, a battery with a 2500mAh rating would last 2x longer than a battery with a 1250mAh rating.
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Why doesn't my new battery hold a charge? - Sometimes when a battery is inactive for a long period of time, the cells inside become dormant and need to be "jump-started". We recommend that you cycle charge the battery by fully discharging the battery and then completely recharging it (repeat this 3-times). This should recondition the battery and bring it back to normal operational status.
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Why does my Sony camera turns off, or show non-info lithium? - Many Sony cameras and camcorders require the correct smart chip battery for it to communicate with the camera. Lenmar info batteries are compatible with Sony products. However, updates for new models occur.
Send us the battery date code (2-digit code on Lenmar battery) for us to verify
compatibility.
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When is it time to replace my Lenmar battery? - When you notice run time being approximately 50% less than the run time when the battery was new, we recommend that you replace the battery with a new Lenmar battery. Rechargeable batteries do not last forever and need to be replaced at some time.
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How long should it take to charge my battery? - It depends on the battery charger and battery you are using. For recommended charge times using Lenmar battery chargers, please refer to the online product manual for the specific model number you are using or click here. Please keep in mind higher capacity batteries requires longer charge times.
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Can I store my battery on my charger or camera? - It is advised to remove the battery from the camera or battery charger when it is not being used for long periods of time. Small amounts of current flow even when not in use. The battery may become drained and lose its capacity. We also recommend that you fully charge your batteries before storing them for long periods of time.
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Can I overcharge a battery? - Yes, putting too much charge energy in the cells can damage batteries. Lenmar batteries have protective circuitry to prevent overheating.
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Why did my cell phone battery stop vibrating? - These batteries are very sensitive to shock, so if they are banged or dropped they could easily be damaged. The Lenmar warranty covers manufacturing defects, but not abuse or accidental mishandling. If your battery is under our terms of warranty (see warranty terms and conditions), then please complete a request for return and we will evaluate your battery and repair/replace it or advise you otherwise.
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