Rechargeable batteries...

[makken]

Hi guys, I don't know if this is the right forum.

I have a rechargeable wireless mouse, which came with 2 size AAA Nickel Metal Hydride rechargeable batteries. Now, the mouse has been acting up for the past few weeks, and I believe it's party in cause of the batteries, since as soon as I turn it off and charage it for a few minutes before turning it back on, it'll work fine (the mouse has a plug that allows it to be recharged while using).

Usually i leave it in the charger at the end of the day. The mouse is rated at 20 hours use time per full charge, but i found that it's been dying after 1 or 2 hours recently. Sometimes it'll even die while running with the chrager pluged in. (the charger LED shows that it has a full charge, I continue to use it for a while with it plugged in, and it would die with the charger still showing full charge on the mouse. unplug, turn off, replug and it'll change to 'charging' status).

Right now, I'm unsure if it is the mouse or the batteries, but i'm inclined to see if it's the battery first.

My question is, would it be safe to replace those batteries with other rechargeable ones? The label on the batteries say it's rated at 1.2V, 600mAh. Standard charge is 60mA for 15Hr and Quick Charge is 600mA for 1.2 hr. Do I have to find a battery with the exact same stats? The label on the mouse says DC 3V 45mA.

I've used standard disposable AAA batteries in there before which are rated at 1.5V and it seemed to work fine. Would using normal standard AAA batteries in there be safe as long as I don't charge it?

and finally, where would be a good place to pick up some rechargeable batteries?

Thanks.

 

[Varun]

Any AAA NiMH should do, I see Energizer has some. If you get something like AAA Li-Ion batteries, they will also work but you won't be able to use the built in charger. I would try finding some NiMH batteries, give them a shot. If you still have problems then it is your built in charger that is the problem.

Your other option is to buy some good AAA Li-Ion batteries and a charger, and just keep some extras charged for when they die.

AAA Batteries are a standard voltage, so no problems there, but the different types of batteries require different chargers, so mix and matching your batteries while using the built in charger could cause the batteries to explode.

 

[makken]

thanks, i'll pick up a pack from best buy later.

any reason why Li-ion's won't work? different method of charging?
are all NiMH batteries limited to 1000 charges? that may have been the problem w/ my mouse.

 

[Varun]

Li-Ions will work, but if you use the built in charger they will explode. Li-Ions have a unique charger that you must use.

"Li-Ion Charging: Li-Ion batteries commonly require a constant current, constant voltage (CCCV) type of charging algorithm. In other words, a Li-Ion battery should be charged at a set current level (typically from 1 to 1.5 amperes) until it reaches its final voltage. At this point, the charger circuitry should switch over to constant voltage mode, and provide the current necessary to hold the battery at this final voltage (typically 4.2 V per cell).Thus, the charger must be capable of providing stable control loops for maintaining either current or voltage at a constant value,depending on the state of the battery. "

 

[MWink]

Originally posted by: Varun

Your other option is to buy some good AAA Li-Ion batteries and a charger, and just keep some extras charged for when they die.

AAA Batteries are a standard voltage, so no problems there, but the different types of batteries require different chargers, so mix and matching your batteries while using the built in charger could cause the batteries to explode.

Umm... Where on earth did you find 1.2-1.5V AAA Li-Ion batteries??? All the Li-Ion batteries I've seen are multiples of 3.6V.

 

[Zepper]

Yes, you should be able to get a replacement set of NiMH batteries for your mouse and it is safe to use Alkalines as a temp. - Energizer makes excellent AA size - IDK about their AAA size. What you want to do instead of putting your mouse on charge every night is to use the NiMH batteries until the mouse won't work, then charge the batteries.
. It is best to have a separate charger from your mouse base (unless it is one of those that can charge an extra set) to keep an extra set charged up. When mouse dies, switch battery sets and repeat.
. Partial discharge is bad for NiMH rechargeables as well as NiCad especially early in their life. After you get past four or five full discharge/recharge cycles, the sensitivity to partial discharge diminishes somewhat.
. Cheap chargers don't do as good a job as the $30-40. ones, but you have to decide if one is cost-effective for you. The better chargers do a discharge before recharge which eliminates the partial discharge problem. The cheap ones don't, so you have to run them down yourself. The better ones also have microprocessor controlled charging with pulses to break down charging resistance and a tightly controlled trickle charge so it is safe to leave your cells in the charger at all times.
. You can always get a two-AAA penlight and use that to do your discharging if it is more convenient for you to change sets prior to failure.
. There are several sites with excellent rechargeable battery/charger info with reviews and recommendations. I think http://www.steves-digicams.com has a link to one of them (bottom of AA battery prices article) as well as some of his own reviews.

.bh.

 

[makken]

thanks for the replies.

this may be a pain then, I hate having wireless mice randomly dying on me in the middle of something. I brought this mouse specifically thinking i could just leave it charging everynight.

since the price of rechargeable AAA amounts to almost half the price of the mouse ($15ish), i may actually consider buying a whole new mouse all together (and i gotta use those Mcdonald's best buy bucks for something =P)

any recommendations on small, bluetooth wireless mice that uses Li-Ion rechargeable batteries?