Why Go Rechargeable? A Mini Blog Series

Erica A.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Rechargeable batteries abound—they’re in your laptop, cell phone, mp3 player and your car. But you may not have thought of using rechargeable batteries in your household gadgets, like your wireless keyboard and mouse, or Wii and XBox 360 wireless controllers. Every time you hear the thunk of dead batteries on the bottom of the trash can, you’re hurting both your wallet and the environment.

There are lots of reasons to use rechargeable batteries in your everyday devices, but if you’re not convinced, we’ll be outlining them here over the next few days. First off, why can’t you just stick your Duracells in a charger and be done with it?

1. Why are some batteries rechargeable but others aren’t?

To answer this question, it’s necessary to review what batteries actually are. At its most simple, a battery is a unit that converts chemical energy into electrical energy. A battery holds a chemical reaction that causes electrons to flow from one of its terminals, either negative or positive, through the wiring of a device. The electrons are seeking the battery’s other terminal by traveling through the wiring and creating electricity. Northwestern University has a neat diagram and explanation here.

When any battery is placed between positive and negative terminals—that is, when it’s placed in your device—the reaction begins. Once all of the chemicals inside a non-rechargeable battery have reacted, the battery is out of power. It’s dead. Let go. Begin the grieving process.

However, rechargeable batteries contain chemicals that react reversibly. When rechargeable batteries receive electricity—are put into the charger—the chemical reaction inside is reversed (for the most part). This means the batteries can power your device again. Rechargeable batteries wear out only when the chemical reaction inside them can no longer be reversed by the charger.

Placing a non-rechargeable battery like an alkaline battery into a charger may give a short burst of extended use—we’re talking seconds or maybe a minute—but it may also cause the battery to leak or even explode. We are talking from experience and we don’t recommend it.

Part 2: The Different Kinds of Rechargeables

Part 3: Save money in the long run

Part 4: Heavy metal: Rechargeables and the environment

Part 5: Max Power: Take your rechargeable use to the next level

Why Go Rechargeable? A Mini Blog Series

Why Go Rechargeable? A Mini Blog Series

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