All Charged Up!

I feel soooo fortunate to have AA batteries galore, and at my disposal. Then I got to wonderin' like everything else that's too good to be true, 'do I have too much of a good thing?'

So I decided to dig into BATTERY SHELF LIVES! (This is a great 6am topic to research by the way!) Batteries will never look the same to me again, the simple yet expensive contraptions that we don't seem to be able to live without. So here's what I now know:

What are the differences between battery types? Batteries come in two basic types: single-use and rechargeable. Single-use batteries, have one life cycle and must be replaced when drained. Examples include alkaline, carbon-zinc, lithium, silver-zinc and zinc air. Rechargeable batteries, also known as secondary batteries, can be recharged and used repeatedly. Examples of rechargeable batteries include Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH), Nickel Cadmium (NiCd), Lithium Ion (LiIon) and Sealed Lead Acid (SLA) batteries.

Energizer® MAX® Best for household electronics Most popular long-lasting power source Very good shelf-life — up to 7 years

Energizer® Advanced Lithium Best for high drain/high-tech devices High performance battery for the devices you rely on Great storage life — 10 years 33% lighter than alkaline systems

Energizer® Ultimate Lithium Best for heavy drain/high-tech devices Excellent extreme temperature performance Great storage life — 15 years 33% lighter than alkaline systems

Energizer® Rechargeable Best for frequent use/heavy drain devices Recharges 100s of times Limited shelf-life — loses 1% of deliverable energy per day

While an alkaline battery is reliable, it has a shelf life of about 7 to 10 years. This storage time only applies to batteries that have never been used or installed in an electrical device. Around that 7 year time, the chemicals within the battery become stagnant and no longer produce a chemical reaction to power the battery. Whether a battery is used or not, the electrochemical process that produces electrical  energy still takes place in the battery. If no electrical load is placed on the battery, the electrochemical process will take much longer to complete than if the battery is being used to power a device.
So if you are pinching pennies like I am, here are a few tips on making those pesky little batteries last as long as the iconic Energizer Bunny: Alkaline batteries are always slowly using their charge, even when they are not in use. This means that buying up a bunch of batteries when they are on sale can actually be a bad investment, as the last of the batch can be very weak by the time you get around to using them. Store your batteries in your refrigerator until they are ready for use. The lower temperature will slow down the energy loss process. Be careful not to freeze your batteries because this can cause damage. When a battery dies or is low on power, gently scrape both ends with an emery board or a piece of sandpaper. Don't try to actually sand the ends down. Scrape them enough so that you can see scratches in the metal surface. This often leads to a little bit more usable battery life, which is particularly useful in emergencies.