Alkaline Batteries

Basics

• From Wikipedia:
  • ” An alkaline battery (IEC code: L) is a type of primary battery where the electrolyte (most commonly potassium hydroxide ) has a pH value above 7. Typically, these batteries derive energy from the reaction between zinc metal and manganese dioxide .
• Slightly more energy density than a Zinc-Carbon Battery and less prone to leakage/corrosion
• ’’’Nominal Voltage / “Fully Charged” around 1.5v’’’
  • Discharged varies on how sensitive a decide is to low input voltage, some devices (ie Joule Thief as an extreme example) can use what may have been “dead” batteries from another device
  • 1.36v is pretty much done, even in small digital devices

Form Factors Typically Offered

• Typically offered in:
  • AAA (the smallest)
  • AA
  • C (larger but not worth it (ie either commit to larger, or use smaller)
  • D (typically used in heavy draw devices, also useful for long runtime/emergency use stuff)
    • Somewhat obsolete in the world of Rechargeable Batteries however
  • 6v “Lantern Battery”
    • Largely obsolete in the world of Cheap LED Lights, although a LED Light using this type of battery could probably run for eons (unlike the old Incandescent/Halogen/CFL lights etc)
  • 9v Battery
    • Odd connector, mainly used in Smoke Detectors / Carbon Monoxide Alarms etc

Recycling

• Who can take them?