Battery Technology

roachemsroachems Join Date: 2003-04-02 Member: 15148Members
<div class="IPBDescription">aren't you disappointed?</div> I for one am. Spending 7 bucks on 2 batteries just to have them run out in 3 hours (give or take) on a cd player. Everything in technology is progressing at an amazing speed, except for these crappy batteries that don't have enough charge to even run a cellphone.

Thats all I really have to say, its a pretty useless post, but if anyone else feels the same/different way, care to share?
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Comments

  • SirusSirus Join Date: 2002-11-13 Member: 8466Members, NS1 Playtester, Constellation
    Yah, it is pretty frustrating. Plus the fact that they're so dang expensive, I would imagine rechargeables would be nice, but I doubt there's many high quality double-A ones out there.
  • VenmochVenmoch Join Date: 2002-08-07 Member: 1093Members
    I do not share your opinion.

    Because I for one have found the wonderful technology that is....

    The Rechargeable Battery!
  • DubersDubers Pet Shop Boy Edinburgh, UK Join Date: 2002-07-25 Member: 998Members
    Teh reechargable batteries pwn j00!!! Sorry had to be said.... so anyways yeh but even rechargables die after a while.
  • InfinitumInfinitum Anime Encyclopedia Join Date: 2002-08-08 Member: 1111Members, Constellation
    I think I heard somewhere that if batteries progressed at the same rate as PCs they would have the same amount of power as a nuclear reactor.

    That was a few years ago.... PLASMA REACTORS! >_<
  • esunaesuna Rock Bottom Join Date: 2003-04-03 Member: 15175Members, Constellation
    edited September 2003
    Batteries have never got any "better" really. While some have made quite substantial improvements in the end, they're double A's. They will never hold that much charge.

    But, the thing is, technology has been getting better. I have a new CD walkman and a VERY old one. The new one takes 2 batteries and they last for hours and hours and hours and hours. The old one takes 4 batteries and lasts around about 23 minutes. The point is, technology has got far more efficient with power usage, if you find your batteries are getting used really quickly, maybe it's your CD player, not the batteries.

    Hell, i've got a Minidisc player that uses 1 battery and lasts for months at a time, even on cheap batteries.
  • LikuLiku I, am the Somberlain. Join Date: 2003-01-10 Member: 12128Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--roachems+Sep 1 2003, 12:46 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (roachems @ Sep 1 2003, 12:46 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I for one am. Spending 7 bucks on 2 batteries just to have them run out in 3 hours (give or take) on a cd player. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Either the CD Player sucks, or the Batteries do. I bought an eight pack of batteries for $5 and my CD Player takes hours to run go down a little bit. Tough Luck.
  • DubersDubers Pet Shop Boy Edinburgh, UK Join Date: 2002-07-25 Member: 998Members
    How old is the CD player?
  • Nil_IQNil_IQ Join Date: 2003-04-15 Member: 15520Members
    I did notice that my old (well, it's old now) gameboy colour lasted longer on 2 batteries than an original (a.k.a, brick) gameboy did on 4.

    Batteries may not be advancing, but everything else is.
  • Cry_HavocCry_Havoc Join Date: 2003-01-22 Member: 12593Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--Nil_IQ+Sep 1 2003, 07:25 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Nil_IQ @ Sep 1 2003, 07:25 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I did notice that my old (well, it's old now) gameboy colour lasted longer on 2 batteries than an original (a.k.a, brick) gameboy did on 4.

    Batteries may not be advancing, but everything else is. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Indeed. I've noticed that I last longer on a single charge than before.

    <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif'><!--endemo-->
  • GWARGWAR Join Date: 2002-11-01 Member: 2297Members, Contributor
    I have a sony discman, its about 2 years old but it has one of those great built in batterys. it still holds a full charge and lasts about 8 hours. <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->

    i do agree that battery technology hasnt improved much, I want my disposable nuclear reactor <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif'><!--endemo-->
  • sheena_yanaisheena_yanai Join Date: 2002-12-23 Member: 11426Members
    edited September 2003
    dont worry.. the army is researching at the moment with the arotech corporation a new wearable energy source for their land warrior system called electric fuel battery ,and you know the lw-system is a energy hog.
    the ba-5590 ,battery(or li-so2 battery), wich uses the so2 chemistry has ben the main battery type used by the us military in communication applications over the past 10 - 15 years.
    it is the only lithium technology currently available that has a proven successful record in combat situations and is the most cost effective solution available for the us military. but this battery is not powerfull enough for the landwarrior system. the battery company saft will produce some military type high capacity batterys for commercial use.the first battery that saft will produce with this new technology will be a ba-5590 based battery which is the highest volume battery purchased by the us military.
  • CForresterCForrester P0rk(h0p Join Date: 2002-10-05 Member: 1439Members, Constellation
    edited September 2003
    [EDIT: Nevermind. Sheena got to it before I did.]
  • JHunzJHunz Join Date: 2002-11-15 Member: 8815Members, Constellation
    If you're willing to pay extra, the Nickel-Metal Hydride rechargables last quite a bit longer on one charge than Nickel-Cadmium batteries.
  • DubbilexDubbilex Chump Join Date: 2002-11-24 Member: 9799Members
    edited September 2003
    <!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Nickel-Metal Hydride rechargables <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->


    Or...you know. You <i>could</i> just claim yourself a sun. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->


    And as multiple people have said - it's more a question of how <i>well</i> one's electronic appliance uses the battery than a question of the power of the battery itself. Battteries alone are a pretty easy concept. Unfortunately, finding an affordable alternative chemical reaction that lasts a long time and an be as easily be controlled is a daunting task.

    Of course, the new lithium ion batteries have proved to fit that bill pretty well. I think we'll be seeing a lot more about them in the near future.
  • DubersDubers Pet Shop Boy Edinburgh, UK Join Date: 2002-07-25 Member: 998Members
    If only there was a way to harness all the energy generated from worldwide NS gaming in to a battery. Now there's a thought.
  • antifreezeantifreeze The guy with the goods&#33; Join Date: 2003-05-12 Member: 16232Members, Constellation
    Power to all the people. Whoaaa yea
  • OttoDestructOttoDestruct Join Date: 2002-11-08 Member: 7790Members
    Why don't we just go the way of the Segway and use hydrogen LOL.
  • Marik_SteeleMarik_Steele To rule in hell... Join Date: 2002-11-20 Member: 9466Members
    Batteries will never improve for the same reason that printer companies charge just as much for new ink cartridges as they do for an entire new cheap printer: disposables are where the <i>real</i> money is made.

    I've heard rumors that some countries in Europe are trying to control this by forcing ink cartridge makers to recycle the majority of the materials or face fines/taxes. If we could tax Duracell and Energizer for each non-earth-friendly battery they make, I'm sure they'd change their tune pretty quick. It'd be better for us all, really -- no need to waste as much time finding, buying, and replacing dead batteries as often, with an environmental bonus to boot.
  • CommunistWithAGunCommunistWithAGun Local Propaganda Guy Join Date: 2003-04-30 Member: 15953Members
    Not only does making things physically inferior cause people to buy more frequently but you can get away with making them dirt cheap. Like a big mac. Mmmm Big Mac. I can taste the tears and blood of the little idonesian boy who made the toy that comes with it.
  • RPG_JssmfulhudRPG_Jssmfulhud Join Date: 2002-11-02 Member: 4006Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--::esuna::+Sep 1 2003, 12:06 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (::esuna:: @ Sep 1 2003, 12:06 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> But, the thing is, technology has been getting better. I have a new CD walkman and a VERY old one. The new one takes 2 batteries and they last for hours and hours and hours and hours. The old one takes 4 batteries and lasts around about 23 minutes. The point is, technology has got far more efficient with power usage, if you find your batteries are getting used really quickly, maybe it's your CD player, not the batteries.

    Hell, i've got a Minidisc player that uses 1 battery and lasts for months at a time, even on cheap batteries. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    I concur in all those points. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
  • AllUrHiveRblong2usAllUrHiveRblong2us By Your Powers Combined... Join Date: 2002-12-20 Member: 11244Members
    In a cd player, it's the electric motor that eats up more of the juice, so what really good CD players do is read the CD for like a minute, but save all of the data to the built-in memory, and then stop spinning until you get near the end of the memory. So we really don't need to improve batteries, but just phase out moving parts, and that's already being done.
  • RPG_JssmfulhudRPG_Jssmfulhud Join Date: 2002-11-02 Member: 4006Members
    On an off-topic note: Currently, there's a new generation of camcorders coming out with 4GB flash proms instead of HDDs or cassetes. The media will be encoded into MPEG-2 instead DV... Interesting, eh? <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
  • NumbersNotFoundNumbersNotFound Join Date: 2002-11-07 Member: 7556Members
    7 bucks on 2 batteries?


    Unless you HAVE to have super-high stamina on a device, go with those cheap-o batteries. At a wholesale club I get a brick of 48 toshiba AAs for 10 bucks.

    Just wait till ion batteries come out.. the ones that use electrons instead of molecules to store stuff. Read about them in Popular Science- they hold more, charge faster, and last almost forever.
  • DubersDubers Pet Shop Boy Edinburgh, UK Join Date: 2002-07-25 Member: 998Members
    The ultimate in mobile music playing technology:

    <img src='http://www.io.tudelft.nl/public/vdm/fca/sony/sony81.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>

    Note the ENORMOUS battery pack fitted to the dudes belt.
  • DiscoZombieDiscoZombie Join Date: 2003-08-05 Member: 18951Members
    wow, I want that dewd's Ph47 g3Ar, and I wish I had his stylin' 80's fashion sense too...
  • LigerLiger Join Date: 2003-07-08 Member: 18026Members
    If no one mentioned it before, I think I should add in, that batteries have a limit to what they can do. We are talking about a semi-chemical reaction here.

    Of course, as has been said, thanks to consumerism and capitalism, disposables are "in" because they're a neigh limitless source of revenue for the company, and the mindless "bargin" hunter populous doesn't care enough to seach out alternate sources...


    And since I don't think it's been said enough, $7 for two? Tell me its not USD, cause then I can understand, but 4 Energizer batts are only $7 USD... Sam's club has like 80 packs for $10...
  • MedHeadMedHead Join Date: 2002-12-19 Member: 11115Members, Constellation
    edited September 2003
    Rayovac batteries have recently dropped in price. One can now purchase (USD) 12 AA or AAA alkaline batteries for $5.00.

    Lithium batteries are disposable, but last longer in high drain devices. However, for the price, I would ignore these for CD players. They do last a long time, run well in cold weather, and rarely leak, but are very expensive ($10-$12 USD for a 4 pack). They don't recharge, either (at least not in AA form).

    Rechargeable batteries are a much better decision for high drain devices. Here are the types available in AA form:

    <b>Nickel Cadmium</b>: DO NOT PURCHASE THESE. They contain 'memory' which means that one must drain the batteries entirely before recharging. If this is not done each time, the battery charge will diminish.

    <b>Nickel Metal Hydride</b>: These are by far the most long lasting recharageable batteries available for AA or AAA. Batteries usually cost $10-$12 (USD) for 4 AA or AAA. Chargers can be anywhere from $10-$20 (USD).

    <b>Alkaline</b>: Rayovac recently released recharageable alkaline batteries. These do not have memory. These must be charged in chargers that accept recharable alkaline batteries. This means that a new charger must be purchased for all those with NiMH batteries. A NiMH/Alkaline charger can be found for $20 (USD) from Rayovac. Rechargeable alkaline do not last as long as disposable alkaline, but only take around 1 hour to recharge.

    It has been said that rechargeable batteries don't last long on a shelf (one forum user said three months without charging would reduce the life of the battery). However, in my experience, I have been satisfied with the life of rechargable alkaline (for short trips, since they don't last very long in high drain devices) and NiMH (for longer trips).
  • Iced_EagleIced_Eagle Borg Engineer Join Date: 2003-03-02 Member: 14218Members
    wow i didnt know there could be such a long discussion on batteries... and the fact i understand <1/2 of all these techy mumbo jumbo <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->

    i got a battery in my mp3 player that has a 12 hour charge... if you use it more and wear it in it could go up to a 15 hour charge.... proud of it
  • DubbilexDubbilex Chump Join Date: 2002-11-24 Member: 9799Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--CommunistWithAGun+Sep 1 2003, 10:14 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (CommunistWithAGun @ Sep 1 2003, 10:14 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Not only does making things physically inferior cause people to buy more frequently but you can get away with making them dirt cheap. Like a big mac. Mmmm Big Mac. I can taste the tears and blood of the little idonesian boy who made the toy that comes with it. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Why havn't I ever gotten a toy with my "Big mac" <!--emo&???--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/confused.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused.gif'><!--endemo--> <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif'><!--endemo--> <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
  • ScinetScinet Join Date: 2003-01-19 Member: 12489Members, Constellation
    <!--QuoteBegin--DuBERS+Sep 1 2003, 12:16 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (DuBERS @ Sep 1 2003, 12:16 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Note the ENORMOUS battery pack fitted to the dudes belt. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Damn, I thought that was a mobile trash can.
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