Alkaline Vs Non Alkaline Batteries

[Miss Diva]

Ok so my "toys" say use only with non-alkaline batteries. What will happen if I use alkaline batteries? Will they explode, stop working, etc.

thanks everyone.

 

[brioche]

Ok so my "toys" say use only with non-alkaline batteries. What will happen if I use alkaline batteries? Will they explode, stop working, etc.

thanks everyone.

Not so very long ago (15 years), high end cameras came with Ni-Cad or alkaline battery packs. You had to use one or the other. If you messed up, it screwed up the pack and voided the warranty on the camera.

Basically, if they're going to the trouble to specify, there is a reason. It may be that non-alkaline batteries won't work in it, but it may also be that non-alkaline batteries will WRECK it, so just do it. i doubt they'll explode, but they may leak, and that's just messy. And dangerous too.

 

[Marquis]

I can't imagine a vibrator being sensitive enough to know the difference.

I use rechargeable lithium batteries in everything and I'm sure I've got some shit that says I "have" to use this or that.

 

[Red Sonja]

I can't imagine a vibrator being sensitive enough to know the difference.

I use rechargeable lithium batteries in everything and I'm sure I've got some shit that says I "have" to use this or that.

Yeah... see, I've always thought it was like the "dry clean only" stuff. Yes some stuff must be dry cleaned, but we all know not everything that says that has to be dry cleaned.

Maybe some stuff really does need the different kinds but... most is probably okay. Of course, you do take a risk... so you need to decide if it is worth it to you or not.

 

[brioche]

I can't imagine a vibrator being sensitive enough to know the difference.

I use rechargeable lithium batteries in everything and I'm sure I've got some shit that says I "have" to use this or that.

Somehow, that doesn't surprise me a bit.

i am one of those retentive people who reads the directions on things. i also follow them. Sometimes this is unnecessary. Sometimes this is a damn good idea. However, you generally won't get into trouble for following the directions on something. It also gives you a base of knowledge. Bringing your car in regularly for scheduled maintenance and using the recommended octane of gas, for example, lengthens the life of your car. i think there's a parallel in small appliances, but perhaps it doesn't matter because they're cheaper.
People sometimes discount me, because i am youngish. They think they know better. i will give them advice, and they will be wrong, and i will be right. For example, if you ask me where i bought something and i say,"You should really take the name down so you can ask about it," i am really saying, "There's not a way in Hell you'll find it there anymore, so you should take the name down so you can ask if they'll still order it in."
My life would be easier if people listened to me, because they then have to come back and ask me for the name.
It's just the way i run my life. You need to look at your toys and decide how important they are to you. If you don't want to risk it, buy the right batteries. If you don't mind buying them again, use whatever the hell you want. If they don't break, then Good! if they do, you'll know why.

God, i'm voluble tonight. You'd think i'd been drinking. i need to go away to the real world.

brioche

 

[Marquis]

Somehow, that doesn't surprise me a bit.

i am one of those retentive people who reads the directions on things. i also follow them. Sometimes this is unnecessary. Sometimes this is a damn good idea. However, you generally won't get into trouble for following the directions on something. It also gives you a base of knowledge. Bringing your car in regularly for scheduled maintenance and using the recommended octane of gas, for example, lengthens the life of your car. i think there's a parallel in small appliances, but perhaps it doesn't matter because they're cheaper.
People sometimes discount me, because i am youngish. They think they know better. i will give them advice, and they will be wrong, and i will be right. For example, if you ask me where i bought something and i say,"You should really take the name down so you can ask about it," i am really saying, "There's not a way in Hell you'll find it there anymore, so you should take the name down so you can ask if they'll still order it in."
My life would be easier if people listened to me, because they then have to come back and ask me for the name.
It's just the way i run my life. You need to look at your toys and decide how important they are to you. If you don't want to risk it, buy the right batteries. If you don't mind buying them again, use whatever the hell you want. If they don't break, then Good! if they do, you'll know why.

God, i'm voluble tonight. You'd think i'd been drinking. i need to go away to the real world.

brioche

Do you ever speed?

 

[DVS]

Ok so my "toys" say use only with non-alkaline batteries. What will happen if I use alkaline batteries? Will they explode, stop working, etc.

thanks everyone.

Well, I do know that alkaline has been known to have more current than non-alkaline and so I'd think digital cameras would not require but suggest you use alkaline just for that reason. If they suggest or require you use non-alkaline, I wouldn’t have any idea of the reason, other than they maybe are invested in them. Shit, I've heard of stranger things happening.

Just like your GM manual telling you to ALWAYS use name brand GM replacement parts in your car, to make sure it continues to run to specs. How many of us do that? How many of us actually take their car to a dealer for repairs, if they don't have to?

The standard voltage for most of the cylinder shaped batteries is 1.5 Volts. I've heard there is a small voltage difference in the two types, but that usually doesn't mean much because most digital devices have a large voltage variance that accepts different levels. If I remember correctly, any voltage must be at least 0.6 volts to create a current flow through the circuit, but that isn't a difficult level to achieve.

Current is the big factor, when you are talking about batteries. In laymen's terms, that is the amount of juice that each battery has. The more demanding the device, the more it sucks out of the battery. I'd think digital cameras are pretty hungry for the juice, but a vibrator, I wouldn't think so.

I know most, if not all smoke alarms suggest alkaline batteries, because they last longer. Other batteries will work, but can't be trusted, because they just don't always last as long.

I found the below info on a Cannon camera web site. It talks about batteries and how their flash units work (or don't work) with the different types available.

Power source options for external flash units.

Most Canon external flash units run off four standard AA (LR6) alkaline cells, though one - the tiny and discontinued Canon 160E - used instead a small 2CR5 lithium battery of the type used by many EOS cameras. Here are some power source options for the AA type of flash.

Remember that all batteries can leak. If they do you’ll find your beloved flash unit full of a corrosive liquid that will damage or even destroy it. It’s wise to remove any cells from your flash if you aren’t planning on using it for some length of time - a few weeks or whatever.

Note also that some flash units can behave erratically when battery power is low. Normally weak batteries just result in long recycle times, but on the 430EZ at least low batteries can result in strange behaviour - the flash triggering randomly, the zoom motor buzzing at odd intervals, etc. So if your flash unit suddenly starts acting strangely try changing the batteries. This can also happen if the flash unit isn’t firmly seated in the hotshoe or if the contacts are dirty or corroded.

Standard AA non-alkaline (zinc carbon) cells.

Pros: Available for next to nothing.

Cons: Don’t last very long at all and can’t be recharged. They also have fairly high internal resistance and so it takes a few extra seconds for the flash unit to recharge between shots.

Standard AA alkaline cells.

Pros: Alkalines are cheaply and readily available anywhere. They store a fair bit of power and let you go a reasonably long time between replacements.

Cons: Last much longer than carbon zinc cells but otherwise have the same disadvantages. Recycle time to full power can range from 6-20 seconds, depending on how new the cells are.

Rechargeable nickel-cadmium (NiCad) cells.

Pros: Relatively inexpensive, rechargeable hundreds of times. They have a fairly low internal resistance and so decrease the recycle time the flash unit will take to recharge to full power to 4-6 seconds. NiCads also have better cold-weather performance than alkalines - their performance suffers when the temperature drops below freezing, but not as badly.

Cons: Don’t store as much juice as alkalines, so you have to switch batteries much more often. NiCad cells are also hazardous household waste (heavy metals) and should not be thrown into the regular garbage system. NiCad cells drain flat (“self-discharge”) within a few weeks after charging.

Lithium AA (FR6) cells.

Pros: A fairly new development, these are lithium cells built to an AA shape. They store a lot of power, have long shelf lives, and recharge the flash at roughly the same rate as alkalines.

Cons: Really expensive and not rechargeable. Steep death curves - they’ll work fine and then suddenly run out of power unexpectedly. Most importantly, only the latest Canon Speedlites can use them. Older models are not compatible with lithium AA cells owing to power issues, and might be damaged by them. The 540EZ and all EX series flash units can safely use lithium cells; all other flash units cannot.

Rechargeable nickel metal hydride (NiMH) cells.

Pros: Affordable and rechargeable hundreds of times. Higher capacity (1600 mAH) cells have similar capacities to alkaline cells. Not as hazardous to the environment as NiCads. Have a similar recycle time to full charge as NiCads - around 4-6 seconds.

Cons: Require different chargers from commonly available NiCad chargers. Can self-discharge in a couple of weeks.

So, what does some of this mean? Well, if your life depends on the battery, I'd say use an alkaline. Although if you remember to test and change the battery, any type would probably work fine.

If you have an involved device that needs a certain amount of current to work properly, use an alkaline. If you want to be sure you're getting the picture, your battery has to be up to specs to make that flash work. If not, you might not get the shot. Blame the battery? Blame yourself?

There are some musical devices that will demand a certain type of battery for that desired sound to be produced. But, this will take a trained ear to tell the difference.

Some components in a circuit will need a certain amount of current to work at their peak level, thus producing the desired output. This is what's happening in some cases, I'm sure.

So, to get back to the question...if your toy says use non-alkaline batteries only, that seems to be going against the info I've found. Non-alkaline don't seem to last as long as alkaline. At least that's what I've heard. So, is there another reason for this? Maybe the alkaline produces too much current? Who knows. I wouldn't think so.

The only real test would be to purchase two identical vibrators that say to use ONLY this or that type of battery. In one, only use the specified type. In the other, only use the non-specified type. Turn both of them on and see which one lasts longer before the battery needs replaced. Continue this test until you are satisfied one way or the other.

It seems to me, this test would require a marathon session involving two testers. I'd also assume these testers would be women. Using the vibes continuously until one of them drains the battery...replace and continue.

Anybody want to be in the test group?

 

[brioche]

Do you ever speed?

All the time. Well, not ALL the time, but most.

 

[DVS]

All the time. Well, not ALL the time, but most.

You know, that's against the law? I'm sure quite a few people speed, to a degree. I don't seem to go as fast as I use to.

I think it would be good to have electrified seats in some cars. Maybe after you get a lot of speeding tickets, or something. Nothing really bad, but just enough of a jolt that when you get a certain number of miles per hour over the limit. You would get a zap, every so many seconds. Then, the more you go over the limit, those zaps get closer together, and at a certain point it gets so much, you can't even sit down, it's so frequent. It's the sadistic trait in me, coming out.

But, you'd see people driving around, bouncing off their car seats, or they'd develop strong leg muscles so they could stay up off the seat and drive as fast as they wanted. They'll always be those who skirt around the laws.

I used to speed more than I do, now. I might be getting older, but it seems the car I have now looks like it's going faster than it really is. When a see a cop, I look down and see I'm going the speed limit and take a big breath and relax. It's strange.

Why did you ask this question, Marquis? What's it got to do with batteries?

 

[brioche]

You know, that's against the law? I'm sure quite a few people speed, to a degree. I don't seem to go as fast as I use to.

I think it would be good to have electrified seats in some cars. Maybe after you get a lot of speeding tickets, or something. Nothing really bad, but just enough of a jolt that when you get a certain number of miles per hour over the limit. You would get a zap, every so many seconds. Then, the more you go over the limit, those zaps get closer together, and at a certain point it gets so much, you can't even sit down, it's so frequent. It's the sadistic trait in me, coming out.

But, you'd see people driving around, bouncing off their car seats, or they'd develop strong leg muscles so they could stay up off the seat and drive as fast as they wanted. They'll always be those who skirt around the laws.

I used to speed more than I do, now. I might be getting older, but it seems the car I have now looks like it's going faster than it really is. When a see a cop, I look down and see I'm going the speed limit and take a big breath and relax. It's strange.

Why did you ask this question, Marquis? What's it got to do with batteries?

i've never got a ticket, knock on wood. And i don't go really fast.

 

[DVS]

i've never got a ticket, knock on wood. And i don't go really fast.

Then you'd only get a few zaps from my electrified seat. Too bad.

 

[Red Sonja]

Then you'd only get a few zaps from my electrified seat. Too bad.

I, on the other hand, would probably develop an aversion to driving. I have a really bad leadfoot. The only thing that saves me is So Daks wide open spaces and a 75 mph speedlimit, which with the 10 mile leeway gets me up to 85 without being in danger of a ticket... unless someone went and spit on the officers donut.

 

[Tele2047]

Used to be rechargable batteries had more of a 'kick', but didn't last as long as alkaline. I can't give you all the details of the chemistry of why this happens though. I know the technology has advanced a lot since I last tested this (like 10 years ago), so it might be different now.

 

[cati]

When I purchased my last "bullet" I was told by the salesgirl to use only non-alkaline batteries to prolong the life of the toy. Another sales person told me it didn't matter. I think using quality alkaline batteries gives you more power and thus more of a buzz. (Shrugs.... as long as the darn thing works.)

 

[DVS]

I, on the other hand, would probably develop an aversion to driving. I have a really bad leadfoot. The only thing that saves me is So Daks wide open spaces and a 75 mph speedlimit, which with the 10 mile leeway gets me up to 85 without being in danger of a ticket... unless someone went and spit on the officers donut.

Cool. Fried female buns.