How to Choose a Rechargeable Alkaline Battery?

Before choosing a rechargeable alkaline battery, you should learn how they work. The most important facts to know about rechargeable alkaline batteries are their charge capacity, their lifespan, and their environmental impact.

Charge
The rechargeable alkaline battery, also known as the alkaline manganese battery, is a type of rechargeable battery. While the performance of rechargeable alkaline batteries is comparable to the standard alkaline, there are a number of disadvantages associated with the process. For starters, it is costly and can cause gas leakage. The process of recharging an alkaline battery can cause the battery's seal to rupture, resulting in an explosion or leakage of the contents.

Capacity
While it's impossible to measure the actual capacity of a rechargeable alkaline battery, the actual value is proportional to the physical size of the cell. As the internal surface area of the cell increases, its resistance decreases. Thus, an AA-sized alkaline battery will deliver approximately 1000 mA without significantly heating up. For higher current handling capacities, larger cells are required. A 9-volt rectangular battery, for example, should be fitted with a D-size cell. The capacity of an alkaline battery is significantly lower than that of other chemistries, but it is still considerably lower than the capacity of a rechargeable cell.

The problem with alkaline batteries is that they are highly prone to leakage of potassium hydroxide, which is a caustic agent. If this occurs, it can affect the health of the user. If a battery leaks, wash the area immediately to remove the lye-laden material. Use household acid to neutralise any remaining lye material. Vinegar or lemon juice will do the trick. But remember that it's important to neutralize as much of the lye-laden material as possible, since an exothermic reaction will result in more heat.

Lifespan
Rechargeable alkaline batteries offer several advantages over standard alkaline batteries. Although they have higher initial voltage, they lose that voltage as the battery ages, which means that alkaline batteries will last shorter. Rechargeable batteries, on the other hand, are able to hang onto a lower voltage for a longer period of time, which can affect the performance of certain devices. This is why these batteries are best for low-drain devices, such as smoke alarms, clocks, portable lights, thermometers, and remote controls.

Rechargeable alkaline batteries can last several years, but their cycle life is not the same as that of non-rechargeable types. The cycle life is determined by the battery's capacity, and rechargeable batteries are generally more expensive. Regardless of their price, however, they don't last as long as rechargeable lithium batteries. They can be recharged hundreds of times, and can reach almost full capacity after only a few charge-discharge cycles.