More and more people are however realising the advantages of using rechargeable AAA batteries in their walkmans, digital cameras et cetera. It is true that our electrical devices become more and more energy saving and needs less energy to perform a certain amount of work these days. Hand in hand with this development there is however also the trend towards more and more complicated electrical devises with multiple functions. A modern camera will nowadays need energy to power up not just a simple flash, but a large colour LCD screen, the autofocus, a motorized zooming lens, the hardware that stores the image digitally et cetera. This means that the batteries will be quickly drained of there energy and using non-rechargeable AAA batteries can become very expensive in the long run.
When you use rechargeable AAA batteries you should be aware of the so called “self discharge”. Self discharge is a process where your AAA battery loses its power even though the electrical device is turned off. If you put your camera, walkman or similar on a shelf and doesn’t use it for a long time there is always the risk self discharge. Make a routine of checking your rechargeable AAA batteries before you need to use your electrical device and recharge them if necessary.
It is advisable to choose rechargeable AAA batteries made from nickel metal hydride (NiMH). NiMH AAA batteries are similar to rechargeable nickel cadmium (NiCd / NiCad) AAA batteries, but free from cadmium. Cadmium is not only an expensive metal; it is also very toxic and harmful for humans as well as other living organisms even in low concentrations. Cadmium can cause liver and kidney damage, respiratory problems, cancer and osteoporosis. Cadmium can accumulate in our bodies and since humans are top-predators cadmium from thrown away batteries that enters eco-systems pose a threat to us. In addition to being more environmentally friendly, NiMH AAA batteries also tend to have a higher capacity than NiCd / NiCad AAA batteries and are less prone to voltage depression.
When you have bought new NiMH AAA batteries they need to be cycled at least 3 to 5 times to before they reach their top capacity. Begin by charging your new AAA batteries fully and then let them cool down. Place them in an electrical device, such as a digital camera, and use it as you normally would. You will probably notice that the NiMH AAA batteries lose their power very quickly. Put them back in the charger and charge them until they are full once more. This is one cycle, and it must be repeated at least 3 to 5 times before your AAA batteries reach their full potential. As you complete one cycle after one other you will notice how much better the batteries works each time. N.B! If your battery charger has a conditioning button you should not condition your rechargeable AAA batteries
