Squirrel Girl wrote:I have some rechargeables, but I don't use them much because A) they discharge and you have to have them recharged when you want to use them which is a pain that I don't need. I guess they make a new type that don't work that way now, but that means I have to buy a new type of rechargeables and batteries, and throw away my old ones. Meanwhile I'm plowing through my stock of alkalines. B) Some of my battery operated stuff uses 3 batteries, but the charger requires me to charge in 2s or 4s so it seems like more trouble than it's worth.
A) yes, there are new types that discharge at a much slower rate (e.g. Sanyo Eneloop). Even if you junk your current rechargeable setup and buy a new one, it will likely be cheaper in the long run than continuing to use disposables. As someone else pointed out, you always start out with fresh batts - nice. What I usually do: use regular NiMH on a trip, with alkaline as backup. Maybe once a year I use the backups. No inconvenience from my POV...and much more economical than disposables. How many alkalines do you use on a trip?
If one doesn't cave very often, it might not be worth it from a strictly financial POV to use rechargeables.
B) Many chargers available today that charge each cell individually.
Squirrel Girl wrote:At least they now take batteries for recycling at work.
Bueno!