Rechargeable batteries are a green alternative to regular batteries.
Rechargeable batteries are an excellent solution for consumers who are interested in saving both the environment and their bank accounts. While they are more expensive than single-use batteries, properly maintained rechargeable batteries can last for several years before they ultimately need to be thrown out.
Rechargeable Battery Capacity
Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH) rechargeable batteries have the highest capacities for these types of batteries. They have a total capacity up to 1,000 miliampere hours (mAh) for AAA batteries and up to 2,700 mAh for AA batteries. Low self-discharge NiMH batteries (LSD NiMH) have a total capacity of up to 800 mAh for AAA and up to 2,000 mAh for AA. Nickel-Cadmium (NiCd) batteries have a total capacity of up to 350 mAh for AAA and up to 1,000 mAh for AA.
Comparisons
By comparison, lithium batteries, which are considered very-high-capacity single-use batteries, have a total capacity of up to 1,250 mAh for AAA and up to 3,000 mAh for AA. While these batteries last longer in a single use than rechargeable batteries, they cannot be reused after they've exhausted their capacities.
Considerations
When you're purchasing NiMH or LSD NiMH batteries, purchase the ones with the highest capacity (mAh) that you can find. LSD NiMH batteries lose only about 15 percent of their charge each year when not used, while NiMH batteries can lose as much as 4 percent per day.
Tags: have total, have total capacity, NiMH batteries, total capacity, batteries have
