Batteries

Since the first battery was invented in 1800, scientists have waged a constant war to improve battery power and lifespan. It has been said that whilst the general pace of technological change has forged ahead, in some cases leaps to fuel and technological efficiency have been delayed whilst waiting for battery development to catch up. However, regardless of the pace of battery change one thing is certain; the average household has an ever increasing need for good reliable batteries.

Our reliance on batteries is never stronger than at Christmas and children’s’ birthdays when it is always to have a stock of AA batteries and AAA batteries just in case. Although battery sizes do vary enormously, AA and AAA will cover the majority of simple toys. Although it is best to pre order a stock of batteries from Semichem a top tip for parenthood is to train friends and family to always give batteries with presents that require them.

Of course, it is not just children’s toys that need batteries. Razors such as the Gillette Mach 3 razor require AAA batteries whilst the Air Wick freshmatic needs AA batteries. When ordering these products from Semichem, make sure that you don’t forget to order your batteries to ensure long lasting freshness.

Unused batteries will lose their power over time and how you store them will make a difference. Never store new and used batteries together. New batteries should ideally be kept in their original packaging and in a cool dry atmosphere. If you have batteries in a device that is not likely to be used for some time then the batteries should be removed to prevent them from decaying and potentially damaging your appliance.

Moving on from standard batteries, the green option is to use rechargeable batteries. These work in the same way as ordinary batteries but instead of putting them out for recycling when they run out of juice you simply plug them into the charger and reuse. Whilst we all use rechargeable batteries in our mobile phones and laptops and are happy to charge them, our use of rechargeable AA and AAA batteries for general use has lagged behind.

Partly the over reliance on disposable rather than rechargeable batteries could be down to the extra cost of a rechargeable battery as well as the fact that ordinary batteries have improved considerably over the years. Companies such as Duracell are constantly working to improve power and durability and this means that recharging is not always considered as an option.