This post was prompted by a small electric shaver going dead. I needed a single, measly AAA battery, and had only AA’s.
I don’t know whether there’s a word for it (and “batteryphobia” sounds silly), but I hate batteries. I hate the way I always have to buy them for exorbitant prices, usually in a pack of 8 or so even though I only need one or two, and then I throw the rest into a drawer only to find that the next time I need one or two, they have all gone bad! I never know whether to buy expensive alkaline or inexpensive el cheapo. I never know what size I need. Something will die and then I’ll remember when I’m at the store, but I can never remember whether I need the AA or the AAA. One time I bought a bunch of AAA’s and it turned out that I needed a stupid rectangular 9 volt battery. Those always seem to die faster than any other type of battery, and they also cost more.
Now, you might think it would be easy to switch to rechargeables, but I have learned that they often don’t work as well as alkalines, and they too expire!
Maddening. I wish they — meaning the battery industry — would get their shit together, because they want us all to be on battery power for everything including cars, but no matter how much they preach and scold, batteries just don’t improve.
I’m sure there are laws of chemistry and physics involved. Probably along the lines of “YOU CAN’T GET BLOOD FROM A STONE!”
I’m not alone in my irritation. This guy is more pissed than I am, as well as more knowledgeable.
While technology is constantly advancing, it seems like their’s one thing that isn’t: fucking batteries.
Batteries are the bane of any electronic device you have. I have several portable electronic devices: an iPod Touch, an HTC EVO 4G, Nintendo DS, PSP, Laptops, etc… Yet, the one thing that always becomes an issue for me are the fucking batteries…
Maybe it’s just me I don’t know but I find that the battery life on my electronic devices are never near my expectations. Whenever I’m using one of my gadgets, there’s always that thought I have where I ask myself “How much longer I do have before the battery runs out?”
That thought is like a fucking thorn to my side… It’s always something I have to worry about.
And he’s just getting warmed up. I like it because it makes me feel less alone in my batteryphobia. Surely there are many others. There must be, because everywhere I go, I see young people walking around and driving around, literally hooked on batteries. Like drugs, the pleasurable effects soon wear off, and the battery habit must be constantly refueled.
I doubt the government will ever make batteries illegal, though.
The dark forces of Big Carbon and Big Lithium would never let them.
Comments
8 responses to “Assault on battery!”
Alkaline will last longer in the drawer.
For rechargeables I like these:
Sony Cycle Energy 800 mAh Pre-Charged AAA Rechargeable Batteries
This is a really good deal for AA batteries plus a recharger.
Sony Cycle Energy Power Charger with 4 2500 mAh AA Batteries
My stepfather used to put them in the fridge to make them last longer.
It occasionally helps to know that if you peel open the rectangular nine volt battery, you will find six AAA batteries inside.
Rechargeables are damaged, if you’re using more than one cell, by running them down too far.
The stronger cells reverse-charge the weakest one at the end, which kills the weakest one.
A 9v rechargeable is multi-cell on its own.
Humph. I’ve never felt such disdain for batteries (although I did just switch back to a wired mouse at work, partly because the wireless one was spotty). My cell phone operates on an internal battery and I charge it and carry it around and get great utility out of it. I think conservatives should like batteries… it’s a way to privately store and consume energy without maintaining a dependence on regulated utilities 🙂
it’s a way to privately store and consume energy without maintaining a dependence on regulated utilities
That energy comes from somewhere, and since we can’t make batteries that are all that efficient, it actually increases your dependence on regulated utilities.
Thanks for all the advice. rh, I never knew that if you peel open the rectangular nine volt battery, you will find six AAA batteries inside. It doesn’t even look like three would fit. (But that’s just the covering. You are right of course, but I would build up some tape around them to ensure they fit the openings better.)