Recharable Batteries Must all be same mAh?

[RedPenguin]

I have 9 AA rechargeable batteries. I have 4 2000mAh, 3 2300mAh and 2 1800mAh. My Uniden BR330T uses 3 batteries. Now say I am on a trip with all of them charged. After I use the 3 2300, then 3 of the 2000, is it safe to use the 1 left over 2000 with the 2 1800 or must the be always the same mAh together?

Also, will it destroy the batteries if you try to charge different mAhs together? Also, would it destroy a charger or the batteries if you had a NiCD & NiMH battery charger and tried to charge both at the same time?

 

[b7spectra]

I mix and match in both my scanner and Canon EOS350 digital camera. Same in the charger. Never had a single problem.

 

[N_Jay]

Depending on the charger, it may or may not be a good idea to mix batteries.
Some chargers run each slot separately so mixing is no issue, other run the batteries in series and mixing is a BAD idea.

Using batteries in mixed configurations is ALWAYS a bad idea. Even if they are the same mAH, but from different brands or different ages they should not be used together.

The issue is that you want all the cells to be depleted at about the same time so you take them all out. If you have one that is smaller/weaker/older than the others it will go dead while the others still have enough capacity to run the device/. From that point til you stop using the pack, you will be "reverse charging" the dead battery and doing damage to the cell.

Buy your batteries in sets.
Charge them in sets.
And use them in sets
. . . for best life.

 

[screenersam]

all I know is I can't mix NiMH and NiCad. a pox on any device that uses an odd number of batteries, esp since my charger only works in 2s.

 

[gmclam]

While it is "OK" to mix them however you want for discharging (the weaker battery wins), I never mix them for charging. I do not even mix two batteries of the same capacity but of different brands. As a matter of fact, even if I've got two identical batteries (let's say both are Digital Concepts 2500mah batteries), if they have been discharged differently, I will charge them separately. That way I know each battery has been recharged to ITS proper/full level.

 

[Lodis]

I think it is illogical to mix batteries of different Mah rates, I never do it and I wouldn't recommend it. When you buy your rechargeables, im sure they wouldn't sell them in packs of 4 with each battery having a different Mah rating. Surely the one battery that had a 1000 Mah would run out quicker than a 2900 Mah.

 

[N_Jay]

While it is "OK" to mix them however you want for discharging (the weaker battery wins),

No it is not, for the reason I explained.

I never mix them for charging.

But that could be ok, if the charger handles each slot separately.

Well come to "The Myths and religion of batteries" show.

 

[N467RX]

Well, I haven't mixed except for 2 2100 and 1 2050, but that was for an emergency. I normally buy my batteries in big batches, same brand, same mAh (last time in my batch of 2500mAh Duracells came 4 2400 with the charger and 4 2650 by accident, but those are not used as wide).

Definitely the best thing is to use always the same mAh, just in case it really affects to have different mAh's

 

[N_Jay]

The BEST thing to do, is make sets and keep the sets together.
Charge together, use together.

 

[Chief78CJ7]

all I know is I can't mix NiMH and NiCad. a pox on any device that uses an odd number of batteries, esp since my charger only works in 2s.

If you scanner uses 3 batts, like mine.. get 12 batteries. When you charge 4, you have an extra. Do that three times and you have and extra three. So 12 batteries give you complete sets.... you use them in sets of 3, charge them in sets of 4.

 

[Shortwavewave]

Why did they (as in radio shack, and uniden) ever make scanners that use
3 batts any way,
Its seems illogical to me (thats just me, im always up for a second opinion)

they come in packs of 2, 4 or more dont they? ive never seen 3

 

[gmclam]

Battery voltages are based on the chemistry of the battery.

Electronic designs are based on different logic families such as 5.0 volts, 3.3 volt, or other voltages.

3 batteries are lighter than 4.

3 batteries are about 4.5 volts, and that is a good source into a charge pump (to generate the actual voltages needed).

Why do retailers insist on selling batteries in even quantity packs?

 

[platinumrx8]

don't mix batteries man.. no matter what electronics u using them in..

unless it's just a remote control for a TV or someting ;0

 

[gmclam]

While it is "OK" to mix them however you want for discharging (the weaker battery wins),

No it is not, for the reason I explained.

When charging batteries, I am quite anal about it. I won't charge more than one at a time unless they are "identical" in brand, capacity and assumed discharge.

HOWEVER, when it comes to discharging them, I'll use whatever I have to. Ican think of an LED flashlight I have which has 1500mah, 2000mah and 2300mah batteries in it. Now what is the worst that can happen? The 1500mah becomes so dead it won't take a charge again? Big deal. These are all new batteries; and as someone here mentioned, they are sold in even quantities but often used in odd quantities. So there's bound to be oddballs left over, and a flashlight is a good place to use them.

Would I mix batteries in a scanner? Yes, if that is what I had charged. I am not charging them in there. I am merely discharging them in there. Again what is the worst that could happen? Sure they could explode, just like ANY other battery, whether they are matched or not.

I understand the theory here; but reality is that often batteries from the same package, all used together will NOT all reach the end of their lives at the same time. Yes, this is the way I TRY to use them; but I just do not worry about mixing sometimes. It is better than the alternatives.

 

[N_Jay]

When charging batteries, I am quite anal about it. I won't charge more than one at a time unless they are "identical" in brand, capacity and assumed discharge.

HOWEVER, when it comes to discharging them, I'll use whatever I have to. Ican think of an LED flashlight I have which has 1500mah, 2000mah and 2300mah batteries in it. Now what is the worst that can happen? The 1500mah becomes so dead it won't take a charge again? Big deal. These are all new batteries; and as someone here mentioned, they are sold in even quantities but often used in odd quantities. So there's bound to be oddballs left over, and a flashlight is a good place to use them.

Would I mix batteries in a scanner? Yes, if that is what I had charged. I am not charging them in there. I am merely discharging them in there. Again what is the worst that could happen? Sure they could explode, just like ANY other battery, whether they are matched or not.

I understand the theory here; but reality is that often batteries from the same package, all used together will NOT all reach the end of their lives at the same time. Yes, this is the way I TRY to use them; but I just do not worry about mixing sometimes. It is better than the alternatives.

You have completely ignored the damage done to the cell when it is "reverse charged" by the remaining batteries in the stack.

I flashlight is probably one of the worse uses because it is fairly high current and you may be tempted to keep using it after the smallest capacity battery is depleted.

But as they say, "Ignorance is Bliss"! :lol:

 

[gmclam]

I flashlight is probably one of the worse uses because it is fairly high current and you may be tempted to keep using it after the smallest capacity battery is depleted.

Perhaps your flashlight is a high current device; I clearly stated LED flashlight and the current drain is very low. I have run this flashlight for 1 week solid from a single charge of this odd set of batteries. I've had fairly new NiMH batteries self-discharge faster. Also, just because a battery has a rating, does not mean that is its ACTUAL capacity. Others here have noted that some batteries do not come even close to their rated capacity. I've experienced the same, from known fully charged batteries.

 

[N_Jay]

Perhaps your flashlight is a high current device; I clearly stated LED flashlight and the current drain is very low. I have run this flashlight for 1 week solid from a single charge of this odd set of batteries. I've had fairly new NiMH batteries self-discharge faster. Also, just because a battery has a rating, does not mean that is its ACTUAL capacity. Others here have noted that some batteries do not come even close to their rated capacity. I've experienced the same, from known fully charged batteries.

My mistake. I missed the "LED" part.

I still think anyone who is anal about charging and mixes when using, either does not understand or does not care about longevity.

 

[gmclam]

I do NOT care about the batteries

I still think anyone who is anal about charging and mixes when using, either does not understand or does not care about longevity.

You are missing my point. Well, perhaps you just caught on .. I do NOT care about the batteries. The only thing I care about is the equipment (scanners) they are in. The batteries are disposable (at a toxic waste recycler). The original question was in regard to mixing them. My point is, what is the worst that will happen if you do?. Perhaps you've summed it up - it shortens their lives.

But then so does heat, overcharging, overexhausting, dead shorts, poor manufacturing and many other things.

 

[N_Jay]

You are missing my point. Well, perhaps you just caught on .. I do NOT care about the batteries. The only thing I care about is the equipment (scanners) they are in. The batteries are disposable (at a toxic waste recycler). The original question was in regard to mixing them. My point is, what is the worst that will happen if you do?. Perhaps you've summed it up - it shortens their lives.

But then so does heat, overcharging, overexhausting, dead shorts, poor manufacturing and many other things.

Sorry, I figured that anyone who was "anal" about charging did care about the batteries?:roll: