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Rechargeable Batteries!

I use rechargeable batteries on a daily basis to SAVE MONEY versus constantly purchasing regular batteries. 

Prices Of Non-Rechargeable Batteries!

First, let me tell you the prices for regular batteries.  I used Walmart as a source for their prices.  Let’s start with some Duracell Batteries:

• Duracell 4 D Cell Batteries————————$9.37
• Duracell 8 D Cell Batteries————————$16.98
• Duracell 4 AA Power Boost Batteries—————-$5.34
• Duracell 12 AA Power Boost Batteries—————$15.97
• Duracell 8 AAA Power Boost Batteries—————$9.18
• Duracell 16 AAA Power Boost Batteries————–$15.97
• Duracell 2 9-Volt Batteries————————$9.37
• Duracell 4 9-Volt Batteries————————$16.98
• Energizer Max 10 AA Batteries———————-$8.77
• Energizer Max 24 AA Batteries———————-$17.98
• Energizer Ultimate Lithium 4 AAA Batteries———$14.76
• Energizer Ultimate Lithium 8 AAA Batteries———$23.98
• Energizer Max 8 AAA Batteries———————-$8.77
• Energizer Max 10 AAA Batteries———————$8.77
• Energizer Max 16 AAA Batteries———————$15.37
• Energizer Max 20 AAA Batteries———————$17.98
• Energizer Max 2 9-Volt Batteries——————-$9.26
• Energizer Max 4 9-Volt Batteries——————-$16.86
• Energizer 8 D Cell Batteries———————–$16.86
• RAYOVAC 2 9-Volt Batteries————————-$8.97
• RAYOVAC Fusion 12 AA Batteries———————$11.98

These batteries are fine products but they’re not reusable.  You turn around and buy them again and again.  LOOK at the prices, even the smaller prices.  They add up and over time and you’re spending HUNDREDS to THOUSANDS of dollars.  You could save most of that money by using rechargeable batteries.  PLUS, you’re helping the environment.  You’re saving them whales and penguin critters.

My Rechargeable Devices!

I use rechargeable batteries for (see photos below):

• DVD Remote Control
• Headlamp
• Old Headlamp (night light)
• Lantern (night light)
• Fan Remote Control
• Flashlight
• Blue Light (recharge night reflective tape)

Note:  Rechargeable D cell batteries are a lot lighter than regular D cell batteries.  Use D cell rechargeable batteries in flashlights when venturing outdoors.  If you drop the flashlight with rechargeable D cell batteries, in deep water, it will float.  Using regular heavier D cell non-rechargeable batteries, the flashlight will sink to the bottom real quick.  Here’s my military elbow flashlight (MX-991/U).  It takes 02 rechargeable D cell batteries and is loaded with ‘electric tinder.’  See Emergency Fire-Starting below.

MILITARY ELBOW FLASHLIGHT PHOTO GOES HERE

I Use 02 Types Of Rechargeable Batteries!

I use 02 types of rechargeable batteries:

• Energizer
• Duracell

Energizer Rechargeable Batteries!

ENERGIZER BATTERIES PHOTO GO HERE

I’ve been using Energizer Rechargeable Batteries for years.  I’ve been using about 16 AA & AAA rechargeable batteries.   Overall, I’m satisfied with their performance.  Energizer Rechargeable Batteries has a Three Year Warranty.  I’ve had a few batteries just stop recharging.  Why?  I have no idea.

I accidently left 04 AAA rechargeable batteries in a shirt pocket and ran it through the washing machine.  I thought since the batteries were sealed, there would be no problem.  Turns out all 04 AAA rechargeable batteries were dead and wouldn’t charge.

So that’s 04 more rechargeable I had to replace.

Again, I’ve had a few Energizer Rechargeable Batteries go dead and not charge-up before their Three Year Warranty was up. 

Overall, I’d rate the Energizer Rechargeable Batteries a 07 out of 10.  See NOTE below.

Duracell Rechargeable Batteries!

DURACELL BATTERIES PHOTO GO HERE

I just purchased (June 2022) 04 AA Duracell Rechargeable Batteries and 04 AAA Duracell Rechargeable Batteries.  The cost of each of the packs of Duracell rechargeable batteries was about $5 more than each of the packs of Energizer Rechargeable Batteries.

On the back of the packs of the Duracell Rechargeable Batteries, it states: 

“Guaranteed To Last 10 YEARS” or “or up to 400 recharges which ever come first”

Hey, if they last at least 03-years of continuous use, I’ll be real happy. 

I noticed two particular things about the Duracell Rechargeable Batteries over the Energizer Rechargeable Batteries.  The Duracell batteries put out a little brighter light at a full charge over the Energizer batteries. 

They both get dimmer as you run down the batteries, but the Duracell batteries last just a little bit longer than the Energizer batteries.

Recharge Devices

RECHARGE DEVICES PHOTO GO HERE

I’ve used several recharge devices.  Here are 02 that I’m currently using today.  They’re both Energizer products.

Lantern

Ozark Trail Lantern PHOTO GOES HERE

I have an Ozark Trail Lantern that takes 04 AA batteries.  I’ve used it for a night light in the kitchen thousands of times only using rechargeable batteries.  It has 02 selections for light – bright and regular.  I always use regular light so I can use the lantern as a night light for about 04 nights before I have to recharge the batteries.

Anyway, one thing about this Ozark Trail Lantern, when I use (Duracell, Energizer or mix), that lantern will STAY LIT 24-HOURS A DAY FOR OVER 02 WEEKS.  The light may be dim, but it’s still a light.  That’s a real good use of rechargeable batteries.

NEVER Use Rechargeable Batteries For Emergency Devices!

I would NEVER NEVER use rechargeable batteries for EMERGENCY Devices like:

• Smoke Alarms
• Carbon Monoxide Alarms
• Carbon Monoxide / Smoke Alarms
• Home Burglar Alarms
• Home Entry / Exit Alarms
• Motion Detector Sensors
• Hand Tazers
• Home Emergency Flashlights
• 06 Cell Battery Flashlight (Police)

NOTE:  Use non-rechargeable long-life batteries like Duracell batteries or batteries recommended by the product instructions.

Battery Tricks You Never Heard Of Before!

Here’s a few battery tricks I picked-up over the years via interviews and through my ‘Intensive Research’ that might help you out if you get in trouble:

• Fertig Battery Recharger
• Laydon’s Battery Recharger R&D
• Tapping Battery Recharger
• Battery Naps
• Using My Laptop To Re-Start My Car
• Emergency Fire-Starting

OK, let’s start with Fertig Battery Recharger.

Fertig Battery Recharger:  Telephone batteries could not be replaced.  Amazingly, it was discovered how to recharge the batteries.  The telephone batteries were submerged in tuba (coconut beer) overnight.  Amazingly, the battery recharged.  This Fertig Battery Recharger was so effective it was used by all the resistance forces throughout the Philippines.

NOTE:  Colonel Wendell W. Fertig (U.S. Army), his American comrades and their Filipino guerrillas fought the Japanese occupation of the Philippines during WWII.

Laydon’s Battery Recharger R&D:  I thought the Fertig Battery Recharger was worthy of some R&D (Research & Development) so here it is (092000C February 2007). 

I took 03 Panasonic AA batteries and ran them in a small RadioShack radio.  Once the batteries were run down to nothing, I kept the radio on for another 12 hours.  The 03 AA batteries were dead dead – no life to them whatsoever.

I then took a cold bottle of beer – a 12-fluid ounce of Samuel Adams Cherry Wheat beer and took a good swallow from it (MMmmmmmm) to adjust for the volume for replacement of the 03 batteries.  I dropped the 03 dead batteries in the bottle of beer and they hit the bottom of the glass bottle.  Immediately beer foam came pouring out of the top of the bottle.  Enough foam that I had a little cleaning up to do. 

Foam covered the top of the bottle and I replaced the bottle cap (non twist off).  To insure I got a half way decent seal on the bottle I placed a small section of Glad Press’n Seal over the bottle cap and top neck of the glass bottle.  I placed the beer bottle in a glass bowl in case it overflowed and placed everything in the fridge.  The 03 “dead” batteries remained in the bottle for approximately 16-hours. 

I removed the 03 “dead” AA batteries from the bottle of beer.  Drying them off, I then placed the batteries in my small RadioShack radio and turned it on.  The radio responded to a LOUD volume.  After finding a Country Western channel, I noticed the 03 batteries quickly losing their power.  However, even at a low volume, the 03 rejuvenated batteries kept the radio playing for 30 minutes!  Not bad from dead dead dead batteries to rejuvenated batteries!  Wait!

After 30-minutes of running the radio, the volume and reception became weak so I turned off the radio to see if the 03 batteries could recover like most batteries do.  After 60-minutes of rest, I turned on the radio and sure enough, the 03 batteries re-rejuvenated themselves.  I continued to do this and the batteries recovered again and again.  Timing these 03 “dead” batteries, I had a total running time (weak) of 01-hour 23-minutes.  Not bad uh!

That may not seem like a long time but in emergency situations, I think the Fertig Battery Recharger survival trick may give your radio (receiving radio signals) or Walkie-Talkie (transmit emergency message(s) just enough power to get you out of trouble and save your life and those comrades under your command Anytime Anywhere!

1st Note:  Holding the radio near the body aids in reception.  And knowing the directional source of the signal may help out too.

2nd Note:  I’m not sure if the yeast in beer aids to rejuvenate batteries or what.  I also don’t know about how this same application will apply to all sorts of other batteries.  It’s beyond my own R&D (time & money).

Tapping Battery Recharger: I thought I’d add this recharging trick in here.  Even though I haven’t conducted any R&D on it to prove or disprove it – I thought it be worthy of your attention. 

An insurance inspector was out here inspecting the roof (March 2008).  His flashlight was going dim so to recharge the batteries real quick, he removed the batteries and tapped the negative ends of each battery against each other.  Sure enough, the light beam was stronger than before!

Battery Nap:  If your batteries are rundown, stop using them and let them take a 20 to 40-minute nap.  The nap will give the batteries as chance to recharge themselves a little bit but never return to a full charge.  Battery naps include car batteries.  Give the car battery a good 40-minute nap before trying to re-start your vehicle.  TURN-OFF EVERYTHING.  I’ve used this ‘nap trick’ plenty of times and it worked.  Insure you read Using My Laptop To Re-Start My Car below.

Using My Laptop To Re-Start My Car:  Here’s my blog post.  I actually used my laptop computer to recharge my car battery.  Here’s the blog post at www.survivalexpertblog.com:  How To Jump Start Your Car Using Your Laptop!

Emergency Fire-Starting:  Here’s a Boy Scout level emergency fire-starting.

Flashlight and Steel Wool

One real handy and multiple purpose flashlight is the Military style Elbow Flashlight.  The Elbow Flashlight comes with multiple colored lenses, a spare bulb, is very durable, watertight and you can use it several ways to ignite field-expedient fires!  It cost less than $6!  A great buy!  I encourage you to get one today.  Put one in your vehicle, boat, plane…

You already know how to use a flashlight reflector.  What if it’s overcast?  Try using Super Fine #0000 Steel Wool and your Elbow Flashlight (positive & negative terminals are in the perfect location to use electricity)!  Just a small piece of steel wool will do it!  Hey, you got a fire within a single second!!!  As a matter of fact, you can store steel wool in the “Bulb Compartment” of your Elbow Flashlight for future use when you’re in a jam!

You’ll find two small empty compartment wells on either side of the spare bulb compartment.  Stuff two good pieces of Super Fine #0000 Steel Wool in both compartments and you’ll be ready Anytime Anywhere!

OK, here’s how you use your Elbow Flashlight and steel wool to start a fire.  Insure you have 02 good D size batteries already in the flashlight.

a)  Insure you’re wearing eye protection & gloves and you’re close to your fire pit with your bird’s nest close by.  Unscrew the reflector portion of your flashlight and put it aside.

b)  Turn-on the flashlight by flipping the button upward towards the reflector portion of the flashlight. 

c)  You’ll notice to prongs (one on the side and one in the center.  These are your positive and negative terminals.  When you take a piece of steel wool and simultaneously touch both terminals you complete a circuit.  Since the gauge (thickness) of the steel wool is so fine, it can’t handle the electrical current.  It’s overloaded with electricity and burns!

d)  Position your Elbow Flashlight so it’s slightly above you (kneel when you’re doing this method), and it’s pointing downward so the burning steel wool won’t be dropped in the well of the flashlight. 

e)  Holding your Elbow Flashlight with one hand, take a piece of steel wool with your free hand and apply your fluffed-up piece of it steel wool (a compacted wad won’t readily ignite because it can handle the electricity load) to both terminals.  The wad of steel wool should ignite in about a 1/2 second!!!  Is that quick enough for you!

f)  Once it’s ignited, place the burning steel wool to your bird’s nest that’s already in your firepit.  You may have to forcefully blow on the steel wool so it ignites your bird’s nest!

Flashlight And Steel Wool

NOTE:  Insure you read your Anytime Anywhere Survival Newsletters for more amazing fire-starting techniques.

Rechargeable Batteries Bottom Line

If you use rechargeable batteries everyday like I do, they’ll pay for themselves real quick and you’ll SAVE MONEY everyday by using rechargeable batteries. 

My choice for rechargeable batteries is Duracell Rechargeable Batteries.  They are more expensive than Energizer Rechargeable Batteries, but I believe, overall, they’re a slightly better performing rechargeable battery.

NOTE:  On 12 December 2022 (Saturday), I just had another AAA Energizer Rechargeable Battery go dead – it wouldn’t recharge.

Here’s A Great Point Of Contact (POC) For Your Electronic Gadget Needs!

I’ve had the POC below on my list for a long long time (see Note below).  I just called them (300043C Oct. 2022 – almost 1am) and verified they’re still in business.  They actually answered the phone early this morning (almost 1ma).  I just requested their FREE Catalog and YOU should do the same.

C. Crane Company————————-1-800-522-8863

www.ccrane.com

C. Crane Company, 1001 Main Street, Fortuna, CA 95540-2008. 

C. Crane Company offers all kinds of high performance lights, radios, games, toys,… gadgets that enhance your safety as well as entertain you and yours Anytime Anywhere!  Their 72-page, all-color catalog offers you neat stuff like the NEW WiFi Radios, weather radios, High Definition radios, Super AM radios, Atomic Clock radios, shower radios, vintage radio kits, pocket radios, headsets, Internet radios, Record Player\CD Recorders, MP3 Recorders, Emergency Radios, Multi-Band Radios, Antennas, Cell Phone Antennas, high-tech light bulbs, lighting of all sorts, flashlights, lanterns, emergency lanterns, flameless candles, cordless phones, emergency power packs, solar panels, batteries, battery chargers (solar & plug-in), auto air purifiers, watches, perpetual motion strobe, telescopes,…  Call or write for your C. Crane Catalog today so you’re not missing out on high performance lights, radios, games, toys,… gadgets that enhance your safety as well as entertain you and yours Anytime Anywhere!

NOTE:  The description above was written more than 15-years ago.  No doubt C. Crane had added a bunch of neat gadgets to their product line.  So call today to get your FREE CATALOG!

UPDATE: 

C. Crane Company Catalog PHOTO GOES HERE

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