Enter Promo code HoHoHo and receive 5% off your total purchase!

Dont have disapointed kids on Christmas morning because you forgot to get the batteries for one of the many battery operated toys which almost always never come with batteries, i call it dissapointment in a box! Then you will be screaming around town town trying to find somewhere that is open, you will eventually find a Service Station and pay $25 to get the 6 D size batteries required to run your childs Ultra Mega Man Extreme Action Figurine that can walk and talk that you bought for him/her

Plenty of Christmas specials at Hollyhock Batteries. Anyone who purchases from HBP and enters promo code HoHoHo receives 5% off the total of their purchase until the 23rd December 2011!!!!

We will be closed for business from 12pm on Friday the 23rd December until the 3rd of January. Any orders placed during this time will be processed and sent out on the 3rd of January. 

Merry Christmas!!!!!  And Remember...      HoHoHo

The next generation of rechargeable batteries!!

The Choice of Proffesionals

XX powered by eneloop - Is a further development of the eneloop technology. The aim is to create an exceptional battery with the highest capacity in the market and retaining the charge still in a suitable way for most consumers. The XX battery will retain up to 75% of its charge after a year on the shelf.

You have already been interested in low-self-discharge batteries but so far you were not satisfied with the little capacity? SANYO takes the opinion of its customers very seriously and therefore is releasing XX powered by eneloop.

With its typical capacity of 2500 mAh this rechargeable battery suits devices with a high power consumption such as digital cameras particularly well. XX powered by eneloop also offers you the advantages of a disposable battery and is coming pre-charged in stores. This way the batteries are ready to use right after being purchased. Because of the low self-discharge the batteries retain up to 75% of their capacity even after one year of storage. The economy and environment friendliness are ensured by having 500 cycles.

XX batteries have very low self-discharge, the same as normal Alkaline batteries. That is why the batteries in this package are ready for use when taken out of the pack. They are charged on the factory! Even after ONE year in the pack, they are still ready for use!

XX batteries can be charged 500 times. This provides good economy and environmental -consideration.

Product Features

• XX eneloop battery of size AA (4)
• Can be used straight after purchase
• High performance
• Long shelf life with no loss of energy
• Can be used everywhere
• Cost effective in purchase and usage
• Environmental friendly
• Easy to use

Finally the battery that can solve all your problems!!

If you've ever wondered about the difference between NiMH vs. NiCad vs. LiIon you're not alone - there are thousands of DIY home improvement types out there wondering the same thing as you, and wondering how to make the best decisions for their next power tool purchase.

Dewalt NiMH 18V 3000mAh

Here's a question you may be asking yourself: "What is the difference between NiMH and NiCd. How do Lithium Ion batteries work compared to the others?"

To tackle this question we have to look at the criteria for making the power tool battery decision. And then bring Lithium Ion into the equation to round out the choices when you're next making a power tool purchase decision.

Read closely - your power as a consumer lies in your understanding of the products available!

Criteria for Making Your Power Tool Battery Decision
According to Building a Better Power-Tool Battery you should be looking at a battery's run time, life cycle, volts and amp-hour rating.

Run Time:

Quite simply run time is the amount of work a tool can do before its charge runs out.

Life Cycle:

Life cycle is how many times the battery can be recharged during its life time.

Volts (Power):

Volts will determine work output of the tool. John Sara, cordless product manager for Milwaukee Electric Tool, says "Individuals currently using a 18-volt NiCad battery, should see 2 - 2 & 1/2 times more work output from a V28."

Amp-Hour Rating

The higher the Amp-Hour rating the longer the battery lasts - be aware that power tool batteries of the same voltage will often have different Amp-Hour ratings.

NiMH vs. NiCad vs. Li Ion: Picking What's Right for You

Nickel metal hydride (NiMH) Batteries:

I don't think I could define it better than wiki pedia: 'A nickel metal hydride battery, abbreviated NiMH, is a type of rechargeable battery similar to a nickel-cadmium (NiCd) battery but has a hydrogen-absorbing alloy for the anode instead of cadmium. Like in NiCd batteries, nickel is the cathode.'

Nickel metal hydride (NiMH) advantages:
-- lighter than NiCad
-- 2-3X capacity to equal size NiCad

Nickel metal hydride (NiMH) disadvantages:
-- fewer life cycles compared to NiCad
-- shorter run time
-- performs the worst in cold temperatures, so keep that in mind if you plan to use tools powered by NiMH outdoors in cold weather
-- higher self-discharge level than NiCad
-- voltage drop at near-discharged levels

Nickel cadmium (NiCd) Batteries:

According to Wiki pedia: the 'nickel-cadmium battery (commonly abbreviated NiCd and pronounced 'nye-cad') is a popular type of rechargeable battery for portable electronics and toys using the metals nickel (Ni) and cadmium (Cd) as the active chemicals.'

Nickel cadmium (NiCad) advantages:
-- longer life cycles
-- performs in cold temperatures (perform well to 20F)
-- lower self-discharge level than NiMH
-- no voltage drop at near discharged levels

Nickel cadmium (NiCad) disadvantages:
-- Heavy, making it harder to use for longer periods of time
-- May suffer from 'Memory Effect' or 'False Bottom Effect' if constantly discharged half-way and then recharged (wiki pedia)

The Lithium ion (Li-Ion) Battery:

The new comer to power tool batteries, Lithium Ion are hot because they have 'one of the best energy-to-weight ratios, no memory effect and a slow loss of charge when not in use,' according to Wiki pedia.

Lithium ion (Li-Ion) advantages:
-- High performance in cold weather - to 0F - great for winter outdoor use
-- Light weight. You can lift tools powered by Lithium Ion over your head all day.
-- Increased life cycles over NiCad and NiMH, so it keeps going past other batteries
-- more rapid charge times that get you back on the job
more quickly

Lithium ion (Li-Ion) disadvantages:
-- less tested than other battery formats - in early stages of development
-- has a shelf life based on life of battery, not related to charge or charge time
-- can sometimes erupt or explode in high heat - hot cars, direct sunlight, etc, or sometimes after tampering. a more dangerous battery than the others
-- permanent damage to battery if stored at too-low discharge level, so be careful and keep these charged well

What battery is right for your power tool decision? Clearly there are many different options, and many different pluses and minuses for each battery type. That's why it's imperative that you come to your purchase prepared with knowledge that will help you make the right decision for your situation.

Plus you are certain to impress the guys at the big box tool depot when you display your knowledge about the different types of batteries and their different merits.

Now you know what to look for - life cycles, run time, volts and Amp-Hours and you know the three major battery types. I hope that with that information you'll be better equipped to make the decision between a NiCD, NiMH or Li-Ion battery!

Article Source: http://www.abcarticledirectory.com

Rechargeable and Disposable batteries their environmental impact and where can they be recycled?

Do you spend a good deal of time away from a mains power supply and use a lot of battery powered equipment? Do you use a lot of batteries for everyday uses? For most people the answer to one or both of these questions is “yes”. I know that I said yes to both. I started using rechargeable batteries some years back and in conjunction with disposable batteries I have been able to make myself substantial savings.

But what about the environmental impacts? 

I guess it's a bit of a no-brainer that if you use one of something compared to ten of another then it's got to be better for the planet, Right? Wrong! Not if the thing you only use one of has toxic waste. So I’ve decided to take a look at how rechargeable batteries compare against disposable batteries both environmentally and when to use each different technology.

Disposable and Rechargeable battery types         

Disposable, or are more often than not alkaline or carbon zinc. They used to contain very high levels of mercury, but now most brands use none at all, however they should still be recycled. In 2006, 40 billion disposable batteries were sold worldwide!

Unfortunately, it can be difficult finding places that will actually recycle disposable alkaline batteries. Many recyclers separate them from rechargeable’s and they end up in landfill anyway (yes recycling is a business and if they cant make money out of something it gets tossed back into landfill).

Button batteries are a problem as a great deal of metal is used for their comparatively small size and they can contain mercury, silver, cadmium, lithium, or other heavy metals as their main component. Thankfully, due to the increasing price of raw materials, these are a desired recyclable item.

Rechargeable batteries used to be quite environmentally toxic, containing cadmium (NiCad batteries). These days the most commonly sold rechargeable batteries are Nickel-metal-hydride (NiMH). NiMH batteries have a better life and performance than NiCad and don't contain as toxic heavy metals, so they are a "greener" choice.

If you own a notebook, mobile phone or ipod, it's likely the battery in it is Lithium-ion. These are the top of the line in terms of performance and the type we are likely to see in cars of the future. Again, a more environmentally friendly option than NiCads.

Regardless of the lower environmental toxicity of today's rechargeable batteries, they should definitely be recycled rather than thrown in the bin to wind up in landfill.

Where to recycle rechargeable batteries

If you're in Australia there are a few retail stores around which have battery recycling bins at the entry to their store but there are very few of them around. As for other places it is best to contact your local council to find out where to recycle your batteries. Some will say that you can just drop them in your household recycling bin and that they will be recycled (I'm a little bit skeptical about where they actually end up). Some council’s say just throw them in the bin with your general waste which guarantees that they end up in landfill.

Darebin City Council in Victoria offers battery recycling.

Hollyhock Batteries Plus in Victoria also offers a free recycling service. Bring the batteries in and they will be forwarded on to be responsibly recycled (not just circulated back into landfill)

Environmental savings

According to a study by Uniross carried out in 2007, the production of rechargeable batteries have the following advantages over disposables (comparing serviceable life):
- 23 times less potential impact on non-renewable natural resources
- 28 times less potential impact on global warming
- 30 times less potential impact on air pollution (ozone pollution)
- 9 times less potential impact on air acidification
- 2 times less potential impact on water pollution

Getting the most from rechargeable batteries

These simple tips will help to ensure you get the maximum life from your rechargeable batteries
-If you're going to buy rechargeable you need to be organized and keep track of them. Being a small item, batteries are easy to lose or accidentally throw out. Given that a rechargeable battery in itself is more toxic to the environment than a single disposable alkaline; if you keep losing them and keep buying more, it defeats the purpose. Have a central point in the house or your car where you store flat ones. I also mark each battery set (eg. B1, B2, B3) so there's equal 'wear', rather than mixing old ones with new ones. This is important as if you mix old ones with new ones the one bad cell you may have will bring the performance of the other cells right down.
- Avoid using the batteries at high temperatures and store out of direct sunlight
- Recharge regularly; almost all rechargeable batteries self discharge without being used to some degree. Some more than others, generally speaking the higher the capacity of the cell in relation to the size of the battery the more self discharge there will be. For example a AA 2700mAh NiMH battery will self discharge rapidly compared to the same AA battery that is only 2000mAh. You can now get batteries with active charge which hold their charge extremely well, sometimes between 6 and 12 months which is outstanding
- Use rechargeable batteries in conjunction with your disposable batteries for best results and minimal inconvenience.
- If you haven’t used your rechargeable batteries in a week or so don’t assume that they are charged (unless you pull them out of the charger that is still on) make sure you give them a good charge before going to the Zoo or your favorite sporting event with your camera.

Cost savings

As mentioned, you can not only lighten your environmental footprint, but save a lot of money by using rechargeable batteries. I use rechargeable batteries in conjunction with disposable batteries. For example in my camera case I will have 2 sets of rechargeable’s and a set of Duracell Ultra Lithium AA as a back up (just in case the rechargeables fail, are flat, or i forget to recharge them).

You can purchase a 4 pack of AA rechargeable batteries for well under $20. They claim they will be good for at least 500 recharges, however I feel that performance starts to wane after about 300. Still great value in my opinion.

A battery charger starts at about $10 and works its way up depending on how many batteries it charges at once, how fast it can charge them, its features (12V cig input etc.) and the brand/quality.

The cost to recharge a set of batteries works out to to be just a couple of cents each time. So, in total, even factoring in the charger, a set of 4 AA will cost only a fraction of the cost of disposable batteries for their serviceable life.

Environmentally and financially, rechargeable batteries just make more sense. If you can, try using rechargeable batteries in conjunction with your disposable batteries. You will see financial benefits and you will also be doing you bit for the environment by making things just that little bit greener.

Enter Promo code HoHoHo and receives 5% off the total purchase!

Dont have disapointed kids on Christmas morning because you forgot to get the batteries for one of the many battery operated toys which almost always never come with batteries, i call it dissapointment in a box! Then you will be screaming around town town trying to find somewhere that is open, you will eventually find a Service Station and pay $25 to get the 6 D size batteries required to run your childs Ultra Mega Man Extreme Action Figurine that can walk and talk that you bought for him/her

Plenty of Christmas specials at Hollyhock Batteries. Anyone who purchases from HBP and enters promo code HoHoHo receives 5% off the total of their purchase until the 24th December 2010!!!!

We will be closed for business from 2pm on Friday the 24th December until the 3rd of January. Any orders placed during this time will be processed and sent out on the 3rd of January. 

Merry Christmas!!!!!  And Remember...      HoHoHo

So after a couple of weeks of using and testing the Duracell myGrid charger i can finally give some feedback on its performance.
The myGrid charger is a great concept, it is very simple to use and overall i love the product.

There are however two things that really frustrate me about the myGrid charger.

• Needing a power clip or power sleeve for every device that you want to charge on it. This itself can be costly but my problem lies with the actual power clip or the power sleeve. The clips/sleeves use the port that you use to connect to your computer to sycronize or to charge in your home/car. So in order to charge in the car or sycronize you phone/ipod with your computer you need to remove the clip/sleeve.

• So far it is not compatible with the iPhone 4 (they do not have a sleeve to suit). Duracell Australia have informed me that they have addressed this and the expected release date for it is January 2011.

To sum the myGrid up.
Great product, great concept, stylish looks but needs work to become a true drop and go solution (no power clips or sleeves). That said it suits my purpose well so i will continue to use it. Oh and would i buy one? Personally i only have the one device that needs charging so for the $$$ it would cost me it is not worth it. However if i had mutiple devices or family members with other devices i would definatley see the benifits of buying a myGrid charger.

SMART POWER SIMPLIFIED

myGrid’s drop-and-go technology makes charging your mobile devices effortless while also getting rid of cord clutter. Just put a Power Sleeve™ or Power Clip™ on each of your handheld devices and then simply place them on myGrid to charge.

The myGrid Cell Phone Starter Kit comes with a Power Clip designed for BlackBerry®, Motorola® and Nokia® cell phones. myGrid works with most cell phones, handheld devices and MP3 players. See the COMPATIBILITY tab below for a full list of compatible devices.

Devices using myGrid

• Drop-and-go charging for up to 4 devices at once
• Safely shuts off when it detects touch
• Eliminates cord clutter Requires a cord, mobile devices being charged do not
• Ultra-slim profile
• As fast as standard chargers*

*Based on USB 2.0.

• Use the correct size and type of battery specified by the manufacturer of your device.
• Keep battery contact surfaces and battery compartment contacts clean by rubbing them with a clean pencil eraser or a rough cloth each time you replace batteries.
• Remove batteries from a device when it is not expected to be in use for several months.
• Remove batteries from equipment while it is being powered by household (AC) current.
• Make sure that you insert batteries into your device properly, with the + (plus) and – (minus) terminals aligned correctly. CAUTION: Some equipment using more than three batteries may appear to work properly even if one battery is inserted incorrectly.
• Store batteries in a dry place at normal room temperature. Most Duracell batteries will provide dependable long life even after five years of storage in these conditions. Do not refrigerate Duracell batteries, this will not make them last longer.
• Extreme temperatures reduce battery performance. Avoid putting battery-powered devices in very warm places.
• Do not attempt to recharge a battery unless the battery specifically is marked “rechargeable.”

DISPOSING OF GENERAL PURPOSE & ALKALINE BATTERIES

Alkaline batteries can be safely disposed of with normal household waste. Never dispose of batteries in fire because they could explode.

Due to concerns about mercury in the municipal solid waste stream, we have voluntarily eliminated all of the added mercury from our alkaline batteries since 1993, while maintaining the performance you demand. Our alkaline batteries are composed primarily of common metals—steel, zinc, and manganese—and do not pose a health or environmental risk during normal use or disposal.

It is important not to dispose of large amounts of alkaline batteries in a group. Used batteries are often not completely "dead." Grouping used batteries together can bring these "live" batteries into contact with one another, creating safety risks.

Proven cost-effective and environmentally safe recycling processes are not yet universally available for alkaline batteries. Some communities offer recycling or collection of alkaline batteries—contact your local government for disposal practices in your area.

RECYCLING BATTERIES WITH OTHER CHEMISTRIES

Due to the chemicals in them, you should recycle rechargeable, lithium, lithium ion, and zinc air batteries.

In addition to “traditional” rechargeable batteries like AAs or AAAs, rechargeable batteries like the ones found in everyday household items such as cameras, cell phones, laptops, and power tools should also be recycled. Look for the battery recycling seals on rechargeable batteries.

Car batteries containing lead should be brought only to waste management centers, where they can eventually be recycled. Because of the value of their materials, many auto retailers and service centers will "buy back" your used car batteries for recycling.

As part of our commitment to the preservation of the environment, we help fund the nonprofit Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC) and its Call2Recycle® program. To find a rechargeable battery recycling location near you.

The Home Depot and Best Buy often collect batteries and electronics for recycling.