I have an electronic scale that uses a 9v battery and it says "use alkaline
batteries only". I prefer to use rechargeable NiMH batteries. How can the
product tell the difference (or can it) and what would be the problem, if
any, of using non-alkaline batteries in such a product.

Thanks,
noozer

BE wrote in
:

I have an electronic scale that uses a 9v battery and it says "use
alkaline batteries only". I prefer to use rechargeable NiMH
batteries. How can the product tell the difference (or can it) and
what would be the problem, if any, of using non-alkaline batteries in
such a product.

Thanks,
noozer


Rechargable batteries tend to have a lower voltage than non-rechargable,
so the voltage difference might cause trouble. My guess is the "Use
alkaline batteries only" is there because the manufacturer knows the
device likes to eat batteries for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Puckdropper
--
Wise is the man who attempts to answer his question before asking it.

To email me directly, send a message to puckdropper (at) fastmail.fm

"Puckdropper" wrote in message
reenews.net...
BE wrote in
:

I have an electronic scale that uses a 9v battery and it says "use
alkaline batteries only". I prefer to use rechargeable NiMH
batteries. How can the product tell the difference (or can it) and
what would be the problem, if any, of using non-alkaline batteries in
such a product.

Thanks,
noozer


Rechargable batteries tend to have a lower voltage than non-rechargable,
so the voltage difference might cause trouble. My guess is the "Use
alkaline batteries only" is there because the manufacturer knows the
device likes to eat batteries for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Puckdropper
--
Wise is the man who attempts to answer his question before asking it.

To email me directly, send a message to puckdropper (at) fastmail.fm

Or pehaps the current drain is so low that alkalines will last for years,
and rechargables will self discharge in days to weeks. For low drain
devices like clocks, calculators, and scales with LCD displays, or other
infrequently used devices, rechargables do not really make sense. Alkalines
have a shelf life of several years.

CK

"CJK" wrote in
:


"Puckdropper" wrote in message
reenews.net...
BE wrote in
:

I have an electronic scale that uses a 9v battery and it says "use
alkaline batteries only". I prefer to use rechargeable NiMH
batteries. How can the product tell the difference (or can it) and
what would be the problem, if any, of using non-alkaline batteries
in such a product.

Thanks,
noozer


Rechargable batteries tend to have a lower voltage than
non-rechargable, so the voltage difference might cause trouble. My
guess is the "Use alkaline batteries only" is there because the
manufacturer knows the device likes to eat batteries for breakfast,
lunch, and dinner.

Puckdropper
--
Wise is the man who attempts to answer his question before asking it.

To email me directly, send a message to puckdropper (at) fastmail.fm

Or pehaps the current drain is so low that alkalines will last for
years, and rechargables will self discharge in days to weeks. For low
drain devices like clocks, calculators, and scales with LCD displays,
or other infrequently used devices, rechargables do not really make
sense. Alkalines have a shelf life of several years.

CK



Very good point!

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net

In article ews.net,
Puckdropper wrote:
Rechargable batteries tend to have a lower voltage than non-rechargable,
so the voltage difference might cause trouble. My guess is the "Use
alkaline batteries only" is there because the manufacturer knows the
device likes to eat batteries for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

However, the terminal usable voltage of an alkaline will be very similar
to that of a Ni-Cad, etc.

--
*Succeed, in spite of management *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote:

In article ews.net,
Puckdropper wrote:
Rechargable batteries tend to have a lower voltage than non-rechargable,
so the voltage difference might cause trouble. My guess is the "Use
alkaline batteries only" is there because the manufacturer knows the
device likes to eat batteries for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

However, the terminal usable voltage of an alkaline will be very similar
to that of a Ni-Cad, etc.

I discovered recently that Duracell quote battery lifetime to 50% of initial
voltage ! Any rechargeable will be far better.

Graham

BE wrote:
I have an electronic scale that uses a 9v battery and it says "use alkaline
batteries only". I prefer to use rechargeable NiMH batteries. How can the
product tell the difference (or can it) and what would be the problem, if
any, of using non-alkaline batteries in such a product.


Hi...

The voltage of a brand new alkaline is 1.5 volts. The
voltage of a freshly charged nimh or nicd is 1.2 volts.

The likelihood is that your scale will see the 1.2 volts,
and decide that the battery is due for replacement - at worst
refuse to operate; at best tell you to change the battery.

Take care.

Ken

Ken Weitzel wrote:

BE wrote:
I have an electronic scale that uses a 9v battery and it says "use alkaline
batteries only". I prefer to use rechargeable NiMH batteries. How can the
product tell the difference (or can it) and what would be the problem, if
any, of using non-alkaline batteries in such a product.


Hi...

The voltage of a brand new alkaline is 1.5 volts. The
voltage of a freshly charged nimh or nicd is 1.2 volts.

The likelihood is that your scale will see the 1.2 volts,
and decide that the battery is due for replacement - at worst
refuse to operate; at best tell you to change the battery.

According to Duracell, an alkaline battery isn't dead until it reaches 0.75V !

Incidentally, you can get '9V' alkalines with 7 or 8 cells ( 8.4 or 9.6 V ).

Graham

Eeyore wrote:

Ken Weitzel wrote:


BE wrote:

I have an electronic scale that uses a 9v battery and it says "use alkaline
batteries only". I prefer to use rechargeable NiMH batteries. How can the
product tell the difference (or can it) and what would be the problem, if
any, of using non-alkaline batteries in such a product.


Hi...

The voltage of a brand new alkaline is 1.5 volts. The
voltage of a freshly charged nimh or nicd is 1.2 volts.

The likelihood is that your scale will see the 1.2 volts,
and decide that the battery is due for replacement - at worst
refuse to operate; at best tell you to change the battery.


According to Duracell, an alkaline battery isn't dead until it reaches 0.75V !

Incidentally, you can get '9V' alkalines with 7 or 8 cells ( 8.4 or 9.6 V ).


You mean NiCd? Most "9V" rechareables are 7.2V. 9V alkaline batteries
consist of 6 1.5V cells which add up to an even 9V.

James Sweet wrote:

Eeyore wrote:
Ken Weitzel wrote:
BE wrote:

I have an electronic scale that uses a 9v battery and it says "use alkaline
batteries only". I prefer to use rechargeable NiMH batteries. How can the
product tell the difference (or can it) and what would be the problem, if
any, of using non-alkaline batteries in such a product.


Hi...

The voltage of a brand new alkaline is 1.5 volts. The
voltage of a freshly charged nimh or nicd is 1.2 volts.

The likelihood is that your scale will see the 1.2 volts,
and decide that the battery is due for replacement - at worst
refuse to operate; at best tell you to change the battery.


According to Duracell, an alkaline battery isn't dead until it reaches 0.75V !

Incidentally, you can get '9V' alkalines with 7 or 8 cells ( 8.4 or 9.6 V ).

You mean NiCd? Most "9V" rechareables are 7.2V. 9V alkaline batteries
consist of 6 1.5V cells which add up to an even 9V.

NiMH. I don't know what made me type alkaline !

I have one right here that I recharged a month or two ago and its current terminal
voltage is 8.99V.

Graham

Ken Weitzel wrote in
news:vL9Xg.123066$5R2.19152@pd7urf3no:

BE wrote:
I have an electronic scale that uses a 9v battery and it says "use
alkaline batteries only". I prefer to use rechargeable NiMH
batteries. How can the product tell the difference (or can it) and
what would be the problem, if any, of using non-alkaline batteries in
such a product.


Hi...

The voltage of a brand new alkaline is 1.5 volts. The
voltage of a freshly charged nimh or nicd is 1.2 volts.

actually,it's more like 1.4v



--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net

Jim Yanik wrote:

Ken Weitzel wrote
BE wrote:
I have an electronic scale that uses a 9v battery and it says "use
alkaline batteries only". I prefer to use rechargeable NiMH
batteries. How can the product tell the difference (or can it) and
what would be the problem, if any, of using non-alkaline batteries in
such a product.


Hi...

The voltage of a brand new alkaline is 1.5 volts. The
voltage of a freshly charged nimh or nicd is 1.2 volts.

actually,it's more like 1.4v

1.3 but not for long.

Graham