New battery technology.

[David Farber <farber@central.cis.upenn.edu>]

From: larryh@techbook.techbook.com (Larry Hutchinson)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.pen,comp.sys.newton.misc,comp.sys.mac.hardware
Subject: New battery technology.
Date: 17 Sep 93 13:39:58 GMT
Organization: TECHbooks - Public Access


According to an artice in Electronics Products Magazine
(August, p21) Rayovac has come out with a rechargeable
alkaline battery call "Renewal".


These batteries initially have about 3 times the capacity
of nickel-cadmiums. As they are recharged they loose
capacity until after 25 charges they have dropped to about
the level of NiCd cells. They can be recharged up to 100
times but you would probably throw them away after 20 or
so charges since their high capacity is kinda' the whole
point.


Unlike NiCd cells, they have a very low self-discharge
rate, holding a charge up to 5 years. Also they have
no memory effect.


Price will be about $5 for a 4 pack of AAA cells. The
charger will cost $15.


No, you will not be able to charge them in the Newton.
The recharger monitors each cell individually during
charging.


I called Rayovac and asked about availability. They
said that they are already available in some markets and
should be universally available at the end of September.
Expect to find them in Target, Walmart, drug stores
and the like.


Larry Hutchinson

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