Galvanic cells – under this special name are batteries used in everyday life to power various electronic equipment. AAA and AA batteries are the most frequently used batteries. However, there are alternatives for them, because ordinary variants wear out quickly, and buying piles of replacement pairs does not translate favourably either into funds or the environment.
Batteries must be disposed of safely after use. They must not be mixed with ordinary waste, as groundwater may be contaminated by leakage of the electrolyte in them. Used batteries (and not only) can always be returned in electric shops or thrown into special containers, but unfortunately not everyone uses this solution.
Rechargeable batteries, i.e. batteries to be recharged, have an advantage not only in terms of economy, but also ecology, as they do not need to be disposed of after each use.
What do we gain from rechargeable batteries?
Rechargeable batteries have a big advantage over regular batteries. Although they are efficient, they won’t provide power forever. Ordinary batteries can fail at the least appropriate time, and when there is no replacement, the user faces a serious problem. Almost everyone in their life has tried to fix their TV remote control or mouse by shaking or hitting them in the hope that they will work again. Unfortunately, it was not always successful and you had to “borrow” batteries from another device. Batteries allow you to let go of such problems and situations.
Choosing between traditional batteries and rechargeable batteries depends on your own needs as well as your equipment. For example, when using a lot of controlled toys, gaming pads or small kitchen tools for batteries, you have to reckon with the fact that a new battery (or batteries) will be needed more quickly than later. On the other hand, appliances with low power consumption, such as TV remote controls, have a lower power requirement and one ordinary battery can run for several months. Both batteries (AA) and small rechargeable batteries (AAA) are available in the shop.
A good alternative
Batteries are the best alternative to ordinary batteries. The option of making a large stock of batteries to always have easy access to energy is unprofitable and harmful to the environment, and even more so they need to be disposed of more often. The cumulative cost of buying replacement batteries far exceeds the one-time purchase of rechargeable batteries. They will be an investment that will definitely pay off.
Author: Leszek Jasiński
