It is rational to use disposable batteries only in conjunction with equipment that consumes low power. In all other cases, rechargeable batteries should be used. They can be recharged multiple times, resulting in significant cost savings.
Instructions
Step 1
Do not charge non-reusable batteries. This can cause electrolyte leakage and even explosion. It is especially dangerous to try to charge disposable lithium batteries: a high temperature ignition of lithium metal is a fire hazard.
Step 2
An exception to the above rule can be made for alkaline manganese-zinc batteries (it is on them that the word alkaline is written). They can be charged with asymmetric alternating current, the value of which in milliamperes is equal to one tenth of the capacity, expressed in milliampere-hours. The duty cycle of this current should be 0.5 (dimensionless value), the current in the charging direction should be equal to the above, and in the discharging direction - its half. The charging time is no more than 15 hours, and it should take place in a thick-walled box. Alkaline zinc-manganese cells withstand about 10 charging cycles. Compared to real batteries, this is very small.
Step 3
Charge nickel-cadmium and nickel-metal hydride batteries with a constant current, the value of which in milliamperes should also correspond to one tenth of the capacity, expressed in milliampere-hours. The charging time is also 15 hours.
Step 4
Lithium-ion batteries differ from disposable lithium batteries in that they contain lithium in a non-metallic form. Thanks to this, they can be charged, but homemade devices cannot be used for this. Use only factory chargers for this. If it is supposed to power, say, a home-made flashlight from a battery intended for a mobile phone, the battery can be charged in a suitable working phone. Also, such batteries can be charged with a universal device called a "frog" in the jargon. To do this, when it is turned off, clamp the battery in it, press the contact springs to the negative and positive contacts, and then, pressing the polarity switch button, achieve the LED glow. Plug in the device and the second LED will start blinking. Stop charging when it stops flashing.
