D Battery for Everyday Use
By Anne Ahira
D batteries are some of the most common standard batteries as they satisfy dozens of power needs. Everything from radios to portable speakers to flashlights, depend on the D battery to operate. In this article we are going to take a look at a few of the common chemistries for the D battery and how they can be used to enhance the performance and save consumers money.
To begin with, the D battery is the largest of the standard size batteries. Not surprisingly, the reason why it is so large is that it is used to satisfy high power needs. For example, a heavy- duty flashlight requires a lot of power to produce a steady stream of light, and it simply could not function without a large enough battery.
The most common type of D battery is the standard alkaline battery. These are the ones you see in the little bubble packs on the racks in supermarkets across the nation. They usually cost a few dollars and do not have a long life span. Typically, alkaline batteries will only survive a few weeks of heavy usage, depending upon your power needs. For instance, a flashlight with alkaline batteries that is used every day likely won’t last for very long before it runs low on juice and you have to start shaking it to make it work.
Another common type of D battery is the lithium variety. These batteries have a longer life span than alkaline batteries and as a result they are slightly more expensive. How much longer will they last? Again, it really does depend on the brand and what the battery is being used for. Generally speaking though, the lithium battery is more effective for high-power uses, like flashlights and portable speakers, while alkaline batteries still hold up fairly well in lower power devices like children’s toys or radios.
Then there is the rechargeable D battery. They are available in two popular versions-NICD and NIMH rechargeable batteries. The appeal of these batteries is fairly obviously. For one thing, owners save a bunch of money because they don’t have to throw their batteries away every few weeks or months. That also means that rechargeable batteries are good for the environment, since batteries can corrode and seep harmful chemicals in the ground or water. They also help preserve metals and cut down on factory costs and the pollutants they create.
However, the rechargeable D battery is far from perfect. To begin with, all rechargeable batteries provide comparably low power and they may not produce the same high performance that you have become accustomed to with regular alkaline and lithium batteries. They are also quite expensive. The average rechargeable battery will set you back about five times as much as alkaline batteries. And while rechargeable batteries do last much longer than any of the other alternatives, they are far from ever-lasting. In fact, the average battery can be recharged only about 1000 times.
Sure, that may seem like a lot. But remember that you will likely receive inferior performance and that these batteries will need to be recharged frequently. In all likelihood, a rechargeable battery will last for a year and a half, maybe two.
We have additional information on this subject you may be interested in reading: mp3 waterproof and automotive battery
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