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I bought some from Dicksmith Marion store yesterday.
DS Batteries 16xaa + 20xaaa $2 @ DickSmith
DS Batteries 16xAA + 20xAAA $2 @ Dick Smith
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monty.melb on 08/04/2016 - 18:24 dicksmith.com.au (1620 clicks)
Last edited 02/05/2016 - 13:17 by 1 other user
Last edited 02/05/2016 - 13:17 by 1 other user
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Best of luck to those who can find stock - I went to DS Rosebud (VIC) yesterday and all that was inside was 10-15 LCD TV's with 20% ticket (Meh), heaps of purple Galaxy S5 cases lying on the shelves and a few hay bales rolling around!
Same at DS Point Cook (VIC)
Did they try to sell you those hay bales?
Nah the guy behind the desk was too preoccupied with fervently protecting his 'stash' of products under the counter! :P
Lol, the Melbourne CBD Dick Smith looks ransacked, I doubt they have any small items anymore, just PCs/Laptops and phone cases. :(
must be the batteries from the eftpos scanners at the counter by now…
I feel guilty using these cheap disposable batteries. Does anyone do anything with them when they are used?
Why feel guilty? They are much more convenient than rechargeables, and they last HEAPS longer in almost all devices.
On Ozbargain people are obsessed with Eneloops etc but the real world (especially young families) cannot cope with rechargeables - it's just too hard. The WAF of rechargables is a negative number.
Furthermore, many devices just don't work well on rechargables. You get a tiny percentage of their capacity, perhaps from 1.35 (absolutely full) down to 1.2V then the device is dead. You get maybe 10% of the capacity, then back to the recharger it goes… so frustrating!
Does anyone do anything with them when they are used?
Yeah, I collect all the Alkalines only - keep all of them that are above 1.2V or perhaps 1.1V
Then I put them in LED lights that are driven off a "Joule Thief" circuit. The remaining capacity will drive the LEDs for days (weeks), pretty much for free. When they hit 0.70-0.8V they are pretty much empty, then what I do is chuck them in the rubbish bin.
I don't know what real world you live in but I use eneloops A LOT with my family. Devices that don't require the remote to be replaced like IR remotes and clocks, and crappy toys that get left on get alkalines. We use Eneloops for everything else - console controllers, camera flashes, cameras that take AA.
Rechargables only work OK in a family situation if you have a "battery champion" for them who manages all the recharging duties, etc. By default, that role falls to me and I am buggered if I am going to waste my time stressing out over a few bucks annual savings that probably doesn't actually make financial sense anyway.
My family (like most who are focussed on normal things in life) cannot grasp the difference between rechargables and disposables. Most people see a battery as a battery, and they see no difference between a $3 Eneloop and any other AA cell. Especially when they are trying to find replacements coz their device has just died.
My best charger is currently in pieces so I can repair it ONCE AGAIN for internal corrosion caused by it being loaded with Alkalines which were left on charge for a week and leaked corrosive goo everywhere. However, the family happily chuck the rechargables away, as they "didn't know that you wanted those ones kept" and complain "why do you have to make things so complicated".
Personally I don't mind rechargables for some applications, however their life is frustratingy short due to the lower voltages (as I explained above but most people cannot grasp). But there is no way in the world that I am interested in being battery manager for something that is so insignificant in the overall scheme of things.
They say "happy wife, happy life". In my case, it's "happy family, happy life". And rechargable batteries don't give me ANY enjoyment, they make my life worse. I gladly pay a couple of bucks every few months to save myself grief. Life is too short to fight over a few batteries.
And if you are using lots and lots of AA's, then you really need to reassess the kind of appliances that you continue to purchase, as you are doing it wrong. I mean truly, what kind of cheapskate idiot would purchase (say) a camera that doesn't take a lithium cell? Why would anybody purchase a console controller that uses disposable AA's? I can see absolutely no reason EVER to choose a device that uses AA or AAA over the superior weight, higher power density and infinitely superior performance of a lithium.
In my place, if we have a choice then we use Lithium. If not, then almost everything else are devices that have INTERNAL rechargable NiMH batteries, like our Panasonic phone, the Game Controllers, my Logitech mouse, etc. At our place, we charge devices not batteries. Any other devices that are not designed for internal NiMH usually don't work properly with NiMH in them, as they need the extra voltage of Alkalines and will cut-off at 1.2V that NiMH run at.
It's 2016 now - the time has come to let go of the poxy old-school NiMH AA's and AAA's - they simply aren't worth the time and effort, they are just crap. Who still uses a mobile phone that uses AA or AAA's, let alone NiMH? Sheesh.
Sorry but not being able to tell the difference between rechargable and alkaline is pretty weak. I have a charger upstairs and both my wife and my 7 year old both recharge batteries. My daughter is 5 and soon she will too. Swap over batteries, putting the others on charge is just what you do if a Wii or Xbox controller dies. I've made it really easy for them and they know not to throw away eneloops and a couple of other brands of LSD battery. Every once in while they do lose some batteries. I've perhaps lost 4 in the last couple of years. That annoys sometimes me given what they cost but I'm willing to live with it.
Now I wish I could get them to be more conscientious about dumping the photos off their camera cards and devices. Would save me a mountain of time. But I digress.
I haven't hit too many devices that can't handle the lower voltage.
And to me 2016 should mean we're all using standard batteries, not 1000 different proprietary and worse inaccessible non-user-replacable inbuilt batteries that mean you either have to play MacGyver or throw away a perfectly good device once the kids kill the internal battery by forgetting to put the thing on charge a half dozen times. (That is my worst complaint about the Samsung tablets we own).
Sorry but not being able to tell the difference between rechargable and alkaline is pretty weak
Some people just don't give a hoot, and to them "a battery is a battery". Noticing and caring are important - my spouse is not the kind of person who chooses things based on price or value. That's the difference between Ozbargainers and normal people LOL…
And to me 2016 should mean we're all using standard batteries
What a nice dream. What size, capacity etc should these new "standard batteries" be? Anyway, even if we did have a range of standard batteries, it should not be using totally outdated technologies like NiMH.
My current thoughts are that the best compromise is the LifePo4 cells, as they can cope with even higher currents than LiPo and Li-Ion, plus also don't have the limited number of charge cycles.
But it's impossible to get good cheap charge controller chips for them. So, it's a PITA to charge them…. have to remove and recharge using a RC LiPo charger (set up specifically for the 3.2V LifePo4's).
Yet for LiPo it's easy to add a large flat LiPo and a 70c TP4057 PCB with MicroUSB socket, and convert many devices from 3.0V 2xAA to 3.6V Lithium.
and worse inaccessible non-user-replacable inbuilt batteries… (That is my worst complaint about the Samsung tablets we own).
Nobody would accept a Phone or Tablet that was 2 or 3 times the thickness in order to accommodate AA Eneloops LOL.
Any decent product will have a inbuilt charge controller to prevent battery failure due to over-discharge. For something like a Samsung Tablet, you should be able to leave them for a year without charging and the cells would still be OK.
My wife is not an ozbargainer, but she does know the difference.
I don't want bargain basement exploding LiPos and they're temperamental about what percentage charge you store them at. I'd be happy with standard NiMh until something else is perfected. I've seen batteries go from NiCd to NiMh to LSD NiMh in about 15 years.
Oh and I'd happily put up with a battery wart if it meant my tablet wouldn't be thrown out or require me to fat-fingered-fix the thing just because my kids didn't put it back on charge a few times.
Everything I've read about Lion says not to completely run them to flat and that it's better to top them up than let them go to zero.
Oh and I'd happily put up with a battery wart if it meant my tablet wouldn't be thrown out or require me to fat-fingered-fix the thing just because my kids didn't put it back on charge a few times.
Sorry, I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about.
You don't have to throw away or repair your Samsung tablet when the battery "goes flat". You simply recharge it.
Devices that use Lithium batteries have "charge controllers" inside them, and these incorporate the BMS (battery management system). These circuits control the charging current etc, which allows you to use a simple DC voltage (eg: a USB port) to charge a complex battery technology.
The BMS does a number of things. It limits the discharge current, which means if you attempt to overload the battery, it will switch off. And it limits the discharge voltage, so that the battery switches off at a suitable safe voltage.
Typically the nominal voltage is 3.7V per cell, and capacity works like this:
http://the-writers.club/winterwang/wp-content/uploads/sites/…
the BMS typically switches the battery off at 3.3V per cell.
Everything I've read about Lion says not to completely run them to flat and that it's better to top them up than let them go to zero.
You cannot run a protected battery (ie" inside a phone) completely flat. They automatically switch off well above the "safe voltage".
When you see "zero" on the battery meter, that doesn't mean the battery is at zero volts. It means the battery is at about 3.4V, which means "recharge me".
It's the same as a camera that takes AA (Alkaline) cells. It will show "low battery" then switch off (apparently dead flat)… but when you measure the batteries you will find them reading about 1.1V, and not flat at all.
You don't have to run a battery to zero volts to shorten its life. 1.1v is plenty low. Also most devices don't have the most accurate battery meters and your "battery management system" is typically the cheapest circuit that does the job moat of the time.
You don't have to run a battery to zero volts to shorten its life. 1.1v is plenty low.
Not for an ALKALINE AA it's not. Discharging a AA to 1.1V doesn't "shorten it's life".
your "battery management system" is typically the cheapest circuit that does the job moat of the time
Oops - I mistakenly thought you seriously wanted information and knowledge, which is why I posted all that helpful information and facts about the situation.
Anyway, I am not interested in arguing with you about something that you obviously have absolutely no idea about. I'll leave you to it.
Aldi supermarkets have recycling bins for batteries
Does anyone do anything with them when they are used?
Yes you can recycle them, IME most public schools and local council offices have recycling bins for batteries.
You used to be able to buy a "reZap" charger that recharged alkalines a few times so prolonged their usefulness. Was from a company "digital works" in melbourne but havn't heard or seen from them in some time.
Glad these pricks are shutting down. Some clown (manager) 'Braydon' from Norwood SA said some vile things about my mother who went to pick up something I bought for her and they ended up giving it to someone else.. she went in several times and noone had a clue.. Got a call yesterday and supposedly found one but didn't want that abusive woman (my mother apparently) who was swearing, yellng, shouting, etc coming back into their store or they'd as her to leave. Shame they can get away with it..
it's not like they want to keep their job anyway…
I was in Dick Smith the other day and I overheard the 2 guys at the counter arguing over whether or not they could change the price of an item for a customer and the one who was changing the price said "I really couldn't care less, I am losing my job here anyway". I had a laugh and proceeded to hunt for bargains.
My understanding is that their entitlements are supposedly being paid from the proceeds of the fire sale. I think there are government programs that cover some entitlements if Dick Smith can't pay but not for everyone and everything, and it would take much more time to be paid. Assuming you're being truthful that employee is not very bright. They should care quite a bit.
Shame they can get away with it
Remember, the gift is in the giving! Most people can be won over if they are treated nicely.
When you go to collect your item, take the manager a nice fresh dog poo in a paper bag.
Hehe.. My mum can be quite nasty if she wants to be (way more than me and unfortunately I am an expat in different state or else I might drop by to my old stomping ground) but I don't believe for a second she was anything but courteous even having to go back several times.
A refund was processed moments after I hung up.. I wonder whether they ever had it (was one of those eneloop chargers) as the contact centre agent 'Marilyn' responded that there is no more stocks which the store confirmed and the 'transaction has been finalized under a different customer'.. A refund notice was given within an hour of speaking to the store.
Nevertheless.. I have plenty chargers including the eneloop one which I will send her or give her on my next trip.
I always found the CBD and the Norwood stores to have pretty rude staff :/ (not all the time though)
Went into Norwood a few times years ago and have to agree.. CBD seemed ok from memory.. Bendigo VIC (bit random) was awesome and got a freebie with no purchase.. or might have been the country town hospitality.
Because my mother is a little old Chinese lady, they pretended she was invisible until I chased a staff member down. This was at the Castle Hill store. Totally agree - glad they're shutting down.
Expiry date of batteries?
Be sure to dispose of these properly, like in the battery bins at ALDI etc and definately not just in the trash.
definately not just in the trash.
LOL - why not?
Alkaline batteries don't contain hazardous materials. They don't contain enough reclaimable material to make recycling viable.
If you put Alkaline batteries into a recycling bin, they are sorted out and then disposed of in landfill. You might as well just DIY.
Im unaware of the facts you are claiming. Can you provide a link?
It appears battery recycling is preffered; http://www.cleanup.org.au/au/Factsheets/batteries.htmlHousehold/single-use (AA, AAA, C and D or alkaline, carbon-zinc, lithium, silver-zinc): can be recycled, avoid landfill if possible
Nickel-cadmium (NiCd): used in rechargeable batteries, hazardous waste, must be recycled
Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) or Lithium-ion: used in laptops, non-hazardous waste, can be recycled
Button cell: used in hearing aids and watches, contain silver and mercury, hazardous waste, can be recycled
Automotive & sealed lead-based: used in car batteries, hazardous waste, can be recycled at auto part retailers or service stations.
- See more at: http://www.cleanup.org.au/au/Factsheets/batteries.html#sthas…Can you provide a link?
Why? You already linked and quoted for yourself.
Sheesh, surely it's not hard?
Alkaline batteries are NOT HAZARDOUS WASTE. This term means the opposite of the term "Hazardous waste".
Consider these 2 statements:
1. Uranium is hazardous waste.
2. Cardboard can be recycled.These 2 statements do not mean that cardboard is hazardous.
In the same way, the fact that a battery can be recycled has absolutely no bearing on whether it is hazardous or not.
You copy/pasted, so simply read that. Each kind of battery mentions if it is hazardous waste…
… and if it's not hazardous waste, then… (can you work it out) ???
You should mention that they are Alkalines (if they actually were so)
My immediate thought (based on the price) was that they would be Carbon Zinc "Heavy Duty".
The linked DS Webpage took about 10 seconds to open, so having Alkaline in title would make it easier for everyone :-)