very nice, very nice. my rechargables are on 57% after 1 week usage iirc. not too bad this time round.
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Apple Rechargable Batteries...Fully charged to 85% only
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On my side I just started using the original alkaline batteries to see how long the last while keeping the mouse always turned on. I first used it with Energizer Lithium AA and they lasted 6 months but I was always turning the mouse off after use and it wasn't used every days with my MacBook Pro.
I then Eneloop and they lasted a bit under 1 month before the % of charged started to drop quickly. I decided to charge them before getting the low battery warning. This was with leaving the mouse always on!
About the battery meter, it's normal to see around 80-90% with a full charge. It's because it's calibrated for alkaline batteries and NiMH batteries have a lower starting voltage. You will also note that the meter will quickly drop to around 60%, then very slowly down to around 40% then again quickly down to 0%. NiMH batteries have a much flatter discharge curve compared to alkaline batteries which have a more constant voltage drop during discharge. It gets worse with lithium AA, they have a very flat discharge rate (worse than NiMH) and they keep a high voltage. The meter will stay at 100% until there is about 10% charge left in the batteries, then it will drop quickly to 0%.
Also, alkaline are very bad for high drain devices like cameras where they will only last a few shots before the camera gives the low battery warning. Unlike a camera, a mouse is a very low drain device. Alkaline can have a capacity up to 3000 mAh with these devices. It's about the same capacity as Energizer Lithium AA! Those lithium AA are the best of them all as they keep their voltage with high drain, they have a very high capacity, they are lightweight and they don't leak. But... they are costly and aren't rechargeable. The low self discharge NiMH batteries have a capacity around 2000 mAh. That's 33% less! But again, they have their advantages, they are rechargeable! Even if they last a bit less longer in my mouse and in my keyboard, it's still worth it to use them. They will save cost in the long run.
[EDIT]I forgot! For people who still have old standard NiMH cells with capacities of 2500 mAh+, it's time for you to invest in low self discharge rechargeables. Those old cells were during capacity war... The internal stuff is that much packed up tightly that they tend to wear out much faster. They develop a very high rate of self-discharge. I had some Energizer lose their charge completely in under 5 days without using them and this, after only 10-15 cycles. With low self discharge batteries, they increased the thickness of the separator inside the cells and they are not packed tightly anymore hence the lower capacity. Even with the lower capacity, they are much better in all other areas![/EDIT]
I then Eneloop and they lasted a bit under 1 month before the % of charged started to drop quickly. I decided to charge them before getting the low battery warning. This was with leaving the mouse always on!
About the battery meter, it's normal to see around 80-90% with a full charge. It's because it's calibrated for alkaline batteries and NiMH batteries have a lower starting voltage. You will also note that the meter will quickly drop to around 60%, then very slowly down to around 40% then again quickly down to 0%. NiMH batteries have a much flatter discharge curve compared to alkaline batteries which have a more constant voltage drop during discharge. It gets worse with lithium AA, they have a very flat discharge rate (worse than NiMH) and they keep a high voltage. The meter will stay at 100% until there is about 10% charge left in the batteries, then it will drop quickly to 0%.
Also, alkaline are very bad for high drain devices like cameras where they will only last a few shots before the camera gives the low battery warning. Unlike a camera, a mouse is a very low drain device. Alkaline can have a capacity up to 3000 mAh with these devices. It's about the same capacity as Energizer Lithium AA! Those lithium AA are the best of them all as they keep their voltage with high drain, they have a very high capacity, they are lightweight and they don't leak. But... they are costly and aren't rechargeable. The low self discharge NiMH batteries have a capacity around 2000 mAh. That's 33% less! But again, they have their advantages, they are rechargeable! Even if they last a bit less longer in my mouse and in my keyboard, it's still worth it to use them. They will save cost in the long run.
[EDIT]I forgot! For people who still have old standard NiMH cells with capacities of 2500 mAh+, it's time for you to invest in low self discharge rechargeables. Those old cells were during capacity war... The internal stuff is that much packed up tightly that they tend to wear out much faster. They develop a very high rate of self-discharge. I had some Energizer lose their charge completely in under 5 days without using them and this, after only 10-15 cycles. With low self discharge batteries, they increased the thickness of the separator inside the cells and they are not packed tightly anymore hence the lower capacity. Even with the lower capacity, they are much better in all other areas![/EDIT]
which is a very annoying problem when you use rechargeable in, say, an xbox controller. I put them in fully charged and they read about 3/4 full. And the controller dies when they are still actually 1/2 filled.
Stop me from being cynical but this seems a little like the iP4 antenna issue.
Batteries do not charge to 100%. This is normal behaviour for a battery.
Yeah, right Steve.
It's actually worse than that, the battery gauge is potentially almost useless (if it's designed for alkalines). This is due to the LSD NiMH batteries voltage not dropping linearly. Their discharge curve is very flat. So what should happen is the reading should show as around the same for most of the discharge, until the end when it will drop rapidly.
Yes this is normal, the gauge is calibrated for alkalines... Think of 85% as a 100% when using NiMH batteries.
Hum, I use rechargeables a lot in my XBOX controllers and when it dies, the batteries are really empty... Again, the gauge is calibrated for alkalines too on the XBOX controller.