Nickel-metal hydride batteries (NiMH) are the best rechargeable cells to use.
Choosing the right type of battery for your home devices and electronics is hard enough, but knowing which is the most efficient and long lasting can be even harder. With any battery type you should be looking out for high capacities and increased energy densities--you should also look out for practical advantages like a cell being rechargeable and the correct size for your device.
Oxyride Batteries and High-Drain Alkalines
Oxyride and alkaline cells are the most common household batteries. These batteries are used to power most home items and electronics, which make them ideal for people who don't use many batteries and are not interested in recharging used-up cells. Both battery types are very cheap, but--of the two--oxyride batteries cost slightly more and last much longer than alkaline cells. High-drain alkalines are a type of alkaline that you can buy for high-drain devices like digital cameras. Common brands include Duracell Ultra and Kodak Photolife, and these are much better batteries than standard alkalines. According to Michael Bluejay's Battery Guide website, alkaline batteries don't vary much between brands, so buy cheaper generic company cells when you see them.
Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH) Batteries
Nickel-metal hydride batteries--usually abbreviated to NiMH--are great for everyday electronic use and are far superior to the similar nickel cadmium cells (NiCd). NiMH batteries are commonly used in low-cost consumer devices like electric razors, cameras and automotive batteries. NiMH batteries are rechargeable and cost roughly the same as a NiCd--what makes them better though is their high capacity and energy density (40 percent higher than a NiCd). One of the drawbacks to a NiMH battery is its high self-discharge rate, which means it will still go dead after a few months even if you don't use it. This makes them best used in everyday devices and not emergency electronics like torches and smoke detectors.
LiPo Batteries
Lithium-ion polymer batteries--also known as LiPo batteries--are the rechargeable cells that offer a long-lasting and lightweight alternative to batteries that are not rechargeable. LiPo batteries are commonly used in remote control RC vehicles like helicopters and planes. According to the RC Fun Helicopter website, the better LiPo batteries are ones that contain a high capacity and discharge rate. Capacity is measured in milliamp hours (mAh) and tells you how much load it can take to be depleted in an hour. The higher the mAh value, the longer the cell will last. Some of the recommended LiPo manufacturers include FlightPower, Thunder Power and Hobby King. LiPo batteries will run out of power eventually, so you must buy a charger to avoid your RC vehicle breaking down mid-session.
Batteries to Avoid
Rechargeable alkaline batteries--like those by Pure Energy and AccuCell--are a bad choice for a rechargeable cell. These alkaline batteries can't be recharged nearly as many times as a nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) or nickel cadmium cell (NiCd), and they also can't be used in high-drain devices such as digital cameras. The capacity of these rechargeable alkalines also drops every time they are used--this makes them increasingly ineffective over time. Lithium batteries should also be avoided: they are expensive, non-rechargeable and toxic, which means they cannot be thrown in the trash. NiMH batteries are a better choice if you are considering using a lithium cell.
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