Have you ever had your battery-powered device run out of battery power at the absolute worst time possible? For example, has your TV remote died right before you need to change the channel to watch an important program? Has your cell phone died while on or expecting an important call? Has your laptop shut down right before you finish writing an important document? There are examples of this happening every day, and it can be quite frustrating. However, this problem can be remedied by keeping certain types of batteries on hand as backups. By making sure you have extra batteries stored somewhere, you can ensure your downtime from dead batteries is kept at a minimum. Of course, the practicality of doing this depends on the size, price, and frequency of failure for the batteries in question. So you must determine which batteries are the ones you will go through the most, be able to store the easiest, and be able to afford the most of. That being said, here are some general tips for keeping extra backup batteries available.
At Home
In your home, the most common batteries used are probably AA, AAA, C, D, and 9 Volt batteries. Your remotes for the TV, stereo, and DVD player probably take AAs or AAAs. Remotes can go through batteries fairly quickly and can go through 2-4 at a time. Because of this, and because they are common in many devices, it is a good idea to keep at least 12-24 AA and AAA batteries on hand at a time. These batteries are fairly inexpensive and quite small, making them ideal for mass storage.
C and D batteries, although bigger and pricier than AA and AAA batteries, are good to keep if you use a lot of flashlights or lanterns and are prone to power outages. They are also used in things like portable radios, making them serve a double purpose when the power is out.
9 volt batteries should be kept on hand and fresh because they are used in smoke detectors and their correct function is often a life or death necessity.
At the Office
At your office or workplace, many of the same suggestion are still valid. Cordless computer keyboards and mice take AA or AAA batteries and can use them up quite quickly. The same rule for 9 volt batteries for smoke detectors is valid here as well, although building maintenance personnel are usually responsible for smoke detectors. Another good battery to keep on hand at the office is an extra battery for your cordless phone. These batteries usually have a shelf life of 1-2 years, so keeping several on hand may be a bit excessive. however, keeping one on hand will ensure you aren't left without the use of your phone for an extended period of time.
Also make sure you have some extra batteries for your clocks and calculators. These are small batteries that people usually neglect, but they are cheap to buy in bulk and easily stashed in a drawer somewhere. Replacing these types of batteries on a schedule rather than whenever the old battery dies will help avoid unexpected interruptions in using the calculator or missing a deadline or appointment because the clock is wrong.
In the Car
There are three battery-related items you should keep in your vehicle at all times. First, you should always keep a flashlight and several sets of spare batteries for it. Next, you should invest in a jumper/generator box which can jump your car battery or power some portable devices for short periods of time. And lastly, you should consider getting a power adapter which will allow you to use AC powered devices with your vehicle's cigarette lighter socket.
Author Resource:
Bobby George is a technical writer for Low Cost Batteries , a large online retailer offering laptop batteries, power tool batteries, cell phone batteries, camcorder batteries, and much more.Distributed by Content Crooner
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