Batteriser discussion

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Disrespective

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Topic # 177258 28-Jul-2015 09:09

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/batteriser-extend-battery-life-by-up-to-8x#/story

These purport to extend the life of a battery by 8x, but it seems too good to be true...?

There is a little back story (conspiracy theory) about how the guy who invented them had the designs and prototypes stolen from his home blah blah blah.

I've ordered some and will give them a go later in the year when they arrive. Has anyone else?

nathan

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Reply # 1353143 28-Jul-2015 09:22

definitely sounds too good to be true

freitasm

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Reply # 1353147 28-Jul-2015 09:25

It probably doesn't do anything. It is on them to prove it does. Just words on a website is not evidence.

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Jase2985

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Reply # 1353156 28-Jul-2015 09:37

freitasm: It probably doesn't do anything. It is on them to prove it does. Just words on a website is not evidence.

yep, no real explanation on how it works either

notesgnome

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Reply # 1353159 28-Jul-2015 09:44

One person supports this post

This seems to disprove it (not going to attempt to embed the youtube)

https://youtu.be/4iEshd6izgk

timmmay

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Reply # 1353160 28-Jul-2015 09:45

Looks like a DC to DC voltage booster. Probably easier to just use rechargeable batteries and charge as required.

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gbwelly

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Reply # 1353162 28-Jul-2015 09:45

They will work with devices that don't include a built in voltage booster. Unfortunately most decent devices already include one. When you investigate the device you usually end up reading about this.

Bung

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Reply # 1353180 28-Jul-2015 10:05

Maybe threads like this will shine some light.
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?402188-Batteriser-Wonderful-Alkaline-Helper-or-This-Weeks-Smoke-amp-Mirrors

I have a Canon camera that is very picky about voltage and shuts down at times when there is still plenty of capacity left. If something like Batteriser maintains a fixed output voltage it would stop poor designs like the Canon refusing to turn on. Other equipment may not need a voltage booster.

sleemanj

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Reply # 1354263 29-Jul-2015 11:24

This device is complete and utter nonsense.

If it's not obvious from the fact that this is a DC-DC converter, which is going to have an efficiency probably about 80% and is likely as not to waste more energy, is going to mess with capacity detection (think safe shut down when writing EEPROM, FLASH etc), then Dave Jone's video above spells it out, and also his more recent one measuring AA capacity when depleted to various voltage levels.

Simply put, devices do not waste much of an AA's capacity, most well designed devices should get down to 1v or lower/cell loaded before giving up at which point there is so little energy left as your efforts are pointless, especially given the wastage of the batteriser itself in it's inherent inefficiency. If you're losing 10-20% from inefficiencys in the boost converter to get that last 5-10% in the battery... probably not such a brilliant plan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hs_9vx9APw

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sleemanj

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Reply # 1354267 29-Jul-2015 11:28

I've ordered some and will give them a go later in the year when they arrive.

When you give them a go, remember this is geekzone, make your assessment more than just anecdotal. Science!

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richms

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Reply # 1354427 29-Jul-2015 14:14

Seems wasteful to duplicate the circuitry 4 times for a device that takes 4 cells.

If there was something that went around the entire series string of cells then perhaps it would be worthwhile, but that would just get really expensive kitting out devices that take more than one cell.

Richard rich.ms

Disrespective

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Reply # 1355208 30-Jul-2015 12:20

Yeah, i'm 100% sceptic on the ability for these to actually provide me with more power. However I do have a number of cheap chinese outdoor lights and whatnot that do appear to drain batteries quickly. I suspect it's just because they can't handle anything except full 1.3V but I should really do some checks on that.

Either way, it's not a huge investment to give it a go and see if it helps any average electronics I have around the house.

Niel

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Reply # 1356606 1-Aug-2015 13:29

It extends the usability of the batteries by running them down to 0V, but there is little energy left when they do get low. With carbon zinc you will leak acid. With alkaline you will probably leak some salts (but not acidic AFAIK). I would not bother at all.

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richms

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Reply # 1356626 1-Aug-2015 14:14

Disrespective: Yeah, i'm 100% sceptic on the ability for these to actually provide me with more power. However I do have a number of cheap chinese outdoor lights and whatnot that do appear to drain batteries quickly. I suspect it's just because they can't handle anything except full 1.3V but I should really do some checks on that.

Either way, it's not a huge investment to give it a go and see if it helps any average electronics I have around the house.

Cnahces are the cheap LED lights are like the marquee of lights I got in a letter shape, and a long string of little leds on some enameled wire, and just have 2 AA cells in series connected straight to the LEDs, so yeah those will probably be the only case that could benifit from the batterizer since it will hold a more constant voltage.

I stuck a USB plug onto it with a resistor and just use a USB powerbank to run them.

Richard rich.ms

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Reply # 1362951 11-Aug-2015 16:02

One person supports this post

I offered them to run real life test by putting batteries [from the same pack] with and without "batteriser" in a device - e.g. XBox controller and run tests on my HV Battery Analyser which of course will prove that being a complete baloney. They did not take the offer.... And I have a feeling why.