Hmmm... Ordinary AAA batteries DO recharge.

alchemysa · Oct 26, 2012

The little solar light in the pic is about 6" x 4". I have a pair near the front door. They're about 12 months old. A couple of months ago the battery in one of them completely failed so, out of interest, I replaced it with an ordinary AAA alkaline battery. (A few dollars for a pack of 10).

Two months on and its still performing perfectly. In fact it lasts longer at night than the rechargeable battery in the other solar light.

Just before posting this I checked the voltage in the Alkaline battery. 1.5 volts exactly, after a day in the sun.

savageactor7 · Oct 26, 2012

HUH I didn't think that was possible.

Maybe I'll give that a shot, for what ever reason our micro-managers in government here won't let us buy Ni-Cad replacement batteries...even though they allow stores to sell solar lights with the Ni-Cads in them. We have a lot of solar lights here that need some attention so for a few dollars why not?

Thanks for the heads up.

jmurray01 · Oct 26, 2012

Maybe they do in low voltage "chargers", but if you put one in a plug in charger you'll be sweeping your eye brows up from the floor.

alchemysa · Oct 26, 2012

jmurray01 said:
Maybe they do in low voltage "chargers", but if you put one in a plug in charger you'll be sweeping your eye brows up from the floor.

Yeah.... I meant to mention that. The little trickle charge from the solar cell doesn't seem to hurt them, but I wouldn't try it in a mains powered charger.

jimmyj · Oct 29, 2012

Very interesting. Thanks for posting. I'm gonna try this.

forgeblast · Oct 30, 2012

I wouldnt use any dollar store brand batteries. My MIL gave us a few for kids birtday presents and the ones that I am replacing have almost all leaked.

jinman · Nov 1, 2012

I need a good recharger for my wallet.

I just bought a 24-pack of AA lithium batteries for our cameras and a 48-pack of AA alkalines for trickle applications. I also got a 20-pack of AAA alkalines at the same time to get free shipping on all of them. The cost after tax was over $70 and that was a bargain. . . or maybe not.

JDgreen227 · Nov 1, 2012

I have spent mucho bux on rechargable AA cells during the past 20 years and been very disappointed in the service life most of them gave me...have never tried to use ordinary alkalines in a regular charger, but I recently purchased a pair of solar deck post caps that take rechargable AA cells...will try out your tip next year. Not likely there will be enough sunlight the next few months for me to see how it works...THANKS !!!