Batteries Plus and Minus

Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports
1

In the battery article (http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2951/)

  • I know the author wanted to not go too deeply, but let me just comment that I have seen a few products (a computer wireless ‘mouse’ was one) that were wired internally so you had to put 2 batteries in both facing the same way.

  • Is it really advisable to put batteries in parallel? I thought that was a no-no; if two batteries had slightly different voltages, one would dump current into the other, and there goes the space-time continuum again.

2

Without getting too technical, for small differences in the charge state of the batteries they will “average out.” The larger the difference, the more potential (No pun intended. Well, actually, there is.) for a problem. This is the main reasons that manufacturers tell you not to mix battery types or new with old.

3

In the column Brad wrote

“Why do electronic devices require you to insert batteries so that you alternately have the plus and minus ends on top? In other words, why do you never see (except in a flashlight) all of the “+” signs at the top and the “–” signs at the bottom or vice versa?”

Brad has not seen a boom box with 3 or 4 rows of D cells to blast tunes for maybe half an hour. This was actually advantageous because having a case of spare batteries in the other hand balanced you out so you wouldn’t tip over or get a sore back.

4

For our younger readers:

Boombox n. Precursor of the iPod. A large device to play an antiquated form of music storage called a “cassette” at high volumes. Most often seen on the shoulder of inner-city youth or those who wish to emulate them. Also see “Highly Amplified ©Rap.”

Ha! Thanks for the comments, folks. Yes, a boombox had them in line, like a flashlight. Mainly because it was so long you could do that.

I have a Yamaha synthesizer keyboard that takes 6 D cells - and they are also in line, just like the flashlight. The only use for that seems to be to hold the memory contents, though - if I try to play on the batteries, the board seems to run out of juice in 45 minutes or so.

Appreciate it. Glad to know someone is actually reading these.

Rico

5

I am on IV antibiotic therapy at home, and the little pump that I use takes 2 “C” cells pointing the same direction.

6

I would just like to say this was one of the weakest questions/articles I’ve ever seen here. Even for GQ it’d be weak, let alone a column. What’s next, “why do some plugs have two pins and some three?”

:rolleyes:

7

Hey, that’s a good question.
Powers &8^]

8

This was beyond the scope of the article, but I thought I’d mention Microsoft’s recent patent on Instaload, battery pack contacts that allow insertion of batteries in either direction. http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Windows/Microsoft-Unveils-InstaLoad-Battery-Technology-379042/

One of the commenters there says the same thing can be accomplished with a full-wave rectifier. But isn’t there a little resistance in the forward direction and leakage in the reverse, and wouldn’t that waste energy? And how expensive would it be? If it were very cheap, you’d think it’d be in wide use. Of course, the new contacts will add cost, too.