Recycle your disposable alkaline batteries. Every bit helps.
GreenQueen Communications sent me a curious, computer mouse-looking gadget that languished on my to-do list for a while. With a bit of friendly prodding from GreenQueen’s Jodi Lynne Karpes I got my act together to put this thing through it’s paces.
The Eco Charger is a USB-powered AA and AAA battery charger for alkaline and NiMH batteries. Did you get that? It charges alkaline (as in disposable) batteries. Really? Hmmm MUST. TEST…
The nicely designed and constructed gadget is supplied with an USB cable and two battery holders. One each for AA and AAA. Neat.
I took a pair of flat batteries out of a torch, measured their voltage (1.32V) before popping them into the charger. Then I left.
The charger has built-in failsafes to protect against overcharging and overheating. Red LED’s turn green when the batteries are charged.
In the morning the battery tester indicated 1.45V, a 0.13V increase. Keep in mind a brand new battery measures around 1.58V. So far so okay.
As it happened that very day the batteries in my wireless mouse went belly up. Perfect. The recharged batteries went straight into the mouse and I was clicking and scrolling mercilessly for.. about… well… three hours. I wasn’t that impressed initially. But I thought a bout it and decided that even though the performance wasn’t up to my expectations I can’t write the gadget off. It did keep the batteries out of the rubbish bin for a while longer. Even though it didn’t perform as well as I expected (or wanted) it to, I’ll be keeping this in my camera bag. It works perfectly on the rechargeables (I suppose we should all be using them anyway). PLUS I have peace of mind that if I get into a bit of a power bind on assignment, I have ‘the only charger of its kind’ in the world that can charge disposable alkalines.
Order your ECO CHARGER online from www.eco-charger.co.za or call 011 432 6048. The ECO CHARGER comes in two sizes and retails for R 199 – R 399 each.
___________________ PRESS RELEASE: ECO CHARGER _____________________________
Save (money) & Save (the Planet)
Do you always wonder what to do with your old AA and AAA batteries once are depleted? It is a well known fact that throwing them away adds to landfill waste and is environmentally-unfriendly. Then there is the additional expense of buying more to replace them, for all the technological gadgets we have in our homes, such as cameras, remote controls, games etc. Hence we are torn between the grudge re-purchase and “green guilt”. The new ECO CHARGER solves these problems by re-charging your everyday disposable alkaline batteries.
The ECO CHARGER is finally available in South Africa. This innovative gadget fills our immediate need of saving money and the social need to save the environment. It serves your Pocket and the Planet! It is a breakthrough in Green Energy Technology, as it re-charges regular disposable alkaline batteries.
The ECO CHARGER is the result of over 10 years of research. It features individual circuits which means that each battery is re-charged separately. Red or green lights conveniently light up to let you know whether your battery is charged or still charging.
It also comes with handy battery holders to ensure your batteries are stored correctly with the poles facing in the same direction. The ECO CHARGER is safe and efficient.
Now you have the perfect opportunity to contribute to the wellness of the environment (and save cash at the same time).
Did you know?
• About 50-million batteries are consumed annually in South Africa
• Throwing batteries into a drawer discharges them – the poles must face the same direction
• It is estimated that e-waste will double in the next decade
• It takes less energy to process recycled materials than to process virgin materials
• In 2006 Americans threw away more than 100 million cell phones – recycling them could have saved enough energy to power approximately 194,000 U.S. households for one year
Order your ECO CHARGER online from www.eco-charger.co.za or call 011 432 6048. The ECO CHARGER comes in two sizes and retails for R 199 – R 399 each.
