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submitted 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) by SubArcticTundra@lemmy.ml to c/technology@beehaw.org

I know these are currently out of fashion but I'm still thankful they exist.

Let's remind ourselves of devices that use(d) these standardized batteries:

  • Toys
  • Digital cameras
  • Torches
  • Gadgets like fans
  • Wireless keyboards
  • TV remotes

Thanks to having a standardized system of batteries,

  • You can use the same battery across several devices. This is a no brainer but it's very practical.
  • Batteries can charge quicker thanks to being put in a dedicated charger and not being limited by USB cables. (But yes I concede that USB has been updated for faster charging over the years)
  • Devices don't have down time when their battery is charging. To charge, the battery is removed from the device and can immediately be replaced with a fresh one.
  • You'll never have to trash a device due to an expired battery. Just buy a replacement. And building on this...
  • Any improvements in future battery technology can be retro-fitted into your existing devices. And there is a high incentive for future improvement, because...
  • An accessible (due to easy replacement) and large (due to many devices) battery market is very attractive to competition.

If you look at the pros I listed, they all happen to be things that would be very useful for electric cars. So I think it would aid the adoption of electric cars if their batteries were standardized too.

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[-] kratoz29@lemm.ee 4 points 2 years ago

How old are those batteries? I have some that look exactly like that and they could be since 10 years ago or more, and I swear they still work lol.

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[-] Chapi_Chan@lemmy.one 3 points 2 years ago

If we're gonna keep putting batteries on stuff we'd better put these

[-] Kolanaki@yiffit.net 2 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

There's nothing stopping me from using my phone's battery in my toys. The same way nothing stopped me from connecting a small toy electric motor to a straight up power connector to plug into a wall socket when I was a kid.

All you need to do is connect the red and black wires from the battery to the leads on the device. Now, it might cause the thing to break/melt/catch on fire, but that's not the fault of the battery. 🤷🏻‍♂️ 🤣

[-] wifienyabledcat@beehaw.org 2 points 2 years ago
[-] rikonium@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 2 years ago

I remember shopping for a Bluetooth speaker and while I settled on a JBL one, I did consider the IKEA model that takes AAA’s but it wasn’t available to try nor buy - it would’ve been nice to be able to consider one that was externally powered but ah well.

[-] SubArcticTundra@lemmy.ml 3 points 2 years ago

Yeah, the first USB power bank we had at home also used 4 replaceable AAs. I wish this was still common

[-] jeanofthedead@kbin.social 2 points 2 years ago

I wouldn't say they're out of fashion - a lot of smart home devices are moving away from disposable cell batteries and over to rechargeable batteries.

[-] oldfart@lemm.ee 3 points 2 years ago

To built-in lipo batteries that go bad after a few years and you have to trash your device or tinker?

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[-] dan@upvote.au 3 points 2 years ago

Do you mean built-in rechargeable batteries? Because that's way worse than removable batteries.

Zigbee smart home devices last a very long time on cell batteries (CR2050 or something similar) that I'm not really worried about those. I've got door sensors that have been going for over 2 years on the same batteries.

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[-] Pinklink@lemm.ee 1 points 2 years ago

Uh, torches use fire yah limey

[-] bug@lemmy.one 2 points 2 years ago

You're still using fire for your torches? My condolences Uncle Sam, I didn't realise how bad things had got over there!

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this post was submitted on 07 Aug 2023
485 points (100.0% liked)

Technology

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