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General
FAQs
If a charger and a 4-pack combo is only $4.95,
why should I get an extra 4-pack that also costs $4.95?
What is the capacity of Grandcell AA batteries?
Can
I use Grandcell batteries in digital cameras?
How do I get the best performance from my Grandcell batteries?
How
often should I recharge my Grandcells?
Do
I need to charge Grandcell batteries first after purchasing
them?
With
each successive discharge-recharge cycle, how is the energy
capacity diminished?
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Charging FAQs
Does
the charger take AA and AAA batteries?
How
long does it take to charge Grandcell batteries?
When
will the battery be fully charged?
Why
can't I use my existing charger to charge Grandcell batteries?
Can
I charge 1 or 2 cells only, or differently discharged cells
at the same time?
Is
the Grandcell Charge Station safe for children?
Can
I use Grandcell batteries after only a few hours of charging,
even if the cells are not fully charged?
How
much does it cost to charge a battery?
Can
I leave the batteries in the charge station until I need them?
Why
is the green & red LED on all the time?
The
red & green LED both lighted even though batteries have not
been fully charged.
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Discarding FAQs
When
should I discard my Grandcell batteries? |
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General FAQs
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If a charger and a 4-pack combo is only
$4.95, why should I get an extra 4-pack that also costs $4.95?
Due to its weight, the combo incurs a shipping cost of $5.00
for the 1st combo ordered, and an additional $2.50 for each
additional combo. However, you can order as many battery 4-packs
at $4.95 as you like, without any increase to the shipping fee
at all. So, if you ordered a combo with an extra 4-pack (i.e.
one charger and two 4-packs), it would come to $16.40 including
shipping, but if you ordered two combos (i.e. two chargers and
two 4-packs), it would come to $17.40 including shipping.
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What is the capacity of Grandcell AA batteries?
Like any battery, Grandcell's capacity varies with the load
or application it is in.
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Generally,
Grandcell AA batteries have a capacity range of 1200 to 1800
mAh, depending on the application they are used in.
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Can
I use Grandcell batteries in digital cameras?
Grandcell batteries are only suitable for intermittent
use in low-drain digital cameras, such as the Vivitar brand,
or those with < 2 megapixels and < 2-in LCD screens.
Digital cameras have a wide range of drainages, and some may
require extra high-drain batteries such as lithium. Your best
bet will probably be nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries.
Grandcell NiMH batteries will be available in 2004.
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How do I get the best performance from my
Grandcell batteries?
Recharge
frequently in order to get a longer service life from your
Grandcell batteries.
Do not
over-discharge the batteries.
Do not
mix old and new batteries, or partially and fully charged
batteries, in the same appliance.
Store
the batteries in a fully charged condition.
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How often should I recharge my Grandcells?
They
can be recharged whenever convenient. You do not have to wait
for the batteries to be used up before recharging.
In general,
the basic rule of thumb to follow is this: the more often
you recharge (i.e. before it is fully discharged), the longer
the service life of the battery.
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Do I need to charge Grandcell batteries
first after purchasing them?
No,
Grandcell batteries come ready to use, and have a shelf life
of up to five years.
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With each successive discharge-recharge
cycle, how is the energy capacity diminished?
In general,
over the course of 25 full discharges (classified as being
discharged to 0.9 V), the capacity of the battery will be
about 30-40% of the original capacity it had when brand new.
However, the cumulative capacity is much greater when shallowly
discharged. Grandcells can be shallowly discharged up to 300-400
times (i.e. used and recharged frequently, before being fully
used up or discharged to 0.9 V).
The cumulative capacity (i.e. the energy given by Grandcell
over the course of its useful life) will be much greater than
if it were deep discharged every time. We hence encourage
our customers to charge them frequently to get the most out
of their Grandcells.
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Charging FAQs
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Does the charger take AA and AAA batteries?
Yes,
it takes both Grandcell AA and AAA battery sizes.
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How long does it take to charge Grandcell
batteries?
It normally
takes 8-14 hours for batteries that have been deeply discharged,
and 6-8 hours for batteries that have only been partially
discharged.
Generally,
fully discharged Grandcell batteries will be charge overnight.
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When will the battery be fully charged?
When
the GREEN LED is lighted on the charge station.
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Why can't I use my existing charger to charge
Grandcell batteries?
The
type of power needed to recharge a battery depends a great
deal on the internal chemistry of the battery.
Grandcell
rechargeable alkaline batteries are composed of a different
chemical system from existing nickel metal hydride or nickel-cadmium
batteries, and hence require different power parameters when
it comes to charging.
Using
other chargers with Grandcell batteries will cause the batteries
to rupture or leak.
The
only exception to this Is Rayovac rechargeable alkaline charge
stations, which in our tests, can charge Grandcell batteries.
However, we do not guarantee our product's performance when
used in other chargers.
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Can I charge 1 or 2 cells only, or differently
discharged cells at the same time?
Yes,
it can charge each cell compartment individually.
However,
it is recommended that users do not mix battery cells in the
usage of electronic devices. As far as possible, use the same
set of batteries for a particular device.
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Is the Grandcell Charge Station safe for
children?
Yes,
the contact points are safe to touch, even when the charge
station is plugged in.
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Can I use Grandcell batteries after only
a few hours of charging, even though the cells are not fully
charged?
Yes,
but naturally the batteries may not provide the full desired
capacity.
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How much does it cost to charge a battery?
Battery
charging consumes very little power and is unlikely to show
noticeably on your electricity bill (charging of 4 batteries
in a charge station typically requires less than 0.05kWh of
power, about 1¢ worth!)
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Can I leave the batteries in the charge
station until I need them?
It is
perfectly safe to leave Grandcell batteries in the charge
station for an extended period. This will not harm or affect
the battery's performance.
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Why is the green & red LED on all the time?
To show
that the power is on and that the charging circuitry is functioning.
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The red & green LED both lighted even though
batteries have not been fully charged.
The
battery may be at the end of its useful life.
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Discarding FAQs
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When should I discard my Grandcell batteries?
Grandcell
batteries during their service life will typically provide
up to 25 times more life than ordinary batteries.*
When
your Grandcell batteries are no longer providing satisfactory
performance in your electronic appliance, they should be replaced.
All
batteries that have been used in a given appliance should
be replaced at the same time.
*
Cycle life depends on factors such as rate of discharge, end-point
(cut-off) voltage, and depth of discharge. To achieve maximum
cycle life, charge Grandcell batteries as frequently as possible.
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