Charge your AAs over USB - bit-tech.net Forums

WilHarris · 21st Sep 2006, 09:19

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2006/09..._AAs_over_USB/

Djpuk · 21st Sep 2006, 09:36

What a fantastic idea, got to get me some of these and see if they are as good as they sound

taliban_raider · 21st Sep 2006, 09:42

It is a cool concept but I will wait untill the mainstream manufacturers pick it up and make higher capacity, cheaper ones, because curently $32aud is not worth it for two aa's imho.

DougEdey · 21st Sep 2006, 10:09

you used to be able to get USB battery chargers from A4tech, I don't know if they stopped them, but they were NiMH compat and were £5ish.

I had one with my original Wireless keyboard, and it still works 4+ years later

kempez · 21st Sep 2006, 10:51

Great idea. Think I'll get some of these

Gunsmith · 21st Sep 2006, 11:47

NICE

riggs · 21st Sep 2006, 12:21

Very cool, but a tad too expensive atm. Saying that though, I'll probably end up buying some anyway

SeBbY_007 · 21st Sep 2006, 14:10

Nice idea, but I wonder if they got patent...

It sounds like something out of Dragon's Den.

supermonkey · 21st Sep 2006, 14:51

Well, that's another one to add to my list of "Why didn't I think of that?".

So simple, yet so effective. The inclusion of the fip-top lid, making the whole thing self-enclosed is pretty innovative, for a battery.

-monkey

Faulk_Wulf · 21st Sep 2006, 14:52

Doesn't seem that outragous to me. L12.99 ~~ $6.50 if the exchange rate hasn't bounced around too badly. And even if its L1 -> $1, I'd pay $13 for them cause they're cool. Could have used this back when i still used my CD player. Back before I had my iPod. This is the kind of stufff that makes me love technology.

8-BALL · 21st Sep 2006, 15:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Faulk_Wulf

Doesn't seem that outragous to me. L12.99 ~~ $6.50 if the exchange rate hasn't bounced around too badly. And even if its L1 -> $1, I'd pay $13 for them cause they're cool. Could have used this back when i still used my CD player. Back before I had my iPod. This is the kind of stufff that makes me love technology.

I think you got the exchange rate the wrong way round.

£1 ~ $2, so they would be $25 for a pack of two.

8-ball

olly_lewis · 21st Sep 2006, 15:03

Pointless but cool im my book, but why not? We already have sushi shaped USB drives so why not conbine AA batteries and the USB minus the storage of course... good idea

DougEdey · 21st Sep 2006, 15:07

Found the a4tech one, http://www.clickonit.com/product.php...48&c_f=froogle

Much better IMHO.

Stwongbad · 21st Sep 2006, 15:12

25$ for two?...I'd rather stop by costco and buy like 100 at that price...good idea though

whisperwolf · 21st Sep 2006, 15:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by DougEdey

Found the a4tech one, http://www.clickonit.com/product.php...48&c_f=froogle

Much better IMHO.

Except that you need to lug another adapter with you. To be honest when I first saw this I thought cool good for when i'm traveling, then I realised none of my portable gadgets use AA batteries anymore, they all have their own built in or device specific lithium thingy. 4 years ago this would have been great for me.

Vigfus · 21st Sep 2006, 18:32

Camera: AA
GPS: AA
Flashlight: AA
Headlamp (?): AA
MISC stuff: Mostly AA

I'll be getting some when my other rechargeables die.

PS. You really are better off trying to have the same battery in everything. Then you'll allways have a spare. And won't have to recharge the custom batteries.

mikeuk2004 · 21st Sep 2006, 18:34

ok, where did my thread go that I started in serious Discussion on this.

I posted about these yesterday and its gone

-EVRE- · 21st Sep 2006, 19:56

What?! somthing that is availible in the UK before its availible in the US?!

Hehe, cool product. I could realy use a pair for my wirless mice.

Firehed · 21st Sep 2006, 20:30

Well, seeing that the summary is snipped from the original article (that, or slashdot stole yours, which I doubt), I'll take it with a grain of salt. Most notably, most AA NiMH batts are >2000mAh, well better than the 1300 these supply. And these things charge slowly and would be absolutely useless on the road unless your laptop battery lasts >6 hours (vs the 45ish minutes some rechargers take) or powers its USB ports independant of the system being on.

Faulk_Wulf · 21st Sep 2006, 21:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by 8-BALL

I think you got the exchange rate the wrong way round.

£1 ~ $2, so they would be $25 for a pack of two.

8-ball

Half a day later, I realized this. >.>
But I'd probably still get them, if I ever get something that needs double-a batteries besides my TV remote. Like a wireless mouse or keyboard.

Still a cool bit of tech.

21st Sep 2006, 09:19	#1
WilHarris Just another nobody Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Oxford Posts: 2,671	Charge your AAs over USB http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2006/09..._AAs_over_USB/

21st Sep 2006, 09:36	#2
Djpuk Multimodder Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Near Ipswich Posts: 93	What a fantastic idea, got to get me some of these and see if they are as good as they sound __________________ I wish I hadn't said that!

21st Sep 2006, 09:42	#3
taliban_raider Just some guy; you know Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 773	It is a cool concept but I will wait untill the mainstream manufacturers pick it up and make higher capacity, cheaper ones, because curently $32aud is not worth it for two aa's imho. __________________

21st Sep 2006, 10:09	#4
DougEdey I pwn all your storage Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Southampton Posts: 13,933	you used to be able to get USB battery chargers from A4tech, I don't know if they stopped them, but they were NiMH compat and were £5ish. I had one with my original Wireless keyboard, and it still works 4+ years later __________________ Burnout: Paradise Stats!XBL: DougEdey Bindi PSN ID: DougEdey Twitter

21st Sep 2006, 10:51	#5
kempez modding again! Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: England Posts: 1,102	Great idea. Think I'll get some of these __________________ I don't like streets of rage - make fun of me! My Main PC: Intel Q6600 D0 @ 3.6GHz \| abit IP35 Pro \| 8gb OCZ ReaperX PC6400 @ 1000MHz \| MSI 8800GTX \| OS Drive: Hitachi Deskstar 250gb \| Tagan 1100w \| Silverstone TJ09S \| Noctua NH-U12P Project Aqua Vitae Project <<\| Black3d \|>>

21st Sep 2006, 11:47	#6
Gunsmith my supersonic radar will help me! Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,388	NICE

21st Sep 2006, 12:21	#7
riggs ^_^ Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Lincs. Posts: 1,643	Very cool, but a tad too expensive atm. Saying that though, I'll probably end up buying some anyway __________________ Hell hath no fury like a hippo with a machine gun PSN ID: buster2006

21st Sep 2006, 14:10	#8
SeBbY_007 Supermodder Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: England Posts: 289	Nice idea, but I wonder if they got patent... It sounds like something out of Dragon's Den.

21st Sep 2006, 14:51	#9
supermonkey Space Monkey Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 2,699	Well, that's another one to add to my list of "Why didn't I think of that?". So simple, yet so effective. The inclusion of the fip-top lid, making the whole thing self-enclosed is pretty innovative, for a battery. -monkey __________________ But of bliss and of glad life there is little to be said, before it ends; as works fair and wonderful, while still they endure for eyes to see, are their own record, and only when they are in peril or broken for ever do they pass into song. -J.R.R. Tolkien, The Silmarillion

21st Sep 2006, 14:52	#10
Faulk_Wulf Internet Addict Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: USA Posts: 280	Doesn't seem that outragous to me. L12.99 ~~ $6.50 if the exchange rate hasn't bounced around too badly. And even if its L1 -> $1, I'd pay $13 for them cause they're cool. Could have used this back when i still used my CD player. Back before I had my iPod. This is the kind of stufff that makes me love technology.

21st Sep 2006, 15:03	#12
olly_lewis Hypermodder Join Date: May 2006 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 756	Pointless but cool im my book, but why not? We already have sushi shaped USB drives so why not conbine AA batteries and the USB minus the storage of course... good idea __________________ My signature dumped me... ___________

21st Sep 2006, 15:07	#13
DougEdey I pwn all your storage Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Southampton Posts: 13,933	Found the a4tech one, http://www.clickonit.com/product.php...48&c_f=froogle Much better IMHO. __________________ Burnout: Paradise Stats!XBL: DougEdey Bindi PSN ID: DougEdey Twitter

21st Sep 2006, 15:12	#14
Stwongbad Supermodder Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: West Hills, California Posts: 536	25$ for two?...I'd rather stop by costco and buy like 100 at that price...good idea though __________________ Snap! Crackle! Stwongbad!

21st Sep 2006, 18:32	#16
Vigfus Born to be... Join Date: May 2004 Location: Skåne, Sweden Posts: 775	Camera: AA GPS: AA Flashlight: AA Headlamp (?): AA MISC stuff: Mostly AA I'll be getting some when my other rechargeables die. PS. You really are better off trying to have the same battery in everything. Then you'll allways have a spare. And won't have to recharge the custom batteries. __________________ *"My grandfather died in the concentration camps, fell out a watch tower and broke his neck"* I am teh 1337: [Frozen CRT] \| [Wellpapp] Deus ex machina -> "Deh-oose ex ma-kee-nah" 55.02959% geek- Extreme geek. Get geek rated today!

21st Sep 2006, 18:34	#17
mikeuk2004 What you Looking at Fool! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Sheffield, UK Posts: 3,045	ok, where did my thread go that I started in serious Discussion on this. I posted about these yesterday and its gone __________________ -\|- Xfire - Mikeuk2005 -\|- Xbox Live - Mike UK 2006 -\|- Playstation Network - Mikeuk2004 -\|-

21st Sep 2006, 19:56	#18
-EVRE- Supermodder Join Date: May 2004 Location: Idaho U.S.A Posts: 343	What?! somthing that is availible in the UK before its availible in the US?! Hehe, cool product. I could realy use a pair for my wirless mice. __________________ (Phenom II 940)(Foxcon A7DA)(8gb OCZ DDR2 800 )(8800gt aka hair dryer)(Big yellow case, CPU, GPU)(Enermax Liberty 500w)(lite-on DVD-RW w/LightScribe)(Seagate 300gb sata)(Seagate 320gb x2)(WD 200gb)(Dell 3007WFP 30"LCD, 19" Samsung, Acer 1280x720 projector)

21st Sep 2006, 20:30	#19
Firehed Why not? I own a domain to match. Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: An hour north of Boston Posts: 12,576	Well, seeing that the summary is snipped from the original article (that, or slashdot stole yours, which I doubt), I'll take it with a grain of salt. Most notably, most AA NiMH batts are >2000mAh, well better than the 1300 these supply. And these things charge slowly and would be absolutely useless on the road unless your laptop battery lasts >6 hours (vs the 45ish minutes some rechargers take) or powers its USB ports independant of the system being on. __________________ hire me @ eric-stern.com - web developer and php ninja pics @ my smugmug :: Twitter @firehed :: blog @ firehed.net 40D\|580EXII\|285HV\|AB800\|70-200f/4LIS\|17-50f/2.8\|150f/2.8Macro\|50f/1.8 MacPro @ 8x2.8GHz, 10GB FBDDR2, 3TB HD :: MBP @ 2x2.2GHz, 4GB DDR2, 320GB HD