When it is time to purchase replacement batteries for your home, it is best to know the types of batteries you use the most and need to have available. These include batteries for many of the everyday items that you use and rely on, such as your television remote controls as well as those things that you do not use as often but may come to rely on in an emergency. This includes a battery-powered radio transmitter for emergency situations and your home smoke detectors.
We use a lot of wireless technology these days, however many of the appliances and other technological devices we use daily and come to rely on require a battery. Here are the common types of batteries every home should have, their usage, and a way to ensure that you never find yourself in need of a power source for your much relied-upon items.
Common Batteries that You Should Keep at Home
The most common types of batteries in every home can be classified as either rechargeable batteries or non-rechargeable batteries. Rechargeable batteries include lithium-ion (Li-ion), nickel-cadmium (NiCd), and Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) batteries. Non-rechargeable battery types include alkaline and carbon zinc batteries. Alkaline and carbon zinc batteries approximate 80 percent of the manufactured batteries in the United States. 10 million such units are produced worldwide and can be found in everything from portable electronics to toys and other products used in the home.
Non-rechargeable batteries are found in remote controls for many of the electronic devices you use in the home. Your television, stereo system, and wireless electronic devices are typically controlled through the use of a remote control, so it is important to know what type or size battery your remote control uses. They can range from alkaline and carbon zinc type batteries from size AAA, AA, C, and D to Li-ion batteries of various sizes.
Perform a Routine Inventory of Your Battery Needs
It is always a good idea to take a personal inventory of the different devices in your home that uses batteries. Create a catalog of each device and the type of battery it uses. It may also be helpful to note whether the battery is rechargeable or non-rechargeable battery and the frequency with which you have to change batteries in the device. Obviously, those items you use most often will require a battery replacement more frequently than those items you only use occasionally.
You should take note that devices that you rarely use but require a battery for operation should be tested on a periodic basis. This testing, at least annually, will allow you to test the battery’s strength and determine if a replacement is needed. This includes a portable radio that can be used in the event of an emergency (i.e. flood, hurricane, etc.) and the smoke alarms in your home that you need to have working in order to provide you with the alert necessary to safely escape a fire. Designate a place in your home to store the extra batteries you need, taking care to put them in a dry and moisture-free area. This will allow you to keep your devices working properly and give you immediate access to a replacement battery when needed.
