Mouse Battery

[zahinhasan]

I have recently started using wireless mouse with battery. Which battery should I get for better value and longevity? Should I use rechargeable or just alkaline? And where can I get them if you can tell?

I have 2 mice, 1 with AA battery and 1 with AAA battery. I don't want to use adapter. Need suggestion for both category.   

Thanks in advance.

[zahinhasan]

Just now, 8tg said:

Just get any regular old batteries, most wireless mice really don’t use a lot of power and the batteries will last for a few months.

If I calculate for 1 year cost will it be cheaper than other options? considering regular gaming?

[zahinhasan]

23 minutes ago, 8tg said:

Consider the cost of batteries over the course of a year would be maybe a pack of 4 or 6, being about 7-10$

If you’re trying to find cost savings in 7-10$ over a year you shouldn’t even be using a wireless mouse.

Just get whatever decent batteries you have available, regular old Duracell’s or something.

I personally buy Duracell optimums because they’re maybe a dollar more than the regular Duracell’s and they’re better for long term storage.

Thank you for the suggestion.

[RedDeath_]

As 8tg mentioned, a wireless mouse doesn't use a lot of power. 1 battery easily lasts a couple of months so even the cheapest of batteries will do the trick. I've had my wireless Logitech mouse for about 1 year now and I'm still using the included battery with regular use. If you're looking for rechargeable batteries, I would suggest Panasonic eneloop batteries https://www.amazon.ca/Panasonic-K-KJ17MC124A-eneloop-Advanced-Individual/dp/B00JHKSLLY/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=eneloop&qid=1624768447&sr=8-1 . They might be on the expensive side of rechargeable but there are many options of starter kits to choose from and they last forever. Cheers

[LogicalDrm]

-> Moved to Peripherals

***

 

First check what kind of battery your mouse requires. For example, my Steelseries Rival 3 wireless requires 1.5V and uses 2x AAA batteries. Regular Ni-MH rechargeable batteries are 1.2V. So they don't work. There's other types, but they are more expensive, require special charger and from what I read, don't have as much capacity.

 

For non-rechargeable, it is not environmentally friendly for sure. Alkaline batteries are cheaper and last, in my use, 1-2 months. That's some 24 in a year. You could use litium batteries which will last longer, but are more expensive.
I have couple of those, but haven't used them yet.

[zahinhasan]

10 hours ago, RedDeath_ said:

As 8tg mentioned, a wireless mouse doesn't use a lot of power. 1 battery easily lasts a couple of months so even the cheapest of batteries will do the trick. I've had my wireless Logitech mouse for about 1 year now and I'm still using the included battery with regular use. If you're looking for rechargeable batteries, I would suggest Panasonic eneloop batteries https://www.amazon.ca/Panasonic-K-KJ17MC124A-eneloop-Advanced-Individual/dp/B00JHKSLLY/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=eneloop&qid=1624768447&sr=8-1 . They might be on the expensive side of rechargeable but there are many options of starter kits to choose from and they last forever. Cheers

Thank you.

[zahinhasan]

6 hours ago, LogicalDrm said:

-> Moved to Peripherals

***

 

First check what kind of battery your mouse requires. For example, my Steelseries Rival 3 wireless requires 1.5V and uses 2x AAA batteries. Regular Ni-MH rechargeable batteries are 1.2V. So they don't work. There's other types, but they are more expensive, require special charger and from what I read, don't have as much capacity.

 

For non-rechargeable, it is not environmentally friendly for sure. Alkaline batteries are cheaper and last, in my use, 1-2 months. That's some 24 in a year. You could use litium batteries which will last longer, but are more expensive.
I have couple of those, but haven't used them yet.

One of my mice is Logitech M185. It uses 2 AAA batteries but I could not find the rated voltage of the battery. I'm using 1.5V AAA battery.  

[LogicalDrm]

1 hour ago, zahinhasan said:

One of my mice is Logitech M185. It uses 2 AAA batteries but I could not find the rated voltage of the battery. I'm using 1.5V AAA battery.  

It should be stated at the location of the battery.

[zahinhasan]

20 minutes ago, LogicalDrm said:

It should be stated at the location of the battery.

oh ok thank you. I am so dumb sorry.

[mariushm]

It depends on your mouse - how much it consumes - and it depends on you, how much you'd be annoying having to replace the battery.

 

Regular alkaline batteries are the best but they're one time use.

Better than alkaline batteries are lithium AA batteries, which are still non-rechargeable. Let's say you get 20% more life, but for maybe 2-3 times the price.

 

Rechargeable batteries may have smaller capacity, so they'll discharge more often than regular alkaline batteries, BUT you can typically charge them up to a few hundred times.... so over time you'll save lots of money. 

The downside is pretty much this ... Most cheap chargers can only charge these rechargeable alkaline batteries in pairs, so you would probably have to charge a pair, and use only one battery, but by the time the first battery will discharge the other battery will self-discharge to maybe 70-80% of original charge, so it will last longer.

 

So let's say a regular alkaline AA battery keeps your mouse working for 60 days and costs around 0.5$  (amazonbasics pack of 20 costs 9$ , the 48 pack is 15$ but you probably wouldn't use 48 batteries in around 2-3 years the batteries are good for)

Let's say you replace the battery every 1 month and a half just to be sure, so you go through 2 batteries every 2 months, or 12 batteries a year... that's around 6$ per year.

A lithium AA battery costs less than 2$ in a pack of 8 or more  ( 20 pack for $35)  - let's say that the mouse will last for 90 days instead of 60 days with such battery... it's still 4 times as expensive as regular alkaline.  Let's say you replace the battery preventively every 2 and a half months, you're gonna go through 3 batteries a year or around 12$ a year

 

You can buy a charger with 4 AA batteries (which can also charge AAA batteries) for around $18 and let's say each battery will probably last only 50 days in your mouse instead of 60, but you won't have to buy batteries for the next 3-5 years or so.... instead of worrying when it's gonna be discharged, you can simply replace the battery with the next charged one on the first of each month or something like that. As soon as you have two batteries that are almost discharged, put them in some toy with motors or a flashlight, let them discharge, and then plug them in the charger and leave them for around 8-12 hours (or over night) to charge.

 

[zahinhasan]

18 hours ago, mariushm said:

It depends on your mouse - how much it consumes - and it depends on you, how much you'd be annoying having to replace the battery.

 

Regular alkaline batteries are the best but they're one time use.

Better than alkaline batteries are lithium AA batteries, which are still non-rechargeable. Let's say you get 20% more life, but for maybe 2-3 times the price.

 

Rechargeable batteries may have smaller capacity, so they'll discharge more often than regular alkaline batteries, BUT you can typically charge them up to a few hundred times.... so over time you'll save lots of money. 

The downside is pretty much this ... Most cheap chargers can only charge these rechargeable alkaline batteries in pairs, so you would probably have to charge a pair, and use only one battery, but by the time the first battery will discharge the other battery will self-discharge to maybe 70-80% of original charge, so it will last longer.

 

So let's say a regular alkaline AA battery keeps your mouse working for 60 days and costs around 0.5$  (amazonbasics pack of 20 costs 9$ , the 48 pack is 15$ but you probably wouldn't use 48 batteries in around 2-3 years the batteries are good for)

Let's say you replace the battery every 1 month and a half just to be sure, so you go through 2 batteries every 2 months, or 12 batteries a year... that's around 6$ per year.

A lithium AA battery costs less than 2$ in a pack of 8 or more  ( 20 pack for $35)  - let's say that the mouse will last for 90 days instead of 60 days with such battery... it's still 4 times as expensive as regular alkaline.  Let's say you replace the battery preventively every 2 and a half months, you're gonna go through 3 batteries a year or around 12$ a year

 

You can buy a charger with 4 AA batteries (which can also charge AAA batteries) for around $18 and let's say each battery will probably last only 50 days in your mouse instead of 60, but you won't have to buy batteries for the next 3-5 years or so.... instead of worrying when it's gonna be discharged, you can simply replace the battery with the next charged one on the first of each month or something like that. As soon as you have two batteries that are almost discharged, put them in some toy with motors or a flashlight, let them discharge, and then plug them in the charger and leave them for around 8-12 hours (or over night) to charge.

 

Really appreciate the detailed explanation.