Customer Reviews

USBCELL AA Rechargable Battery - 2 Cell Pack - MXAA02

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I picked these up after I saw them reviewed on Kool Tools. They worked okay for a while- they obviously have a lower run time then normal batteries because there's less actual battery there, but I figured that was offset by the convenience of being able to charge them off of my laptop computer. However, after only about a month's daily use in my Garmin GPSMap 60CSx, the USB connectors on several of the batteries started to separate and stay stuck in my computer's USB ports when the rest of the battery was removed. I had to pry them out with needle-nose pliers. Given the risk of damaging a computer for a simple battery, I can't recommend this product.

This product (USBCELL) is based on a great idea - the kind of idea that makes you smack your forehead and exclaim "Why didn't *I* think of that!" Basically you take a '3/4 AA' NiMH cell, and attach an USB-powered charger on top of it. Now you've got a rechargeable AA battery that can be charged from any USB port. So you'll never be caught without a battery charger - as long as there is a computer nearby.

Great idea aside, there are practical limitations for this USBCELL:
- It is very expensive (about 4 times the cost of a typical AA NiMH cell).
- Its capacity is only 1300mAh (compared to 2000-2700mAh for a typical AA NiMH cell).
- Its charging time is relatively long (5 hours to charge to 90%)

The product description claims that you can also recharge the USBCELL in a "standard approved 250 mAh recharger". But make sure that the charger is a 'smart' one. A timer-based 'dumb' charger will badly overcharge the USBCELL, because it treats all cells as having a typical capacity of 2500mAh.

It is true that you don't need to buy a separate charger for the USBCELL. But the economy of scale is stacked against it in any demanding appliances such as digital camera. For the price of just two USBCELL, you can buy a good charger+battery package (such as the Sanyo USB Charger and Sanyo Travel Charger). This way, you get much greater battery capacity and shorter charging time. For anything that requires more than two AA cells, the USBCELL solution becomes even less cost-effective.

It is also true that using USBCELL instead of disposable alkaline cells can reduce your 'carbon footprint' on this planet. But the same can be said for any rechargeable batteries. Compared to a typical AA NiMH cell, the USBCELL requires more energy to produce, and has a shorter lifespan (lower capacity means it has to be recharged more often). Therefore it generates more waste in the end.

Of course, for certain niche applications (such as wireless mouse) the USBCELL is still a good option. At least it looks cool, and makes a great conversation piece.

Wow. They keep knocking my review off, but I think people should know these may not be compatible with HP products with ASUS motherboards.

These pull alot of power through your system, and because of anomaly that HP, ASUS, and Moixa acknowledge exists, you run the risk of burning out your motherboard. I know from experience I have gone through a whole odyssey of repairing my motherboard after one use. Weigh it carefully if the $15-$20 for the batteries is worth a $400-$500 repair.

I don't want to sound too negative here, but these batteries are pretty dismal in their capacity. I originally bought these for use with a Logitech Bluetooth Travel Mouse. Using standard disposable batteries I get around 3 months of use, with these batteries it's around 1 month. I've since changed to using 2700mah rechargeables and keep these in my backpack in case of an emergency.

The other issue I have is the amount of time it takes to charge. It must be in the range of 16 hours or so which seems excessive to me due to the aforementioned low capacity.

The idea behind these batteries is great. I can't say enough about that. However, they seriously need to look into what could be done to increase the charge capacity - even it's only to around 2,000mah.

I got these mainly for the same reason everyone did; you can charge them with any powered USB port. This makes lugging the clumsy charger on trips obsolete. So far, they have worked great. The downfall is they don't hold as much of a charge as a standard AA rechargeable. It does hold enough for a day of shots in a digital camera, which is fine since you can just charge them overnight.

I recommend this product

These batteries work great. Their technical specs are as indicated, which means they last about half as long as a normal AA battery, but I always have an extra set either charging or already charged, so really it's never an issue. These work just as well as any regular battery, or any rechargeable battery, but the convenience of just plugging one into a USB port to charge can't be matched. Awesome product!

I recently started using a wireless trackball after my wired one went bad. I knew I'd need to switch out batteries on the spur of the moment, but I didn't want to invest in a bunch of one-use batteries or get a charger. I'd heard about these special batteries before so I thought it'd be a perfect fit.

Once I got them it didn't take very long for them to charge at all. I only need one for my trackball so the other stays in my desk. I can't say specifically how long they last, but with regular use I switch them out about once a month. They'll probably last longer in newer wireless products (with energy saving features). I've never used them for anything else but I don't see why they wouldn't work in other electronics.

The one negative thing I was going to say is that the indicator light doesn't work properly. Well, I just finished recharging one and the light worked perfectly. It was solid green (indicates charging), blinking (indicates a 90% charge), and then turned off (done charging). Usually I charge the batteries in my wall USB charger and the light is always on. I guess it doesn't work quite the same, so I recommend plugging these into an actual computer.

If you have something you always need batteries for then these are an excellent investment. The price tag is a little steep, but I think the convenience makes up for it.

I work in a small company and we have wireless mice for our laptops. We travel a lot and work in different locations. I found that this battery works very good for the mice and stops us from going through standard batteries every month or so.

This is a great little battery that you can take on the go with you and charge it on your laptop. Its great for things such as camera flashes or small travel devices if you travel. That way, once its low, you simply plug it in your laptop.

These batteries are a great investment! I bought 3 sets to use for my gaming system controllers, and they work wonderfully. I can charge them right in my XBOX 360's USB ports and they last for 15-20 hours in the controller! They also work great in Wii remotes.