Cell Pack Solutions' Battery Blog
Battery news, information and technology
Battery-recycling law in force
Feb 23rd
Shoppers are now able to dispose their used batteries across thousands of shops throughout the country as of this month with the new battery-recycling law coming into force in the UK.
Under a European directive, every shop selling more than a pack of batteries a day will be forced to accept old batteries for recycling and most are expected to set up in-store collection points. Many manufacturers are supplying siposal bins for retailers to offer this service in compliance.
The change will bring Britain into line with many mainland European countries, where recycling boxes for batteries have been a common sight in shops for years.
Britons use over 600 million batteries every year – an average of 21 per household – but the UK has a dismal record in recycling them. The overwhelming majority, 97 per cent, are thrown into domestic bins and end up in landfill, where their toxic metals lead, cadmium and mercury leach out into the ground and pollute water courses.
The Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations 2009 is the latest attempt, following the Landfill and WEE EU directives, to transform Britain into a greener society which dumps fewer materials.
Any high street or online retailer selling more than 32kg of batteries a year, the equivalent of one pack of 4 AA batteries a day, will have to provide recycling bins or facilities.
Increasing recycling will cut greenhouse gases linked to battery production, says the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), which estimates that hitting the 2016 target could save 12,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
Major retailers such as Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Robert Dyas, Dixon’s, Curry’s and PC World are among shops offering free battery recycling.
Cell Pack Solutions suggest consumers switch to rechargeable batteries to limit the amount of waste being produced. A fantastic alternative to alkaline batteries is the Ansmann MaxE range which can be found on our website.
Base Camp Everest Challenge
Jan 29th
The Managing Director of Cell Pack Solutions is embarking on a fantastic adventure for his chose charities. Eddie Czestochowski will be attempting the Base Camp Everst Challene. Below is his recent blog post relating to the challenge:
I was asked why I suddenly got this urge to join a Trek to Base Camp Everest. The answer is really simple. I was spurred on by an article I read in a recent Entrepreneurs Forum Magazine. I have spent the last 10 years working extremely hard to build a strong business and if I am honest those years have flown by and have become a bit of a haze . The last 3 months in particular have been exceptionally busy . A combination of free time over Christmas , reading Peter Jones’ Tycoon Book and the realization that I need to set myself an extreme personal challenge that would enable me to lose at least a stone in weight led me to make this huge commitment . (some people might think I should be committed ).
I realise that the commitment I need to put in to training , diet and preparation is going to be major , but I am going to do it . I also intend to raise some money for Charity .
Reactions so far are mixed , I think most are envious and wish they could make a similar commitment , some people no doubt think I am completely mad . The best reaction so far is that one of my colleagues has been spurred on to get involved in a Charity Bike Ride from London to Paris . I Hope that I will be able to report more on the Charities in a later blog .
Ansmann MaxE+ 2500mAh AA Rechargeable Batteries
Jan 14th
The end of 2009 and beginning of 2010 has brought new products from Ansmann in the form of longer lasting rechargeable batteries from the MaxE range with the ‘MaxE+’ being introduced. Cell Pack Solutions Ltd are one of the first companies in the UK to have these batteries available and are already a huge hit with its customers looking for top quality, reliable rechargeable batteries. The MaxE+ AA range offers such benefits as:
- More than 1 year standby
- 2500mAh capacity, 1.2V NiMh cells
- Upto 1000 times rechargeable
- Very low self discharge
- High current output
- Cost-effective and environmentally friendly
- Precharged and Ready to use right away
- 2 year Warranty Guarantee
These AA batteries are commonly used for a number of different applications such as mp3 players, torches, digital cameras and clocks. The new Accu-battery range now adds an extra 20% utilisation time of your applications and they do not require any special charger. They can be charged from a standard NiMh charger and can be bought form Cell Pack Solutions for only £11.23 inv Vat.
GP CR2032 Lithium Coin Cell Batteries
Jan 7th
Cell Pack Solutions currently have on offer a pack of GP CR2032 Lithium Batteries in a blister card packet of 5 available from eBay. A lithium managanese non-rechargeable 3v coin cell for applications requiring a low quiesent current. Operating temperature -20C to +60C. This battery is used extensively in minature electronic equipment, calculators and watches. Also used in dive computers and the Petzl E Lite head torch.
The CR2032 lithium coin cell battery is one of the most commonly used batteries with a wide range of uses. It can be found here on special offer at only £1.92 for a pack of 5 batteries.
Ansmann Energy 8 Charger
Jan 5th
The Ansmann Energy 8 Plus battery charger is by far one of the best and most reliable chargers on the market today. Being a reputable company for quality, Ansmann have created a charger that is capable of charging 1-6 AAA or AA cells; for 1-4 C or D cells in addition to 1-2 pcs. 9V E-Block.
This desktop charger is suitable for NiCd and NiMh rechargeable batteries and an Auto-diagnosis of the inserted cells with automatic start of refreshing-and/or pre-charging process, if required; tired cells will be activated.
The list of features for this charger include:
- Fast Charging
- Microprocessor Controlled charging
- Five-way over charging protection
- Individual supervision of each cell position
- Faulty cell and alkaline battery protection
- Easiest handling due to fully automatic control
- Clear indicators and controls for each charging position
- Switch mode power supply for worldwide use
- 3 Year Warranty
This charger can be bought here for only £51.08 inc VAT.
Free Loader Solar Battery Charger
Dec 15th
The Free Loader Solar charger is manufactured by Solar Technology International and is a portable solar energy charger. It comes with the slogan ‘Free energy for life!’. The charger consists of an internal Li-Ion battery than can be charged in as little as 8 hours via its solar panels or via USB in 3 hours. The actual USB cable is provided with this charger. The charger is a handy bit of kit and is and extremely lightweight, ideal for those who want to take it on holiday to power their electrical devices. The Freeloader will charge virtually anything that is portable thanks to the 11 adaptors that are included in the box.
The Freeloaders charging charging capability consists of a number of devices including:
- Nokia Phones (old and new jack)
- LG Chocolate, Shine and Prada phones
- Samsung D800 and G600 phones
- Sony Ericsson K750 and K800i phones
- Nintendo DS Lite
- iPod (most iPod devices including the iPhone)
- Sony PSP, Tom Tom, Digital Cameras, PDAs
- Motorolla, Various Blackberry models, Bluetooth headsets
- MP3 players etc
We would definitely recommend the Freeloader solar charger as it’s a fantastic gadget and would make a great christmas present. The charger can be bought from eBay here.
History of Duracell
Nov 28th
The story of Duracell begins in the early 1920’s when an inventive scientist named Samuel Ruben and an eager manufacturer of tungsten filament wire named Philip Rogers Mallory crossed paths.
Ruben came to the P.R. Mallory Company seeking a piece of equipment he needed for an experiment and together they spotted an opportunity: thus uniting the one’s inventive genius with the other’s manufacturing muscle. Their partnership, which would last until 1975 with Mallory’s death, was the bedrock of Duracell International. Samuel Ruben’s inventions revolutionized battery technology. During World War II, for instance, Ruben devised the mercury cell, which packed more capacity in less space and was durable enough for the harsh climates of North Africa and the South Pacific — places where ordinary zinc carbon batteries used in flashlights, mine detectors, and walkie-talkies struggled . P.R. Mallory manufactured millions of mercury cells for the war effort. The Mallory Battery Company was formed shortly thereafter. In the 1950’s, Samuel Ruben went on to improve the Alkaline Manganese battery, making it more compact, durable, and longer lasting than anything before it. At about the same time, Eastman Kodak introduced cameras with a built-in flash unit that required more power than zinc carbon cells could provide. The cameras needed alkaline manganese cells but in a new size, the AAA. Mallory made them, and also licensed the technology to others because the company, at that time, had no consumer distribution. The photographic demand for power put alkaline cells on the map — and the DURACELL brand was introduced in 1964. Soon, the consumer market for DURACELL batteries rocketed and supplies had to be rationed in the 1970’s as manufacturing capacity caught up.Today, Duracell is the world’s leading producer of high-performance alkaline batteries. The tradition of innovation started by Ruben and Mallory is still evident in new DURACELL batteries such as DURACELL ULTRA with M3 Technology.
Duracell believes there is no limit to the potential of portable power — and as a company they continue to strive to find innovative and efficient ways to power your life in the future.
End of CPSBATTERIES.CO.UK
Nov 28th
Just a quick blog to let people know that we are shortly going to close down this website for the time being . We decided that we wanted to redesign it from scratch , move it from its current home and re install it on our own dedicated server . We will let you all know when we are ready for the relaunch. Our existing portfolio of websites are also undergoing a revamp , but these changes are being made on a daily basis .
CELL PACK SOLUTIONS
Nov 25th
Read a really good article today about a new service that was launched by one of the long established battery manufacturers . They have called it CELLPAC PLUS . Love the name , it reminded me of why over 10 years ago I called my company CELL PACK SOLUTIONS .
I bought cells from the major battery battery maufacturers , and then set about looking for problems to solve , to create custom battery packs and provide solutions for my customers . The advantage that we could and still offer is that we can provide quick turnarounds on small production runs . It is often the case that in the very early days of a new product design , fast responses are required and as was quite rightly intimated by the reporter in the article, product designers often leave the choice of battery until late into the design process which can sometimes be a costly mistake.
We often act as an intermediary between our Partner Manufacturers and the end customer and come up with the optimum design . I know from experience that not every application will reach 10000 units , but there is great satisfaction to be had in being involved at the start a project , even those that never take off to the expected volumes .
E LEGACY AWARDS FINALIST
Nov 7th
We sent John down to London to the Lavish Lunch in the middle of London to see whether we were fortunate enough to have been a winner. Alas the answer was no — Thanks anyway to those of you that took the time to vote . It was always going to a difficult proposition for us ,some of the bigger companies obviously have a bigger network of customers . Well done to the winners of each category.
As a way of a thank you the company donated some batteries and wind up torches to some friends who are on a 10 trip to Nepal on a humitarian mission.
If you are interested in seeing what are entry was about then click A TO Z of BATTERY REFURBISHMENT