ecoFAIL

It seems like everything I interact with uses a battery. My clocks, my phones, my computers, my camera, everything. For those electronics that don't have some weird cord or battery and use the old style AA's, I've been trying to switch to rechargeables. Sounds like an excellent plan until it is actually put into action.

The other day the batteries in my keyboard died. My wireless keyboard takes three batteries. I pulled out the charger, stuck them in, and wandered to find something else to occupy my time. A few hours later I return to check on them. The green light (which I learned means it is still charging NOT that it has finished, but that is a completely separate topic that should go to some interaction design blog) was still on! I fished out the instructions (because yes, I am one of those people who keep everything) and learned that I was not allowed to charge three batteries at one time. I could do four and I could do two, but definitely not three. I further learned that it would take up to SEVEN hours for them the charge!

I went off to Matt to beg him for some batteries so that I could use my computer. After scavenging batteries from remotes I found the three I needed and tossed two of the three rechargeables into the charger. The next morning I took out the two fully recharged and got ready to put in the single, last battery needed when I realized that the charger doesn't charge one battery!! Arrrgghh.

At this point I gave up and just stuck all three back in the keyboard to see what would happen. Amazingly, the keyboard functioned.

The next night, the batteries in my mouse AND keyboard died (I'm sure it was the single one that I didn't charge but I didn't know which one it was). Since I only had one rechargeable in my mouse I just stuck all four back in the charger overnight and thus far they seem to be lasting.

I think I might buy some disposable AA's as backup, this is too much of a headache...