• RADIO CONTROL HELICOPTORS AND SPARE PARTS
• LITHIUM ALKALINE AND DURACELL BATTERIES
• ENERGIZER RECHARGABLE BATTERIES
• FULL RANGE OF BROOKITE AND CIRRUS POWER KITES
• MAGNETIC 3D PUZZLES
• LILY FLAME SCENTED TINNED CANDLES
• 3 KODAK KIOSKS IN STORE FOR INSTANT DIGITAL PRINTING

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OUR PRODUCTS

• BATTERIES
• LILY FLAME CANDLE  SCENTS
• INFORMATION ABOUT SYMA RADIO CONTROL HELICOPTERS

We stock a massive amount of batteries of all kinds for all purposes. If you can't see the battery you are looking for on this site then please get in touch as we may be able to get hold of it for you. We have batteries for car security (car alarm key-fob batteries), organisers (backup battery for PDAs such as Psion Dell etc.), glucometers, cameras, electric thermometerss, calculator, computer equipment (memory backup battery cmos), toys (eg. Tamagotchi accutron), communication equipment, electronic watches and clocks, car radios. Gadget also stocks data pack back-ups for video cameras and batteries for DVDs &TV remote controls. We have batteries for all types of LED equipment and Laser Light Pens. Looking for a specific battery for a musical book? They normally take LR44 AG13 batteries. Dog training collar batteries can be a problem to find - they normally take CR2032 batteries and we have them! Contact us if you are trying to source a specific battery and we should be able to help. We also stock batteries for all types of household use including kitchen bathroom scales, camcorder batteries, camera batteries, watch batteries, hearing aid batteries, torch batteries. We take pride in the fact that we offer excellent prices for our batteries and if the one you need is not on our site we may still have it in stock. If not we will try our best to source what you need ASAP at a good price.

1.            What are the different types of batteries available in the market and their applications? Batteries available in the market are usually classified as primary batteries and rechargeable batteries. Primary batteries are sometimes called "throw-away" batteries because they will be discarded when they are flat, as they cannot be recharged for reuse. Common types of primary batteries include alkaline, zinc carbon, lithium, silver oxide and zinc air batteries. Rechargeable batteries can be recharged and reused for up to 1000 times depending on usage conditions. Common types of rechargeable batteries include Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH), Nickel Cadmium (NiCd) and Lithium Ion (Li-ion) batteries.

Battery Types	Voltage (v)	Common Usages
Primary
Alkaline	1.5	CD/MD/MP3 players, toys, cameras, remote controls
Carbon zinc	1.5	Clocks, radios, smoke alarm
Lithium coin	3.0	Calculators, electronic organizers
Lithium photo	3.0 / 6.0	Cameras
Silver oxide	1.55	Watches
Zinc air	1.4	Hearing aids
Rechargeable
NiMH	1.2	Digital cameras, portable CD, MD, MP3 players, remote controlled racing toy cars
NiCd	1.2	Portable CD, MD, MP3 players, remote controlled racing toy cars
Li-ion	3.6 - 14.4	Notebook computers, PDAs, mobile phones, camcorders, digital cameras

2.            How do different batteries rank in terms of performance and cost? You may have come across terms like "heavy duty", "super heavy duty", and "longer lasting". However, they do not necessarily reflect the service time of batteries, as battery performance depends very much on intrinsic qualities. Despite the higher initial cost, alkaline batteries last five to ten times longer than zinc carbon batteries on higher current drains, making it more economical when the current drain is high. Rechargeable batteries are more expensive than alkaline batteries especially when you include the upfront cost of the charger. However do not forget that they can be recharged up to 1000 times. Hence they end up much more economical in the long run. NiCd and NiMH batteries display similar characteristics, but for the same size, NiMH batteries can double the run time compared with NiCd batteries per charge.

3.            How should I strike a good balance between performance and cost when selecting batteries? To be a smart consumer, you have to understand the power consumption requirement of your electronic device before deciding on which battery to go for. Generally speaking, high power consumption electronic devices operate under high current condition.  NiMH batteries will provide the longest operating time. Besides, they can be recharged up to 1000 times. Hence the cost per unit energy is much lower than alkaline and carbon zinc batteries. Alkaline batteries are best used for moderate power consumption electronic devices. Zinc carbon batteries are the best choice for extremely low power consumption electronic devices. Quick Battery Selection Guide

Power Requirement	Electronic Devices	Recommended Batteries
High	Digital cameras	NiMH batteries, Nickel zinc batteries
High	Handheld TV Portable MD/MP3/CD players PDAs Handheld game	NiMH batteries
Moderate To High	Walkman MD/MP3/CD players Torch	Alkaline batteries
Low	Clock radio Remote control Smoke alarm	Zinc carbon batteries

4.            What is the voltage of a rechargeable battery? NiMH & NiCd batteries share the same nominal voltage of 1.2V per cell, whereas batteries using a different type of chemistry system: Lithium ion batteries provide a voltage of 3.6 - 3.7V.

5.            Are primary batteries fully replaceable by rechargeable batteries even though they are 1.2 volts? Yes, NiMH batteries are ideal substitutes in most cases, especially in high power consumption electronic devices. Although alkaline batteries are rated at a nominal voltage of 1.5 volts, as they begin discharging, their voltage continuously drops. Over the course of discharge, the average voltage of alkaline batteries is in fact about 1.2 volts, very close to NiMH batteries. The main difference is that an alkaline battery starts at 1.5 volts and gradually drops to less than 1.0 volt, while NiMH batteries stay at about 1.2 volts for most of the service time.

6.            What are the advantages of using rechargeable NiMH batteries? Performance - NiMH batteries can be more than three times longer lasting than alkaline batteries in high power consumption electronics devices. Savings - They can be recharged for up to 1000 cycles, giving you tremendous savings in the long run. Environmentally friendly - They do not contain hazardous materials, such as cadmium or mercury, and therefore are more environmentally friendly.

7.            What are the factors affecting the performance of NiMH batteries? Short service time of NiMH batteries is very often the result of consumers' lack of understanding and knowledge of the importance of proper charging on battery performance. 
Both overcharging and over discharging the batteries will result in poor battery performance. Improper charging can also reduce the cycle life (the number of times the batteries can be recharged) of NiMH batteries. In addition, avoid using NiMH batteries at high temperatures, as their service time will be reduced.

8.            What is short circuit and what are its consequences?  A short circuit occurs if the positive and negative terminals of the battery are bridged by any kind of conducting materials e.g. key chains, paper clips. Short circuits may have serious consequences. For example, the battery temperature will rise, causing internal gas pressure to build up and eventually resulting in battery leakage.
To avoid short circuits, do not carry charged or fresh batteries in the same pocket with coins or bunches of keys.

9.            What is the difference between rechargeable battery chemistries? Lithium Ion (Li-ion) batteries have increased capacity and are very lightweight. Their nominal voltage is 3.7V. Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) batteries offer high capacity (over twice the amount of Nickel Cadmium (NiCd) batteries), quick charging capabilities and great reliability. They are especially good for high drain applications like digital cameras and motor toys. They are also suitable for CD players, MD players, and MP3 players etc. The nominal voltage of NiMH batteries is 1.2V.
Nickel Cadmium (NiCd) batteries have a longer cycle life, though shorter run-time than NiMH batteries. They are the most cost effective rechargeable batteries and can last up to 1000 charges. They are hardy and can withstand very low temperatures and rough use. Like all rechargeable batteries, NiCd batteries need to be completely charged before their first use. The nominal voltage of NiCd batteries is 1.2V

10.        Fast charging vs slow charging, which is better? 
Fast charging employs a high charging current which enables you to charge up a NiMH battery in a relatively shorter time, ranging from five hours to even half an hour. Using a low charging current, slow charging often refers to overnight charging, which normally takes over 12 hours to charge up a NiMH battery. However, the time it takes to fully charge a battery depends on the charging current of the charger and the capacity of the battery. Imagine filling up a bucket under a running water tap. The bigger the bucket, the longer it takes to fill it up. You can also increase the rate of filling the bucket by turning up the tap a bit more.

11.        What is trickle charge? Trickle charge refers to an extremely low charging current that is enough to keep the batteries in fully charged condition but without overcharging the battery.

12.        How do we select a charger?  Fast chargers and slow chargers have their respective merits and demerits. You should choose a charger that meets your performance and cost requirements. A fast charger delivers speed, but its design is more complicated, and therefore is usually more expensive than a slow charger. Overcharging can shorten a NiMH battery's cycle life. Hence a well-designed fast charger has to incorporate certain protection mechanisms that prevent the batteries from being overcharged. These protection mechanisms, ranging from sophisticated voltage detection to temperature monitoring and timer control, can be expensive. Normally a fast charger has to incorporate at least one of these mechanisms. The more mechanisms it has, the better the protection and thus the higher the price. Therefore, when charging speed is not a priority, it would be more cost effective to select a slow charger, which also gives longer battery service life and enables fuller charge of a battery compared with a fast charger. However, for applications that require fast charging speed, e.g. remote control racing toy car and digital cameras, it would be worthwhile to invest more for a fast charger to ensure continuous supply of energy.

13.        How long will it take to charge up my batteries?  This depends on two factors: the charging current, which is measured in milli-ampere (mA) and the capacity (mAh) of your battery. Assuming that the charging current is the driving speed and the capacity of the battery is the total distance you have to travel. Then the time required to charge up your battery would be Capacity of battery / charging current X 120% Usually you inflate the charging time by about 20% for any efficiency loss during charging.

14.        Can we charge batteries continuously?  Yes, depending on the design of the charger. Theoretically a NiMH battery can be charged continuously in a charger at 0.1C, which is a very low rate of charging.

15.        The batteries get warm during charging, is there something wrong?  No, it is normal for batteries to get warm during charging.

16.        What is memory effect? Memory effect occurs when the battery is charged before its energy is fully consumed. The battery will remember its last residual capacity before it is recharged. Hence if you keep on charging the batteries before you have used up the energy, the service time of each cycle will get shorter and shorter.

17.        Does NiMH batteries have memory effect? 
The present day technology enables NiMH to have either no or negligible memory effect.

18.        What is the self-discharge rate of NiMH batteries? If a NiMH battery is left idle after being fully charged, it will gadually loses its energy. This is called self-discharge. In general, the rate of self-discharge ranges from 15% to 20% per month at room temperature.

19.        What is cycle life? Cycle life is the number of charge and discharge cycles a battery can achieve before the discharged capacity drops to end of life. The cycle life is generally considered to terminate when the capacity is less than 60 - 80% of the nominal capacity, depending on the specific charge / discharge conditionrs.

20.        What affects cycle life performance? The following factors may affect a battery's cycle life: 1) Charge:

◦                You are recommended to charge the batteries with appropriate chargers equipped with correct charge termination methods (such as timer, negative delta voltage and temperature cut-off), so as to avoid the possibility of shortened cycle life resulted from overcharging. Generally speaking, slow charging would lead to longer cycle life than high rate charging.

21.        2) Discharge:

◦                The dominant variable affecting cycle life is the depth of discharge. The deeper the depth of discharge, the shorter the cycle life. By decreasing the depth of discharge, the cycle life of a battery will be significantly increased. For this reason, it is necessary to avoid over-discharging of batteries to a very low voltage. Depending on different discharge currents, 0.8-1.0V per cell is the generally acceptable end point voltage.

◦                Discharging battery at high temperatures will reduce the cycle life.

◦                Batteries can sometimes be drained excessively by small residual currents in idle equipment left for extended periods, if the design of the equipment does not shut down all currents completely.

◦                Using battery with different capacities, chemistries, charge levels or using old and new batteries together can also cause over-discharge.

22.        3) Storage:

◦                If a battery is stored for a long time at a high temperature, the electrode will deteriorate, reducing the cycle life.

◦                Avoid leaving a battery in a charger for an extended period.

23.        How do we maximize battery service life? To maximize the cycle life of batteries, the user should:

◦                Store the battery in a cool, dry and well ventilated place out of direct sunlight. The ambient temperature should be kept below 30degC for long-term storage. Prevent charging or using batteries in extreme temperatures.

◦                Charge the batteries with correct chargers to minimize the chance of overcharging. Choose charger with appropriate charge control. It is recommended to purchase batteries plus charger bundle packs.

◦                Charge and discharge the battery occasionally to prevent the battery voltage from dropping down to 0.8V.

◦                Remove batteries from an equipment or turn off the equipment if it is not to be used for a period of time.

◦                Avoid overcharging the battery by exceeding the predetermined charging period specified by battery manufacturer.

◦                Avoid mixing batteries of different chemistries, capacities and state of charge in the same devices.

24.        How should we store NiMH batteries?  In general, the higher the storage temperature, the worse the capacity retention of NiMH batteries.

Do warm and cold temperatures affect batteries?  Extreme heat or cold reduces battery performance. Avoid putting battery-powered devices in very warm places. In addition, refrigeration is not necessary or recommended. Store batteries at room temperature in dry environment.

SOME OF THE LILY FLAME CANDLE SCENTS WE SELL

            Blue Hyacinth Lily Flame Candle

            Bluebell Forest Lily Flame Candle

            Blush Lily Flame Candle

            CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE LILY FLAME CANDLE

            CITRUS CRUSH LILY FLAME CANDLE

            COCONUT GROVE LILY FLAME CANDLE

            COFFEE LILY FLAME CANDLE

            Crushed Almonds Lily Flame Candle

            CUT GRASS LILY FLAME CANDLE

            Daffodils and Dandelions Lily Flame Candle

            Daisy Dip Lily Flame Candle

            Dolly Rocker Lily Flame Candle

            FAIRY DUST LILY FLAME CANDLE

            Fresh Linen Lily Flame Candle

            Gardenia Lily Flame Candle

            Heather and Honey Lily Flame Candle

            Honeysuckle Glow Lily Flame Candle

            Lavender and Lime Lily Flame Candle

            Love Lily Flame Candle

            Mango Fandango Lily Flame Candle

            Mellow figs and Garden Mint Lily Flame Candle

            Morning Dewberry Lily Flame Candle

            Over The Moon Lily Flame Candle

            PARMA VIOLETS LILY FLAME CANDLE

            Pink Grapefruit Lily Flame Candle

            Powder Puff Lily Flame Candle

            ROSE PETALS LILY FLAME CANDLES

            Silent Night Lily Flame Candle

            SPLASH LILY FLAME CANDLE

            Summer Pudding Lily Flame Candle

            Sweet Pea Lily Flame Candle

            Taste of Provence Lily Flame Candles

            Vanilla and Honey Lily Flame Candle

            Watermelon Smile Lily Flame Candle

            Wild Jasmine Lily Flame Candle

SYMA RADIO CONTROL HELICOPTER INFORMATION WHEN AVAILABLE

In fact, S006 Alloy Shark is Syma's flagship helicopter! Easy to fly too, thanks to its twin blade co-axial design, although it's larger size would be better suited to an intermediate "flyer"! The stick style transmitter has 3 channel control which means you can fly up, down, forwards, backwards and rotate left and right. Can be flown indoors, and due to its size outdoors too in relatively calm conditions. 

 

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BROOKITE KITES AND CIRRUS POWER KITES

Kite Information Direct from brookite As the longest established kite company in the UK we constantly strive to bring new products to our range that will complement our traditional outdoor theme. Consequently over the years, the range has expanded from its early beginnings manufacturing kites. These became the mainstay of Brookite for some 60 years and it was only in the early eighties that Brookite began to diversify, firstly into hobby horses and then toy sailing boats, windthings and most recently a range of bubble products. As the range of products grew, kites were not forgotten and a metamorphosis from heavy cotton material and equally solid wooden struts took place. For over twenty years kites have been manufactured using high quality spinnaker nylon - a wonderful material that is not only very colourful but also makes the kites easier to fly and handle. Fibreglass and carbon struts have taken over from wood and the range of fittings on the kites have improved beyond all recognition.

All products leaving the Brookite factory have been manufactured to a very high specification. The kites are regularly tested in all wind conditions locally on Dartmoor and we constantly update and review the range. We guarantee that all our kites will fly and back this up by promising to test fly any that cause a problem. Our staff are also very knowledgeable and are happy to advise on any product query. 

You can purchase a Brookite with confidence - knowing that you are buying a quality product from a company who really cares. Buy a Brookite and buy the best!!