According to Lego, the Mindstorms battery should be good for over 500
charging cycles. If you're recharging it once a week, that's about 10
years. These batteries do wear out from corrosion and chemical changes
as well, though, so I wouldn't expect one to last that long.
You can check the charge level of the battery from within the NXT
programming environment. If recharging brings the battery voltage to a
reasonable level, close to 9V, and the level doesn't drop rapidly as the
robot is being used, then the battery's probably OK.
If you're going to buy a new battery, be sure to recycle the old one.
Ralph
On 5/16/10 1:26 PM, Sonya Shaver wrote:
> I have no information as I am seriously battery-challenged. But I
> wanted to add that I would love to know also. I think that from what
> others have said, it seems like after a couple of years the
> rechargeable battery doesn't work as well anymore. It kind of wears
> down and doesn't charge as well over time. We are entering Year 3
> with our current robot and battery, so I was thinking about buying a
> new battery before the start of the season. I don't honestly notice
> any difference in the performance of our battery as of yet, however, I
> don't want to have chaos in the middle of the season! So I thought
> maybe starting with a fresh battery would be better.
>
> So, I would love to know also!
>
> best,
> Sonya Shaver in Harriosnburg
>
>
> On Sun, May 16, 2010 at 8:10 AM, Eric Palmer <[log in to unmask]
> <mailto:[log in to unmask]>> wrote:
>
> It appears as if Lego has a new recharable battery with 2100mAh of
> power
> compared with the original 1400 mAh
>
>
> At the first site for team registration, products page there is a
> battery
> charger and battery listed this way
>
> --- NEW BATTERY ---
>
> Rechargeable AC Battery
> * US 979798
> * $54.95 USD
> Description:
>
> This battery is for robots purchased prior to the Body Forward season.
>
> And there is a charger listed the same way.
> The lego Education Store lists this original batter this way
> This rechargeable lithium battery is designed for use with the NXT
> Intelligent Brick. The battery features 1400 mAh of power and an
> A/C plug
> for direct power supply. The battery will charge from 0 to full in
> a maximum
> of four hours. Use the 979833 AC Adapter to charge the battery (sold
> separately).
>
>
> --- ORIGINAL BATTERY ---
> Then there is another battery and charger listed this way
>
> Rechargeable DC Battery
> * US 979693
> * $54.95 USD
>
> The above one is a NEW Battery that the Lego Education Store
> describes this
> way
>
> Designed for use with the NXT Intelligent Brick, this lithium ion
> polymer
> battery with DC plug gives you an alternative to normal AA
> batteries. The
> battery features 2100 mAh of power and uses the Transformer 10V DC
> (778887)
> to charge. Estimated recharge time: 4-5 hours. Is not compatible
> with the AC
> Charger (979833).
>
>
>
> The description on the FIRST site leads us to believe that the new
> battery
> can't be used with the older NXT bricks. But the Lego Education
> site just
> explains that the chargers have to be matched up.
>
>
> Does anyone have any additional information on these batteries?
>
> Thanks
> ---
> Eric F. Palmer
> [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
>
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--
Ralph F Grove, PhD
Professor, Graduate Director
James Madison University Department of Computer Science
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