Introduction

Batteries are the most common way of powering equipment not connected to the electric grid--making this topic of vital interest to nearly every ham.

Additional information on this subject and related topics can be found in back issues of QST and the following:

The ARRL Handbook for Radio Amateurs

The ARRL has an extensive catalog of books and materials related to Amateur Radio.

Articles

Note: Some of the following articles are in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) files. To view and print these files, you'll need a copy of Adobe's Acrobat Reader program. (Version 3.0 or later required). More information here.

• Which Battery Should You Use in Your Equipment? (65,536 bytes, PDF file)
  QST April 1999, p. 40-42
  NiCd, NiMH, Alkaline, etc ... How do they differ from one another, and which is best for your application?
• Nickel-Metal-Hydride Batteries in Amateur Radio Applications (262,144 bytes, PDF file)
  QST September 1994, pp. 38-39
  Meet the newest power source for portable equipment: the NiMH battery
• A NiCd Never Forgets. Or Does It? (622,592 bytes, PDF file)
  QST November 1994, pp. 70-71
  A discussion of memory effect.
  
• A Smart Charger For Nickel-Cadmium Batteries (262,144 bytes, PDF file)
  QST September 1994, pp. 40-42
  Recharge your Hand-held's battery pack FAST, with this easy weekend project
• The Ubiquitous, Notorious NiCd (131,072 bytes, PDF file)
  QST June 1995, p. 74
  Technical Correspondence - NiCd battery memory effect
  
• Testing Rechargeable Alkaline Batteries - and More (759,666 bytes, PDF file)
  QEX April 1996, pp. 3-12
  The ARRL Lab investigates those rechargeable Alkaline batteries.
• A Battery-Voltage Indicator (73,203 bytes, PDF file)
  QST October 1998, pp. 50-51
  Here's a quick and inexpensive project that allows you to keep tabs on your battery's condition.
• Honey, They've Shrunk the Batteries! (569,703 bytes, PDF file)
  QST December 2001, pp. 31-35
  A rundown on today’s popular batteries, their uses, characteristics and care.
• Getting the Most Out of Nickel-Cadmium Batteries (1,673,899 bytes, PDF file)
  QST February 1992, pp. 40-45
  Help for separating NiCd fact from fiction.

Web Links

• Battery University
  A wealth of information on batteries.
• My independent (non-scientific) battery test & review
• Duracell
  Popular alkaline batteries, comprehensive battery guide, battery care
• Energizer
  A wealth of information on batteries
• Frequently Asked Questions - Batteries
• Car and Deep Cycle Battery FAQ
  Tips, information, references and hyperlinks about car, motorcycle, truck, marine, recreational vehicle starting and deep cycle applications.
• Greenbatteries.com
  Battery FAQ, Battery Myths, Battery6 charger FAQ
• Recycle Your Rechargeable Batteries
  The proper way to dispose of rechargeable batteries.

Bibliography (Members Only)

ARRL Periodicals Index Search - This database contains the QST index from 1915 to the present and the QEX index from 1981 to the present. For QST issues from 1970 to the present, and some selected articles back to 1922 (when construction articles featuring tubes began in earnest), identifying keywords have been added to the technical articles. By entering keywords (ANTENNA) or combinations of keywords (CONSTRUCTION ANTENNA VERTICAL HF) into the Title words: field, you may create dynamic bibliographies.
Technical article KEYWORD list. Hints for more successful searching

Suggested keywords for more articles like the ones on this page are: BATTERY

Article Reprints:

You can get a photocopy of any ARRL published article for $3 ($5 for nonmembers) for each article requested. Contact the ARRL Technical Department (reprints@arrl.org ), 1-860-594-0390) if you wish to get photocopies.

This information was prepared as a membership service by the American Radio Relay League, Inc., Technical Information Service, 225 Main St., Newington, CT 06111 (860) 594-0214. Email: tis@arrl.org (Internet). ARRL HQ is glad to provide this information on the Web free of charge as a service to League members and affiliated clubs.

If you have any questions concerning the reproduction or distribution of this material, please contact:

TIS Coordinator
American Radio Relay League
225 Main St., Newington, CT 06111
Tel: 860-594-0214 Fax: 860-594-0259
(email: tis@arrl.org)