"Batteries Out of Thin Air"

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By Phillip Torrone
Posted 2010/02/08 @ 8:42 am
Category Electronics

Gray Matter: Batteries Out of Thin Air @ Popular Science…

A battery that runs on air? Why, thatâ€™s almost as good as a car that runs on water! Those cars are fantasy, but batteries that run on air are actually quite common, especially among older people. Tiny zinc-air batteries are widely used in hearing aids, where they have replaced toxic mercury-based batteries in providing a small but steady stream of power. They supply more energy for their size than any other battery, because they draw some of their power straight from the air.

BY Phillip Torrone

Editor at large - Make magazine. Creative director - Adafruit Industries, contributing editor - Popular Science. Previously: Founded - Hack-a-Day, how-to editor - Engadget, Director of product development - Fallon Worldwide, Technology Director - Braincraft.

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5 Responses to "Batteries Out of Thin Air"

Daniel T on February 9th, 2010 at 1:54 am said:

they sound intresting, might be good for a longer lasting and greener LED throwie.

Anyone know where we can get them?

Reply ↓
- anachrocomputer on February 9th, 2010 at 5:06 am said:
  
  You can get zinc-air batteries from anywhere that sells hearing-aid batteries, because that’s what they’re used for. In the UK, Boots the chemist has them.
  
  Reply ↓
  
  Daniel T on February 9th, 2010 at 1:19 pm said:
  
  Thanks, I didn’t know they where widely available.
  
  I found a small company in the UK that will sell them bulk.
  
  http://www.smallbattery.company.org.uk/hearing_aid_batteries.htm
  
  Â£20 for 60, http://www.smallbattery.company.org.uk/sbc_za675_bulk.htm
  
  You be mad not to buy them in bulk.
  
  Reply ↓
zerdnog on February 9th, 2010 at 6:21 am said:

Okay, I don’t know what significance this picture even has with the post, but the picture itself is bothering me. For one, why would you have that sort of battery pack hooked up to the helicopter when it has a Li-Po battery right there. The second thing is the floating stand, and half of it is missing. It probably has nothing to do with the post itself, it’s just bothering me.

Reply ↓
- Daniel T on February 9th, 2010 at 1:14 pm said:
  
  I think it’s a really badly photoshoped picture to try make the point that the batteries are the heaviest item, so heavy that the heli can lift its own stand, but not them. That’s my guess.
  
  Reply ↓