Rayovac

Rayovac (formerly known as Ray-O-Vac until 1988) is a brand of batteries made by Spectrum Brands of Sandy Springs, Georgia, United States. Rayovac was founded in 1906 as the French Battery Co. in Madison, Wisconsin, United States.

During its ownership by the parent company of ESB Industrials, a British subsidiary was established to manufacture and market batteries in the United Kingdom under the Ray-O-Vac name. This operation ceased in 1972 although batteries continued to be marketed, although they were manufactured by the British Ever Ready company.

Rayovac changed its name to "Spectrum Brands" in 2005 after it acquired non-battery related businesses including Remington Products and United Pet Group. Rayovac also bought other battery companies including Varta, Ningbo Baowang, and Microlite S.A.. The Microlite acquision included the rights to the Rayovac name in Brazil giving the company world wide rights to the Rayovac name. [http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=75225&p=irol-newsArticle_Print&ID=621490&highlight=] Notable consumer battery products include the "Renewal" rechargeable alkaline series, and several types of NiMH (Nickel-Metal Hydride) batteries with recharge times as low as 15 minutes.

In 2004, Rayovac successfully underbid Energizer as RadioShack's battery supplier and now produces the "Enercell" brand of battery sold exclusively at RadioShack.

Hybrid batteries

In late 2006, Rayovac released a new type of rechargeable NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride) "Hybrid" battery that claims to blend the benefits of standard alkaline batteries with those of modern rechargeables. These batteries are advertised to hold a charge approximately four times longer than standard NiMH cells. One of the disadvantages of NiMH rechargeables is their relatively high rate of self-discharge, approximately 0.5 to 1 percent per day, while alkaline cells experience negligible self-discharge over time.

These batteries are currently (March 2007) branded "Rayovac Rechargeable NiMH Hybrid with Electron Retention Technology".

These batteries were available at some Walmarts in November 2006; the company website only began listing them on December 21, 2006. They are available in AA and AAA sizes, and currently only in the standard overnight-charge type (no 1-hour or 15-minute quick charge versions). They are claimed compatible with any NiMH battery charger; charge time varies with the capabilities of the charger, but they will NOT quick charge when used in Rayovac's 15-Minute I-C3 charger. The "Hybrid" branded Rayovac charger advertises an 8-hour charge time.

Although "Hybrid" batteries may "not" quick charge in Rayovac's 15-Minute charger(I-C3) as stated above, testing has confirmed it "will" quick charge in other third party brand 15-minute chargers such as Duracell CEF15NC. However, there is anecdotal evidence that seem to point to lowered recharge cycles in the order of 15-20% less when charging a NiMH battery in 15 minutes, that is the total number of charges that a given battery will take before its deemed unusable. Most common reason given is stress/heat to the battery involved in charging to full capacity in such a short time. However, quick charging is only one variable and other factors such as usage patterns could also affect longevity of a NiMH battery.

It is ultimately up to the consumer to decide if convenience of a shorter charge interval is a worthwhile trade off for a possibility of a reduced longevity. Unfortunately, until reliable public data is available, it is difficult to judge just how much value is being taken away, especially relative to price.

Similar products in the marketplace include Sanyo's 'Eneloop' Low self-discharge NiMH battery.

External links

* [http://www.rayovac.com Rayovac website]
* [http://www.rayovac.com/recharge/index.shtml Rayovac rechargeable battery website]
* [http://www.competition-commission.org.uk/rep_pub/reports/1970_1975/fulltext/081c04.pdf] An interesting report from the 1970s concerning the firm.

----