From Socks to Satellites: Did You Know That They All Have Batteries?
From a digital luggage scale to a hearing aid. From a toothbrush to a defibrillator. Devices with batteries can be found not only in your kitchen and living room, but also in hospitals, at construction sites and even in space. In what follows, we introduce you to seven items that you (probably) did not suspect contain batteries.
Heated socks
Cold feet? With these electrically heated socks, you don't have to stay home by the fireplace. And luckily, you don't need an extension cord when you go out, since they run on rechargeable batteries.
Shoes with a message
Have you ever seen hip young guys and girls running (or roller skating) on luminous shoes? The energy for the little lamps in them comes from a battery that is charged via an external cable. No hocus pocus or kinetic energy, in other words.
Satellites with (emergency) batteries
Although they are powered by solar energy, satellites also have various rechargeable (emergency) batteries on board. These are not spare batteries from the supermarket, but ultrasophisticated batteries that can endure extreme conditions. That way, they can continue to perform their tasks by night as well as by day.
Lifesaving defibrillators
You see these more and more in public places and at companies: automated external defibrillators, or AEDs. An AED is used if a person's heart stops. A primary lithium pack generates the electric charge that - if all goes well - restarts the heart.
Warm gloves
Horse riding, skiing or biking in winter? With heated gloves, you can prevent frozen fingertips. Some models can also be connected with a cable to the electric circuitry of a motorbike.
Light swords
Luke Skywalker had better have some spare batteries in his pocket. For light swords don't run on cosmic radiation, but simply on batteries.
Rechargeable car keys
Most car keys work on lithium primary button cell batteries, but in some cases you can easily recharge your car key via the power outlet.
Musical birthday cards
If a jolly ‘Happy birthday to you’ plays when you open your birthday card, there is a good chance that there is a battery inside.
Flashing light dog collars
Dog collars with LED lights are wildly popular at the moment. And yes: these, too, of course contain batteries.
Nice tip: A long car drive with the kids in the back seat? Ask them to take turns naming a device that runs on batteries.
Recycle
The batteries in the remote control, flashlight and kitchen scale? Naturally, you can bring them to a Bebat collection point. But what if you no longer want to / can use those heated gloves, dog collar or light sword? Think twice before you throw them into the garbage, and read here what exactly you should do.
