No. Never mix old and new batteries in a single device - battery leakage may occur. Replace all batteries in a device at the same time.

The performance of a battery-operated product is limited by the weakest of all the batteries in the device. One old or weak battery can cause poor product performance even if all the others are new or fully charged.

No. Never mix different battery types - such as alkaline, heavy duty and rechargeable - in a single device. Battery leakage may occur.

No. Batteries should be removed from any device that will be stored for long periods of time.

Batteries should be removed from devices/equipment when:

    • The device is not expected to be in use for several weeks
    • The batteries are worn out (to prevent possible damage from battery leakage)
    • The device is being powered by household (AC) current

Batteries can't deliver much power when it's cold. If you keep a flashlight in your car during the winter, you may discover that the light beam is relatively weak. Warm up the batteries to room temperature and try again before deciding to replace the batteries.

A battery consists of two electrodes, the anode (negative pole) and the cathode (positive pole). When the battery is discharging, electrochemical reactions take place in both electrodes, which we will explain here using the example of the alkaline manganese battery: Zinc is oxidized to zinc oxide in the anode, and manganese dioxide (MnO₂) is reduced to MnOOH in the cathode. The anode reaction (oxidation) creates negative charges (electrons) that flow from the negative pole of the battery through the wire and the device (e.g. the light bulb) to the positive pole of the battery and are consumed again by the cathode reaction (reduction). In order to balance out the described flow of charges, a second current must flow inside the battery. For this current you need the battery liquid, the so-called electrolyte (potassium hydroxide in our example). The caustic potash contains hydroxide ions (OH-), which flow from the cathode to the anode, thus completing the circuit.

The current is generated in the battery by means of an electrochemical process that converts stored chemical energy into electrical energy. This process takes place between the anode, cathode and electrolyte, the three main components of a battery. The anode is often a metal, the cathode a metal oxide, and the electrolyte a solution that allows the flow of ions. In the alkaline manganese battery, the anode is zinc, the cathode is manganese dioxide and the electrolyte is caustic potash. In the rechargeable NiMH battery, the anode is a metal hydride (a metal alloy that stores hydrogen), the cathode is nickel oxyhydroxide (NiOOH) and the electrolyte is also caustic potash.

The Italian physicist Alessandro Volta (1745-1810) developed the first electrochemical cell in 1800. The word 'battery', which is used today for electronic devices, was first coined by Franklin in the same year to describe the combination of several electrochemical cells. In 1791, while working at the University of Bologna, Luigi Galvani discovered that the muscle of a frog contracts when it comes into contact with a metallic object. This phenomenon became known as animal electricity. Spurred on by these experiments, Volta conducted a series of experiments using zinc, lead, tin and iron as positive plates (cathode) and copper, silver, gold and graphite as negative plates (anode), thus inventing the first battery, the so-called "Voltaic column".

According to the spread offers, it's always complicated to find the right battery. The VARTA product range makes it easier for you to choose.
There are two types of VARTA batteries: Primary batteries and rechargeable batteries (accumulators or secondary batteries).
VARTA alkaline batteries belong to the primary batteries which cannot be recharged. Strictly, primary batteries are useful where long periods of storage are required. VARTA alkaline range offers different products with specific functions in order to answer at best all your expectations:

• VARTA LONGLIFE Max Power batteries deliver precise and flexible energy for digital devices such as digital cameras or blood pressure monitors.
• VARTA LONGLIFE Power batteries offer the powerful energy needed for devices with high energy consumption such as battery operated toys or flashlights.
• VARTA LONGLIFE batteries perform especially well in devices with constant and low energy needs, such as remote controls or wall clocks.
• VARTA ULTRA Lithium batteries are the perfect solution for energy-intensive devices like digital cameras, walkie talkies or smoke detectors and master extremely low temperatures.

Moreover, we are providing clear communication of recommended use by way of pictograms to simplify your choice!

In modern recycling plants, used batteries are efficiently recycled and their components returned to the production cycle. Different processes are used here as well. In electric steel furnaces, zinc and steel are recovered from alkali-manganese and zinc-carbon batteries. In electric arc furnaces, alkali-manganese and zinc-carbon batteries are melted down. In addition to zinc, vitreous slag and iron-manganese (or ferromanganese), which is mainly used to produce iron alloys, are also produced. The secondary raw materials are used, for example, for the construction of cars (steel), roads (slag), wheelbarrows (zinc), brake discs (iron-manganese or ferromanganese). Cobalt and nickel from batteries can be used in cell phones. The recovery of lithium has only recently become possible and is not yet very widespread, but it is becoming increasingly important.

Batteries can be disposed of in disposal centers, electronics retail stores, in supermarkets or in shopping malls. Collection boxes are available in stores for this purpose. Never throw batteries into a fire, as this can cause an explosion. Batteries must not be disposed of with the residual waste, moreover, valuable raw materials would be lost, which can be reused.

Batteries must be stored in a cool, dry place. Avoid extreme temperatures as these will significantly affect battery performance. Store batteries in their original packaging until they are used to ensure protection against short circuits.

Some time ago, a new R&D center was opened, in which significant performance improvements of up to 6 percent for AA and AAA alkaline batteries were achieved through expanded testing possibilities. The use of innovative, high-quality materials ensures better performance and thus offers our customers even more independence.

To follow the sustainability trend of plastic-free packaging, new and smart packaging solutions were created.
Our new products are distinguished by unique innovations in materials and handling. We have completely eliminated plastic as a packaging material for many products. All other products are impressive too thanks to our use of up to 90 % recycled material. In addition, we create a unique feel with the matt surface of our cells. Even with closed eyes, customers know they’re holding a VARTA premium product in their hands. The new, patented opening / closing mechanism is especially innovative. This mechanism makes it easy to remove cells individually and also serves as an ideal container for returning discharged cells to collection stations in a compact, environmentally friendly manner.

You can type in your battery type (number engraved on the surface or written on your packaging) into the search function here to find the corresponding VARTA battery.

Manufacturers specify which battery type is needed to power the device. Usually the needed battery size is written in the manual of the device or even on the device itself. Most of the coin cells have a designation (battery type) engraved on the surface, e.g. CR2032 or V377 (or manufacturer code).

In event of battery ingestion, seek immediate medical attention at a hospital or emergency room.
Do not let your child eat or drink until an x-ray can determine if a battery is present.
If you still have the battery packaging or the device containing the battery take this with you to help the doctor identify the battery type and chemistry.
Visit Button Battery Safety: https://buttonbatteryingestion.com

Even though any NiMH battery has 1,2 V and alkaline batteries run with 1,5 V, you can use the comparable NiMH battery size in most devices that use alkaline batteries.

Rechargeable batteries suit all devices that need a lot of energy in a short period of time, so called 'high drain devices', e.g.: toys, digital cameras, gaming controllers...
In general, rechargeable batteries are not recommended if the device is not be used very frequently (e.g. scales).

Accus with high capacity (e.g. AA 2600 mAh) provide a lot of energy and are especially recommended for high drain devices (e.g. toys, photoflashes, babyphones, controllers,…). Lower capacities (e.g. AA 1350 mAh) provide less energy and thus fit best in low drain applications (e.g. wireless mouse, wall clock…).

VARTA rechargeable batteries can be recharged hundreds of times. The number of cycles depends on the capacity of the NiMH cell. Recharging NiMH batteries results in significant cost and material savings compared to alkaline batteries.

Yes. VARTA rechargeable batteries are available in the same battery sizes as Alkaline Primary batteries. The VARTA Recharge Accu Power product line comprises AA, AAA, C, D & 9V sizes.

No. VARTA rechargeable NiMH batteries do not have the typical memory effect. Therefore the accus do not need to be fully discharged. With a suitable charger they can be recharged at any time with no effect on performance or battery life.

No. The VARTA Recharge Accu Power and Recharge Accu Recycled are 'Ready to use' which means they are pre-charged and can be used straight from the pack like an Alkaline battery.

No, all VARTA rechargeable batteries can be charged in any charger. For best compatibility, we recommend using VARTA chargers.

Depending on the charging current, rechargeable batteries will heat up during the charging process and, above all, at the end of charging. This is normal and is no reason for concern.
However, if rechargeable batteries become extremely hot or the label of the battery starts to release bubbles, this is a sign that they have been overcharged. This could happen with simple chargers which do not have any cut off criteria for the charging process. In this case, you should stop the charging manually and check the charging criteria or charging times and observe the information in the user manual.

The VARTA Recharge Accu Power is the most powerful and broadest range with the right capacity for every application.
The VARTA Recharge Accu Recycled is the most sustainable product line made of 21 % recycled material without any compromises on performance. It is available in the most demanded AA and AAA capacities.

All NiMH batteries should be “cycled” from time to time. This means, that the battery should be completely discharged and recharged. This process should be repeated several times in a row.

The optimal condition for storage is a temperature level between +5°C and +25°C at a relative humidity of 50 %. When the battery is stored for a longer period of time, it should be stored fully charged. In general, all rechargeable batteries lose their charge over time in storage. However, VARTA rechargeable batteries provide long power in storage. This means, that the process of self discharging is significantly slower than with other rechargeable batteries. For example the remaining capacity of the VARTA Recharge Accu Power is up to 75 % after 12 months.

In the best case, you dispose of your batteries in collection boxes at your local retailer to ensure the return into the recycling cycle.
Good to know: Before disposing of your batteries, stick the poles and make sure that the batteries are completely discharged.

No, it does not harm or damage the battery. However, it is more gentle on the battery and can prolong its life cycle if the battery is not being charged regularly with too high charging currents. All VARTA rechargeable batteries feature quick-charging.

Rechargeable batteries can, in general, be charged in any suitable charger. It is important to ensure that the rechargeable batteries are not overcharged in the charger. This means that chargers with higher charging currents must react more accurately at the end of charging. The information in the user manual must always be observed.

Charging time h = (NiMH battery capacity mAh x 1.2) / Charging current mA

Example:
Rechargeable battery capacity = 2100 mAh
Charging current of the charger = 300 mA
Charging time = (2100 mAh žx 1.2) / 300 mA = approx. 8 hours

Some simple and thus also cost-effective chargers are only equipped with a timer (electronic time switch) and generally switch off after a set time. This means that the charging times specified in the user manuals for the rechargeable battery types should be roughly adhered to (remove rechargeable battery after specified charging time). The charging times for different rechargeable battery capacities can easily be measured proportionally or calculated. If the charger is disconnected from the mains and then plugged in again, the timer will restart and start charging again from the beginning. For rechargeable batteries with larger capacities, the charging process may have to be started twice.

When using chargers with a very high charging current (charging time less than 30 minutes), it is important to take into account that rechargeable batteries will be almost fully charged in the very short charging time specified and that they are therefore ready for use again immediately. To top up the small amount of remaining capacity, the charger should simply be left plugged in for a while (trickle charging).

No. Primary batteries are not generally designed to be recharged. Charging would cause the risk of leakage as well as the risk to safety to rise very sharply, which is why primary batteries should never be recharged.

Technically yes, however the use of NiCd rechargeable batteries has been prohibited in 2016 by the EU.

No, if a charger with minus Delta V cut-off or temperature cut-off is used, NiMH rechargeable batteries can be charged without adverse effect at any point regardless of their state of charge.

If your charger has single slot charging (charges each battery individually – not in pairs), then yes, older and newer batteries can be charged at the same time. In any other case, pairwise charging will result in an uneven state of charge.

Pairwise charging means that 2 cells are charged in series. To activate the charging process, please note that both cells have to be inserted. Please take care that batteries have the same capacity and the same state of charge in order to avoid overcharging or an incomplete charge. In a single slot charging charger cells are individually recharged.

New rechargeable NiMH batteries do not require conditioning. However, conditioning can be helpful when your older batteries begin to lose performance. It can help to jumpstart rechargeable NiMH batteries that are near the end of their useful life so that you can get as much out of your older batteries as possible. The VARTA LCD Ultra Fast Charger+ offers this function, for example.

The temperature of the rechargeable battery is measured whilst it is charging. If it rises above a defined maximum temperature level, the charger switches off.

An integrated timer (electronic time switch) generally switches off the charging process after a set time regardless of the charging status.

It is a method for cutting off the charging process, which takes advantage of the fact that the cell voltage drops slightly (-dV) in a rechargeable battery as soon as the cell is completely charged.

Trickle charge is low current charging after the main charging process that helps to maintain the charging status of the NiMH battery at 100 %.

Yes, all VARTA chargers can be used worldwide.

Any device that can be charged with a USB cable can also be charged with a Power Bank. Most common examples are smart and mobile devices such as smartphones, smartwatches, tablets, fitness trackers, earphones but also cameras, gaming controllers and more applications.

"mAh" means "milliamps per hour" and is the measuring unit for electric charge. "mAh" is used to describe the capacity of the internal battery in a Power Bank.
For example: 10.000 mAh specifications means battery is rated to supply 10.000 milliamps for 1 hour.
Good to know: the higher the capacity of a Power Bank the more often it can charge a mobile device.

No, charge time is determined by the output current and not the capacity of the Power Bank.

A Power Bank can be charged by using any power source that has an USB output. Common power supplies include but are not limited to wall chargers, car adaptors, laptops or even other Power Banks.

The input port is for charging the Power Bank, usually Micro USB or USB Type C connector. The output port is for charging the external device, usually USB A or USB Type C.

Input means the voltage (V) and current (A) required to charge the Power Bank. Output means the output voltage (V) and maximum possible current (A) available to charge an external device.

This depends on the input connector of your Power Bank and the output connector of the power supply. Most Power Banks can be charged with a USB Type A to Micro USB cable. It may be necessary to use a USB Type A to USB Type C or a USB Type C to USB Type C cable to charge the Power Banks.

This depends on the input connector of your external device and the output connector of your Power Banks. Most mobile devices can be charged with a USB A to Micro USB cable. It also may be necessary to use a USB Type A to USB Type C or a USB Type C to USB Type C cable to charge the device. For Apple products the Apple exclusive 'Lightning' connector is needed for charging.

If the Power Bank cannot supply sufficient current, charging of a tablet will take an excessively long time to complete. It is recommended to use a Power Bank with minimum 2.1 A output to charge tablets. To be sure, check the input specification of the tablet in order to identify the minium current the tablet requires for charging.

Most often Power Banks have a Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) or Lithium-Polymer (Li-Po) battery.

Power Banks use Lithium-Polymer or Lithium-Ion battery technology, which is not susceptible to any memory issues.

Yes, normal operation will generate mild to moderate heat. It is suggested to charge/discharge the Power Bank in an open area and stop charging/discharging or using it if the Power Bank becomes exceptionally hot.

Power Banks should be stored in a dry place at a temperature between 0-40° C/104° F (ideally 20° C/68° F).  
Store Power Banks with a minimum of 40-50 % charge of the battery for better battery life.

To prolong the battery life, please fully charge the Power Bank before usage. Avoid storing Power Banks in extreme heat or cold environments. Always store your Power Bank with 40-50 % charge. Do not store Power Banks while the battery is completely drained, as this will reduce the capacity of the battery or render it unusable. More helpful insight can be found here.

Yes, Power Banks can be taken on the airplane. Please note that they must be stored in the carry-on baggage and are not allowed to exceed 100 Wh (please check on the Rating Label of your VARTA Power Bank on the backside). Most airlines follow the IATA guidelines – nevertheless, it is recommended to look up the airlines' individual baggage regulations.

The charger contains a transmitter coil and the qi-compatible mobile device contains a receiver coil. When the two coils get close enough, power is sent through a magnetic field. This is also called 'inductive charging'.

'Qi' is considered the world's leading standard for inductive charging. All mobile devices that are 'qi compatible' can be charged with VARTA's wireless charging solutions.

2 years starting from purchase date.

ANSI stands for American National Standard Institute. This Institute provides the world´s leading flashlight standard with precise definitions of terms, marking rules and test methods for measuring relevant perfomance parameters of portable lights and therefore allows to compare performance features more easily.

Light output is the measurement of the total quantity of the emitted overall light energy. The value is reported in lumens (abbreviated "lm" on VARTA packaging).

Runtime (abbreviated "h" on VARTA packaging) is the duration of time from the initial light output value (30 sec after light is turned on with new batteries) until the light output drops to 10 % of the value.

Beam range is the distance at which the light beam is still 0,25 lux. Results are reported in meters (abbreviated "m" on VARTA packaging) and measured with a lux meter.

Lumen (abbreviated "lm") is a measurement unit, which is stating what total amount of light is emitted from a light source. Roughly can be said that the more lumens the brighter the light. Lux is the measurement unit which measures the light output in a given area. One lux is equal to one lumen per square meter. Watt is measuring how much energy the product/LED consumes, not how much light output (lumens) it provides.

Shock proof is the claim for shock resistance of our flashlights. It measures the degree to which a portable light resists damage when dropped on a solid surface. Drop height for our lights is 1 m minimum but many of our lights are tested with a higher drop height (up to 9 m, depends on the light type and is stated on the product detail pages). Dropped samples must not exhibit any cracks or breaks and must remain fully functional.

IP is an international standard and stands for Impact Protection (e.g. IPX4). These ratings are used to define levels of sealing effectiveness of electrical enclosures against intrusion from foreign bodies (tools, dirt, etc.) and moisture.

Water proof means that the flashlight can be immersed up to the announced depth (IPX7): submersed in 1 meter for 30 minutes.
Water resistant means that the flashlight is protected against splashing water (IPX4).

Yes, other battery brands can be used in VARTA flashlights as well. However, to guarantee the maximum light output, run time and beam range we do recommend VARTA batteries.

If you put the batteries wrong way up into the light devise it can happen that the flashlight is simply not working. But it can also happen, that the light is going on and after a short time is going out or is shining less bright. In that case please check if the batteries are inserted correctly.

Yes, all VARTA lights are CE certified and therefore tested against all necessary European standards. We are working together with international institutes such as TÜV, Intertek and SGS. However, also the safest product is not protected against misuse.

LEDs have many advantages compared to incandescent bulbs. They have an extremely long lifetime and are virtually unbreakable. In addition, they are highly energy-efficient providing higher light output with lower electrical energy. Finally, LEDs provide clear white light.

LEDs don’t need replacement since high performance LEDs last for approx. 50.000 hours, 5 mm LEDs even for approx. 100.000 hours.

VARTA is using different LEDs depending on the type of the light. We are differentiating between standard 5 mm LEDs and High Performance LEDs:

• 5mm LEDs are virtually shatterproof and highly resistant to impacts
• Additional to those advantages, High Performance LEDS guarantee a higher light output due to improved materials and an increased chip size (e.g. Cree LEDs, Samsung LEDs or Osram LEDs)

COB stands for "Chip on Board". For COB LEDs, multi LED chips are packaged together as one lighting module. When it lights up, it looks like a lighting panel. Advantage is a very high light output in the tightest of spaces.

Batteries are leak proof according to the expiration date printed on the battery label (e.g. at alkaline batteries normally 10 years) so they are not included in the 3 years guarantee but have an even longer guarantee. High performance LEDs last for approx. 50.000 hours, 5 mm LEDs even for approx. 100.000 hours. That means they don’t need to be changed during the life cycle of the flashlight.

Some of our premium lights do have a low battery indicator. This can be a blue or red LED within the light body which is blinking once the battery is getting low (e.g. our rechargeable Night Cutter flashlights) or the main LED is flashing several times once the battery status is getting low).

Frosted lenses are used especially on area lights and lanterns and are providing an ideal diffusion of light. Also, due to the frosted lense, the light is not glaring.

Flashlights can only be driven with batteries which run on the packaging named voltage (e.g. 1,2 -1,5 V), so we recommend to always check the information provided on the packaging. Especially Li-Ion rechargeable accus have a higher voltage and can therefore be not suitable for usage in flashlights.