In this Pale Blue Earth batteries review, we examine these Lithium rechargeable batteries to determine whether they are worth the investment.
We all know we should have spare batteries on hand, but my experience with rechargeable batteries has not been great.
Are rechargeable batteries really worth the money? Or are alkaline batteries the way to go when planning your emergency supplies?
We tested these out in real-world scenarios to find what they’re truly good at and not-so-good-at.
Table of Contents
Pale Blue Earth Batteries Review
It seems that every emergency preparedness checklist includes spare batteries. Whether it’s a local natural disaster or a larger grid failure, batteries are essential for powering communication, light, navigation, and a wide range of other devices.
Pale Blue Earth’s batteries are the same standard sizes that we often use. Their unique feature is the ability to be recharged via a built-in USB-C port. You might think this isn’t helpful during a power outage, but they also have a compact solar charging panel that can recharge the batteries almost as fast as a wall outlet.
So, if I have a device that requires two AA batteries, I can keep four of the Pale Blue Earth AA batteries on hand and have nearly infinite power. They can be recharged up to 1000 times.
While these are great for emergency preparedness, they are also great for everyday use. Over time, they are cheaper than buying alkaline batteries regularly. Plus, every time we recharge them, we are not throwing another battery in the trash.
Pricing starts at around $25 for a set of 4 batteries, and the solar panel chargers are $80 to $150.
Understanding Battery Chemistry
While Pale Blue Earth batteries are the same standard sizes that we are used to (AA, AAA, etc.), inside, they are very different from regular throw-away batteries. Pale Blue rechargeable batteries are based on Lithium-Ion chemistry, while regular batteries are alkaline.
From my engineering background, I have experience manufacturing and testing Lithium-Ion batteries. Based on what we see in the media and advertising, one would think that they are superior to alkaline batteries.
In some ways, they are:
Instead of delving into a lengthy chemistry explanation about the variances between the two types, there is only one fundamental principle that you need to grasp.
Alkaline batteries discharge gradually, resulting in a slow decrease in power output. This can be observed in devices such as lights or children’s toys, where the light may dim over time or the toy’s movements may become slower and slower as the battery drains.
Lithium-Ion batteries will maintain their power output at a steady rate. The output will drop suddenly once they begin to get low on power. There is very little warning when they are low.
Because of this, some devices do not work well with Li-ion batteries. Smoke detectors are a good example.
Since they are safety devices, the detector senses the battery’s power output. Once it begins to drop, it will start chirping to alert you (usually in the middle of the night) to replace the battery. However, with Li-ion batteries, there is no decrease in power for the detector to sense, which causes the alert to not work properly.
Other devices, such as the Blink wireless cameras, require Li-Ion batteries because they do not function well with alkaline batteries. They need constant power rather than the slow power decrease from alkaline batteries.
Because of this, the Pale Blue Earth batteries may not be a direct replacement for all types of batteries. Usually, the device will indicate if Li-ion or alkaline batteries are supported. Sometimes, it doesn’t matter, and both will work.
Another thing to keep in mind is that Li-ion batteries do not work well with unregulated LED lights and lanterns. This is because they are designed to be used with Alkaline batteries and not the constant power output of Li-ion. How can you tell? If the battery requirements for the device are “AA Alkaline,” then Li-ion batteries probably won’t work. If it says Alkaline or Lithium (or Li-ion), the Pale Blue Earth batteries will work fine.
Another way to tell is to consider the device’s cost. Most cheap lanterns, around $10, will only work with Alkaline batteries.
While I have seen some people say the Pale Blue Earth batteries do not work well, it is because they have been misapplied.
Understanding Battery Capacity
Batteries are rated for their capacity by milli-amp hours, or mAh. This measure indicates how long the battery will last. For example, a 1000 mAh battery has twice the available power of a 500 mAh battery.
Pale Blue Earth’s AA batteries have a capacity of 1,700 mAh, while regular alkaline AA batteries have a capacity of about 2,800 mAh.
This means, everything else being equal, we should expect a regular alkaline battery to last longer than the Pale Blue Earth batteries.
But keep in mind that the Pale Blue Earth batteries are rechargeable up to 1000 times, while Alkaline batteries are one and done.
So, while we may not save exactly one alkaline battery every time we recharge one (more like three for every five charges), the number does add up over time.
Our Field Testing
We tested Pale Blue Earth’s AA, AAA, and C123A batteries in several devices. The AA and AAA batteries were used in everything from lights to radios and GPS units. The C123A batteries were mainly used in tactical flashlights and weapon-mounted lights.
We used an AAA battery in a Streamlight micro Tactical EDC flashlight and got 2 hours of run time. This was a little less than a standard alkaline, but as I explained, this is to be expected.
We used the AA batteries in a Garmin GPS, a Midland weather radio, and a few wireless Blink security cameras. They all worked perfectly, and we didn’t see any difference in our typical batteries.
They are great for the Blink cameras since they require Lithium batteries. I have tried alkaline batteries in them before and they start to give errors after a few weeks. Lithium batteries are expensive, and they only last a month or two, depending on how often the cameras are triggered. The Pale Blue Earth batteries have been running for over a month now, and I can simply recharge them and never have to buy new batteries again.
**Update – I have been using these batteries in my Blink cameras for five months and just now had to recharge one. This was under heave use, I never disarmed them so the one at our main entrance we triggered multiple times a day.
We also used the C123A batteries in a Streamlight TLR-7 sub weapon mounted light. We got about 3 hours of runtime and no issues with the performance of the light. (See our guide to the Best Pistol Lights for the ones we tested.)
We also tried them in a cheap lantern that specified Alkaline batteries. As expected, they did not perform well. The lantern blinked from bright to dim in a consistent pattern as the regulator in the batteries controlled the power output to prevent overheating.
Charging Time
All sizes of the Pale Blue Earth batteries can be recharged with the included USB cable, which charges four batteries at a time. We found that all of the sizes could be recharged in just an hour or two.
What makes them stand out for emergency preparedness is the solar panel. We have the Approach 2, which produces 21 watts and is only 24″ x 12″ when unfolded (8″x 12″x 0.7″ when folded). It has two USB ports on the back, and it can recharge not only the batteries but any USB device. I was able to recharge my iPhone with it.
We found that direct sunlight does speed up charging time, but it is not absolutely required. Around the middle of the day, we were able to recharge a completely dead AAA battery in 1.5 hours, while the C123As took 2.5 hours.
Another thing to keep in mind is you don’t have to fully recharge these batteries. We were able to partially charge them, and they worked just fine. This is a great feature for emergencies since I may only have a short period of time to recharge them and need them back in action.
Our Thoughts on Pale Blue Earths Batteries
I have not been a big fan of rechargeable batteries in the past. When I pick up my flashlight and it is dead, I like to just pop in a new battery. If I don’t have a spare rechargeable one, it is useless, and I don’t have time to wait.
For emergency preparedness, rechargeable batteries have always been an issue since I don’t have a good way to recharge them. On the other hand, once I use up all of my alkaline batteries, I am done as well.
Pale Blue Earth has solved these issues with its fast charge time and solar panel charging system. Their almost infinite life is a huge benefit as well. I can run them down and recharge them daily for over three years.
Go through your emergency devices and look at what battery sizes you need. Instead of stocking up on a case of Alkaline batteries, just get the number you need, plus a couple of spares. Add the solar panel, and you are set to power your devices for a long time.
Also, think about the devices you use every day that have standard batteries. They are great for EDC flashlights and security cameras. Over time, they save me money, and I am not filling up the landfill with Alkaline batteries.
Now, check out our other Preparedness Guides and Reviews. Our Prepping Checklist is a great place to start.
