AA - Batteries

[Pat-inCO]

Here of late I've noticed that my usage of AA batteries has been much
higher than I remember from several years ago. The last batch of (as
they are labeled) Energizer AAs, have not lasted as well as I would hope.
I buy them in the "cards", or bulk quantities, and this last card has
had an atrocious lifespan (read that as S H O R T).

Well, in the last several months, I have migrated from the Alkaline
version to rechargeable versions, and guess what, there is an even
higher percentage of inferior quality ones available there (DUH!).
In looking around I found a web page with what seems some very
good info. on the care and feeding of rechargeables. Please make note
of the information on the LSD (Low Self Discharge, for kids of the '60s
and '70s) batteries.

There is also a web page on selecting flashlights, that I stumbled on
as I wandered around. It is from REI outdoors people and seems to
have good reference material. REI on flashlights.

 

[caryc]

Don't you just love Duracell's packaging? Sure it says guaranteed 10 years but under that in very tiny font it says "in storage".

I wonder how many fools buy them thinking those batteries are going to last ten years in their device?

 

[Chief4]

I use nothing but rechargeables. Lately been buying from Amazon,BATMAX 2800mAh & EBL 2300mAh. Use them in my Pentax Camera all my E-callers and decoys. Gave up on alkalines a long time ago.

 

[Mobuck]

I tried my first set of EBL rechargeable AA in my caller this year. Even after 3-4 hours use and then sitting for a couple of weeks, they still had a good charge level.

 

[arfmel]

Don't you just love Duracell's packaging? Sure it says guaranteed 10 years but under that in very tiny font it says "in storage".

I wonder how many fools buy them thinking those batteries are going to last ten years in their device?

I used to buy Duracell batteries but so many lately have leaked before they're dead, I have about given up on them. I have even had them leak before being taken out of the package.

 

[Rick Courtright]

Hi,

I use a fair number of AA batteries, rechargeables when practical in cameras and other users. I usually grab some Rayovac alkalines at Wally's for throwaways. They work as well as Energizers did when those were my choice. I've never had good luck with Duracells--leakage and corrosion being prime problems.

The rechargeables I like are the Eneloops, once sold under the Sanyo brand, now under Panasonic's name. Some earlier users of them claim Sanyo's version was better than Panasonic's, but I haven't noticed a difference. I've tried some Duracell rechargeables and still have about four of them left out of quite a few I bought once upon a time. Again, there was nothing to write home about with that brand. The rest of that lot was toast in 90-180 days, even with being religious about using the genuine Duracell charger. I'll check out that website to see if I'm helping or hindering my battery life...

Rick C

 

[Pat-inCO]

I wonder how many fools buy them thinking those
batteries are going to last ten years in their device?

Only the illiterate ones. :wink:


I've had many a battery "go dead" without even being put in any device.
Most of those were the Energizer, but some were Duracell. Now that the
shelf life has been extended, you mostly have to contend with the cell
itself going bad in use. That's what happened to me that started me latest
excursion into battery research. Have a really nice flashlight that uses
four of the AA batteries. Put four in, tested it and everything was fine.
Checked it a few months later and ONE cell was flat and the other three
had been pulled down significantly (the bad one was at one volt and the
other three were at one point four V) :shock: and that was with minimal
use. I'll note that ONE cell being that far gone indicates a bad cell
rather than a bad device.

If you take the link and read, the single most important factor is WHERE
the batteries are manufactured. Most coming from China are an ever
decreasing quality. Those rechargeable ones from Japan, are from the
single source. That means a Panasonic or other name brand (I don't
remember them all) came from the same manufacturing plant, and are
of good to excellent quality.

 

[Coop]

Current Duracell AA battery story for today, although it started back in 2005. I was working as a sound tech at a music school in WV and had a pair of Motorola walki-talkies each taking three AA batteries. I used the Motorola's for about 8 years on and off with the same batteries for my sound reinforcement work, then stopped using them. I always removed the batteries from the radios when storing them.

Fast forward 5 years later, I needed plumbing help from Annie to fix a bath faucet supply line plug this morning (90 year old house), requiring remote radio contact to manipulate the main shut-off valve to flush out line debris. Put the Duracell AA batteries (exp date 2011) into the radios, turned them on, and they worked, perfectly. Too Cool. Fixed the problem, and returned the radios to long term storage sans batteries, pack separately.

I was stunned that the radios worked with those old batteries.

 

[Salmoneye]

My go-to rechargeables are from eBay...

'Tenergy' branded...

I beat the snot out of my AA and AAA batteries, and these hold up for me better than any 'Name Brand' I have used...

 

[GLGAR]

I bought a 12 pack of Energizer Lithium from EBay a while back to use in a EoTec sight. Seem to have a longer life so far.

 

[ronto]

Duracell leaked and ruined a flashlight and radio. I use Rayovac and have had no problems with leakage or lifespan.

 

[turd]

I've had a few bad or weak (short run time) Energizers over the years, but most last a long time. I am a type 1 diabetic using an insulin pump, so need to depend on batteries. My results with Duracells have been dismal. Leaks, short run times, etc. I avoid Duracells as much as I can for any battery use now.

As mentioned, AAA and AA battery quality seems to have been deteriorating for some time. I tried rechargeable ones, but the main advantage seems to be that you can recharge them. Good thing, because in my experience the charge doesn't last very long. My pump is on 24/7 obviously, and I get 3-4 weeks from a AAA energizer. 1-2 weeks from a Duracell if they don't leak. Some only last a few days.

 

[7p's]

I doubt the batteries are getting inferior, I think your "modern" electronic gadgets draw more power draining the batteries faster. Most batteries will hold their full potential for approximately 10 months after manufacture after which the drain will increased its pace but they will still operate after 5 or 10 years - whatever that shelf life is - however, they won't operate very long and if your device draws a lot of power at start-up, they may not be up to the task.

If the "good" date is 2023, then you have fresh batteries on a 5 year shelf life battery - if the good date is 2019/2020 - that battery won't give you much time under power. Hearing aids are a prime example - some will last 2 days, others will last 7 days - looking at the date will give you a hint at which one gives 2/3 days and those that give 6/7 days.

A "fresh" Ultimate Lithium AA Battery by Energizer will give you great performance in all weather conditions.http://data.energizer.com/pdfs/l91.pdf I use those puppies in everything now, having switched over from using Panasonic rechargeable NiMH eneloop pro's, which were only 1.2 volts and 2450 mAh. The Lithium's can be used in electronics calling for normal AA Alkaline batteries in most cases - if in doubt, check with the electronic gadget manufacturer to make sure. In most cases 1.5 volts is 1.5 volts output whether Lithium or Alkaline - Lithium just puts out the power longer and depending upon the device, generates a little heat in the process. :wink:

 

[gramps]

Ha, ha, ha! My mileage is Rayovac and Energizers leak, and Duracell is the only thing that works. Rechargeables are worthless. Charge them up, put them in the radio (marine) for just in case, and go to use it and they are DEAD. In SCUBA diving they instructed us to NOT use rechargeables for lights when cave diving. Now I know why. Find what works in your area, and use them. Different facility's make them?
gramps