AA battery life

[myredracer]

Just a bit of a rant. 😞

I have an SLR camera that I use a lot, mostly for documenting restoration of 2 cars I've been working on for a while. I use ordinary AA batteries and not rechargeable ones and normally get a month or two out of them, and I use the flash often.

Put new "super heavy duty" ones in the other day. Lasted about a week for just a few pics. What the heck. I tested the old batteries with a voltmeter first before tossing them to see if one or all needed replacing and also checked the new ones which showed they were good.

Then I looked at the package. A little hard to read maybe, but it says "ideal for low drain devices". Huh?

I know there's no need to pay for overpriced Duracell or Energizer as they're pretty much all built the same way. But a week out of something labeled "super heavy duty" ain't very good.

[pianotuna]

Tom is more correct than I was. The actual numbers for LiFeS2 are 1.8 volts.

I found their life span poor and not cost competitive with alkaline AA and AAA from dollar stores.

Tom thank you for the correction and for getting me off my duff to research this.

Tom_M wrote:

pianotuna wrote:

myredracer wrote:

pianotuna wrote:
redracer,

The AA li have to have a voltage dropping resistor. I'm not at all happy with them.

You mean an internal one? Why is that and do other Li batteries like that?

The nominal voltage of lithium-ion is 3.60V/cell.

There are different chemistries of lithium cells. The disposable AA and AAA cells use Lithium Iron Disulfide which is 1.5 volts.

There are rechargeable AA and AAA cells which have a buck converter built into each cell.

A dropping resistor will not work. Half of the energy would be wasted in heat and you would get huge voltage swings depending on the amount of current drawn.

[ktmrfs]

on batteries leaking, my experience is that with alkaline I've never had one that was not fully discharged leak. Now, more than once I've left dead batteries in something and if left long enough they leaked.

The chemical reaction that occurs during discharge is the major cause of a cell leaking. Hydrogen gas is generated during discharge, and/or the metal corrodes during discharge. once it vents there the potasium hydroxide in the cell often leaks out combining with air to form potasium carbonate a stable reasonably safe compound, but in the meantime it eats stuff up.

[MrWizard]

i use rechargables in almost everything, that can use them
flashlights, lanterns, B&D screwdriver etc..
always have some spares charged up, ready to swap out

[pianotuna]

Hi,

That's why I tried LI AA and AAA. I did not have good results--but that may be because my RV was in storage some times at -40.

I get equal life or perhaps longer from alkaline.

D.E.Bishop wrote:

schlep1967 wrote:
Just once. Spend the money for the Energizer Ultimate Lithium Batteries. Once you see how much longer they last, you will realize they are cheaper than a dozen cheap batteries.

X-2

[2oldman]

myredracer wrote:
On Duracells, I'm danged if I'm going to get caught by the mafia prices when the batteries are right at the checkout.

I guess this is called a rock and a hard place. Also, 'pay me now or pay me later.'

[myredracer]

On Duracells, I'm danged if I'm going to get caught by the mafia prices when the batteries are right at the checkout. DW often goes to Costco and will ask her to check them out.

I used to have rechargeable AA batteries and don't know if they're a good option. IIRC, they didn't last all that long before they wouldn't recharge again or didn't last long after recharging.

[myredracer]

D.E.Bishop wrote:

myredracer wrote:
Just a bit of a rant. 😞

I have an SLR camera that I use a lot, mostly for documenting restoration of 2 cars I've been working on for a while. I use ordinary AA batteries and not rechargeable ones and normally get a month or two out of them, and I use the flash often.

Put new "super heavy duty" ones in the other day. Lasted about a week for just a few pics. What the heck. I tested the old batteries with a voltmeter first before tossing them to see if one or all needed replacing and also checked the new ones which showed they were good.

Then I looked at the package. A little hard to read maybe, but it says "ideal for low drain devices". Huh?

I know there's no need to pay for overpriced Duracell or Energizer as they're pretty much all built the same way. But a week out of something labeled "super heavy duty" ain't very good.

Is the camera a SLR or a DSLR?

A DSLR about 10 years old. The flash is really hard on the batteries. The flash is usually too strong and I can't tell if it can be dialed down. It might be time to upgrade to the latest technology and features.

[Ozlander]

hypoxia wrote:

OkieGene wrote:
If you are near a Costco go buy their jumbo pack of Kirkland batteries.

I quit using them after lots of leaking batteries screwing up my stuff.

Probably Duracell. I have had a lot of them leaking in the last several years.

[ktmrfs]

myredracer wrote:
Just a bit of a rant. 😞

I have an SLR camera that I use a lot, mostly for documenting restoration of 2 cars I've been working on for a while. I use ordinary AA batteries and not rechargeable ones and normally get a month or two out of them, and I use the flash often.

Put new "super heavy duty" ones in the other day. Lasted about a week for just a few pics. What the heck. I tested the old batteries with a voltmeter first before tossing them to see if one or all needed replacing and also checked the new ones which showed they were good.

Then I looked at the package. A little hard to read maybe, but it says "ideal for low drain devices". Huh?

I know there's no need to pay for overpriced Duracell or Energizer as they're pretty much all built the same way. But a week out of something labeled "super heavy duty" ain't very good.

those batteries are very likely the 1960's carbon zinc batteries not the alkaline batteries common today. That's why the say "super heavy duty" instead of Alkaline. Way less capacity in AH.

I've found the best overall deal on alkaline batteries is either the costco duracell packs when they have them on special or go to Amazon and buy the large packs as well. Actually the lowest cost.

For lithium Amazon bulk packs is again the best price I've seen. Often sold in a single box of 25 or 50 or so usually energizer or other name brand as well.

[Ron3rd]

We normally buy the Kirkland brand or Duracell from Costco. Have not seen any leaking from the Kirkland but that's something I'll keep an eye on now.

[wnjj]

hypoxia wrote:

OkieGene wrote:
If you are near a Costco go buy their jumbo pack of Kirkland batteries.

I quit using them after lots of leaking batteries screwing up my stuff.

Same here. The Kirkland ones have leaked more than any other I’ve seen before. Someone above said they are made by Duracell but they must be to a different spec. We’ve had good luck with the Duracell’s from Costco.

[D_E_Bishop]

myredracer wrote:
Just a bit of a rant. 😞

I have an SLR camera that I use a lot, mostly for documenting restoration of 2 cars I've been working on for a while. I use ordinary AA batteries and not rechargeable ones and normally get a month or two out of them, and I use the flash often.

Put new "super heavy duty" ones in the other day. Lasted about a week for just a few pics. What the heck. I tested the old batteries with a voltmeter first before tossing them to see if one or all needed replacing and also checked the new ones which showed they were good.

Then I looked at the package. A little hard to read maybe, but it says "ideal for low drain devices". Huh?

I know there's no need to pay for overpriced Duracell or Energizer as they're pretty much all built the same way. But a week out of something labeled "super heavy duty" ain't very good.

Is the camera a SLR or a DSLR?

[D_E_Bishop]

myredracer wrote:

hypoxia wrote:

OkieGene wrote:
If you are near a Costco go buy their jumbo pack of Kirkland batteries.

I quit using them after lots of leaking batteries screwing up my stuff.

We have an LED flashlight in a holder beside the entry door that takes three D cells. Went to use it a few days ago and over the winter, the one Duracell in it had leaked while the two Panasonic ones hadn't. The batteries wouldn't have been more than 5 years old.

So the supposedly premium ones are no better at lasting longer before leaking? Maybe alkaline batteries are like ST tires and should be routinely replaced at no more than 5 years old before they have a chance to make a mess?

Basic "Rule", never mix batteries. Always same make, same type, never mix. A leaking battery often results.

[D_E_Bishop]

schlep1967 wrote:
Just once. Spend the money for the Energizer Ultimate Lithium Batteries. Once you see how much longer they last, you will realize they are cheaper than a dozen cheap batteries.

X-2

[myredracer]

hypoxia wrote:

OkieGene wrote:
If you are near a Costco go buy their jumbo pack of Kirkland batteries.

I quit using them after lots of leaking batteries screwing up my stuff.

We have an LED flashlight in a holder beside the entry door that takes three D cells. Went to use it a few days ago and over the winter, the one Duracell in it had leaked while the two Panasonic ones hadn't. The batteries wouldn't have been more than 5 years old.

So the supposedly premium ones are no better at lasting longer before leaking? Maybe alkaline batteries are like ST tires and should be routinely replaced at no more than 5 years old before they have a chance to make a mess?