What is your Go-to AA Batteries?

capslock janitor on 12/11/2019 - 14:20
Last edited 12/11/2019 - 20:56

Our household current dailies are Panasonic Carbon Zinc ones which we can get a Pack of 4 for $1.50 from Asian hardware shops:

https://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-Batteries-Carbon-Double-Bat…
https://www.batterydeals.com.au/48-panasonic-heavy-duty-batt…

Sometimes use the other Panasonics that look like that but Red. (don't know what they're called)

Main USAGE is for Wall clocks and Remote controllers,

Being a Bargain site I assume someone here has worked out the "Best/reliable/cheapest per unit/measurement etc." All-Rounder for a lot of type of products

Home & Garden Battery

Comments

  • Kenb0 on 12/11/2019 - 14:27
    +9

    You must be new here…

    Eneloops is the answer

    • capslock janitor on 12/11/2019 - 14:31

      Not long enough to realize if it was a running gag or not :-(

      • Kenb0 on 12/11/2019 - 15:03
        +3

        one of the best things about eneloops is that you can leave them in rarely-used items(children's toys, etc..) and they'll still work many months later because of the low self-discharge AND they won't leak. Lost count of the number of times I would go to change batteries on some of my stuff that I had alkalines in for a long time, and they were leaking.

  • Archi on 12/11/2019 - 14:41
    +2

    eneloops were the official currency of ozbarain until
    1. they stopped making them in japan. and went from Sanyo eneloops to Panasonic eneloops.
    2. the demise of dick smith which meant all the good deals dried up.

    the disappointment is real.

    • Skramit on 12/11/2019 - 14:45

      The eneloop pro's I bought 2 weeks ago say "Made in Japan"….. :O

      • neonlight on 15/11/2019 - 09:40
        +1

        Only pros are.

        These days only Ikea Ledda, Eneloop pros

        Panasonic ones are no where as good as Sanyo's

    • ESEMCE on 12/11/2019 - 14:53
      +2

      White Ikea LADDA are the new Eneloop I thought?
      They used to be Made in Japan

    • neonlight on 15/11/2019 - 09:42

      Yeah nothing can compare to Sanyo ones, they were geniune good quality batteries I still have some from 2013-2015 they are still working better than Panasonic.

  • Skramit on 12/11/2019 - 14:46
    +2

    For the kids toys I tend to get a 36 pack of Varta's from bunning when on special. Cheap as chips.

    But I also keep a stash of Eneloops, about 2,400 of unopened packets of them from all the OzB deals. Not sure what to do with them.

  • scrimshaw on 12/11/2019 - 14:55
    +1

    Carbon-zinc batteries have fairly low energy density and don't last as long as alkaline cells. Everytime I see them stocked in Kmart or in the $2 dollar shops I can always spot at least one pack that leaks…

    Most of my rechargeables are from IKEA, LADDA but IKEA has increased the price to almost double to $15 for a pack of 4 AA batteries.

    If you have Costco membership, they are on special for 8x aa and 4x AA including charger for $35. https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/493125

    • capslock janitor on 12/11/2019 - 15:23

      Do you go LADDA over Eneloop if it weren't for price rise?

      Is the Eneloop charger better than my Energizer charge from 2 years ago? Special in some way?

      Did you conclude that Rechargeables are better value than the disposable batteries (33c each)?

      So what do you do- normally charge it overnight when it runs out and throw it in a battery tub for next time use?

      • scrimshaw on 12/11/2019 - 15:46
        +1

        I have almost lifetime supply of LADDA now so I don't think I will need to buy Eneloops for a long time. Only downside of Eneloop is how much they cost if you are buying them in small quantities.

        I believe the charger is just a dumb charger with no special features. I would recommend a Liitokala if you want a cheap charger that has 4 separate power channels.

        Did you conclude that Rechargeables are better value than the disposable batteries (33c each)?

        Well, I only own rechargeables because I have a lot of high drain devices like gaming mice, VR controllers and LED lights, I don't need to go out of my way to buy disposables for my low-drain stuff.

        I put my old 'retired' rechargeables into those rather than throwing them out, older recheargeable batteries usually can't output the right voltages anymore but alarm clocks and TV remotes don't seem to be affected by incorrect voltage.

        • capslock janitor on 12/11/2019 - 19:22

          Cheers will take a look.

          This my current Charger https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/417572 so… out of commission? Useless now?

          I don't need to go out of my way to buy disposables for my low-drain stuff.
          I put my old 'retired' rechargeables into those rather than throwing them out,

          Nice tip!

        • capslock janitor on 12/11/2019 - 20:57

          Oh and what 'minimum' quantity do you think for me to pull trigger?

          Only downside of Eneloop is how much they cost if you are buying them in small quantities.

  • [Deactivated] on 12/11/2019 - 15:10

    Is this a sting?

  • neonlight on 12/11/2019 - 16:02
    +1

    Sanyo Eneloop > Panasonic Eneloop Pro > Ikea Ladda > Panasonic eneloop / Hobbykings > The rest.

    Use rechargeable when I can

    • capslock janitor on 12/11/2019 - 18:48

      Straight to the point! I'll personally move to Rechargeables once I can snag my first deal! (which isn't membership dependent)

    • [Deactivated] on 12/11/2019 - 19:23

      Ikea Ladda are Eneloop Pro.

  • shagaroo on 12/11/2019 - 16:14
    +3

    Turnigy Rechargeable Batteries from Hobby King. As good if not better than Eneloops. LSD, high capacity, cheaper.

    Higher voltage rechargeable NiZN version for those devices that don't work on the 1.2v rechargeables.

    1.5v USB rechargeable version - little expensive.

    Also, AAA rechargeable version.

    Hobby King used to have sales on the batteries sometimes but I haven't seen any lately. Plan to stock up on AAAs in the next sale

  • AlienC on 12/11/2019 - 16:47

    No idea but would like to know from any researchers if they have found the ideal best one.

    I have had mixed results with Varta.

    Honestly I was afraid of a lot of things mentioned already in this thread above from leaking to self discharging quickly but have found Energizer still is the best but they are by far not the cheapest at all but so far no leakage and lasting longer than Varta in my motion sensor lights.

    So YMMV but I have no data unfortunately to share or report with.

    I honestly wish we switch to rechargeable batteries in the devices themselves that recharge via micro usb/usb c/etc in future as there is no need to be constantly going through disposable batteries anymore in this day and age and rechargeable batteries are great but going the next step and adding a charging port to all these devices that need batteries would be really awesome.

    I honestly wish they did this back in 2006 but anyways looks like someone will have to lead the charge on this missed opportunity somehow.

    TL;DR why don't we have rechargeable Li-Po in more devices I wonder if it really is a cost thing because it doesn't seem like it would really cost much to add the charging port module and a tiny tiny Li-Po battery and I am sure people would love it.

    • Euphemistic on 12/11/2019 - 19:12

      TL;DR why don't we have rechargeable Li-Po in more devices I wonder if it really is a cost thing because it doesn't seem like it would really cost much to add the charging port module and a tiny tiny Li-Po battery and I am sure people would love it.

      If they made devices with a standard sized easily replaceable Li-Po battery that was also easily rechargeable in the device then I’m sure it would take off. One of the reasons that people like AA batteries is that they fit everything, you can stash a bunch at home just in case and you can get replacements anywhere, anytime.

      While lithium batteries are good, if one does cark it, you pretty much need to chuck away the thing they are in because the replacements is too difficult.

      • AlienC on 12/11/2019 - 19:22

        Hmm true.

        Always forget about that.

        At least batteries are less dependent on one thing if they die you can chuck em and get new ones.

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