Batteries: Does the brand matter?

AdamZ

AdamZ

Touchdown! Greaser!
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Adam Zucker
I usually carry some AA and AAA batteries in my flight bag and as Gary Shelby would add "along with everything else I own" They are mainly there to pop into my transceiver, a flashlight or the Battery ANR Box on my lightspeed headsets. Call me cheap but I rarely buy name brand batteries, Energizer or Duracell. Costco sells a brick of AA batteries for a heck of a lot less than the name brand. The other day while at Ikea I saw that they sell batteries as well. ( branded as Ikea batteries) I have been told that there are really only a couple of battery mfgs out there and most batteries be they the big names or the store brand are made by the same folks. Is this true and does a duracell or Energizer really get you anymore reliability than a Kirkland (Costco) or Ikea brand?
 
Re: Batteries dose the brand matter?

I have energizer rechargeables.

I always go with energizer or duracell.
 
Re: Batteries dose the brand matter?

The electrolytes in the batteries are BASICALLY the same for a given chemical technology. There are slight differences that are manufacturer specific that do give some performance changes to the brand of the battery.

The real question is in the device you are using will you be able to observe performance changes?

That is a much harder question to answer and is one where a lot of testing and data collection come into play.

I do know from previously doing battery work that one can usually see that name brand batteries are less likely to have manufacturing issues that lead to leaks, and tend to have longer shelf lives. But I cannot state factually that they will work better in your device without doing some testing.

From my experience I do prefer Duracell batteries as my default brand.
 
Re: Batteries dose the brand matter?

AdamZ said:
I usually carry some AA and AAA batteries in my flight bag and as Gary Shelby would add "along with everything else I own" They are mainly there to pop into my transceiver, a flashlight or the Battery ANR Box on my lightspeed headsets. Call me cheap but I rarely buy name brand batteries, Energizer or Duracell. Costco sells a brick of AA batteries for a heck of a lot less than the name brand. The other day while at Ikea I saw that they sell batteries as well. ( branded as Ikea batteries) I have been told that there are really only a couple of battery mfgs out there and most batteries be they the big names or the store brand are made by the same folks. Is this true and does a duracell or Energizer really get you anymore reliability than a Kirkland (Costco) or Ikea brand?
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There is often a dramatic difference between a generic battery and a name-brand battery. For example, a generic battery, often won't even power on some digital cameras.

When I worked at GeekSquad/BestBuy it was very common for someone to bring in a digital camera that was "broke" and they tried "new batteries". Pull out their cheap "new batteries", stick a better one in, camera powers on. Different batteries will have different discharge characteristics, meaning some batteries are better for certain applications.

As to what generic batteries suck and which ones are good..I have no idea
 
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Re: Batteries dose the brand matter?

The Costco brand are Duracell under the house name of Kirkland.

Best value around. I keep a few bricks (really hate that they went from the brick to the environmentally unfriendly and awkward to store plastic vacuum packaging)

Many of Costco's house brands are reputable name brands that are OEM.
 
Re: Batteries dose the brand matter?

Just based on my own unscientific experience as to battery life, I like Energizers over Duracells. I buy multipacks of Energizers at Home Depot and buy multipacks on sale elsewhere.

Walgreens generic alkalines did well on a Consumer Reports test years ago and I use them when they're on sale. You coudl see by teh package that they were actually made by Duracell(? Match up the way they have numbers stamped on the package.) I suspect that Walgreens switched to an even cheaper (Chinese?) supplier in the last few years because they don't work as well now.

I tried the Costco Kirkland house brand. Those may be Duracell. I'd take Walgreens over those, but it's close. I'll bet they're made by the same company.

My list in order:
  1. Energizer
  2. Duracell
  3. Walgreens
  4. Costco Kirkland
 
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Re: Batteries dose the brand matter?

I have always had good luck wi8th Ray-O-Vac batteries, which are usually significantly less-costly than Energizer or Duracell, and seem to last just fine.
 
Re: Batteries dose the brand matter?

I too go to Costco quite often and buy the big pack of AA Duracells when they have the coupon for them. Great value.

In my lowrance airmap 500, duracells outlast them all so far that I have tried. Panasonic has some good prices, but they crapped out to quick for me.
 
Re: Batteries dose the brand matter?

I use Costco. No significant difference with the other guys for flight-bag stuff.
 
Re: Batteries dose the brand matter?

jesse said:
There is often a dramatic difference between a generic battery and a name-brand battery. For example, a generic battery, often won't even power on some digital cameras.

When I worked at GeekSquad/BestBuy it was very common for someone to bring in a digital camera that was "broke" and they tried "new batteries". Pull out their cheap "new batteries", stick a better one in, camera powers on. Different batteries will have different discharge characteristics, meaning some batteries are better for certain applications.

As to what generic batteries suck and which ones are good..I have no idea
Click to expand...

Hey Jesse... Do you have any experience with batteries in handheld GPS units? Just curious... ;) ;) :D :D
 
Re: Batteries dose the brand matter?

Gary said:
This was interesting:

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=64660
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murphey said:
The Costco brand are Duracell under the house name of Kirkland.
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VERY interesting link Gary posted, with graphs and tests and such. I was amazed at how well the LiSO2 batteries (Lithium Sulphur) performed, and how constant the voltage stayed over the entire run time... I'll have to look for a set of those, don't recall seeing them before.

Would seem Costco's brand isn't exactly private labeled Duracells... they may be manufactured by Duracell, but they don't have the same performance as the name brand when tested:

AADuracellComparison05A.gif
 
Re: Batteries dose the brand matter?

Duracell only here...I recently decided to save some $$$ and picked up the 'brick' of radio shack AA's, they were real crap. Honestly they barely kept the tootbrushes spinning and I was going through them like crazy in the wireless mouse and remotes. I pitched the last few I had and went back to the duracells.
 
Re: Batteries dose the brand matter?

Can't find a link currently, but saw a review somewhere that said Costco was the best overall bargain.
 
Re: Batteries dose the brand matter?

I've used Duracell only for years.

Never really thought of it, either.

Hmm...
 
Re: Batteries dose the brand matter?

EppyGA said:
Can't find a link currently, but saw a review somewhere that said Costco was the best overall bargain.
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Actually Costco ( Kirkland) have lasted in my transceiver and headset for quite a while
 
I didn't know there was anything out there besides duracell.

;-)
 
Re: Batteries dose the brand matter?

EppyGA said:
Can't find a link currently, but saw a review somewhere that said Costco was the best overall bargain.
Click to expand...

consumer reports for alkaline batteries.

lithium --- something else.
 
Re: Batteries dose the brand matter?

I'm pretty much a Duracell guy, but...

AdamZ said:
I have been told that there are really only a couple of battery mfgs out there and most batteries be they the big names or the store brand are made by the same folks. Is this true
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Well, of course the "store brands" are made by someone else, and I'm not sure how many battery manufacturers there are, but I have personally hauled loads of both battery "cans" (empty casings) and dry electrolyte to a Rayovac plant in Fennimore, WI.

SCCutler said:
I have always had good luck wi8th Ray-O-Vac batteries, which are usually significantly less-costly than Energizer or Duracell, and seem to last just fine.
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And they're made in the USA. Bonus!

Of course, they moved their HQ from Madison to Atlanta, so I still have no qualms about buying Duracells. ;)
 
My personal preference is Duracell for standyby operations and Energizer for high Current operations. So my Flashlights and backup GPS get Duracell, My Cameras get Energizers. Not sure why I have come to this conclusion perhaps it has to do with how the companies have marketed them in the past. Truthfully I haven't seen much difference between the two brands. I have seen some less popular brands work very poorly.

Brian
 
Buy from the deepest pocket, pay a few cents more. Should something go awry that could cause some sort of catastrophic damage, you will be in a better position dealing with the large branded company than the obscure foreign manufacturer or it's distributors.

John
 
I use Sanyo eneloop NiMH rechargeables in everything...and they have been wonderful.

Have this per-cell AA/AAA charger: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002IOIMQ

First thing to do, is throw out the included Sony batteries...they will self-discharge in 24 hours. Awful. Then, get the eneloop's...so far they are happy for at least a month of sitting:

AA: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000IV2WAW
AAA: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000IV2YLY

Works great for me..and the batteries are not that much more expensive than the non-rechargeables. Except, you don't have to buy more...esp. useful for digital cameras, GPS, audio-recorders, etc. After each flight or major use, I just rotate my charging->spare->in-use sets.
 
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DCat22 said:
I use Sanyo eneloop NiMH rechargeables in everything...and they have been wonderful.

Have this per-cell AA/AAA charger: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002IOIMQ

First thing to do, is throw out the included Sony batteries...they will self-discharge in 24 hours. Awful. Then, get the eneloop's...so far they are happy for at least a month of sitting:

AA: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000IV2WAW
AAA: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000IV2YLY

Works great for me..and the batteries are not that much more expensive than the non-rechargeables. Except, you don't have to buy more...esp. useful for digital cameras, GPS, audio-recorders, etc. After each flight or major use, I just rotate my charging->spare->in-use sets.
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ADam's application is that the batteries are for back up and require long shelf life. NiMH do not meet that need. Even with a month before they self discharge that is far faster than the normal year or so for alkalines.
 
smigaldi said:
ADam's application is that the batteries are for back up and require long shelf life. NiMH do not meet that need. Even with a month before they self discharge that is far faster than the normal year or so for alkalines.
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Ah, true. Didn't get that.

(The eneloop's are the best I've personally found in this regard...could be better...and all my applications for them involve "active" use. )
 
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