Batteries: What brand do you use and why?

[TheBatman]

It's time to replace all the AA batteries in my games, so I went out to WalMart to buy the appropriate tonage of batteries.    I've used Duracell in the past, and had them leak and ruin a keyboard, so I've been using energizers for years...but then I recently just had several things damaged by THOSE, i.e. my precious Rockman headphone amp, and a digital thermometer....expiration date on batteries is 2015 also...so Energizer is now on my shit list.  So, there I'm standing in front of the battery kiosk at WalMart for like a half hour... researching on my phone some feedback on the main 3 companies offered at said kiosk: Duracell (most expensive, 16 for $12), Energizer ($1 less, 16 for $11), and then Rayovac ) 36 for $14...yes, that's correct).  Seeing as how I needed 32 batteries, I was by habit going to go with Energizer even though they're on my shit list, and price would have been 30 for $20...or I think I could have got 2 huge packs of 24 (48 total) for $28 or something... either way Energizers were going to be $20-28 depending on quantity.  Anyway, as I said I decided to do some research on my phone while standing there, and mostly found the consensus was they're all pretty much the same between the big 3 companies, and go with the cheapest, which is Rayovac.  Then I also decided, like everything, to use a more critical method and go by NFL team colors. Hence, Duracell copper/black color looked closest to the Saints, Energizer silver/ black looked closest to the Raiders, and Rayovac blue and grey/ white looked closest to the Cowboys, so I obviously went with those!

I saw some Youtube putting all 3 in flashlights and seeing which lasted longest, winner was Energizer, then Rayovac, then Duracell.  Here's a few links I found helpful, comparing them.

http://dealnews.com/features/Test-Results-That-Will-Change-the-Way-You-Buy-Batteries-Forever/449005.html

http://www.homesteadingtoday.com/specialty-forums/survival-emergency-preparedness/369683-rayovac-versus-other-brands.html

If there's no significant difference between the 3, I figured I'd go with the suggestions I saw and go with the cheapest, and hard to beat 36 batteries for $14...so I decided to give Rayovac a try.  Comments seem to be all over the place, depending on loyalties to whichever company, or just marketing perhaps also?  So anyway, wondering thoughts from everyone else on what you use and why, and if any significant differences in your experience.

[RAW POWER]

Radioi Shack just changed the label on their batteries so the old label black and green ones are on sale pretty cheap.

[PinPup]

I used to work at Kodak in quality control testing many different battery types. We always found Duracell to be the best long life performer as utilized in cameras, Duracell always won. The battery that I would NEVER use was the Kodak brand because they were notorious for leaking. A lot of folks I worked with didn't use them either. I have had Duracells leak also, so it appears you get leakers no matter what the brand. I stick with Duracells mostly, Eveready and Ray O Vac also ok.

[mfresh]

I bought a TZ in 2012 and when I got it home I figured I should change the batteries. When I took a look, the Duracell batteries in the machine had a use-by date of 2000. They hadn't leaked at all, so since then I have always stuck with Duracell

[HammysHangout ( Hammy )]

non-alkaline batteries

[k7]

non-alkaline batteries

this. brand name doesn't matter. what they use, matters. GO lithium batteries. again, brand doesn't matter.

lithium doesn't leak, unless you do something crazy with them. they last a h3ll of a lot longer, too.

or, change the holders out to cr2032 clips. done for life with battery worries.

[jmsvero]

Batteries, Batteries, I don't need no stinkin batteries.
LOL

Jeff

[EDC]

I buy energizer now, haven't had good luck with Duracell recently.  Had a 2015 batch of batteries explode in a game and cause me a lot of grief.

[Pinball Shark]

Yep. I use Sunbeam non alkaline made for low current draw (this is a marketing angle, that's all these batteries were ever good for, remote controls, etc.). They are $1 for a package of 8 at Dollar Tree.

non-alkaline batteries

[Big Al]

Batman, I bought some Rayovac (sp?) and they were reaaaaallly bad.  I could swear they lasted about 10 shots in my digital camera.  The only thing they have been good for were remote controllers and that didn't even last long.  I threw them out and went back to Energizer. 

Let us know how your battery situation works out.  I'm always curious of what the best battery is.

Happy gaming,
Big Al

[Baiter]

this. brand name doesn't matter. what they use, matters. GO lithium batteries. again, brand doesn't matter.

lithium doesn't leak, unless you do something crazy with them. they last a h3ll of a lot longer, too.

or, change the holders out to cr2032 clips. done for life with battery worries.

I agree with this.  Lithium and forget it.

[TheBatman]

I pulled 12 Rayovac batteries out of the package at random and tested the voltage on my multimeter, every one of them tested 1.63 vdc, so far so good.  I think I'm going to try them out and see how it goes.  I think it's probably more important to change them out every year or so, rather than leaving them in for like 5 years or something.  I was changing them every year (every New Year's Day) but have been lazier the past year, since they tested fine and like 1.53 vdc when I was about to change them last, so I left them in.  They use a miniscule amount of energy, some I have in there now have been in for 2 years and still around 1.5 vdc last I checked... but thinking is to change them more often before they leak...or until I can convert all to external battery holders at the least. Or may investigate lithium batteries, never tried those in a AA format, how much do those cost?

[k7]

Or may investigate lithium batteries, never tried those in a AA format, how much do those cost?

walgreens runs good sales on energizer lithiums, around $6.50 for a pack of 4 when they go on sale:



http://www.villagebbs.com/forum/index.php/topic,15891.msg133675.html#msg133675

i changed all my games to lithium in 2012 (after an 8 month old duracell leaked out on me). i'll pull a couple to take a voltage reading tonight.

[littlewest]

lithium is indeed the way to go, put generally, their can't be THAT much of a differernce in the life of them (i have also had bad experiences with batteries {shitting all over clocks and hand consoles}) i usually go with what is cheapest and lithium.

(also rechargeables aren't worth the plastic they are sold in)

[deadlander]

Agreed lithium is the way to go. Pay now or pay later 
Al