AA Batteries

1.6k · December 22, 2003

At the Best Buy in Omaha on 12/23/03, I found a 48 pack of Panasonic AA batteries for $9.99. (FYI)

2.3k · December 22, 2003

At the Best Buy in Omaha on 12/23/03, I found a 48 pack of Panasonic AA batteries for $9.99. (FYI)

That's tomorrows date...

Can you give me the lottery numbers please?

1.8k · December 22, 2003

At the Best Buy in Omaha on 12/23/03, I found a 48 pack of Panasonic AA batteries for $9.99. (FYI)

Thats an excellent price. Are the Panasonic just as good (long lasting) as other batteries?

1.6k · December 22, 2003

Sorry for the date confusion. BTW the guy at best buy said they were about the same as Energizers.

5.3k · December 22, 2003

BTW the guy at best buy said they were about the same as Energizers.

The guy at Best Buy is a junior in high school...

2.3k · December 22, 2003

BTW the guy at best buy said they were about the same as Energizers.

The guy at Best Buy is a junior in high school...

LOL! So true...

December 22, 2003

Jomarac5 was telling me about batteries that are imported and are been sold as / labelled as Duracell's in Dollar Stores but they are not Duracell's. Apparently they leak or explode and are not worth the price at all. I'd be very careful of cheap batteries.

4k · December 22, 2003

Search the Consumer Reports article on batteries and you'll find that Ray-O-Vac are the best, longest lasting batteries for the price. I quit using Durakills when I was a paramedic. Ruined 3 flashlights with them. They leaked and corroded the insides of them within about 3 months of the time I put them in. I use the Ray-O-Vacs in all of my electronics, from remote controls to digital cameras, and can attest to their longevity and low price!

EDITED: Magazine name

Edited December 22, 2003 by Sparky-Watts

1.6k · December 22, 2003

BTW the guy at best buy said they were about the same as Energizers.

The guy at Best Buy is a junior in high school...

Actually, he appeared to have been old enough to vote and to have perhaps been that old for atleast one of the previous presidential elections. So unlike the usual Best Buy guys who pretend to give me advice when they aren't old enough to own a razor, I would atleast give the guy passing credence.

1.1k · December 22, 2003

I once tried to put a Duralog in a cd player. It didn't work but the colors where pretty.

2.3k · December 22, 2003

Search the Consumer Reports article on batteries and you'll find that Ray-O-Vac are the best, longest lasting batteries for the price. I quit using Durakills when I was a paramedic. Ruined 3 flashlights with them. They leaked and corroded the insides of them within about 3 months of the time I put them in. I use the Ray-O-Vacs in all of my electronics, from remote controls to digital cameras, and can attest to their longevity and low price!

EDITED: Magazine name

Link to article??

1.2k · December 22, 2003

This may be off topic but here goes.

I know there are some serious Battery afficienadoes out there and I was wondering the advantage of a unit that takes AA vs AAA. The garmin Geckos take AAA and I was wondering if battery life would be as good.

4k · December 22, 2003

This may be off topic but here goes.

I know there are some serious Battery afficienadoes out there and I was wondering the advantage of a unit that takes AA vs AAA. The garmin Geckos take AAA and I was wondering if battery life would be as good.

I started with a Geko 101 and it ate batteries like there was no tomorrow!

4k · December 22, 2003

Search the Consumer Reports article on batteries and you'll find that Ray-O-Vac are the best, longest lasting batteries for the price. I quit using Durakills when I was a paramedic. Ruined 3 flashlights with them. They leaked and corroded the insides of them within about 3 months of the time I put them in. I use the Ray-O-Vacs in all of my electronics, from remote controls to digital cameras, and can attest to their longevity and low price!

EDITED: Magazine name

Link to article??

Sorry, Doc, too lazy. Do a google search for Consumer Reports, then on their webpage do the search for battery tests and comparisons. I'd help ya out, but I figure smurf-boy will be back soon, and I need to hit the century mark before he gets back.

December 22, 2003

Um, whattabout rechargeables?

I've been more than happy with my Energizer nickel-metal hydrides.

1.2k · December 22, 2003

My first Markwell.

He is a thread where we have discussed the Pros and Cons of recharchables.

Rechargable batteries

December 22, 2003

Not to rain on a the good deal parade, but why not just buy a set of 4 AA rechargeables and the charger for $30? One Ni-MH rechargeable is able to recharged at least 300 times (per the CR article) - a huge savings over the life of the rechargeables.

I use two Ni-MH rechargeable AA's for my Magellan Sportrak Topo and have the other 2 charged and ready for backup on a trip.

Much easier than driving to the store each time!

4.2k · December 22, 2003

In a previous life, I sold cell pagers (back in 1991 - 1995). We found through some pretty rigorous testing that:

1) Rechargeables seemed to work fine in terms of longevitiy/performance

2) No one KNOWN brand outperformed another

3) Cheap batteries (store brand, etc.) seemed to drain at an uneven rate and cause reception problems in the pagers. I would expect the same thing from a GPSr.

As long as you stick with Duracell, Panasonic, EverReady, Energizer, etc. I would expect you to be fine.

That being said, don't send me your GPSr if a battery above leaks!

2.2k · December 22, 2003

I have been buying the Costco Kirkland AA batteries for years and I have been very pleased with them. I have never had one leak and the life of the batteries seems good. They are around $10 for 48 batteries any time. RM

5.3k · December 22, 2003

I use two Ni-MH rechargeable AA's for my Magellan Sportrak Topo and have the other 2 charged and ready for backup on a trip.

I do the same thing, but I also carry a pair of AA alkalines for emergencies.

2.3k · December 22, 2003

In a previous life, I sold cell pagers (back in 1991 - 1995). We found through some pretty rigorous testing that:

1) Rechargeables seemed to work fine in terms of longevitiy/performance

2) No one KNOWN brand outperformed another

3) Cheap batteries (store brand, etc.) seemed to drain at an uneven rate and cause reception problems in the pagers. I would expect the same thing from a GPSr.

As long as you stick with Duracell, Panasonic, EverReady, Energizer, etc. I would expect you to be fine.

That being said, don't send me your GPSr if a battery above leaks!

Love the holiday avatar Kealia!

I use the kirkland as well and have no problems thus far.

22k · December 22, 2003

I buy the cheapest AA Ray-O-Vacs for my FSRs (16 for $3.68) and can get 12 to 15 hours out of them. However my Vista will eat those in less than an hour. I seem to do pretty good with the energizers.

AAA batteries should be illegal.

20.7k · December 22, 2003

I also typically buy the cheap brick of batteries at Costco or Bass Pro Shops. I haven't been displeased. Of course, my GPSr spends most of its life in the Jeep on external power. Most of the caches in my area seem to be placed within a few feet of parking.

I don't use rechargeables because I keep three different AA flashlights in the Jeep (two in my pack, one not). Also, on a roadtrip, I would need several spares. Did I mention that my 3+ takes three batteries? I'd much rather just fill the landfill with hazardous waste.

2.4k · December 23, 2003

I buy the cheapest AA Ray-O-Vacs for my FSRs (16 for $3.68) and can get 12 to 15 hours out of them. However my Vista will eat those in less than an hour. I seem to do pretty good with the energizers.

AAA batteries should be illegal.

You think AAA are bad, you should try and find a set of AAAA for that cool little LED penlight........(hint, haven't seen 'em at Wal-Mart yet, bought last set from Snap-On dealer...at $1 each)

1.8k · December 23, 2003

My goodness, a thread discussing the pros and cons of AA batteries and not one picture of the Energizer Bunny!! Seriously, I ran over to Best Buy and bought a brick (48 Batteries) of Panasonics for $9.99. Thanks bigredmed. My kids Gamboys devour batteries like you won't believe.

December 23, 2003

My first Markwell.

He is a thread where we have discussed the Pros and Cons of recharchables.

Rechargable batteries

I can save you the time of reading through all of this thread. IF you are interested in using rechargables. Look here PowerEx the 2200mAh AA NiMH Rechargeable Batteries are the best on the market, but you must use their recharger too as it conditions the batteries before recharging, this extends the lifespan considerably. We use these in our Garmin eTREX Lengend and Garmin eTrex Summit and typically get about 12 to 14 hrs of use between recharges. If you want to read the reviews for this product, since it's not a big consumer namebrand check here The Great Battery Shootout

Dan

1.4k · December 23, 2003

I know there are some serious Battery afficienadoes out there and I was wondering the advantage of a unit that takes AA vs AAA. The garmin Geckos take AAA and I was wondering if battery life would be as good.

The advantage of the AAA is a smaller lighter unit, but not one that runs as long. It's reflected in the unit's specs.

1.3k · December 23, 2003

Also, the price difference between the geko 101 and the other garmins at the moment is enough to let you buy a charger and a bunch of rechargeable AAAs. Target has had the Geko in the $70-$80 range lately and I think Walwart has as well.

Besides, it's all about the fact that it fits in your pants pocket.

Assuming of course that you're wearing pants.

4k · December 23, 2003

Also, the price difference between the geko 101 and the other garmins at the moment is enough to let you buy a charger and a bunch of rechargeable AAAs. Target has had the Geko in the $70-$80 range lately and I think Walwart has as well.

Besides, it's all about the fact that it fits in your pants pocket.

Assuming of course that you're wearing pants.

But my Legend fits better in my pants pocket with two spare batteries than my Geko 101 did with a dozen spare batteries......

December 23, 2003

Rayovac just introduced "15 minute" rechargable batteries...they rock! You can even charge them in the car! And the charge lasts a long time. They are supposed to be able to be charged over a THOUSAND times without discernable loss of performance. You can get both AA and AAA.

December 23, 2003

The problem with carrying my Geko 201 in my pocket is that the power button always seems to get pressed and my batteries go dead. I really like my Geko but it definately goes through AAA batteries fast. The batteries are supposed to last longer with WAAS turned off but I never turn it off. I buy bricks of AAAs at Costco.

4k · December 23, 2003

Rayovac just introduced "15 minute" rechargable batteries...they rock! You can even charge them in the car! And the charge lasts a long time. They are supposed to be able to be charged over a THOUSAND times without discernable loss of performance. You can get both AA and AAA.

Yeah, I saw these last night at Radio Shack. I haven't used rechargables in years. Just never liked the performance. I'm sure they've made great improvements since then, but I just can't bring myself to buy some.

1.8k · December 23, 2003

I figure on time/cost when buying disposable batterys. (Although I do recycle them...) The new high-tech Energizers may last 25% longer than a generic battery, but if it costs twice as much, then you're actually losing money.

December 23, 2003

AA VSAAA

The deal with batteries comes down to capacity, usually listed as milli amp hours.

This is a measurement of how much power the battery can supply over a given period of time. As you go up in battery size (AAA to AA) you gain milli amp hours.

When it comes to NiMH, buy the biggest mah rating you can find. 2200 seems to be the highest I have seen.

As for Alkaline, most makers don't list it....

http://www.techlib.com/reference/batteries.html

1.5k · December 23, 2003

Jomarac5 was telling me about batteries that are imported and are been sold as / labelled as Duracell's in Dollar Stores but they are not Duracell's. Apparently they leak or explode and are not worth the price at all. I'd be very careful of cheap batteries.

BigLots! has those batteries. Duracell Ultra in a non-Duracell package. The negative side is actually stamped Duracell, and I haven't had any problems with them at all. I buy AAA packs for use in my IIIxe.

December 23, 2003

I almost always use Energizer rechargeable NiMH. The same batteries power both my GPSr (eTrex Yellow) and DigiCam (Kodak DX6340). Of course each charge does not last quite as long as a pair of lithiums or alkalines, but they can be recharged up to 1000 times.

In the eTrex they last most of the day, then I swap out for a second set I keep handy. With the camera I can take around 125-150 shots (3.2mp) on average before I have to swap, and I always keep the LCD turned on for framing purposes.

So I carry four sets of batteries (8 batteries total) and then just pop them in the recharger when I get home. They're usually ready for more action in 30 minutes. If I'm planning on being out for more than a day or two I'll carry the recharger along; it came with a 12-volt adapter.

I think I paid about $20 for the batteries and another $30 for the 1-hour recharger, so I'd guess I've saved a couple hundred bucks already. And with a thousand recharges possible, well, you do the math...

[edited for spelling]

Edited December 23, 2003 by Chance Encounter

20.7k · December 23, 2003

The problem with carrying my Geko 201 in my pocket is that the power button always seems to get pressed and my batteries go dead. I really like my Geko but it definately goes through AAA batteries fast. The batteries are supposed to last longer with WAAS turned off but I never turn it off. I buy bricks of AAAs at Costco.

I've considered buying a Geko for trail use. I'd just as soon leave my 3+ in its mount in the car and use the tiny Geko during the foot pursuit.

I thought that I read that the power button problem was corrected through an update. This would require a longer press of the power button to turn the unit on, much like the other Garmins currently require.

Edited December 23, 2003 by sbell111

20.7k · December 23, 2003

There's nothing on Garmin's website regarding this, so I guess I'm just recalling someone's wishful thinking.

December 24, 2003

Somewhat on topic:

I've been using these containers for my rechargable batteries. My digital camera and GPS both take 4 AA's. They are slightly larger than a film can, and make good micros too. I put a little foam in the bottom and the top to keep them from rattling around. Fresh batteries get stored positive side up and spent batteries negative side up to easily identify the good ones in the daypack.

I just recently found these online and may be ordering some. I like the fact that these are flat and would be easier to carry in a pocket.

December 24, 2003

Hey Navdog, where did you find the flat containers they look pretty slick?

I have 20 rechargable NiMH AA batteries that are almost always charged up. I keep a charger in the Jeep running all the time so we are never without batteries. I only carry two with me in the field because I figure the batteries from the digital camera are always available in an emergency.

December 24, 2003

Hey Navdog, where did you find the flat containers they look pretty slick?

I forgot to post the link:

Thomas Distributing

I have a couple of them that hold two AA's. They came with my charger. This is the first time I was able to find more of them. I've never seen them in any local stores.

December 24, 2003

Hey Navdog, where did you find the flat containers they look pretty slick?

I forgot to post the link:

Thomas Distributing

I have a couple of them that hold two AA's. They came with my charger. This is the first time I was able to find more of them. I've never seen them in any local stores.

Thanks, I bookmarked it.

December 24, 2003

I use rechargeables (home and car adapters both came with this charger) and carry spares. The rechargeable batteries came with a plastic carrying case. Never had a problem with power drop in the colder temperatures.

Northern Trekker

PS - I use a Map 76S that only takes 2 AA's at a time. My older GPS (Garmin 12XL) used 4 AA's at a time. I use Energizer Rechargeables.

December 25, 2003

I fed my sportrak 2 Panasonic AA's and it burped and asked for two more.

You can find AAAA's at Fry's for a decent price.

1.1k · December 25, 2003

You can find AAAA's at Fry's for a decent price.

1. Aren't those called b's?

2. Isn't that illegal? It is in my state.

December 26, 2003

...you must use their recharger too as it conditions the batteries before recharging, this extends the lifespan considerably.

Hope I got the quote right.

Question: I have 12 Sunpak 2000mh Ni MH AAs, and am wondering what would happen if I purchased the Powerex batteries with charger/converter, if I could mix the battery brands in appliances and in the charger?

I suspect the industry marketing logic is to be proprietary and discourage compatibility, but want to know for sure.

Thanks,

December 26, 2003

I was looking thru a NWA bored-passenger-shopoholic-catalog on a flight to Seattle a couple months ago and saw a beee-yooo-tiful solar powered battery charger... Santa didn't bring me one, but then I have no idea how well they actually work in the real world.

But they were kinda sexy. Mmmm, free electricity.

January 21, 2004

Pen&Card do NOT mix. Very bad idea. Can cause battery, battery charger damage and a fire. <_<

January 21, 2004

BEST BUY:

Thanks to SandRaven for your post on where you get your batteries. You just saved me a lot of time and money. I did do my do diligence on this one though. Thomas Distributing http://thomasdistributing.com does have the best selection and prices. I just bought the MAHA brand C401FS charger with car adapter and 8 Powerex 2200 mAH batteries http://thomasdistributing.com/mhc401fs_buy.htm. It looked like the best deal for my needs. I added an additional 8 batteries because I use AA's for my headlamp, digicam, GPS.

BEST BATTERY:

Which battery brand last the longest? This test shows that the Maha brand Powerex 2200 outlasted all other tested products. It lasted over three times longer than the best alkaline battery. http://www.imaging-resource.com/ACCS/BATTS/BATTS.HTM

ECO:

I get batteries at "no cost". My wife has a fixed budget and whenever I need some more AA's she picks up a pack or 48 at Costco for around $10. It's not about the money. I go through between 4-8 batteries a week. Every time I threw batteries into the trash I got a knot in my stomach. As I researched the rechargeable NiMH batteries I found that they are "completely" recyclable, unlike the very bad non-rechargeable alkaline.

COST:

According to the above referenced test the Maha 2200mAH batteries lasted about 10 hours on one charge. You can charge them at least 500 times (up to 1000 times). That equals 5,000 hours of use. I paid about $4 per battery. So for $4 I get 5,000 hours of use, having to only throw one battery away when it’s dead. The Costco Alkaline batteries cost about 5 cents each. The best rated alkaline battery in the test lasted about 3 hours. In order to get 5,000 hours of use from an alkaline I would need buy 1,666 batteries at a cost of around $83. I also would have thrown away 1,666 batteries into landfill, and I am only one person!

I paid $100 for sixteen 2200 mAH rechargeable batteries, which included a charger with DC cord. (I also got a free gift!) The equivalent in alkaline would have cost me $1,328 and I would have had to buy 26,656 batteries. The cheapest alkaline (Costco brand) costs ten times more than the highest rated (MAHA Powerex 2200) rechargeable NiMH battery. Even if there was no savings and it cost me a few bucks more I would buy the rechargables.

Rechargeables: Better for the environment, last longer, more convenient (don't have to change them as often), cost ten times less, and I won't have to worry about buying another battery for at least four years (up to eight years). IMHO rechargeable are the ONLY way to go for me.

January 21, 2004

a few months ago I got a 300 pack of AA bateries for $5 bucks at a clearance sale. My GPS ate through all 300 in less that 3 weeks. I will stay with my RAY-O-VAC Maximum Plus from now on

AA Batteries

Recommended Posts

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment