Batteries

[spacejamz]

In your expereience, are brand name batteries (duracell/engergizer) better than off brand batteries?

which do you use?

picked up 2 80 packs of Ultralast AA batteries from Frys for $9.99 each...date on the box says they are good through 2012...will in handy for the wireless controlles for my PS2 and Xbox 360 plus my remote controls...

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

yes.

Duracell.

 

[jadinolf]

Name brand.

 

[Anubis]

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats
yes.

Duracell.

 

[Sphexi]

No. Fresh batteries are the best, you won't see much of a difference in performance between Duracell/Energizer/Whatever. I buy bulk at Costco usually, they work great.

But, once you get to higher end batteries, stick to good ones. I put 4 e3 Lithium Energizers in my Canon A95 back in JUNE, and I've taken at least 750 pictures since then, they're still going. Amazing life on those things.

 

[compnovice]

Die Hard

 

[her209]

Damn, that's a lot of batteries.

 

[mugs]

I think Duracell and Energizer are definitely better than cheap generics like Eveready (which are actually made by Energizer I think), but I wonder how they compare to Costco's Kirkland brand. Costco generics are usually as good as, identical to, or better than their brand name equivalent.

 

[feelingshorter]

big name brand doesnt differ much from each other in terms of how long they last...there ARE websites out there that tests all the major brands you see in stores and the conclusion is that they are relatively the same. Only when you start buying "heavy duty" batteries does it get bad. I forgot what Heavy Duty means but it basicaly means its crap.

 

[OulOat]

In the US I don't notice a difference, but once you get out to Asian countries I would only buy name brand batteries. The cheaper generics are really bad there, lasting about 1/4 the time that duracell will last.

 

[TwiceOver]

Rechargeables. They do the job and never really worry about running out at an inopportune time.

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: TwiceOver
Rechargeables. They do the job and never really worry about running out at an inopportune time.

Assuming that you have more then 1 set, and that you actually recharged the other ones, and that you brought them with you.

 

[middlehead]

Originally posted by: feelingshorter
big name brand doesnt differ much from each other in terms of how long they last...

Not exactly scientific, but I tested batteries in a physics class a couple years ago. We did Duracell, Energizer, Everready, and one other generic that I can't remember. Rayovac, maybe. The generics lasted as long as the names, but didn't hold full charge the entire time. The generics were a steady decline after about 50% of life, name brands had full charge for about 90% of the life, then a sharp drop the last 10%.

 

[montag451]

Rechargeables 99% of the time - UNIROSS/ENERGISER

 

[sswingle]

I almost always user Energizer

 

[monk3y]

Usually use Duracell

 

[TwiceOver]

Originally posted by: TallBill

Originally posted by: TwiceOver
Rechargeables. They do the job and never really worry about running out at an inopportune time.

Assuming that you have more then 1 set, and that you actually recharged the other ones, and that you brought them with you.

All my portable devices are rechargeable on their own, so bringing with isn't a big deal. Bring power adapter, done. Otherwise I have multiple sets for the house. Works out good.

 

[shilala]

We use Duracell and Energizer always.
I buy them by the pound at ebay or batterypath or sunn battery, wherever I can get the best deal.

 

[Engineer]

FWIW, there was a test a few years ago and two generics topped the list with Kroger batteries at the top. Not sure who makes Kroger batteries.

Edit: Newer recommendations with batteries that weren't out when the Kroger batteries won.

 

[mjh]

I also usually use rechargeable batteries. Before I started using rechargeables, I would use only brand name batteries (if I had a choice).

 

[Schadenfroh]

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats
yes.

Duracell.

 

[mrSHEiK124]

DURACELL!

 

[Steve]

Rayovac.

 

[AlienCraft]

YES, YES YES!!!!!111!!!1!!111111!

Duracell PRO > than anything else.
Never buy batteries from a card display in a conveience store. They may be YEARS out of date. Batteries that are exposed to the sun (heating /cooling cycles) are more prone to premature death.

 

[AlienCraft]

Originally posted by: TallBill

Originally posted by: TwiceOver
Rechargeables. They do the job and never really worry about running out at an inopportune time.

Assuming that you have more then 1 set, and that you actually recharged the other ones, and that you brought them with you.

AND Cycled them completely dead before recharging and that the device can deal with a sharp voltage drop at end of cycle as opposed to a slow gradual draw down as in "normal" batteries.
ALSO Rechargeables are rated at a volt below "normals" for steady state use. SOME devices do not like that. In Ear Monitors, Instrument Transmitters, Wireless mics are one example. We (Journey) did a STRENUOUS real life test and dumped the rechargeables for Duracell PRO's. They would loose charge at an irregular rate, so it was a total PITA.