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Do you buy name brand or generic batteries?

I just buy the cheap crap from Dollar Tree, as the only thing I use batteries much for these days is my wireless keyboard and wireless mouse. They both last months on those light as a feather garbage batteries they sell.
 
They are name brand, but rechargeables.
Eneloop, AA and AAA.
9V I buy from Amazon. They're 8 pack for about $9.00

Just looked, in October I paid 9.78 for 8-9V
Two months later? 12.69 for the same.
30% increase
 
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Energizers are pretty good, mostly buy those for disposable batteries.
Duraleaks are the worst.

But most of my usage noawadays if I can help it are Ladda, IKEA's private labeled Eneloops.
 
Youse guys do know that rechargeable batteries are 1.2 volts where dry cells (non-rechargeable) are 1.5 volts. That means you're starting off at 80%.

I use rechargeable batteries for some things, but things like flashlights, I want the extra voltage.
 
I mostly use rechargeables (back in 2020, the first brand I found on Amazon were 'EBL'), I guess I have about 16 each of AA and AAA in circulation, all in devices that get regular use. I keep a pack of non-rechargeables handy just in case they're needed in an "emergency"; I don't stick to a particular brand of those.

I also found that rechargeables last waaaay longer if they're slow-charged.
 
I use Energizer. I try to catch them on sale at Sam's Club. I have also been using Eneloop rechargeables for my trail cam, and just got some AAA Eneloops to try for flashlights.
 
I use rechargeables at work. I get EBL brand from amazon. I've been really happy with them. No idea if they're the best, most powerful, or whatever, but they've been reliable, and the price is decent.
 
I've switched to pretty much rechargeables across the board. Right now I have mostly Eneloop and Amazon Basics. Still going through some of the non rechargeables but once they die I'll use rechargeables.
 
I don't really have a preference since we don't go through many disposable batteries.

I tend to default to the store brand, but I'll grab Duracell or Energizer if they are comparably priced with a coupon or something.
 
Consumer Reports has ratings. There was a drastic difference brand-to-brand in their ratings. Sadly, CR gives ratings on a scale of 1 to 5 instead of exact hours of usage. But, generally the more you pay, the longer they operated their test devices.

That said, I have almost entirely gone with either Amazon Basics (4 out of 5 on Consumer Reports tests) or Energizer Lithium (I haven't seen generic lithium tests). Which I use depends on my needs. For hiking / backpacking, I go with the Energizer Lithium -- I want lightweight and functional in all temperature extremes. That is Energizer Lithium. For everything else, I don't really care much so Amazon Basics has a good balance of price/hours of use.
 
I have loads of Eneloops and some Eneloops Pros (Actually LADDA, which are Eneloop Pros via Ikea).

Don't do much alkaline anymore because ecology and they often leak chemicals, which is a bitch and can ruin your equipment.

The extra voltage of alkalines doesn't matter to me so I use rechargeables if they work and they usually do. I always have a supply of well charged rechargeables.

My niece's husband just gifted me Kickstarter Ligony battery system, Li-ions that are 1.5v, AA and AAA and charger. Probably crap batteries, but at least initially they presumably have 3600 and 1300+ mah capacities. Those ratings are probably inflated by ~30%.

The best batteries I have are Lithium, not rechargeable. Like 1.70v, AA and AAA. They have monster long shelf lives, high capacity. My Yolink fridge wifi temp/humidity monitors love them, especially the one in freezer.
 
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lxskllr said:
I don't use many batteries, but I typically buy harborfreight.
Click to expand...

This and AC Delco from Walmart.

But honestly the only thing name brand batteries gives you that is durability while being stored for a long time.

So there's definitely a place for it since you don't want to go out to buy a battery in the middle of winter for your thermostat.

For that I keep some Duracells in reserve!

Otherwise if you just want batteries for a remote.. harbor freight/ walmart generic will do fine!
 
i went to ikea NiMH AA AAA after all the counterfeit eneloops started showing up on amazon. a review found them as good as the old eneloops.

if you are that worried about voltage, there are lithium-ion rechargeable AA AAA with buck converters to bring the 3.7v down to 1.5 with no dropoff over time, just 1.5 until a sudden threshold drop to 0. the only downside is you need a special charger for the AAA, the AA have a usbC port for charging.
 
Lost_in_the_HTTP said:
RayOVac isn't a brand name? They've been around for as long or longer than the others.

Can't say they're better though.
Click to expand...
I think RayOVac has become a discount line, and maybe not even made by a primary manufacturer. That's just my impression, and I haven't looked it up. My feeling is it's one of those brand names that's been sold a few times, and nobody really gives a shit about making good batteries.
 
i dont own anything that uses ba.. ah yes wait. i have a digital scale.
i would buy whatever is available at the discount shop.
 
Muse said:
Don't do much alkaline anymore because ecology and they often leak chemicals, which is a bitch and can ruin your equipment.
Click to expand...
I was going to use my nice multiprobe meat thermometer for our Thanksgiving turkey. Turns out the AA batteries in it leaked so that now has to be cleaned...

We have a bunch of eneloops because photography gear loves AA and AAA for flashes, triggers etc. Now that we're almost entirely done with that side business they're going into everything else that needs a AAA or AA battery
 
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