What's your AA battery of choice?

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › What's your AA battery of choice?

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#2669735 7-Mar-2021 21:35

turtleattacks:

You guys got me thinking that Eneloop batteries might be a better solution - would this mean that I can have 4x batteries always charging and then use the other four rechargeable batteries in the lock?

Would they last just as long as a typical AA battery?

Standard Eneloops are 2000mah, and the pro version is 2500mah.

Very good alkaline AA's are about 2500mah, and (disposable) Lithium AA's are about 3000mah.

Note that the nominal voltages of the eneloop (NiMh) is lower. (1.2v vs 1.5v), but Alkaline batteries are quickly discharged below 1.2v under load anyway, and keeps tracking down from their. In appliances which draw a bit, and are voltage sensitive, I find the eneloop batteries do far better than alkaline. I have a bubble maker, and with alkaline batteries it would soon be running to slowly to make bubbles, but with eneloop pro's it makes bubbles for a couple of hours.

Our door lock in makes a sharper, quicker sound when locking & unlocking with eneloop pro's in it.

Note the below image is a marketing image, so they would have picked a cheap low capacity disposable for comparison, but the general concept is accurate. Much of disposables AA's power is a voltage to low to use in demanding applications.

But be aware that while eneloops run at a high voltage for a long time, when they die it happens quickly. This could mess up the low battery warning on your door lock (but mine worked fine last time). I have a mechanical planted key anyway.

I just have this battery charger:

https://photogear.co.nz/panasonic-eneloop-smart-quick-charger-aa-eneloop-pro-batteries-2550mah-4-pack/

Widely available at many retailers.

Modern Low Self Discharge NiMH batteries are nothing like the NiMH batteries I had as a kid. No need to keep them on charge all the time, Will still be fine to use a year after charging... (just don't store in the charger)

Could either do duty standby sets, or if you get home and the low battery warning shows, pull them, charge, and reinstall 2 hours later. Might want to see if your lock forgets presets if the latter is done.

qwertee

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#2669738 7-Mar-2021 21:41

Varta for AA and AAA.

GSManiac

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#2669740 7-Mar-2021 21:48

richms:

I get varta packs from bunnings. My sureflap eats them like crazy and does no better off the normal energizers and im not spending on the lithium ones for it.

oh I had the same issue with my sure flap cat door. I was going through a set every couple of weeks.

Dismantled it and there was so much clogged hair in there. Removed that and all the dirt and dust build up and it fixed the battery drain. Saved me from having to go out and buy another.

Kiwifruta

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#2669764 8-Mar-2021 06:53

timmmay:
Eneloop NiMH recharables with a Maha charger. Slow ish chargers tend to be better for batteries than 15 minute chargers - 2 hours is about the right charge speed.

Agree with the above and add that the Maha PowerEx batteries are also good. Bought mine on Amazon.

timmmay

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#2669781 8-Mar-2021 07:59

Kiwifruta:
Agree with the above and add that the Maha PowerEx batteries are also good. Bought mine on Amazon.

PowerEx are higher capacity than Eneloop but have much higher self discharge. I had 50 or so PowerEx when I was a professional photographer, but as they wore out I migrated to Eneloop and generally preferred them. They worked as well, didn't need charging the day before being used, and power capacity was sufficient - though with flashes I used 4 in each flash, 8 in each battery pack, plus rarely used spares.

sbiddle

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#2669784 8-Mar-2021 08:08

I only buy Varta if I'm after alkaline batteries. I'd never buy Energizer with their heavily inflated prices.

Bunnings also sell Arlec batteries for a similar price as Varta. I've picked these up a couple of times over the years when they had no Varta batteries in stock, and have had two occasions where they have leaked, and while it's only anecdotal, I don't think they last as long.

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timmmay

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#2669789 8-Mar-2021 08:26

The Maxlife batteries from M10 are terrible for leaking, especially if they're in things outside like temperature monitors, but even indoors many will eventually leak. Is that not normal? That's one reason I use carbon zinc instead of alkaline at times.

alasta

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#2669800 8-Mar-2021 08:36

I also like Varta, although I have noticed that Bunnings don't stock button cells in the Varta brand.

timmmay

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#2669805 8-Mar-2021 08:57

alasta:

I also like Varta, although I have noticed that Bunnings don't stock button cells in the Varta brand.

I buy good brands of button cells from ebay for about 80% less than NZ prices.

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#2669823 8-Mar-2021 09:09

Eneloop (particularly Pro) batteries also seem to have a good shelf life as well, but as someone else said, a 2-3 hour charge and they are good to go, so no real need to dedicate spares.

I routinely buy a couple of packs when they are on special when you can get a 4pk of the normies for $18, or Pros for $23. I've pretty much swapped every battery device I have to them and rotate sets in and out of devices. My Xbox controller lasts about 2-3 weeks depending on usage (1-2 hours a day at peak). Longer now that I don't have time for it!

I haven't done the sums on how they come out in cost vs. replaceables, but I like the environmental factor of not throwing away tons of batteries.

richms

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#2669834 8-Mar-2021 09:29

GSManiac:

oh I had the same issue with my sure flap cat door. I was going through a set every couple of weeks.

Dismantled it and there was so much clogged hair in there. Removed that and all the dirt and dust build up and it fixed the battery drain. Saved me from having to go out and buy another.

Apparently its the crapness of their wireless connection to the base station that chews thru it rather than the door itself, and its done it from new so its not dirty despite me cleaning the tunnel all the time.

Richard rich.ms

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#2669837 8-Mar-2021 09:36

turtleattacks:

You guys got me thinking that Eneloop batteries might be a better solution - would this mean that I can have 4x batteries always charging and then use the other four rechargeable batteries in the lock?

Would they last just as long as a typical AA battery?

for your purpose, eneloops would be better. and googling 'eneloop for smart locks' would show it's not unusual.

as suggested above though, you'd do well with a good charger. i have eneloops from 2007 that still work for remotes and xbox controllers.

Handsomedan

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#2669840 8-Mar-2021 09:42

turtleattacks:

You guys got me thinking that Eneloop batteries might be a better solution - would this mean that I can have 4x batteries always charging and then use the other four rechargeable batteries in the lock?

Would they last just as long as a typical AA battery?

We have two teenage boys and a lot of gadgets that take AA batteries.

We have a raft of Eneloop Black AA rechargeables.

They are fantastic.

I found that anything that eats batteries, seems to last longer with Eneloop black batteries. I don't even know if the colour matters - I know that the ones we have are black and that's what i recommend if you're going down that path.

we normally have 4 sitting charged and waiting at any given time...

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#2669842 8-Mar-2021 09:44

Another vote for Varta from Bunnings. Great value for money and seem to last pretty well.

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Wakrak

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#2669855 8-Mar-2021 10:03

Regarding Eneloops: if you happen to have a mate with CSC membership, get them to buy the batteries for you from Noel Leeming.

Panasonic Eneloop Pro AAA & AA 4 packs = $16.50/$16.95 ea. for me vs. $21.99+ normal price elsewhere (Photogear).

Edit* Might have to pay for shipping with Photogear, otherwise JB Hi-Fi $32.99 ea.

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