Cheap alternative to Energizer (single use only pls)?

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Cheap alternative to Energizer (single use only pls)?

Batman

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#189485 1-Jan-2016 11:22

I had not had much luck with cheap batteries, only trust Energizer (about $1-$1.3 a pop).
Kids have more and more and more toys that need more and more and more batteries ... !
Any suggestions for cheap and good enough?

[I have tried rechargables but they get lost, so they behave like single use. So please don't suggest rechargables, although I can bet now that 50% of replies will be about how good eneloops are]

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#1459773 1-Jan-2016 11:24

Dick Smith packs, on special. It's all I use for remotes and stuff - rechargables (eneloops) are only for my camera flashes.

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#1459777 1-Jan-2016 12:03

Ah I found this
http://www.batteryshowdown.com/results-lo.html

scuwp

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#1459785 1-Jan-2016 12:18

We just get whatever is on special via bulk pack normally at Bunnings or M10, for the odds and ends and for emergencies. By far the biggest usage in our house now is 'those' batteries you didn't want to talk about. We have amassed a fair collection and no doubt they have saved us a fortune over the last couple of years.

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#1459793 1-Jan-2016 12:50

I don't use the batteries. Believe me i tried to use them but after two goes, the kids have managed to make them all vanish into thin air! I'm left with more chargers than rechargeable batteries!

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#1459803 1-Jan-2016 13:15

scuwp: We just get whatever is on special via bulk pack normally at Bunnings or M10, for the odds and ends and for emergencies. By far the biggest usage in our house now is 'those' batteries you didn't want to talk about. We have amassed a fair collection and no doubt they have saved us a fortune over the last couple of years.

I've had very bad experiences with the get whatever's cheap way.

They do one of two things -
- it barely powers the kids' toys, and dies within the hour.
- it powers whatever it is that needs powered, and dies within a few days.

I've tried Varta, and even bulk Philips I got from 1-day, all useless.

Rikkitic

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#1459919 1-Jan-2016 18:17

I missed the DS battery pack sales so picked some others up on Trade Me. Brand is Sonix, which turns out to be (apparently) the Warehouse brand. By accident I found a Consumer review of them and they are rated much, much higher than DS for capacity and value for money. Colour me surprised (or maybe not). I have not had them long enough to evaluate them but they only cost $18 for 60, and that was not even on sale.

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Rikkitic

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#1459922 1-Jan-2016 18:20

joker97: I don't use the batteries. Believe me i tried to use them but after two goes, the kids have managed to make them all vanish into thin air! I'm left with more chargers than rechargeable batteries!

You could always solder them into the toys, and use an induction loop for charging.

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#1459977 1-Jan-2016 20:23

Rikkitic: I missed the DS battery pack sales so picked some others up on Trade Me. Brand is Sonix, which turns out to be (apparently) the Warehouse brand. By accident I found a Consumer review of them and they are rated much, much higher than DS for capacity and value for money. Colour me surprised (or maybe not). I have not had them long enough to evaluate them but they only cost $18 for 60, and that was not even on sale.

Could you post the results of the Consumer battery review?

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#1459990 1-Jan-2016 21:15

Anyone know where to buy Duracell? Those are the shizzle, but haven't seen then in years.

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#1459993 1-Jan-2016 21:21

My 14 year old did a science experiment for school which tested batteries on the market. He bought the expensive ones (Energizer etc) and cheap packs from Mitre10 (Warrior) and Jaycar. Actually I bought them!

He ran a Mindstorm robot with several motors on it and counted total revolutions of the motors (which ran for up to three days on a 6 batteries) running a conveyor belt. Price per revolution the Jaycar and Warrior brand bulk packs were miles ahead (but ran for less revolutions) . I will see if I can find the results tomorrow and post them here.

Cheers, Matt.

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Rikkitic

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#1460010 1-Jan-2016 21:39

joker97:
Rikkitic: I missed the DS battery pack sales so picked some others up on Trade Me. Brand is Sonix, which turns out to be (apparently) the Warehouse brand. By accident I found a Consumer review of them and they are rated much, much higher than DS for capacity and value for money. Colour me surprised (or maybe not). I have not had them long enough to evaluate them but they only cost $18 for 60, and that was not even on sale.

Could you post the results of the Consumer battery review?

I'm not a member so can't access the full review. Also I see I was looking at a comment on AAA batteries. The AA ones don't come out as well, though they are still much better value. Here is the link: https://www.consumer.org.nz/products/batteries/sonixcell-sonixcell-aaa

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#1460023 1-Jan-2016 23:46

I have had no problems with the DS ones in all the remotes and the cousins kids toys.

The only energizers which seem to be any different are the really expensive ones, which are a waste in most things as they dont have the demands that need it.

Richard rich.ms

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#1460026 2-Jan-2016 00:48

Which ones are the best for not leaking? It doesn't seem to matter how much money is spent on them, some leak and some don't. It is incredibly annoying when you open up the battery compartment and it has leaked. I found it was more common with the old transonic ones from the warehouse, but even premium brands I have found occasionally leak.

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#1460027 2-Jan-2016 00:50

mattwnz: Which ones are the best for not leaking? It doesn't seem to matter how much money is spent on them, some leak and some don't. It is incredibly annoying when you open up the battery compartment and it has leaked. I found it was more common with the old transonic ones from the warehouse, but even premium brands I have found occasionally leak.

IME they leak when they are left flat, if you remove them as soon as they are run down or if you are going to put the toy away for any length of time, I have found this avoids any leaking problems

FWIW I bought a whole lot of Sonixcells from the warehouse, haven't had any leak, and they seem pretty good considering how cheap they were.

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#1460029 2-Jan-2016 00:53

If you are one of those people who swap some cells out at a time grabbing a couple from a remote, 2 from something else and then add some new ones, you will have leaks as the first to run flat begin to reverse charge.

All new cells from the same pack, into the device and discard as soon as they are running out and you will not have leaks.

Richard rich.ms

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