Aa Batteries

[1581960]

Anybody know how to compare AA batteries? Looking on Amazon/Ebay there is a whole range of Duracell - Simply Duracell, Industrial, Ultra Power, Power Plus and Coppertop, along with loads of others manufacturers. Any help appreciated.

[jennyjoan]

they are cheap so you can change them as often as you can - well I think 16 for a £1 in Poundland.

[ducksie]

I get mine in cheapo shops like Jennyjoan, sometimes the simplest solution is the local shops, I've never had a problem with them

[Baldric]

Always go for Duracell and get good usage out of them.

[gingejbee]

The 16 for a pound batteries are (not very good)zinc chloride ones...you'd be better off with alkalines.
Which? compare batteries regularly...the best tested recently were Duracell Ultra Power, Maplin Pro Lithium, Aldi Activ Energy And Energiser Eco Advanced.

[jennyjoan]

mine last for ages

[-SharonA-]

The ones in Poundland never last. Beware of makes like Kodak, whose speciality was cameras!!

[gingejbee]

....jj....whether batteries "last for ages" depends on what they're used in!

[Buenchico]

Simply ensure that you buy alkaline batteries (rather than zinc chloride ones). Duracell brand virtually the same alkaline batteries in lots of different ways, with some of their products costing far more than the virtually same thing with a different type of Duracell label on it.

Better still, forget about buying the Duracell brand (which are frequently over-priced) and buy any brand of alkaline batteries from Poundland, et al. They're just as good. (Don't buy zinc chloride batteries from pound shops though, as they're almost universally rubbish).

If you want to stick with (over-priced) Duracell batteries, the 'basic' ones are labelled 'Simply', the ones which can theoretically last up to 50% longer (but rarely do) are labelled 'Plus Power' and the longest-lasting are labelled 'Ultra Power'.

https://www.duracell.co.uk/products/alkaline-batteries/?size=aa#our-products

'Industrial' is seemingly just a tag that they use for bulk supplies of 'basic' batteries ( http://professional.duracell.com/en/industrial ), with 'Coppertop' seeming to be a label that they use for supplies discount stores, etc.

[Kidas]

Depends a bit on what the batteries are doing.

For ultra-low-power drain (TV remotes, computer mouse etc), you can use the super-cheap zinc-carbon types. Or rechargeables. In fact I have about 20 AA-rechargeables that we cycle in many different devices, such as radios, mice, TV remotes, even a waste-bin.

For mid-power drains (radios, torches, etc) use alkaline types.

For high power-drain (RC-controlled drones, laser pens, GPS devices) use the super-expensive lithium style batteries.

In general, batteries are the most expensive form of energy you can buy. It's a bit better to use rechargeables, from both a cost and eco-mindedness perspective, but for lowest cost, consider using a plugged-in power adapter, but switch it off when not being used.

[alavahalf]

1581 .. you will only get personal opinions on here. You have heard that people are happy with possibly the worst and also with the most advertised battery available.
It realy depends on what performance you want ..
Have a look here .. http://www.batteryshowdown.com/

[1581960]

Some good answers there, thanks to all. Unfortunately I could only choose one for best answer so selected the first one with a decent degree of evaluation.

[mikey4444]

If you have a branch of Maplin near you, get your batteries from there....much, much cheaper than anywhere else !

[mikey4444]

https://www.maplin.co.uk/search/?text=batteries

[Old_Geezer]

I've been getting fed up with rechargeables. They often have lost the charge by the time I need to use them, and don't seem to last as long as new unrechargeables either. Although I've had a reasonable experience with the eveloop brand I got.

[waterboatman]

Buy rechargeable batteries and a charger.

[bhg481]

OG - 7dayshop do rechargeables that hold their charge for a year. I tried them years ago when I was let down by some spares I was carrying for my flashgun. I use them exclusively now.
They do their own-brand ones - "Good to Go" and also a Panasonic version.

[waterboatman]

I have a variety of rechargeables, they are all good, but you get what you pay for. I haven't had to buy any batteries for over ten years!