The OEM Ultimate weights: the AAA weigh about 7.2g each (three are 7.2g, the fourth is 7.4g), the AA weigh about 14.7g each.
For comparison, Energizer states that the AAA should weigh 7.6g and the AA 14.5g.
The AAA and two of the AA are about 1.8v, the two other AA are 1.7v.
They give very nice current through them - I tested first on the junk DinoDirect free flashlight which is a 2AA with generic LED and a boost driver, and it draws about 1.8A with crappy alkalines, 3.2A with GP ReCyko+, and 3.5A with the OEM Ultimates sagging very quickly to 2.98A from there dropping very slowly. The voltage of the batteries dropped to about 1.6v after this short test. Next, I did a 1 minute test during which the current sagged from an initial 3.2A to 2.7A, and the batteries which started at about 1.65v almost didn't drop voltage - they ended up at 1.6v. I didn't run any long test as the junk DD light just gets warm too fast - after the 1 minute test the host was about 35 degrees C and the light over 42 C (from an initial 30 C). Energizer states that maximum discharge rate of the Ultimates is 2A, so the above readings are about 50% higher than the specs... very strange.
Next, I tested the AAA with my Manafont Ultrafire 3-mode XM-L inside a Solarforce L2i host. Fresh crappy alkalines gave 0.8A on high. GP ReCyko+ gave 1.2A. The OEM Ultimates gave 1.6A which quickly sagged to 1.4A. Combined voltage dropped from 5.3v to 4.8v. A 1 minute test resulted in constant 1.4A current throughout the test, and combined voltage dropped from 4.8v to 4.7v. The 1.4A current is very close to the max discharge rate stated in Energizer's datasheet of 1.5A continuous.
So all in all, I'm quite impressed with these batteries.
If their capacity is as advertised, they are extremely good buys for primaries and much cheaper than the Energizer branded version.
These are marked in the listing as expiring on 2024, which means 13 years shelf life.
Energizer states 15 years shelf life (at 21 degrees C).
But in the stores I see Ultimates with '23, '24, '25 expiration year, selling at full price, so I don't think half price (or less) can be attributed to a few years less shelf life.
I think he gets them in random colors. He contacted me after he sent me the batteries to apologize for sending a different color than in the pictures (I think one of them was advertised as grey).
As a regular user of Energizer Lithium Ultimate AA batteries as a backup for photo flashes I'm really interested in the performance of OEM Energizers.For now I have a stock of retail Enerizers so I don't thimk I'll be buying them anytime soon. As for the price of Energizers I found them on sale at a local store for 2,99€ per pack of two batteries (AA that is)
Here in Finland I once saw them about 1€/pcs in packs of 6. Bought only one...........
Regular price is I would guess around 2€/pcs. So, this eBay price is indeed very nice!
Today I saw the lowest price on alcalines ever, 1€/4pcs, about 1,45$ for 4. Regular price for good alkies is about 2+€ -> 4€ /4pcs.
If I compare these OEM-Energizers to regular priced alcalines, I would say there´s pretty much no point AT ALL to use a single alcaline any more for these prices.
So, I´m now doing discharge on the worst one to see, what I can get out of it.
Quite a bit variance in there...
15min discharge behind and cell is already at 1,34V. Original took half-a-day to get there so it´s not looking very promising.
1,815
1,816
1,811
1,812 Were the readings from a pack of original Energizers.
From what I can tell from + and - ends, positive end looks just like in Original Energizer.
On negative end, there seems to be very faint "brush" on the surface. You cannot notice this unless you try to do like a reflection with them. OEM´s negative end is more matte in finish.
Will post more soon.
Propably will also order more soon, to test or use as a budget batts :)