The (alkaline) battery run time thread (graphs and actual test run times)

Has anyone determined what is the best bang for the buck in the Alkaline batteries? I have not put pencil and calculator to the paper, but it appears that the Sunbeam is about the best considering the cost of $0.25 ea. I still have trouble separating the colors in the charts, and I cannot tell how the Maxell performed. The run about $0.333 EA if bought in bulk on ebay. While the Panasonic appears to be tops, the cost of close to a buck ea makes them not the best buy, I think.

Jerry

The Maxells run $13.97 for a 48 pack on Amazon, which is $0.29ea. The Panasonic's run 3 for $1 at the dollar store IF you can find the "2+1free" packages (which I frequently do), so that's $0.33ea. The Harbor Freights at $4.99 (w/coupon) for 24 are a good buy if you don't need high performance ($0.21ea). The Rayovac's are a very good alternative to Duracells, but I am not sure what a bulk pack is running to figure the cost - cheaper than Duracell anyway.

One conclusion is to avoid Energizers altogether! If they all perform like the one I tested, then they are not worth the extra expense! Another conclusion, don't be afraid of the Dollar Store Sunbeams (if not needing high performance). Amazon sells "Panasonic Platinums" at $11.99 for 24 ($0.50ea) but I have no idea how good they are and don't plan to buy and test them.

-Garry

I don’t buy very many primaries anymore, but when I do it’s Energizer Lithiums for the flashlights in my car, or Rayovacs for Tv remotes, etc. The rayovacs I get are at a local Farm and Fleet store. They’re usually $4.98 for a 24 pack. Another good place to get cheap cells is woot.com. They regularly have sales on huge quantities of batteries, usually Sony. One time it worked out to about $0.10 each.

Woot.com shows Maxell LR6 AA Alkaline Battery - 48 Pack Box 723443 for $9.99 + free shipping. that is 21 cents ea. I could not be sure I was reading the charts correctly, but did the Maxell show about as well as the Panasonic, Gary? What were the three best in your tests?
Thanks,
Jerry

The maxell has about the same capacity as the Panasonic, but with more voltage sag. It's the next best cell to the Panasonic. Top 3 of the ones I've tested thus far in decreasing order are:

1) Duracell
2) Rayovac
3) Energizer Max

The Energizer I rule out simply due to its higher cost for the mediocre performance. The Panasonic has higher voltage than the Energizer, but less capacity. It's still a good alternative, so you might swap #3 to be the Panasonic.

-Garry

Thanks, Gary. That is helpful.
For whatever reason the AAA Duracells I bought recently have not lived up to their reputation, but the AA Duracells have. But at the price I am liking the cheaper cells like the Sunbeam.
I had thought that your graph showed the Maxell close to the Panasonic.
Jerry

Anyone tried the new Rayovac fusion batteries? Are they basically Duracell’s Quantum? (for that matter, anyone tried the Duracell Quantum?)…

This thread is amazing. What I take away the most is that the variance between Alkaline batteries is little. In most cases the more expensive batteries win, naturally, but the cheap batteries that come in at a fraction of the cost seemed to hold their own, come close or in some cases beat the expensive ones. I think at this point cheap Alkalines get you the best Cost per mAH. Sure you can spend 4x more and get 15% more capacity (maybe) but what a waste.

I’ll note that as of July 2016, the Harbor Freight Thunderbolt Alkaline batteries are $7.99 for 24 AA’s (on harbor freight’s website), which works out to $0.34 per battery. There’s probably also tax and shipping needed. I couldn’t find those batteries on Amazon and there is no Harbor Freight local to me.
But the Sunbeam Alkalines AA’s can still be picked up for $0.25 per battery at the local dollar store (I just bought 4 packs). Additionally, I found on Amazon a 48 pack of Sunbeam Alkalines for $10.58 (Amazon Prime, free 2 day shipping) which works out to $0.22 per battery. That’s a very good deal in my opinion.

The Maxell 48 pack of AA’s are $15.98 on Amazon which works out to $0.33 per battery. Comparable to the Harbor Freight Thunderbolt’s.

Honestly I think due to the availability of Sunbeam’s, being able to pick them up cheap online or at your local dollar store, they’re the best all around deal.

There is also Amazon’s Basic AA. Aug 01, 2016: AA $13.49/48 ct. $10.99/36 ct. $6.99/20 ct. You’ll also find Sunbeam at Big Lots stores if you have them near you. Along with various brands AA (Duracell, Panasonic, etc.) re-packaged in Big Lot’s retail outer clam shell; actual individual batteries are still marked per original manufacturer; at a lower price than big box stores.

Like these:

Yep, that’s where I got mine. I’ve have to test out the alkaline version at some point. Still stock up on disposable batteries but since I started this post I’ve really been stocking up on rechargeable batteries like Eneloop and such. Still good to have some inexpensive disposables on hand though.

If your looking for alkalines, if there’s a dollar general around you 20 aa is 5.50 you shouldn’t lay more then $25 for 100. I stock up on ac delco aa 100 for 25, I got 180aaa for 35.

On amazon, chrome batteries are a good alkaline, you can get basics bit they are cheaper ones. Every once in awhile the Duracell pro cells go on sale for 24batteries/$6 online.
Best buy every few months runs clearance on their lithium energizer advanced for $1/battery. But if you sign ul for amazon subscribe and save 8 advanced lithium will cost you like $12 a month even cheaper if you go with advanced lithium. I just keep them coming and stock pile for hurricanes and such. Can power my lanterns and aa lights for weeks. Not to mention the 30 or so nihm I have.

I did some of my own tests on a few Alkaline AA cells that I had. I used my OPUS BT-C3100 to discharge them at a 300 mAh rate. This test is only relative to the ones I tested
This picture is the resting voltage after the discharge test. Notice that the RayOVac, the weakest cell “bounced” back to a higher voltage.

The run times, Hours and Minutes.

Finally the mAh readings.

Duracell Quantum 2421
Ray-O-Vac Fusion 2256
Energizer Plus 2054
Ray-O-Vac Alkaline 1294

Tonight I will do the same discharge test on an Energizer Advanced Lithium. Not Alkaline, but just to see what the capacity is.

I now know a made a little mistake on my report of the “bounce back” voltages of the cells after they were discharged.
The reason the Ray O Vac was higher was because it was the first to discharge and start its’ recovery.
I let all the cells recover overnight. These are the recovered voltages this morning.

Then I did a second discharge test at 300mA on these previously discharged cells. These new mAh readings are to be added to the ones above.

I will now let them rest again and try a 3rd discharge test.

BTW, I believe doing this duplicates real world use of cells. Use, recover, use, recover, etc.

What the Rayovac is show is the inability to support the current draw. The voltage gets sucked down to the cut-off sooner. This is a clear indication of a battery not up to the performance level you are requiring, 300mA in this case. It might show better at a lower current draw….maybe, but probably not.

Not sure if this is a short term item but I recently got 10 Ac Delco AAA batteries for $2 at my 99 cent store. I have load tested one in my Manker E02 on low mode (not moonlight). Got 10 hours, current draw when above 1 V would be between 0.1 and 0.15V for voltages between 1.5 and 1.0V. At some point (after 9 hours) I noticed the intensity had dropped a bit, and and 10 hours the light was at moonlight mode. Seems like a solid performer though.

Thanks for the test. Now I would like to see some cheap batteries, such as Sunbeam and Harbor Freight, including the Heavy Duty. What gives us the best bang for the buck?
Any chance?
Jerry

Umm . . . see page 1 of this thread. Also, “heavy duty” batteries aren’t even worth picking up to test except maybe for a good laugh.

-Garry

You can see a few of them in my comparator: Battery test-review 18650 comparator

Varta SuperLife AA
HQ Zinc-Carbon Standard power AA

Based on what I have read in here and what I can buy it is the AC Delco. Even in quantity online I have not found cheaper than 20 cents a cell.

I know that this is post has been inactive for a while but what do you guys think about the sunbeam alkaline ultra batteries? Are they any good and are they actually 34% more power (I’m guessing they mean capacity) than other national brands?