Test/Review of HQ Zinc-Carbon Standard Power AA

Batteries and Chargers Consumable Batteries
1

HQ Zinc-Carbon Standard Power AA







Official specifications:

  • Size: AA, Mignon, Penlite.

  • Voltage: 1.5 V (DC).

  • System: Zinc-Carbon.

  • Height: 50.5mm

  • Diameter: 14.5mm




This type batteries was used before alkaline.











Performance is not very good compared to alkaline, but they are the best Zinc-Carbon I have tested.









Conclusion

This chemistry has about 1/3 the energy of alkaline and cannot handle a heavy load. Even unloaded it has much shorter lifetime than alkaline.
I do not see any reason to use this chemistry anymore



Notes and links

Some other Zinc-Carbon cells: Varta SuperLife AA

Batteries was supplied by Pro backup (probackup.nl)

How is the test done and how to read the charts
Compare to other AA/AAA batteries: Alkaline/NiMH/Lithium
2

I don’t use very many of these, but I don’t recall having the Zinc cells leak like Alkalines do…

Do these leak, and with the same disastrous results as with Alkalines?

I have some in extremely low-drain applications like remote controls and they work well enough for that.

3

I agree, that is about the one use for these. But I would never purposely buy them, I just happen to come by them and use them up in remotes.

4

As far as I remember they are much worse to leak than alkaline.

5

I remember having old ones, many decades ago, corrode through the zinc case… very bad.

6

Yes they do, I have everready branded ones which leak.

7

Zinc carbons are still quite popular in India and most widely available. Got many brands and for the most part they haven’t leaked on me lately (last 6-7 years) so it might be that they’ve gotten better leak proof lamination? Eveready even goes as far as claiming they’re leak proof! Of course, I only use them in low draw applications so that could be a reason why they’ve done OK.

8

I’ve had some that come with TV remotes and even with daily use last couple years or so. They will work for clocks digital and analog as well. I won’t purchase them but if I come across some I use them in clocks around the house
On the other hand I’ve had a aa digital clock last 13 years on 2aa batteries. Batteries outlived the display with alkaline rayovacs