Which AA Battery is Best? Can Amazon Basics beat Energizer? Let's find out!

clemence · 2018-12-11T19:28:14.000Z

A more not-so-nerdy useful test from Project Farm:

- Clemence

Pete7874 · 2018-12-11T19:38:25.000Z

I saw this posted on another forum the other day.

His results don’t match my own. My Rayovac High Energy actually outperform Energizers, but there is probably some variation batch to batch, year to year, that may account for this inconsistency.

toddcshoe · 2018-12-12T00:51:04.000Z

I don’t want to watch the video but am semi curious as to which one won the battle of the Gonnaleak battery’s.

Pete7874 · 2018-12-12T02:36:35.000Z

Interesting, when on sale, the Rayovacs are actually even less expensive than the DollarTree batteries.

JoeRodge · 2018-12-12T02:44:44.000Z

leaftye:

The best depends on if you want the most mAh or the most mAh/$. In a test by another Youtuber, Sunbeam AA’s from Dollar Tree won the mAh/$ contest by a healthy margin.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWAjgZmnoZo

1.) He is buying 4 packs. How can u compare this to larger packs which offer better value. 2.) So many good batteries aren’t being tested 3.) This is one random application. Throw these batteries in high drain and low drain applications. I’ve heard ACDelco batteries offer the best bang for the buck. I also hear they are less likely to leak. Can’t speak on them personally. Edit: Just watching that “drop test” in the first video made me cringe lol. Very scientific. Everyone break your multimeters.

Pete7874 · 2018-12-12T02:52:54.000Z

JoeRodge:

I’ve heard ACDelco batteries offer the best bang for the buck.

Menards has 30-pack for $1.96 after rebate. That’s less than $0.07 per cell. Even cheaper than Rayovac.

DavidEF · 2018-12-12T03:24:18.000Z

I just watched that video from Project Farm today. He doesn’t exactly test like HKJ, but his results can be useful nonetheless. Ironically, his testing of other products is usually very thorough. He’s certainly not aiming to the flashlight enthusiast crowd.

slowtechstef · 2018-12-12T07:35:27.000Z

Thanks for sharing.

Two observations:

- I would have liked a table with a summary of the test results. In a single glance I would have been able to get to the relevant info. Tables are undervalued for sharing information in a succinct manner without loosing resolution. Videos have a really low information density.

- Explain something about the relation between discharge current and battery capacity. For very low drain applications alkaleaks actually do have a good capacity/price ratio, however with a risk involved for damaging your device because of electrolyte leakage. Which is the best battery depends on the specific context of use.

oto · 2018-12-12T08:29:20.000Z

slowtechstef:

I would have liked a table with a summary of the test results. In a single glance I would have been able to get to the relevant info. Tables are undervalued for sharing information in a succinct manner without loosing resolution. Videos have a really low information density.

Here you go:

slowtechstef · 2018-12-12T16:39:46.000Z

Graphical summaries are at the end of the video I see now
Would have been great if he would have started his video with these graphics as they basically summarize the complete 10 minute video in 2 pictures.

Anyway: Thanks for posting the pics

Pete7874 · 2018-12-12T17:12:07.000Z

oto:

slowtechstef:

I would have liked a table with a summary of the test results. In a single glance I would have been able to get to the relevant info. Tables are undervalued for sharing information in a succinct manner without loosing resolution. Videos have a really low information density.

Here you go:

Am I reading these graphs correctly that he’s getting more capacity when using higher discharge current on some of these batteries? How is that possible?

Energizer Lithium:
3317 mAh at 300 mA
3152 mAh at 100 mA

Rayovac Fusion:
1884 mAh at 300 mA
1844 mAh at 100 mA

Rayovac:
1589 mAh at 300 mA
1465 mAh at 100 mA

Eveready Silver:
1384 mAh at 300 mA
1279 mAh at 100 mA

clemence · 2018-12-12T17:10:14.000Z

Pete7874:

oto:

slowtechstef:

I would have liked a table with a summary of the test results. In a single glance I would have been able to get to the relevant info. Tables are undervalued for sharing information in a succinct manner without loosing resolution. Videos have a really low information density.

Here you go:

Am I reading these graphs correctly that he’s getting more capacity when using higher discharge current on some of these batteries? How is that possible?

Looks like it’s just variation between batteries. Remember, he can’t use the same batteries for different tests

- Clemence

DavidEF · 2018-12-12T22:28:34.000Z

clemence:

Looks like it’s just variation between batteries. Remember, he can’t use the same batteries for different tests

- Clemence

That would be my assumption as well. One of the limitations of his process is that he doesn’t have a very large “sample size” for each cell in each test.

BurningPlayd0h · 2018-12-12T23:57:45.000Z

What was the voltage cutoff for these? The voltage output is FAR from constant for alkalines and some devices won’t work properly when getting say… 1.1v instead of 1.4/1.5 meaning these capacity reading don’t reflect real world use well.

Gebe · 2018-12-13T00:39:35.000Z

Nice videos and good work.

I’ve had so many alkalines leak on me I only use them in devices where if they leak, they can be replaced cheaply. I live in a place where it can go from 100 degrees in the summer to the teens and below in the winter.

I now only use Energizer Ultimate Lithium’s in all of my AA and AAA lights that I care about as they can tolerate temperature swings and NEVER leak and hold their charge. Also, if you shop around, you can get some incredible deals on them on Ebay.

BurningPlayd0h · 2018-12-13T02:05:37.000Z

Charge some Nimh a few times and the $/mAh smashes all these alkalines too, even factoring in the price of a charger.

DavidEF · 2018-12-13T02:48:48.000Z

BurningPlayd0h:

Charge some Nimh a few times and the $/mAh smashes all these alkalines too, even factoring in the price of a charger.

Yes, that’s true, especially if you get good Fujitsu factory NiMH like Eneloops, Duraloops, and others. However, alkaline still has one advantage over NiMH, and that is voltage. Even in 2018, some devices still aren’t made to be able to use NiMH voltage range and will turn off or just not work right because “the battery is dead”. :person_facepalming:

tatasal · 2018-12-13T03:09:57.000Z

Gebe:

Nice videos and good work.

I’ve had so many alkalines leak on me I only use them in devices where if they leak, they can be replaced cheaply. I live in a place where it can go from 100 degrees in the summer to the teens and below in the winter.

I now only use Energizer Ultimate Lithium’s in all of my AA and AAA lights that I care about as they can tolerate temperature swings and NEVER leak and hold their charge. Also, if you shop around, you can get some incredible deals on them on Ebay.

Don’t feel too safe with those Ultimate Lithiums, that’s what I thought too….

ENERGIZER Ultimate Lithium "NO LEAK" Guarantee - mine leaked! What's your take? Consumable Batteries

From the pages of Energizer: Energizer® Ultimate Lithium™ Batteries are GUARANTEED NOT TO LEAK. Due to advanced technology, Ultimate lithium™ batteries will not leak under normal consumer usage. If you believe that you have a leaking Energizer® Ultimate Lithium™ battery, contact 1-800-383-7323 for return instructions. Link: Battery Leakage | Energizer This morning I noticed my air-con’s remote control was fading, almost blank, but comes back when tapped. Well, I opened the back cover and see…

snakebite · 2018-12-16T20:42:18.000Z

a more accurate test would be hf alkaleaks and sunbeam alkaleaks in place of the carbon zinc.
he is comparing apples to oranges.
everyone should know carbon zinc are a poor choice for anything but clocks and remotes.

clemence · 2018-12-16T20:57:26.000Z

snakebite:

a more accurate test would be hf alkaleaks and sunbeam alkaleaks in place of the carbon zinc.
he is comparing apples to oranges.
everyone should know carbon zinc are a poor choice for anything but clocks and remotes.

He made that video for commoner, unlike most of the active member here (us = nerds) :nerd_face: . I don’t think most of battery consumers know which is orange and which is apple.

- Clemence