I have been doing an inventory of my remotes to see what types of batteries are used in them … Six use 2 X AAA’s and three use 2 X AA’s … I was going to replace them all with Energizer Lithiums , but the cost is high for the latest 2025 dated cells … I have not included all the clocks , perfume squirters and other items (yet) because they are not too expensive to replace if (or when) the alkalines leak … Remotes on the other hand would be very expensive to replace and are not readily available to purchase.
I use Energisers in a couple of AA and AAA torches that I keep in the car , so I started to think that it would be a good idea to get some more Lithium primaries for use in the remotes.
On the other hand , if there were any (less leaky) alkalines , then I could be tempted to go for those instead … Is there any make of Alkalines that would be worth considering ?
I don’t particularly want to tie up any of my Eneloops for remotes that are using virtually no power … Also , I don’t have enough spare AAA Eneloops and would have to buy 12 more … So , is it worth getting 12 AAA and 6 AA Lithiums at a high cost or should I go with (perhaps) Duracells that are available more cheaply ? … With the lithiums , I would expect them to last virtually for ever …
The fresh ones.
Or if you use “virtually no power”, Zn-Cl is the way to go. They are designed to leak under the plastic encapsulation and some survive over 10 years post expire without any outside leakage.
I haven’t heard of the Duralock … However , I have two packs of eight Duracell ultra-power AAA’s dated 2017 that I’ve had for a while and I’m wondering whether I should risk using these in my remotes.
Snag is that I don’t normally check my remotes for battery leakage … On the other hand , I have not yet had any battery leakage in any of my remotes in all the time that I have owned remotes … At 74 years of age , that’s a lot of remotes and batteries.
Three of my remotes are Sony and are fitted with Sony alkalines … All the rest are Eastpower , Rocket , Golden Power , Max Energy or Fujitsu … The Fujitsu and Sony’s are only about a year or so old , but the rest are several years old … None are showing any signs of leakage or discolouration at the moment.
Do I “bite the bullet” and fit expensive lithium primaries (dated 2025) and forget about the batteries forever , or do I go for cheaper alkalines and risk the leakage … The only leakage in the last ten years or so has been (a couple of months ago) in a 3AA Maglite LED with Duracells kept in a kitchen cupboard … It wasn’t too bad to clean once I got the cells out and it is working OK now (used by my Daughter) as EDC.
I wish I could predict when to change these primary cells at a point just before they leak … There must be some alkalines that have an anti-leak covering … I will look at the Duralocks to see if they are cheaper than the Lithiums.
If they’re rated for 2017 and they leak before 2017 in a remote (I’d say that’s reasonable conditions) couldn’t you ask duracell to replace your remote?
I’ve used these ‘Sony’ batteries that came with the TV for about 2 years now. Odd that they came with the panasonic TV, but oh well; they work!
From what I can see, Duralock only is a term invented by a Marketer from Cincinnati and refers to how long the cells hold a charge, no guarantee on not leaking. Duracell has seriously fallen behind in technology, with no true innovation in years. I used to be a stockholder of Gillette when they owned them. Apparently P&G is now using the brand as a cash cow, with no plans for anything new.
I have had Duracells leak in several electronics, usually very old ones, but once had a leaker in the original battery bubble pack. I am gradually replacing every AA/AAA battery with eneloops when I find them on sale. Probably about 1/2 way there.
I have checked on Ebay (UK) to find the prices (including postage) based on at least 12 AAA batteries.
Eneloop AAA cells work out at £1-75 each.
Energizer Lithium AAA’s (2025 date) work out at £0-94 each.
Duracell Ultrapower AAA’s (2018 date) work out at £0-74 each.
If the primary cells only last till the date shown , I would need to buy two sets of Duracells or one set of Lithiums … Based on cost and the fact that Lithium Primary Cells don’t (?) leak , then it looks like the winner between those two is the Energizer Lithium AAA’s.
It is possibly debateable whether the Eneloops (even with re-charges) would last till 2025 … Another 13 years with only a few re-charges ? … In comparison to the higher Primary cell voltage , will the Eneloop cell voltage drop to the threshold point where the remote won’t work ? … Is it worth the hassle of having to charge the AAA Eneloops occasionally , when you could just leave the Lithiums in (virtually) for ever ?
I’m guessing that it might be easier (or more convenient) to go for the Lithiums.
Decision is almost made … Just waiting for some replies to this post from those that are more knowldgeable than myself.
How long would AAA eneloops last? Got 2 new glitter spare ones. Thinking of giving it a good use I heard that alkalines last longer at low current draws….
I use eneloops in everything -- my remotes, clocks, flashlights, etc. Eneloops never leak, they're low self-discharge and when I notice that they're low on juice I just replace them with freshly charged ones. I've been doing this for 2 years now and I haven't had any problems whatsoever.
But I could fit the Lithium Primaries in the remotes and totally forget about them , maybe till the year 2025 or even longer considering the minimal amount of use (current drain) they would get … I base this assumption on how many years the ordinary Alkaline batteries seem to last … As with the Eneloops , there would also be virtually no chance of leakage with the Lithiums … Will the AAA Eneloops actually last for at least 13 years ?
How often do you change the Eneloops in your remotes ? … I’m all for an easy life and would like to fit and forget the batteries in my remotes … It is not very convenient to have to remember to change batteries every few months (or whatever) in all the remotes … I certainly don’t want to incur the wrath of my Wife if the remotes don’t last long on Eneloops when the Lithiums would just go on working literally for ever … I look upon Lithium primaries to be exactly the same as the good quality Alkalines but with no leaking at all and a longer life.
No decision has been made , but it’s looking good for the Lithiums.
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Just looked at Wikipedia for information on Energizer Lithiums (Li-FeS2 it says) … Open-circuit Voltage is quoted as 1.8V … Nominal Voltage is quoted as 1.4V to 1.6V , so no problem there … I’ve had problems with NiMh’s on some equipment , particularly with dim LCD displays … I guess that’s yet another reason to go for the Lithium primaries.
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I use batteries “harvested” from disposable cameras at work (Walgreens).
They are free, barely used, and I have never seen them leak. ever.
In fact, in the five years of being there and opening cameras up that are up to 8 years past the film’s expiration date (so about 10 to 15 years old…. and the film in these cameras is grossly overexposed and ruined but that is another story) I have yet to see one leak inside the cameras….
But I could fit the Lithium Primaries in the remotes and totally forget about them , maybe till the year 2025 or even longer considering the minimal amount of use (current drain) they would get … I base this assumption on how many years the ordinary Alkaline batteries seem to last … As with the Eneloops , there would also be virtually no chance of leakage with the Lithium’s … Will the AAA Eneloops actually last for at least 13 years ? How often do you change the Eneloops in your remotes ? … I’m all for an easy life and would like to fit and forget the batteries in my remotes … It is not very convenient to have to remember to change batteries every few months (or whatever) in all the remotes … I certainly don’t want to incur the wrath of my Wife if the remotes don’t last long on Eneloops when the Lithium’s would just go on working literally for ever … I look upon Lithium primaries to be exactly the same as the good quality Alkalines but with no leaking at all and a longer life. No decision has been made , but it’s looking good for the Lithium’s. .
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I'm not sure how long my eneloops last in remote controls because I rotate them every 2-3 months as I have over 150 eneloops and the need to rotate them.I haven't used a lot of Lithium Primaries but the one thing I do know is since they are lithium -- they will not leak.I think that their charge will probably last longer than eneloops and alkalines but that's just an assumption.
For the last 2 years or so I've been using eneloops in almost everything I own that requires AA and AAA batteries like flashlights, clocks, remote controls, cameras and accessories, etc. and haven't had any problems whatsoever.I guess that's why I own so many of them. Hell, I like them so much that I give them as gifts along with C9000's to my family and close friends.
People always talk about alkalines leaking. But it’s only happened maybe twice to me. One time in a superrrrr old 2d mag that my dad had in his garage. But if you wiped it out, you could still use the light with new batteries. Another when I was like 5, but I don’t remember the circumstances.
Though I may need some more experience. Only alkaline devices I use often are the remote and mouse, and I’ve never ever had them leak. Despite the fact that I run the batteries totally dead. Just ran some energizer lithiums all the way down to around .85 volts. Things take forever to kill right?
I heard that alkalines last longer at low current draws….
Hell,