Testing double-A batteries: dollar stores vs. major brands (Marketplace)

We tested double-A disposable batteries to find out whether major brand names like Energizer and Duracell deliver on their marketing promises to be long lasting. Our test reveals some surprising results about batteries from dollar stores. Watch our investigation to find out which batteries you should buy — and which ones you might want to avoid.

#Batteries #DollarStore #CBCMarketplace

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[ruslank]

I use rechargeable batteries and I haven't bought alkaline or any disposable ones for more than a decade now. My rechargeables are still with me and still going strong. They cost more initially, but you can save in the long run. Save the planet.

[sackofdope]

I’ve had the same 8 rechargable (4 duracell) (4 energizer) for almost 5 years now and they’re going strong
The damn charger itself has had to get replaced before any of my batteries actually 😂

[tayzonday]

Why didn’t you test the lithium AA batteries they ask you to put in cameras?

[ColinWatters]

For decades manufacturers have resisted calls for the capacity to be printed on the batteries. They say its not possible because it depends on the current draw. That's true but it also applies to rechargeable cells and they can mark them.

[harleyrdr]

My mother worked at a battery company back in the 60’s (Brightstar) and she always kept batteries in the fridge. For me now, every battery in my house is rechargeable.

[elibennett]

Duracells are the absolute worst for leaking. 80% of the ones I use end up leaking. I constantly clean my devices due to this problem. It's atrocious.

[andrewsteavpack]

I live in the US but I wish this series was available to watch on TV in the US it always comes on my recommended and I always enjoy them

[not_important]

I haven't bought disposable batteries in years, I Changed to Panasonic Eneloop Pro years ago from Enegizer rechargeables, i use them in power hungry devices like camera flashes and RC Toys and they last much longer, also I still have batteries that i bought in 2013 that still work. Its worth the Money to upgrade and stop waiting money on cheap disposable batteries.

[rangerrick]

NEVER leave a Duracell in something that could sit awhile unused - like a flashlight or such. Duracells leak WAY more than Energizers and have destroyed several of my high cost flashlights!

[TheBlackadder-Edmund]

Would be interesting to know what the recycler in Michigan does with the batteries... Issue is many recyclers do some recycling on site (tick in the box) but if low revenue and high expenses then export to other countries. Turns out those countries intermediaries will just pocket a bit of money and bury the materials that have no value in the first local landfill hurting the local people with pollution.

[rightpassage]

I am a believer in rechargeables. Cost about the same, and last MUCH longer in the long run!

[viviancrompton]

Disposable batteries should be required by law to state how much usable energy they contain - for example how many watt hours (or how many milliwatt hours) they can deliver until their voltage drops below some usable threshold. Everything else has to state exactly how much product you are getting for your money - if you buy a chocolate bar, loaf of bread, petrol or can of beans, it always says how much weight or volume of product there is. Even rechargeable batteries usually say how much they can store. Why don't single use batteries have this packaging requirement? Even better would be if they stated both watt hours(ie. energy) and the rate at which they can deliver that (ie. power)

[JJJ]

I did this exact tests as a science fair project in grade school 18 years ago, and my findings were the same - dollar store was the best bang for your buck, but duration wise Energizer and then Duracell were best.

[kosta]

Wait, if the manufacturers are "responsible" for funding the recycling facilities (per government decree, I assume, at least that's how it sounded), then how is that not a tax? Also, the consumer pays for it either way, whether it's built into the price of a cell or itemised on the receipt.

[richiegillham]

What Duracell and Energizer missed was that they can come down on their price and still make a profit by being competitive with the cheaper brands, especially now that people know that the cheaper brands are just as good. And the 2 that leaked were name brands. The cheaper ones didn’t leak

[maxheadrom]

The bounce test works more or less and that voltmeter should not be used to test the battery - and here's why: digital voltmeters have what is called high impedance inputs. High impedance inputs behave like open circuits so they'll show the voltage of the chemical setup without considering the internal resistance. The best way to test that is to put some resistor (50 ohms, perhaps) between the battery's terminals and then measure the voltage - that's why the battery tester is the best device for that.

What is the "voltage of the chemical setup"? If we go back a few centuries to Italy, Alessandro Volta (the guy that lends his name to Voltage) built the first galvanic battery. That was zinc and copper places with salt water soaked cloth between them. That battery has 1.10V because that's the the difference between the two metals "will to get or give electrons". Copper wants to get electrons at +0.34V while zincs wants to give electrons at -0.76V. (it might be the opposite but ... that's the idea: it's a property of the metals and if I use a device that draws no current from the battery I'll read 1.10V regardless of how well the chemical reactions are happening.)

[vanveenmatt]

I just use rechargeable batteries. I've been using the same double A's and triple A's for at least 6 or 7 years, with a few new ones here and there.

[cruikshank]

Thank you, very informative and straight to the matter. I don’t think we’d get an honest report like this in the USA. Too much advertising dollars to worry about.

[xtraz]

My Rechargeable batteries lasted from 2008 - 2020 in constant use before they started to rust from overuse & slowly over time last charge, used about two chargers overtime, GP Rechargeable batteries are the best I’ve ever used 💯🔥

[bikokch]

The leak batteries thing is highly depends on how you use and store the batteries. I know many people don’t, but I do check the batteries when I buy them, unless it’s not in a plastic case which you can’t check at all. Also store them using plastic seal bags, remove them from devices if you aren’t going to use them for a long period of time.