Stockup on Cheap or Name-Brand Alkalines

[Mr.Penny]

I already know that buying cheap alkaline batteries in bulk is cost affective if your going to use them in multiple devices or right away.

Usually when I need AA's I get a pack of 8 Energizer or Duracell batteries and that will last me about a year. But recently I bought a bulk pack of 24 AA Endurance batteries (Exp. Dec 2016), I paid a total of $7.94 and thought it was a good deal, but I don't think so. I don't really use a lot of AA batteries, the most I'll problably use is six (flaslight and two remotes), the rest would be stored away for future use. The batteries may sit for quite a while, but I'm worried they will be dead by the time I finally use them (since they were cheap and non-name brands).

I keep coming a cross reviews on Amazon on cheap bulk batteries (Maxell, KS, Rayovac, Ultralast) where people used some, stored them away and found them dead when they go to use them. However the reviewers were a little vague on there description's...

How well do cheap alkaline batteries last while sitting idle for long periods of time compared to name brands?

 

[Sgt. LED]

Probably not a huge difference on alkaline storage times. However I'd still go name brand.

You store them in your fridge? Should

 

[JaguarDave-in-Oz]

Up until very recently I used alkalines in everything. AA's and D's mostly and mostly Duracell's copper top style. My oldest have been on the shelf for at least four years and I've had had zero trouble using any of them.

 

[Mr Happy]

Alkalines start out at 100% capacity when they are freshly manufactured, and then they lose a few percent of their charge each year that they remain unused. After a few years of storage they will only be at 70% or 80% of their original capacity, which is why old stock batteries get sold off cheaply in surplus shops.

I don't know how much this varies between brands, but it may be that the lifetime of cheap brands is slightly worse than the name brands.

To get the best value from alkaline batteries they should be bought and used as fresh as possible. If you want to keep a stock in storage against emergencies then you should rotate the stock, using up the oldest ones first and replacing them with new ones as you go along.

 

[Egsise]

Brand and no name cells can be manufactured in the same factory.

 

[mfm]

You store them in your fridge? Should

According to Rayovac about battery storage: "Refrigerated storage is neither necessary nor recommended."

 

[Lynx_Arc]

the only issue I have with cheap alkalines is when they do leak there is no warranty on them to repair/replace things damaged by them while name brands do have some sort of guarantee. This isn't as big of an issue if you don't leave them in stuff unattended for extended times but the one time you leave one in the remote of your $1200 tv or $50 flashlight and it leaks you will wish you were not so cheap.

 

[Lynx_Arc]

According to Rayovac about battery storage: "Refrigerated storage is neither necessary nor recommended."

I often wonder if cooling and reheating batteries will weaken the seals on them making them more prone to leakage and if you do refrigerate batteries make sure and get some dessicant to soak up the moisture or at least toss a saltine in the bag or something.

 

[Egsise]

the only issue I have with cheap alkalines is when they do leak there is no warranty on them to repair/replace things damaged by them while name brands do have some sort of guarantee. This isn't as big of an issue if you don't leave them in stuff unattended for extended times but the one time you leave one in the remote of your $1200 tv or $50 flashlight and it leaks you will wish you were not so cheap.

Consumer law doesn't separate brand and noname products?

 

[Larbo]

I have nothing but bad luck with rov D cells. I the number of times I have had DOA cells right out of the package and more recently had a package with the date of 2016 leak in the package are amazing. I will buy the AA's and put them in toys only because they can be had very very cheaply at times. Remember this..more often then not You Get What You Pay For.
BTW the rov's I had are made in china..go figure.:shakehead

 

[Mr.Penny]

I returned the batteries. Thanks everyone for your input...

You store them in your fridge? Should

I don't like freezing batteries, I did that once and found that the contacts started rusting after sitting in the fridge for about a year (I did put them inside a ziplock bag).

 

[Lynx_Arc]

I returned the batteries. Thanks everyone for your input...


I don't like freezing batteries, I did that once and found that the contacts started rusting after sitting in the fridge for about a year (I did put them inside a ziplock bag).

I don't see a reason to freeze batteries myself but in hot climates keeping them below 90F would be a good thing if I were to refrigerate batteries I would consider putting a cracker in with them in a ziplock to absorb excess moisture.

 

[Burgess]

According to Rayovac about battery storage:
"Refrigerated storage is neither necessary nor recommended."

I was told the same thing by Eveready (Energizer),

when i wrote them, asking about refrigerating Alkalines.



May i suggest, howEVER you store yer' Alkaline batteries --

first put 'em into a Zip-Lock plastic bag, for protection against leakage.


_

 

[Eugene]

I used to buy rayovac in bulk but had a lot if leaks. For the last 2-3 years I've been buying the 36 packs of energizer that home depot sells for $13-14 and no issues yet. Price is decent enough I don't see any reason to buy no name.

 

[Bright+]

I used to buy rayovac in bulk but had a lot if leaks. For the last 2-3 years I've been buying the 36 packs of energizer that home depot sells for $13-14 and no issues yet. Price is decent enough I don't see any reason to buy no name.

I thought I would revive this thread. I bought a 100 pack of Ultralast AAs a few years ago and the marking claims they're good for another two years. I've still got most of the case left as I didn't end up using that much. About 75% of them are faulty right out of shrink wrap.

I don't recall any of the first 20 or so I did use in the first year after buying being bad, so a mix of 5 and 1 star reviews don't surprise me where those who used them right away and didn't notice anything left a 5 while those who got an old stock may have rated it 1 because they were dead soon after purchase. These reviews don't reflect how the products hold up, years after purchase, even if these years are much less than what they claim to last.