Consumer Reports: Best AA batteries
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Double-A batteries are the biggest sellers. They are commonly used in flashlights, digital cameras, remote controls, and toys. Consumer Reports tested a dozen, including big names such as Energizer, and store brands such as Walgreens and CVS.
Testers used a rack to evaluate battery performance. It was programmed to mimic a digital camera and a flashlight. The tests turned up big differences.
The Eveready Gold, the worst batteries, took only 52 shots before dying. The Energizer Ultimate lithium, the best, took 682 shots. But they are expensive, costing more than $2.50 per battery. Although lithium batteries cost more, Consumer Reports says they can be worth it for digital cameras and other high-drain devices.
Among alkaline batteries, top ratings went to the Duracell Ultra Power for about $1 per battery. Alkaline batteries don’t tend to last as long, so they are better for low-drain devices such as flashlights or remotes. And for toys, Consumer Reports says rechargeable batteries are best.
Lithium batteries and rechargeable batteries should be recycled. And though many places allow you to throw out alkaline batteries, Consumer Reports says it’s good to recycle those, too. You can find a recycling center near you at Earth911.com.
Complete Ratings and recommendations on all kinds of products, including appliances, cars & trucks, and electronic gear, are available on Consumer Reports’ website. Subscribe to ConsumerReports.org.
Duracell batteries are junk, and Everready alkalines are the best, according to my tests - and Consumer Reports isn't worth the money for a susbscription - and this so-called report proves it, as far as I am concerned. I believe that Duracell pays people to make the claim that they are better;Â they definitely are no better, as I have tested them over quite a few years.
I guess it was too much to hope to find a comprehensive chart showing all of the tested batteries' performance, eh? This is barely more than a "sound bite," a teaser to encourage you to sign-up for Consumer Reports.
 @AltaziÂ
That is exactly what it is. A teaser.
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I stopped subscribing when they because political with their editorials. To me that stinks of agenda and those with an agenda cannot be objective.
I use nothing but low discharge NiMH batteries. Some have lasted for 5 or more years. I also have a solar charger for those batteries so that if the power is out for en extended time I will have a way to light my house and have some tunes to listen to.
 @RalphCramden I like NiMH cells also, but note that they have a cell voltage around 1.2V, where the typical primary cells such as alkalines have cell voltages of 1.5V. Some devices, notably electronic items, do not "like" the lower voltages of the NiMH cells.
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And yes, I am being an anal engineer, using the term "cell" appropriately. A "battery" consists of two or more cells. Thus, it is correct to refer to a 9V "battery," as it is made of six 1.5V cells. Your car has a battery, made of six lead-acid cells of 2.1V each. However, your flashlight has two AA cells. Sorry, this is just a pet peeve of mine. I prefer to use terms accurately and precisely - and still even I slip and call the individual cells "batteries" occasionally.
 @AltaziÂ
If you watch the drop off of alkaline batteries they will drop to about 1.25 pretty quick and stay there for a while. While NiMH will start at 1.25 they tend to stay there for a much longer time than alkalines.
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You are correct though in that some devices are voltage dependent versus amp dependent. But those devices are rare any more as most are now rated for recyclable batteries.
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NiMH fresh off the charger is often 1.4vdc but drop off quickly to about 1.3vdc.
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I use low discharge that have a lower mAh but they only lose about 1-2% per month compared to normal NiMH cells that drop up to 10% per month. Some of my devices are long term and will go for 2 years with alkaline. With normal discharge NiMH they would last about 6 months. WIth the low discharge NiMH I can go 18 months before they reach critical voltage levels.
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I agree about the cell thing. Some of my solar cells are 0.6vdc and weigh over 200 pounds each. There is only one cell in each container. They have big plates and can take a lot of abuse unlike a car battery or a "deep cycle battery". The AH's is unbeatable for what I am using them for. They were out of a cell tower that got electricity to it a few years back.
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I prefer golf cart batteries that can take beating over "deep cycle" or marine batteries. They are 6vdc and have 3 cells and are spendy compared to a "deep cycle" and much heavier since they have bigger plates.
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Most lead acid batteries do not die, they are murdered. Few folks will take the time to use a hydrometer on them and keep the specific gravity WNL. I do it once a month and test it according to the temperature on the chart. It's work but I am so used to it that I can do it very fast and it is easier to do more often since there isn't much adjustment needed the more often it is done. Plus it saves the batteries from being murdered.
I personally like "Enloops" But I can't find them unless I go online.
 @lee986321 Costco has them.