Let's talk batteries

[toejam]

Panasonic batteries shouldn't even be on the market. Especially the red ones they sell at the Dollar Store. They wouldn't last 5 minutes in a remote control.

I buy the Panasonics from the Dollar Store and use them in all of my remotes... they last pretty long. Though, usually I get the blue ones and not the red ones. I've also tried the Sunbeam batteries and have had no reliability issues either.
For digital cameras (those things suck batteries like crazy), I bought one of those Energizer plug-in rechargable packs for AA and AAA, works great.

[Jack Napalm]

i think i'm gonna get a 64-pack of duracell 9-volts and a 128 pack of the AA's - that should get us through March

Where are you getting these for a 1.00 a shot?

[iced_earth]

I think Consumer Reports did a test last year and Kirkland/Costco and Ikea both did well for generics.

[hippietim]

Where are you getting these for a 1.00 a shot?

http://www.batterywarehousedirect.com/2.html

[RemCarr]

How about a good battery tester? I hate waitintg until the last minute and my battery dies in my wireless or my guitar and then I am stuck in the middle of a set.

[rjohnstone]

Duracell/ProCell - SAME battery... different label.
Energizer/Ray-O-Vac - SAME battery... different label.
Marketing crap.
That being said, I only use Duracell Ultra's, they last about a month or two in my PC1 and about 6 months in my guitars with EMG's.

But then again, I also remember to unplug my guitars when I'm done using them.

[Carbuff]

Whatever you do, dont buy the Berkley Jensen AAs from BJ's. They are horrible. BJ's used to sell the toshiba batteries in the big pack for $9.99 and they were excellent, but now they have replaced them with their own brand and they suck. They wont even work in my digital camera when new. Same thing with the batteries.com brand. Total garbage. I use the Panasonic AAA's from the dollar store and they seem pretty decent. Black and gold alkaline plus, 2 for a buck. For the most part those are all back ups for me. I have tons of nimh AA's, AAA's and 3 chargers to power all of our digital cameras, mp3 players, nintendo wii remotes, etc. Its really the best way from both an economic and an environmental standpoint. My kids are all trained to recharge spent batteries when done with them.

[charvelguy]

If you want extended life.. lithium batteries are about the best way. You get what you pay for but they are not cheap.. 4-6 bucks a piece.
Ultralife or Energizer. I get the energizers from Sams Club. Ultralifes can be found online. http://thomas-distributing.com/index.htm and are more affordable. Probably same battery.

If you want budget alkalines, the higher end Ray O Vac and Panasonic are ok too.

[jgcable]

I've got a PC-1, a couple guitars with EMGs, and a wireless system. I'm not particularly good about always unplugging/turning things off. That ain't gonna change. I'm not organized enough to keep rechargables charged or even find the fucking charger half the time. That ain't gonna change either. If you have kids and/or any sort of home theater/cable box/DVD player etc, you go through AA batteries like toilet paper.

I've checked around a few places on the web and if I get 60-70 at a time I can get Duracell/Energizer 9-volts for about a buck. And Duracell/Energizer AA batteries are just about 30 cents when you buy 128 at a time.

There are some cheaper brands though. Does it actually matter? Is there a real difference between a Duracell, Energizer, Panasonic Industrial, Procell, etc.? There's a "GP Greencell" that's 50 cents for a 9-volt - are the others a scam or are the GP Greencell batteries gonna suck?

Tim, I am an Eveready and Duracell distributor. There is no difference between a coppertop and a procell. There is no difference between the industrial Energizer and the generic. Stay away from offshore batteries and the Panasonic garbage along with the budget Duracell and Eveready batteries that you see online. Most of them are gray market batteries that have been floating around the world for many years. They sit in containers for years and are purchased in container sizes because they have a shelf life that is sometimes 50% used already.

When it comes to batteries.. you get what you pay for. PERIOD. If you want a good deal on batteries buy from a franchised Duracell or Eveready dealer. Radio Shack also makes great batteries.

The best source

[sandbag]

i do the 2 9V for a dollar at the dollar store and they seem to last pretty good for emg purposes

[charvelguy]

I've had energizers and duracells come off the shelves of Target or Wallgreens almost dead in factory sealed packaging before they started putting the testing strips and dating on the packages.

[hippietim]

Tim, I am an Eveready and Duracell distributor. There is no difference between a coppertop and a procell. There is no difference between the industrial Energizer and the generic. Stay away from offshore batteries and the Panasonic garbage along with the budget Duracell and Eveready batteries that you see online. Most of them are gray market batteries that have been floating around the world for many years. They sit in containers for years and are purchased in container sizes because they have a shelf life that is sometimes 50% used already.

When it comes to batteries.. you get what you pay for. PERIOD. If you want a good deal on batteries buy from a franchised Duracell or Eveready dealer. Radio Shack also makes great batteries.

The best source

Well, I just bought a 64 pack of 9-volts and a 128 pack of AAs from this place. I will measure them when they get here.

http://www.batterywarehousedirect.com/2.html

[charvelguy]

Tim, did you ever measure these? and the verdict was??

[hippietim]

I never did measure them. I still have plenty of batteries though - I should measure them tonight.

[hippietim]

btw, what should they measure?