Lets talk Batteries, AA, AAA etc

[Gus]

I'm wondering what you guys think are the best batteries out there for hunting/fishing flashlights, GPS and items like that?

Do you use lithium batteries? Do they really make a difference? I have tried them and I can't honestly say I noticed a difference.

Do name brands like energizer or duracell work better than others?

How about rechargeable batteries? I hear they have come a long way, but do they really work good in the cold and when you really need them?

Looking for everyone's experiences here.

Also, does anyone know what voltage is considered discharged for a 1.5V AA or AAA battery? Most of the new ones I test show about 1.6V. I'm just starting to take measurements to try and determine useful lifespan.

What say everyone out there????

[harvey lee]

For my H2O, I use only Lithum batteries as it surely seems I get a longer battery life. Now for the difference in cost, I don't know.

I try to buy the better batteries like the Duracell and Energizer as the cheaper ones do not work all that well in other electronic items. My wife purchased some AA cheapo's at Menards and they would not even fire up my digital camera.

In my game trail cameras, it seems the better ones do work better.

I have not started to use the rechargeable ones but I am looking at changing to them very hard.

[TruthWalleyes]

Go Rechargeable... I have rechargeable in all sizes, AAA, AA, C, D, 9v... For as many batteries as i use a year, i save close to $500 easy a year.

Why buy a "better, longer lasting battery" that goes 8 hrs instead of 7, when you can buy something that can be used over and over.

I keep a 12ga shell dry box with me that has a bunch of rechargeable batteries in it...when one dies, i grab another...

Yes they work in cold. Yes they work in Hot.

And i'm not bias on rechargeable because of the environment, but cuz it saves me loads of money. And when i was buying batteries, i'd use my devices like GPs only as needed, now i just have them on all the time cuz i don't care if they do drain the batts.

[DTro]

Lithiums make a big difference. Last much longer.

If you go rechargeable, make sure you get the hybrid kind that will not discharge if left idle. Nothing worse than having no juice in your camera or GPS when you most need it.

A few brands of hybrids are Eneloop, Panasonic, and Ray-o-Vac.

[Duffman]

Lithiums make a big difference. Last much longer.

It's unreal how much more battery time I get on my digital camera with lithiums vs regular Duracells/Energizers.

That said, I generally buy the mega bulk packs of Duracells/Energizers at Depot or 'nards.

36 AA pack for $13, you can't beat that. It'll cost ya half that for a pack of 4 during a last second stop at a Holiday Station.

[harvey lee]

I have heard good things about the Eneloop rechargeable batteries.

[TruthWalleyes]

"36 AA pack for $13, you can't beat that. It'll cost ya half that for a pack of 4 during a last second stop at a Holiday Station."

I'll beat it...

Buy 4 AA rechargables and use them 36 times....

[Gus]

Thanks for the comments everyone. Some interesting reading out there when I started searching on the different brands and types of rechargeables.

Has anyone here used the eneloops? Can you buy these at box stores? I may give them a try here.

[Jim Almquist]

Gus I did a write up in the consumer reviews about eneloops. Still think that they are a great option. Here is a link

eneloops batteries

[bigbad401]

I would go with the rechargeable batteries and a good charger like the LaCrosse BC-700. A good charger is a must in my mind, you will much longer life out of the batteries using a smart charger compared to a charger that you would get at Wal-mart or Target. Like was said before, get the Low Discharge batteries like the Eneloops or the Duracell Pre-Charged rechargeable. I have the Duracell ones and they are excellent.

[Nick Kuhn]

For electronics, there's only two types of batteries I would use: lithium, or NiMH rechargeable. I actually prefer electronics that have their own lithium ion battery packs. The primary reason is these batteries can power electronics until they are 95% discharged, whereas a standard alkaline battery will lose it's ability to power many electronics when it loses about half of it's charge.

[CJH]

I've had good luck with the Energizer Lithium's in my GPS(H20).

I'd rather spend a little more and not have to worry about it.

[cold one sd]

I would google E-CELL Batteries and check them out. I don't think they are all that expensive and you can get a charger that works at home or in a vehicle. They claim to have some kind of a fuel cell built into them. Might be a worth checking out anyway. Besides, Mark Martin uses them so they must be good.

[delcecchi]

Actually you can beat that. I bought a 48 pack from amzn for like 11 bucks.

[foulpole18]

The E-CELL batteries work good in my handheld. I left it on my wheeler for 4-5 hours when ice fishing and it was still on. The last time I did that with regular batteries it was dead.

The E-CELLS are a rechargable hydrogen fuel cell, not a traditional battery. I think they work great and would recommend trying them.

[Surface Tension]

I've been using Energizer Rechargeable batteries for the past couple years and could not be happier.

Brand new alk batteries would often not even turn my dig camera on and I was fed up with them not to mention we don't need them in landfills. Yes I know you are required to bring them in.

Battery life is so much better with the Energizer Rechargeable over alks. They do hold a charge when not in use as well.

I like them so much that we don't buy throw away batteries any longer.

Are there better longer lasting batteries then the Energizer Rechargeable, could be but the fact I can use them over and over has me sold IMO is a huge plus.

[Northlander]

I also have been using Energizer rechargables and they have worked great.