AA Batteries-Good or Bad?

[alamogunr]

I had a dozen AA batteries from several devices that showed low on reserve. I checked each one with a voltmeter and found:

5 checked 1.5+ V

1 checked 1.45 V

6 checked 1.33 ±

Should I chuck all except the first five?

[daloper]

I would say yes. I just checked 4 new AA batteries and they all show 1.6 VDC. My guess is that your other 5 will last a little while.

[farmerjim]

Put a load on them while you check the voltage. Open circuit voltage means little.

[Smoke4320]

yes...

[Boolit_Head]

While they may have 1.5 volts I believe they need amps to be fully charged. Amps does the work it's the voltage that carries it if I got that right.

[Soundguy]

Put a load on them while you check the voltage. Open circuit voltage means little.

correct.. a low draw device may run with them.. something just driving some LED's and a couple signal transistors, etc. Those same batteries might show nearly dead in a camera or motor application.

[smokeywolf]

Sometimes a battery will check near peak voltage but as soon as you put a load on it it falls flat on its face. We've almost completely transitioned to Eneloop rechargeables. I'm very happy with them.

[Soundguy]

ebl, tenergy and enloop here.

[alamogunr]

I'm not going to the trouble of trying to test these batteries under load. I've got about a dozen Eneloop rechargeables so I will just use them.

[Andy]

If you're going through regular batteries I'll give a 2nd vote for the eneloop, we have tried rechargeables for the past 20 years and they always sucked but finally someone got it right with the eneloop. As a result of them actually working, we haven't bought an alkaline other than a 9v since they came out. Lost a small flashlight in the gravel driveway and didn't find it for about a year and a half, still turned on and lasted a few hours (led) when I found it, survived at least one full cold winter out there and was just a single AAA battery so they win the battery award in my book.

[alamogunr]

If you're going through regular batteries I'll give a 2nd vote for the eneloop, we have tried rechargeables for the past 20 years and they always sucked but finally someone got it right with the eneloop. As a result of them actually working, we haven't bought an alkaline other than a 9v since they came out. Lost a small flashlight in the gravel driveway and didn't find it for about a year and a half, still turned on and lasted a few hours (led) when I found it, survived at least one full cold winter out there and was just a single AAA battery so they win the battery award in my book.

I agree. As I said in my earlier post, I have about a dozen but can only find 8. I assume the others are in devices somewhere. I use them in cordless land line phones, blood pressure machines, etc.

I should have thought about testing under load. I had to replace a car battery that looked good on my home charger but wouldn't start the car. Local garage put it on his tester and it really dragged down under load.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

I'm not going to the trouble of trying to test these batteries under load. I've got about a dozen Eneloop rechargeables so I will just use them.

I test batteries with a Amp Meter, it's kind of load test and gives a much better range of readings and just as easy as checking with a volt meter.
A new AA alkaline battery will give about 6 amps DC
a reading about half that (3 amp) is still kinda good.
and anything below 2 amp is when I recycle them or re-charge them.

Also, I have used the Energizer lithium AA batteries in one camera I have, they last much longer, and a new one will measure about 8 amps DC. I've tried recharging them, although it isn't recomended, they never take a full charge.

[GhostHawk]

I have a stash of the better used ones that I keep for clocks. A good new battery will normally make 12 to 15 months. Really good ones almost 2 years.

A good used one will normally do 8 to 10 months. Long enough to be worth sticking it in there.

We do have a little tester that seems to do a fairly good job. 4 LED's, new ones show 4, used 3, 2's go in the garbage. They on their way out.

[BrassMagnet]

Use them in LED flashlights!

[Minerat]

I found this a couple of months ago and thought it was bunk. But after trying it I'm a believer. It may not tell you if they are partially charged but it is a good indication of a batteries usefulness if you find one in a drawer or box. It also useful to see if all of the batteries in a device are bad or only one.
https://petapixel.com/2013/08/15/use-this-simple-drop-test-to-see-if-your-alkaline-batteries-are-juiced/

[Tom W.]

It's strange. I can put Energizers in my mouse and it will work, but Duracells won't. In my Slyde it's Duracells all the way. I don't much care for rechargable batteries in something I have to depend on to find boogey men at night, and I'm not familiar with the other brands listed.

[Rick Hodges]

T found this a couple of months ago and thought it was bunk. But after trying it I'm a believer. It may not tell you if they are partially charged but it is a good indication of a batteries usefulness if you find one in a drawer or box. It also useful to see if all of the batteries in a device are bad or only one.
https://petapixel.com/2013/08/15/use-this-simple-drop-test-to-see-if-your-alkaline-batteries-are-juiced/

Ok, now you have me bouncing batteries....somehow I feel foolish. :???:

[Soundguy]

It's strange. I can put Energizers in my mouse and it will work, but Duracells won't. In my Slyde it's Duracells all the way. I don't much care for rechargable batteries in something I have to depend on to find boogey men at night, and I'm not familiar with the other brands listed.

might be physical geometry /shape of the battery vs the compartment they fit in. some batteries have a rim around the negative base that, in certain battery holders, prevents good contact.

we have some RF body packs at work, line 6, sure, sennheiser, etc. some like some flavor of batteries, but not others.

Many don't like rechargeables due to size too.. especially the blocky 9v's

[blackthorn]

Interesting subject. It just so happened that the battery in my computer mouse died this morning. After reading this thread I took the old battery and stuck it in a cheap alarm clock, which promptly began to work. So I will see how long it runs, and if it keeps proper time. I will post-back when it dies (again).

[Soundguy]

A digital clock should keep proper time untill there is insufficient voltage to run the oscillator and logic. Its not like a motor clock that can 'slow'.