Thread: Alkaline Batteries

I think Aldi batteries are pro'ly okay as my brother bought them quite often after messing around with rechargeables. I wouldn't buy the real cheap, no name brand stuff, as one can feel how much lighter they are, pro'ly don't have the chemical density to last.

Originally Posted by Red90

Ni-MH have a lot more capacity these days so make much more sense.

Self discharge too fast. Makes them unsuitable for many applications even if they do have more capacity.

Originally Posted by Ferret

Self discharge too fast. Makes them unsuitable for many applications even if they do have more capacity.

What do you mean by 'too fast'.
Mine sit in a camera for months & months on end and are OK.
I did find that the 'ready-to-go' pre-charged ones last better.

On a camera forum years ago the Sony Eneloop (I think that's spelt correctly) were highly rated.
I'm using Varta 'Ready 2 use'.


Colin

The prechaged Ni-MH batteries are low self discharge. The Aldi rechargeable batteries are this style. Around $4 for a pack of four.
The older style Ni-MH batteries would self discharge in around a month.

Aaron

Chevron alkaline from Woollies have been more than good IME. Using AAA, AA and D's in various items from GPS to LED torches for work for a couple of years now. Can't really pick any difference in performance between them and the shiny silver and black ones.

The Chevron 'heavy duty' non-alkaline ones were rubbish and Woollies don't sell them anymore.

All get recycled.

I do have some AA rechargables (that get used in one particular back up GPS) that would be 15 years old at least and they're still OK but only as a backup. (Sony and Accuplus).

Its not practical for me to use rechargeables for everything.

cheers, DL

Originally Posted by Ferret

Self discharge too fast. Makes them unsuitable for many applications even if they do have more capacity.

You can get low self discharge ones these days. I have ones in a radio that run two years between charging.

I use Varta quite a bit - had a set in one of my radios for over a year and they're still going fine and it gets quite a bit of use. While circumstantially the more expensive brands may give slightly better performance, I don't see them as good value for money. I should think the Aldi's, Varta's, etc would all be very similar and maybe only slightly down on performance than others, but heaps cheaper.

Originally Posted by drivesafe

Up until about 6 months ago, for many years, I used nothing but Aldi batteries for most of my gear, more so because they were conveniently located at the checkout, so the memory would kick in and I would remember I was out of a particular size.

But I started to notice how many of these batteries were leaking, particularly in things like remote control units.

I did some research and found that Duracell offered the best shelf life and while most of their range of batteries are made in China, some are manufactured in Japan, and this is a big plus in my books.

Will they prove to be financially equal to or better than the Aldi batteries. I don’t know, but the cost of having to replace just one damaged device because of the poor quality Aldi batteries, makes the Aldi batteries a hell of a lot dear in the long run.

A bit off topic, but that "CLI" cleaner sold by supermarkets is absolutely brilliant for removing the corrosion left by leaky cells. 10% in water, instant clean!
Terry