

I remember my grandfather being like, 'You know, make sure you buy the super heavy duty one as opposed to the light wimpy one,' right? It significantly affected an entire generation of battery consumers." There's no reason to sell a zinc carbon system in 2022. "The jargon around that term dates back to the seventies and it worked. "It's incredibly confusing," according to Columbia University engineering associate professor Dan Steingart, who studies the capacity and energy efficiency of disposable batteries. The medium drain is similar to continuous use of a remote-controlled toy or gaming controller, while high drain is like a high-powered flashlight.ĭespite the E-Circuit and Panasonic carbon zinc being branded as "Super Heavy Duty," they were anything but, according to experts.
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They said the low-level drain is similar to the continuous use of a computer mouse or TV remote control. The researchers used the different drain scenarios - low, medium and high - to simulate real-life uses. But it was E-Circuit alkaline, a brand imported by and sold at Dollar Tree, that held its own against the more well-known brands, lasting nearly as long and costing only $1.25 for a pack of four. In the tests, which simulated different energy drain levels, Energizer and Duracell lasted the longest. The brands tested were Energizer, Duracell, Canadian Tire's Noma, Walmart's Great Value, E-Circuit from Dollar Tree, as well as Panasonic batteries from both Dollarama and Dollar Tree.

Marketplace, teaming with researchers from Ontario Tech University in Oshawa, Ont., tested 240 double-A disposable batteries from six brands.
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Watch the full Marketplace investigation on CBC Gem.So, if you are a regular battery user, then consider buying bulk packs to cut the cost, or better still, invest in rechargeable batteries, which can be used over and over again, up to 1000 times.A CBC Marketplace test of double-A disposable batteries found that while major brand names deliver on their marketing promise to be long-lasting, batteries bought at two leading dollar stores did surprisingly well and provide good value for cost-conscious shoppers.īut the test also found that not all dollar store batteries are created equally and certain types of batteries did not perform well, with experts warning that they should be avoided despite their low cost. On the other hand, basic single-use batteries will often be sufficient for a low power device and can last a surprisingly long time.Īs with most things, the more you buy, the less you will pay per unit. As with lithium batteries, the extended lifetime can often compensate for the extra cost, making them a good investment. Choosing single use AAA batteriesįor long lasting performance, it is worth paying a little extra for a well-known brand such as Duracell or Energiser. This makes them ideal for outdoor use, where the temperature range can be considerable between the heat of the day and the chill of the night. The chemistry behind Lithium single use AAA batteries means that they will operate across a far wider temperature range than their alkaline counterparts. This can make them comparable in cost to alkaline batteries overall. Lithium lasts longerĪAA Lithium batteries will generally last longer, particularly in high power applications, and so will need replacing less often. On the other hand, if you just want to power your TV remote or smoke alarm, then alkaline batteries will do fine for much less. Alkaline AAA batteries cost less but weigh more, so if you are trying to cut the weight of your music player, it's worth paying the extra for lithium.

Your choice of single-use AAA batteries will depend on what you are using them for. Should you choose lithium or alkaline batteries? They're affordable, reliable and are a must-have for any home.
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Single-use AAA batteries provide a convenient and compact power source for smaller devices, such as TV remotes, portable MP3 players and children's toys.
