Batteries

[Vaquero]

After 4 pages of flashlight discussion, I got to wondering what brand of battery was most popular among the TGT crowd.
I prefer Energizer. It seems to hold up better under heavy use. Duracell appears to hold a shelf life better though. (my observation)

 

[LJH]

Kirkland (Costco) works well, bulk packed, cheap.

 

[Charlie]

Surefire when it's on sale at Graf's & Sons.

 

[Bithabus]

Recently I like the rechargeable RCR132A batteries.

 

[matefrio]

Rechargeable batteries 100%

For flashlights rechargeable LiPo's are the way to go I think.

Sanyo eneloop are the way to go in AA or AAA batteries rechargeable.

Now there's one charger to rule them all:

 

[Bithabus]

That charger is bad ass

 

[jtriron]

Surefire 123's are good but not the most economical out there.

sidebar
after Ike I always keep a good supply of spare batteries on hand, and store them in my freezer. The cold and stable temperature will prolong the shelf life. And I know exactly where to go to find a battery.

 

[ZX9RCAM]

I like the fact that the 123 batteries have a 10 yr. shelf life.

+1 on the bad ass charger.

 

[ROGER4314]

I buy the alkaline batteries at Harbor Freight. When on sale, you get 24 AA or AAA cells for $3.99! D and C cells are 6 to the package and 9v are 4 to the pack. The regular Price is $5.99. The batteries have done a great job for me in Cameras, radios and flashlights and I use a truck load of them. In my battery stash, right now, I have 14 packages of various sizes.

I had a pile of Nmh rechargeable batteries and chargers but when I found the HF batteries, I retired them.

Flash

 

[coachrick]

I use a fair number of rechargeables of different brands; but I do pounce on the half-price deals at Radio Shack or other locations(ACE) for 'throwaway' AA and AAA batts. The Energizer Ultimate Li batteries are pretty nice, but you need a coupon AND a sale price to make the cost palatable. Duracell batts are a decent battery and I usually get a stash of those or standard Energizers at Lowe's when they include the $10 off coupon in a 16-20 pack that sells for $10 !

 

[Skip]

I've had good luck with the Panasonic CR123A batteries. Got them cheap awhile back on Ebay and am still on the first two out of the package.

 

[Tejano Scott]

Rechargeable batteries 100%

For flashlights rechargeable LiPo's are the way to go I think.

Sanyo eneloop are the way to go in AA or AAA batteries rechargeable.

Now there's one charger to rule them all:

+1 I am also a fan of rechargeables and that charger looks killer!

I use energizer AA rechargables on most of the electronics in my house. I also tend to favor Energizer lithiums as back up and for carrying in BOBs, EDC bags, etc.

For CR123s I usually get what I can find best deal on(ashamed to admit)

and I can't remember the brand of 18650s I use, but I have been pleased so far.

I also keep a shit ton of D cell batteries(lithium and/or Duracell/any bargains).

I like to bargain shop for batteries when I can.

 

[matefrio]

+1 I am also a fan of rechargeables and that charger looks killer!

I use energizer AA rechargables on most of the electronics in my house. I also tend to favor Energizer lithiums as back up and for carrying in BOBs, EDC bags, etc.

For CR123s I usually get what I can find best deal on(ashamed to admit)

and I can't remember the brand of 18650s I use, but I have been pleased so far.

I also keep a shit ton of D cell batteries(lithium and/or Duracell/any bargains).

I like to bargain shop for batteries when I can.

Sanyo eneloop are da bomb guys. Come pre charged and keep their charge off charger for a long time. Best, most affordable technology I know of in AA and AAA batteries for storage reasons.

Now if you use something, like a camera or flashlight you use all the time go ahead with the high capacity rechargeables.

MOST NiMH batteries have an even worse rate of self discharge. A loss of 1% of its initial charge per day is not uncommon.

 

[coachrick]

Sanyo eneloop are da bomb guys. Come pre charged and keep their charge off charger for a long time. Best, most affordable technology I know of in AA and AAA batteries for storage reasons.

Now if you use something, like a camera or flashlight you use all the time go ahead with the high capacity rechargeables.

MOST NiMH batteries have an even worse rate of self discharge. A loss of 1% of its initial charge per day is not uncommon.

Are these the ones at Costco from time to time? or is there another source that you would recommend?

 

[matefrio]

Are these the ones at Costco from time to time? or is there another source that you would recommend?

I've only ever found them online. Seems duracel, everready etc have a monopoly on the local stores. So few folks know about the eneloop ones I doubt they'd move off the shelves without some more education.

 

[coachrick]

I've only ever found them online. Seems duracel, everready etc have a monopoly on the local stores. So few folks know about the eneloop ones I doubt they'd move off the shelves without some more education.

Thanks. Here's one discussion over on SlickDeals regarding the 'loops. They mention Costco as one source, albeit a hit or miss proposition...
Sanyo Eneloop AA Rechargeable Ni-MH Batteries (2000mAh, Blister Pack of 8) $15.69 - Slickdeals.net

 

[London]

When I can't get Chinese generics on eBay I go with Rayovac. Their rechargeable AAs measured 1.7 volts when everyone else's measured around 1.5 (Despite the fact they are all marked, "1.2.") They also sent me the full value of a mini-mag I had in which their batteries exploded, with no argument or hassle. It's also pretty damn nice that they are usually the cheapest when buying real batteries (avoid crappy "Heavy duty-" they were heavy duty when they came out ages ago and have been eclipsed by much better technology.)

Definitely a Rayovac loyalist here.

 

[moshow9]

Eneloops for my AA and AAA NiHM needs, and protected AW 17670, 18650, and 26650 for my li-ion lights. I use the Maha Powerex MH-C9000 to charge the Eneloops, and both the Pila IBC Charger and 4Sevens Single-Bay Smart Charger for li-ion batteries.

The Sysmax charger is interesting. I wanted to pick one up (not that I need another charger) but there have been some reported issues/odd behavior observed with the new Sysmax charger. To be fair the 4Sevens, when first released, was faulty. They released a 2nd version that fixed everything and I'm hoping the same happens with Sysmax.

Some links over on CandlePowerForums talking about this:
JETBeam Intellicharge i4 - Page 3

BatteryJunction.com - SYSMAX (Nitecore/Jetbeam) Intellicharger i4 - 4 channel charger

------>New Jetbeam i4 Charger - 4 Bay Intellicharge <------- - Page 2

 

[cfell]

I'm gonna try these... Buy CR123 Batteries

 

[Younggun]

Even with the high cost, I love Energizer E2, I hate searching for and changing batteries so the long life is worth the cost.