For the longest time I've used American made Eveready batteries. When I needed more I didn't see any Made in America ones on the shelf. (AAA. AA and C's)

There is USA made Duracell available.

What has been your experience w/ the the offshore Evereadys, the USA made Duracells or another brand you may be using?

I buy the Duracell or Eveready from Sam's Club in the large bulk packs. Cheapest way for us to keep up with batteries when the charge goes out. We use mostly the AA & AAA and then some of the C & D's. Now that we have very efficient flashlights that use the AA size that can beat the larger sized battery flashlights, it makes things much easier. Awhile back when I was at the Indoor Gun Range I came across some smaller LED flashlights that are rechargeable. It is a flat rectangular that is able to clip on on a pocket as well as having good strong magnets that will let me stick it on anything metal. I use it primarily for when I walk the dog at night as we have very little light where we live. It sure beats carrying a larger hand-held flashlight while keeping a hold of our Schnauzer.

Duracells 

http://www.nbc12.com/story/18276282/which-batteries-last-longest/

I just recently checked my flashlights and a good number of the Duracell batteries had started leaking.  I am giving some Made in the USA Rayovacs a shot. 

18 minutes ago, HandyDan said:

I just recently checked my flashlights and a good number of the Duracell batteries had started leaking.  I am giving some Made in the USA Rayovacs a shot. 

I've experienced the same with Duracell more than once so also switched to the Rayovacs...so far so good; seem to outlast the Duracells too.

We go through a lot of AA, AAA's here with the multitude of boy's toys, remote/wireless devices and lots of little flashlights.

I know this is not what Stick wants to hear, but I also have had excellent results with the H-F AAA, AA batteries...typically get them as one of the "free perks." 

17 minutes ago, Grandpadave52 said:

I've experienced the same with Duracell more than once so also switched to the Rayovacs...so far so good; seem to outlast the Duracells too.

We go through a lot of AA, AAA's here with the multitude of boy's toys, remote/wireless devices and lots of little flashlights.

I know this is not what Stick wants to hear, but I also have had excellent results with the H-F AAA, AA batteries...typically get them as one of the "free perks." 

I thought that in order for the free flashlights to go on working you had to use the store brand HF batteries!

@lew

 

On a serious, note, I found the link lew posted very interesting. I, generally, buy Duracell batteries from Sam's. AA and once in a while AAA's. More and more I find that they discharge quickly, and leak often.

 

Although I, too, try to buy USA made whenever I can, when it comes to batteries you don't have much of a choice. It all boils down to a Cost Benefit Analysis as lew's article link shows. I doesn't' matter where the batteries are made, it is silly to keep paying exorbitant prices for an inferior product. Most of the AA using items, will eat batteries. It seems that I was constantly changing the batteries in my mother's mouse. I finally dated them and found Duracell batteries only lasting 3-4 months. I never did get a chance to experiment with other brands.

 

Bottom line for me is, 1. that the battery doesn't leak, 2. that it has some decent longevity, 3. it is the most cost effective, 4. it is USA made. Duracell batteries USA made or not just are not cutting it anymore. I have a stash of left-over "Energizer Industrial" batteries that are well over 10 years old that are still going strong. I have decided, that, it is time to deep six the expensive Duracell's. If I have to keep replacing them, then I might as well buy cheaper ones that meet or exceed the Duracell's, no matter where they come from.

 

Addendum: It appears that the Costco batteries may be relabeled Duracell's. That may explain the similar longevities documented in lew's link. What is interesting though, is that, the Costco's are a third the cost of the Duracell's. Why pay for the labels?

Edited January 16, 20197 yr by schnewj

I know from my background in electronics that application/use plays a very big part in battery longevity. A couple of sites that offer comparisons of chemical makeup

 

https://turbofuture.com/misc/Know-What-Type-of-Battery-to-Use-in-Equipment

 

https://www.ecocell.com/content/applications.php

 

Choose a battery that is designed for the device requirements is more cost effective than brand loyalty and/or location of manufacturer

Most brands last long enough to suit me.  I just don't like losing equipment to leaks. 

Some good links here, Thanks for those posting.  Something I have been doing as of late is using devices that have a rechargeable battery, such as a Stinger Flashlight or those that use 18650 rechargeable batteries.  

 

The Streamlight brand of flashlights use a battery that is rated for 1,000 charges.  Even after heavy use all day at work I still only have to charge the battery once every 3 days.  Just replaced two batteries with the date 11/2010, and 1/2011.  Impressive for the heavy use they get.  The batteries are $20.  That's a good bang for the buck.

 

BUT, as always the cost of the flashlight is $130, with a lifetime warranty on everything but the battery. 

Most batteries are warranted against leakage. I've never tried to submit a claim, mostly because the shipping would be more than the cost of the damaged item. I wonder if the companies replace the damaged item with an exact replacement; send reimbursement or just blame the customer.

5 hours ago, lew said:

just blame the customer.

Probably the order of the day.

I used drugstore batteries because of my profession and in the last 6 years got to where when tested even ne was not up to level. I started getting Enaloop rechargeable 6 at a time till I built up enough to use in everything AA or AAA. Wish there was a D.

On 1/16/2019 at 12:28 PM, HandyDan said:

Most brands last long enough to suit me.  I just don't like losing equipment to leaks. 

I agree! The leaking batteries are a bane to electronics. The battery leaks, the contacts corrode and the device is basically useless.

 

I got a low battery alarm on one of my alarm system PIR's (motion detector). They are wireless and use AA batteries, which last for a long, long, time. However, when I opened it up, there was a Duracell gold top that had leaked. It was replaced with a Rayovac.

 

I have had it with the Duracell batteries. I get about a 30% leaking rate. I don't care how long they last it is just not worth destroying an electronic device because a <$1 battery leaked. In the case of my PIR it is a $50-70 item.

 

 

On 1/17/2019 at 4:41 PM, Gerald said:

I used drugstore batteries because of my profession

My Rx prescription plan wouldn't cover those so I bought mine from a street vendor. He seemed to be an honest guy

Mostly use the energized rabbit brand, but whatever is available when I need one in a hurry.

I have moved to all lithium brand name---have no problems with leakage--yet

 

Kirkland from Costco.  I go thru a lot of AA with my camera, headlamps, and other things*   Occasionally, I'll spring for Duracell when Costco puts them on sale (but still more expensive than Kirkland)

 

Never belonged to Sam's club, prefer Costco, and apparently so did a lot of others.   Their two stores near me closed recently.

 

* But I have a Stanley tripod LED flashlight that I run for hours at a time and I think I'm still going on the same batteries after 5 years.