Cheapest Rechargeable Batteries

Hi all,

I want to replace the batteries in my solar garden lights but don't want to use the eneloops or other expensive batteries for this as they are used outdoor so there is a good chance of damaging the batteries with moisture or water.

I know I can go to ebay and buy no name brand batteries but they are rubbish and won't last more than a couple of months. So I'm looking for something mid range or home brand that don't cost as much as eneloop/energizer/ikea as I have quite a lot of these lights.

Thanks

Comments

  • +1

    Having bought cheap eBay rechargeables which are garbage when you need them to last (used in a camera flash doing events) my advice Would be to fork out for the ikea ones

  • If the Solar Garden Lights need Batteries, is the Sun broken?

    • +2

      I believe the solar light still needs somewhere to store the energy recieved from the sun.

  • Edit: Oops - ignore. Missed the Ikea reference in the OP. Still, the Ladda batts are half the price of eneloops. I'd consider that midrange.

  • Only other rechargeable that I've used are the AAA ones from Aldi (not sure if they still sell them), as they are cheap(er) and easily purchased as I couldn't wait for postage of envelop or going to ikea. They are made in china and evidently didn't last as long. Using the recharger, their capacity is indicated to be around 600 mAh vs the 750(non-pro)-950(pro) mAh of the eneloops.

    Not sure about longevity though

    • They are no longer sold as a regular stock. They only come in as a special (source: i asked an aldi employee)

  • Solar lights can usually get away with 600mAh batteries, maybe try a pack of the bunnings ones: https://www.bunnings.com.au/solar-magic-nimh-1-2v-aa-recharg… and if they are no good easy to take back.

    • Good find but these maybe better value

      https://www.amazon.com.au/JINTION-Rechargeable-AA-Batteries-…

      $20 for 12

    • PSA do not use those Bunnings Solar NiMH's in anything important.

      After not needing a few because the solar lights crapped out, I had a few spare lying around and thought I could charge them and use them in wall clock's. I tested in one wall clock and a few days later when I checked it started losing time, it kept getting worse and worse every time I set the time so I put ordinary alkaline's in and they still lost time.
      The Solar NiMH battery killed the clock probably due to poor voltage output even when fully charged.

      In the past I used alkaline and standard rechargeable 1900mAh Eneloops and they never had any issue. These Solar batteries are pretty poor in quality and after sitting unused for awhile a couple started leaking so I took them to be recycled. Never buying them again.

  • I got a bunch from Coles when they changed the branding a year or so ago - they are pretty good. And some Turnigy ones from Hobbyking have been great, but they were only cheap back when AUD was high.

    I’d actually suggest getting the normal NiMH batteries, not the costlier LSD. With charge and discharge everyday you don’t need shelf life.
    Aim for 2200mAh or so and the battery will likely not fully discharge overnight, so may last longer.

  • Have you checked they actually use NiMH? Some garden lights use other chemistries with a different voltage. e.g. li-ion-phosphate.

  • Aldi ones are good and less than $10 for a 4 pack.

  • I want to replace the batteries in my solar garden lights

    Also OP might be worth opening some of them up and testing them with spare batteries you have first before buying any more.
    I bought 2 packs of the Bunnings Solar NiMH cells, but ended up not needing to use all of them because half of the solar lights I had were rusted inside or looked fine but just didn't work at all.
    Those cheap solar lights you find on sale are disposable crap in my opinion.

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