Solved: What to Store a Single AA or AAA Battery in?

Russ on 30/08/2024 - 12:55
Last edited 03/09/2024 - 00:24

Edit 1: Thanks everyone, I've found a solution, see my post below: https://www.ozbargain.com.au/comment/15658371/redir

Edit 2: The solutions keep coming, and many look even better! I've changed to a new AA holder made from irrigation parts, available at Bunnings. My post is here: https://www.ozbargain.com.au/comment/15664944/redir

Original post

I'm looking for small containers to store single AA and AAA batteries in. I want to emphasise I want to store ONE battery per holder, everyone so far is suggesting multi-battery cases.

Ideal characteristics of the container:

  • only a little larger than the battery being stored
  • made of a plastic that flexes when dropped, like milk-bottle plastic, instead of shattering
  • screw-top lid

The reason why: all of my flashlights, including the ones in my tool boxes, use single AA or AAA batteries, and I'd like to keep a spare in the tool box and not have it short out. Or when going on holidays, my hand-held luggage scale uses 2xAAA batteries, but is activated by a pushbutton that could easily be pushed by other things I am carrying, flattening the battery. So I want to keep one of those batteries outside the luggage scale, until I want to use the scale.

I can see lots of small plastic vials/test tubes/sample bottles on eBay, but the dimensions they give are almost always the outside dimensions, not the inside dimensions, so I can't be sure if the battery will fit. The only single "battery storage" I can see is 18650 size, which is a bit large for a single AAA battery.

So, does anyone store single AA and AAA batteries, and is that container purchasable in small quantities?

Thanks in advance.

Maybe something like this:
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/386570942337

But I know that one is too small, just from the outside dimensions.

Electrical & Electronics

Comments

  • Russ on 31/08/2024 - 17:44
    +2

    Thanks everyone, it seems nobody makes a storer designed for single AA an AAA batteries, with the exception of the really nice (and really expensive) mil-spec-looking ones found by Daddy Chill, above.

    I visited Chemist Warehouse today, and looked at pill containers. Some were big enough, but were also excessively big. But I did find a 50c 5ml syringe which looked to be a good size for the AAA battery, so I bought it. Back at home, I also found a dental irrigation syringe left over from some dental work a few years ago, and it fits the AA battery. I don't know the size of the AA-size syringe, there's no markings on it except for a "15" on the plunger - of which the plastic part is about 15mm diameter, the rubber part a little larger. So maybe not 15ml.

    Here's the picture of before and after being modified:
    https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/58622/115412/before_af…

    I cut the plunger a little too short on the AAA holder, but it's still usable. While neither have the screw cap that I wanted, there's a definite "lip" on the inside of each tube, and I was unable to shake the plunger and battery out, so it's probably good enough.

    They feel moderately durable. If they don't last, I'll get some 3D printed holders made, thanks to those people who recommended designs.

    • Russ on 31/08/2024 - 19:09

      Oops, full attribution, SickBurn was the first to list the mil-spec-looking Delrin cases.

    • BewareOfThe Dog on 31/08/2024 - 20:37

      Good Job. ;)

    • banana365 on 02/09/2024 - 01:37
      +1

      I've not read all the other replies, but if you're looking for threaded caps try retic risers. They're threaded at both ends and you can get them in different diameters and lengths. With the end caps on it'll look like a budget pipe bomb, but it'll definitely be robust.

      • Russ on 02/09/2024 - 03:18

        Hey thanks, they do look solid! I never knew such things existed.

        "Retic" brand seems to have vanished, their website says they've retired. Bunnings have something similar, but confusingly have them in a mix of metric and imperial sizes.

        20mm x 50mm riser:
        https://www.bunnings.com.au/garden-rain-50-x-20mm-poly-rural…

        3/4" end cap, which may actually be 20mm:
        https://www.bunnings.com.au/gd-watermark-3-4-poly-irrigation…

        I'll go in-store to see if they really are both 20mm, and screw together. And figure out if the "20mm" refers to the inside or outside diameter.

        Thanks again!

        • banana365 on 02/09/2024 - 09:12
          +1

          Retic is just short for reticulation rather than a brand. It's longer than six letters, so naturally Australians shorten it.

          • Russ on 03/09/2024 - 00:22
            +1

            @banana365: I've bought the parts and put them together, and this is my new favourite. It looks to have about the same volume as the holder I made from a syringe, but it's way more durable, and the parts can be bought off-the-shelf with no modifications.

            Photo here:
            https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/58622/115472/aa_holder…

            This is made with 15mm riser parts. The tube is a close fit to the battery diameter, less than 1mm gap. I was a little concerned that the tube length is about 1mm shorter than the battery, but that problem vanished when I realised the end caps don't go all the way onto the tube. The thread inside the end caps is tapered, after it's half-done-up it starts to get quite tight and difficult to turn. I probably could get it fully tightened if I used some pipe pliers, but I only need finger tight, and that left plenty of internal room for the battery. From the feel of it, the battery has at least 5mm of play, probably more.

            Here are the parts:
            https://www.bunnings.com.au/gd-watermark-15mm-x-50mm-poly-ir…
            https://www.bunnings.com.au/gd-watermark-15mm-poly-irrigatio…

            Note that Bunnings have the wrong picture for the riser.

            Make sure when you're purchasing to pick ones where the threads look clean. I saw several with lots of mold flash, and some where the thread had been crushed in areas.

            I also looked at using the "opposite" fittings: a joiner with internal thread, and internal plugs. Don't do it! The draft angle inside the plugs means the holes taper, and my AA battery jammed inside one. And the end result was bulkier, with no advantage.

            When tightened to finger tightness, the assembled holder is 64mm long. All-up cost was $5.90 (I paid cash).

            There's no way my tools will be able to accidentally damage this holder. Nothing short of deliberately drilling through the holder is going to worry it.

  • Windows7forever on 31/08/2024 - 17:56
    +2

    A metal cigar case?

  • kaleidoscope on 01/09/2024 - 01:13
    +2

    What an unusual use-case. i would have personally put a masking tape to one end of battery and kept them in a ziplock, but glad you’ve found a solution that works for you!

  • jonkvh on 01/09/2024 - 11:48
    +1

    Berocca tubes.

  • Daddy Chill on 01/09/2024 - 14:37
    -3

    Why not put them up your ass

    • sickburn on 01/09/2024 - 15:07
      +1

      Daddy, Chill

  • rumblytangara on 01/09/2024 - 20:59

    This thread really has legs considered how trivial the subject is. I'm impressed.

    • Russ on 02/09/2024 - 03:24

      I think it's because it seems like something like this should be easy to find, and yet it isn't. I thought there would be a ready-made item that I could search for as "single AA battery case", but I just wasn't able to find it.

      As it turns out, there are some really good suggestions, but you can't search for "battery case" to find them. The collective knowledge of OzBargain has prevailed!

  • Nicoletta on 01/09/2024 - 21:01
    +1

    Mack’s snore blocker earplugs come with a travel case that is the perfect size for 1 battery.

    • Russ on 01/09/2024 - 23:12

      I looked for that on eBay, and found this case that looks identical:

      https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/144189598655

      Could you please measure yours, and confirm if it has the same outside dimensions? I've converted the imperial measurements, the one on eBay is 6.0cm long and 1.7cm diameter.

      the perfect size for 1 battery

      I'm guessing you mean for an AAA battery? It doesn't look big enough to hold an AA battery!

      • Nicoletta on 04/09/2024 - 09:38
        +1

        55mm x 20mm. If definitely fits an AA!

        • Russ on 04/09/2024 - 12:25

          Is that a plastic case or a metal case? I can see online that Mack's earplugs have more than one type of travel case.

          Thanks!

  • OBEY YOUR MASTERS on 02/09/2024 - 08:47
    +1

    I dont know if youve seen those square plastic tubes that endmills (for milling machines) come in? They come in all different sizes and lengths and the fact they are square would stop them rolling around. They are also clear plastic so you can see whats inside.

    Exactly where to obtain them? Maybe Aliexpress.

    • Russ on 03/09/2024 - 00:36

      I have seen milling bit holders, a long time ago, but the ones I saw were like milk-bottle plastic, and when the two halves are put together the overall length is adjustable.

      It's a good idea!

  • skillet on 02/09/2024 - 10:25
    +2

    I have been collecting flashlights for a number of years now. I have similar concerns.

    Guess what? You don't need a separate storage. On some flashlights you only need to undo the battery tailcap and it disconnect the circuit.

    You can also put a plastic tab cut out from milk bottles in between the battery and the contacts terminal to break the continuity. No need to waste extra space.

    • Russ on 03/09/2024 - 00:44
      +1

      You don't need a separate storage.

      For the AA holder, I do. I want a spare battery for when my existing battery goes flat.

      Your idea would be good for my AAA-battery luggage scale, if the battery compartment in the luggage scale wasn't so tight a fit. There's a recess in each battery location for the battery's positive pip to slot into, and the helical spring at the negative end of the battery goes completely flat when the battery is installed. It looks like the makers wanted to make it impossible to install the battery backwards, and it does that, but also makes it quite difficult to insert and remove batteries.

      Have a look at the solution that I ended up with, I think you'll like it: https://www.ozbargain.com.au/comment/15664944/redir

      It probably doesn't help that I'm installing 800mAh rechargeable NiMh batteries. I've noticed that NiMh batteries with the highest capacity usually have dimensions that are the absolute maximum size permissible.

  • skillet on 03/09/2024 - 08:41

    Urine sample tubes, new unused.

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