ALKALINE Batteries 10x AA, 10x AAA, 2x C, 2x D or 1x 9v Batteries $2.99 @ IKEA

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IKEA

• 

  overlook on 22/03/2013 - 22:50

  +1

  in long run, rechargeable is probably cheaper.

  • 

    cheepwun on 23/03/2013 - 00:36

    Not probably, certainly. I can't believe people still buy these things.

    • 

      scrimshaw on 23/03/2013 - 01:05

      Correct me if I'm wrong, disposable batteries have a much lower (or negligable) self discharge rate, right?

      I still use disposables for my wall clocks, TV remote, and scientific calculator.

      They're mostly low drain devices anyway, so even a cheap generic battery will last ages.

      • 

        cheepwun on 23/03/2013 - 01:17

        Look into eneloop batteries and others like it; they are suitable for low power-draw devices like remotes, scientific calculators, etc (I use them this way). As long as they are kept relativley cool, their self-discharge rates are really low.

        Low self-discharge batteries like eneloop still won't match the self-discharge characteristics of some disposables, but they are so much better than in the past, it's not funny. For all intents and purposes, they have replaced AA and AAA disposables to me. You should charge your batteries once a year anyway, even if they don't need it (according to Sanyo / Panasonic) who make eneloops.

        I'm fine with that.
        9V rechargeables can be had from China for less than $3 per batt, delivered. I haven't used them long enough to comment on them, but I don't buy disposable 9V either (a good disposable 9V costs about the same here anyway, if not more). Chargers are cheap.

      • 

        eug on 23/03/2013 - 01:22

        +4

        An alkaline AA is 30c each. An eneloop is $5 each at regular prices. If an alkaline AA lasts 1 year in a clock, it'll take 16.5 years to make up the cost of the eneloop, not counting the electricity needed to recharge the battery.

        If you get the eneloop on sale, it'll be $2.50 each. That's still 8.25 years.

        Sometimes I think the hassle and high upfront cost isn't worth it. I use eneloops in all my high-drain devices, and alkalines in all my low-drain devices.

      • 

        cheepwun on 23/03/2013 - 01:30

        An eneloop AA is just over $2 each when on sale or when bought overseas with other goods.

        Here we have an 8-pack AA for $17.19 USD (a little less in AUD):
        http://www.amazon.com/eneloop-2000mAh-Pre-Charged-Rechargeab…

        A routine purchase from Amazon, you add some batteries to your order.

      • 

        eug on 23/03/2013 - 01:34

        That's still just under 7 years to make up the cost of the eneloop, plus the added hassle of recharging it. If you bought it now, you'd only make up the cost of the battery in the year 2020. After that, you're only saving 30 cents a year.

        That's also assuming the eneloop doesn't degrade after half a decade.

        Very low-power devices like digital lcd clocks and thermometers can last more than a year. My desktop thermometer uses two alkaline AAs. The expiry date on them is Jan 07 and they only just displayed a low battery warning this month, so they've probably been in there for at least six years. Using rechargables in them would definitely be a waste of money.

      • 

        cheepwun on 23/03/2013 - 01:42

        People buying in 10 packs seen here don't have 10 clocks to update; I think we can agree that most items in the house that attract bulk packs like this are used in medium-to-high-drain devices under the mistaken assumption that they're saving by buying disposables constantly.

        There are plenty of ways to measure cost aside from sticker price too; something humanity needs to get a grip on.

        If just over $2 is too much for you to service your clock with an AA, and you don't mind throwing out batteries after one use, that's fine.

        A clock is one of the few devices that can actually claim to hold some cost-saving credibility for the disposable battery. I bet if we were to ask people who buy these things what they use them for, we'd see far more common higher power consumption devices being used.

        Hence the need to constantly buy a bulk pack…

      • 

        eug on 23/03/2013 - 01:46

        Do note that this whole thread was specifically referring to clocks, remote controls, and calculators, which are all low-power devices.

        Now you're talking about medium to high drain devices. As I said earlier, eneloops are great for those. But all this started because low-power devices were specifically mentioned.

      • 

        cheepwun on 23/03/2013 - 02:01

        As I stated earlier, eneloops are perfectly suitable for low-drain devices.

        I have 4xAAA in my TI graphing calculator (infrequent use). You can keep them in there for a year or more with no issues, as I have. I have 3xAAA in my headlamp (which is always ready to go months later). Charged and at the ready. In contrast to my old Ni-MH, which would be run down when I needed them.

        I have 1xAAA in my kitchen timer. I have a remote with eneloops in there long-term with no probs.

        There is no massive self-discharge like in the past. Cost is very low. And you know you can charge them when you need to, rather than throw them out or face leaky alkalines that may damage your gear.

        You basically have them for life. Cost will be recovered eventually and I'm sure many won't be crying over a few bucks they need to recoup over the longer-term, or will they?

        All the while making massive savings on medium-and-higher-drain devices…

      • 

        eug on 23/03/2013 - 02:13

        Yes, they'll certainly work fine. That was never the issue.

        My point was, it can take many years - over a decade if you're powering a thermometer like mine - to even start seeing a savings. In the case of my thermometer, the savings would only kick in after 24 years ($1 for 6 years vs $4 for 2 eneloops that you need to recharge maybe once a year).

        If someone really, really wanted to save $1 for the year 2037, then … ok then. Better hope the eneloop doesn't fail after 12 years.

        IMHO saving money is one thing, being practical is another.

      • 

        cheepwun on 23/03/2013 - 02:32

        You don't have to charge the eneloops once a year, it's just a reommendation, probably to keep them at optimum longevity.

        Even though they'll probably outlast us if you use them in low-drain devices. And it's a recommendation that I've only read in their PDF literature.

        There are heaps that stay in warehouses and on store shelves far longer than that.

        I've got unopened AA/AAA eneloops that have been sitting around in their packets for 2.5 years and some of same vintage which I've just opened recently for the first time, for use in my camera flashes.

        They work fine and I haven't noticed any massive performance loss compared to my other batteries, except to say they had less charge from the factory than a fresh charge would put in them. Understandable since they had been sitting around so long.

        My TI graphing calculator came with alkalines…that started to leak. So you can hope that any alkalines you buy don't ruin your gear before you get a chance to clean them up. Occasionally they do leak and that can put any cost savings down the tube.

        Different approaches. I don't trust alkalines with my gear and I don't consider a small premium for rechargeable batteries worth buying disposables for.

        The cost is really negligible. I have only a few low-drain devices and they are handled by the bulk eneloop purchases I made.

        I'm waiting to recoup $10 or something over the longer-term? Non-issue.

      • 

        slowmo on 23/03/2013 - 07:56

        +1

        people forget disposables are more likely to leak.
        i've not got an eneloop leak on me… yet.

• 

  bbyboy on 22/03/2013 - 22:54

  $5 at kmart. quantity differs with battery size
  30xAAA $5
  8or4x9v $5
  etc

  • 

    ruraro on 22/03/2013 - 23:22

    Are those alkaline ones? 30xAAA for $5 is an awesome deal if it is. Kmart online doesn't list any batteries.

    • 

      bbyboy on 23/03/2013 - 01:01

      sorry. i just double checked. theyre not alkaline

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  t25 on 22/03/2013 - 22:59

  is it me or are these batteries crap?

  i put the 9V into a smoke alarm, within 4 weeks it had gone dead. put an energizer/duracell and its been working for three years and counting

  • 

    bbyboy on 22/03/2013 - 23:07

    i think its your smoke alarm. ive got an ikea AA battery in my ikea clock for over 10 years now. the clock is not physically ticking but i can still hear it trying to tick which means it still got some juice in it

    • 

      t25 on 23/03/2013 - 02:18

      i was thinking if it is possible i got a bad batch

  • 

    eug on 22/03/2013 - 23:29

    +4

    I put an Ikea AA through my battery analyser and it turned out pretty good. It beat the standard Energizer I tested.

    https://dl.dropbox.com/u/3018117/Alkaline_AA_Test_21_Jan_201…

    • 

      scrimshaw on 23/03/2013 - 01:08

      Here are some battery shootout charts for you guys to look at:
      http://www.laurinieminen.com/index.php?page=projects&id=batt…

      IKEA batteries do surprisingly well, even beating big names like Sony, Eveready and Varta.

      • 

        tonester on 25/03/2013 - 00:01

        also
        http://www.batteryshowdown.com
        http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/94022

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  wakkawalla on 22/03/2013 - 23:17

  is that charger any good? it seems to stop when "charged, defective or too warm"

• 

  fchis on 22/03/2013 - 23:55

  -1

  Simplely buy a universal smart charger which is compatible with alkaline batteries to save heaps $$$

  • 

    KnifeEnthusiastBoi on 23/03/2013 - 00:06

    you charge alkaline batteries? o.o

    • 

      quop on 23/03/2013 - 00:38

      If you have the right charger, it can be done, and it works, despite popular opinion/belief to the contrary.

    • 

      fchis on 23/03/2013 - 12:24

      Yes, I have one and it works very well.

• 

  meticulousmatty on 23/03/2013 - 00:05

  Is this related to the Ikea Family deal that I saw a month or so ago?

• 

  c9 on 23/03/2013 - 00:12

  Although Aldi is cheaper, but this one is good as I can buy less. However, the problem with Ikea is that they only have 2 stores and queue generally longer than Aldi or Bunnings

  Aldi - http://www.aldi.com.au/au/html/offers/2827_24716.htm
  Bunnings - http://www.bunnings.com.au/products_product_24pack-aaa-varta…

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  doperst on 23/03/2013 - 00:55

  30xAA or 30xAAA $7 at Masters