A couple of weeks ago I bought a new pair of binoculars that requires 2 AA batteries to function. So instead of showing amazing energy and getting up to find my preferred brand, I just installed the batteries that came with them. Well, they just died a few minutes ago. Not much life at all. So my wife handed me some alkaline energizers. My hopes aren't too high for these either, with the lithium being the ones I've found best. But the binoc's are up and working just as the first day.

Poor battery life is what I've come to expect with furnished batteries. Not sure why the makers do that. It kind of sours you on the item until you realize the cause. But it also outlines the differences in battery life you can expect. Its even why kids toys usually fail quickly. Not the toy's fault at all, its just the cheapo batteries they decided to ship with them.

So the test continues. I've got the Alkaline batteries working now with the lithium sitting next to me on the end table. It'll be a test to see how long each lasts. Guess I'm not out anything and I can just view the junk ones shipped with it as free time.

quote:

Poor battery life is what I've come to expect with furnished batteries. Not sure why the makers do that. It kind of sours you on the item until you realize the cause. But it also outlines the differences in battery life you can expect. Its even why kids toys usually fail quickly. Not the toy's fault at all, its just the cheapo batteries they decided to ship with them.

^^^^^^^^^
Every toy when when my kids were young, stated Batteries not included. EVERY Christmas the lines at the only open drugstore were filled with parents buying batteries for the toys. Had not really noticed that batteries were NOW provided.

If it was a device I cared about, I would go straight to the lithiums and toss the others. Alkalines leak, and often take the device with it. Not worth the risk IMO.

As far as the supplied carbon-zinc batteries, I think they are just there for people who open their new device and realize they don't have any batteries at all. At least you can verify the thing works until you can buy some decent ones.

The old carbon-zinc batteries called heavy duty only have half the capacity of the alkaline batteries so they are cheaper.

So how are the boating parties?? Are the parties better than the ones at Lake Trash??

I rarely install any of the super cheap batteries that come with devices. I've had many destroyed remotes and such due to cheap leaking batteries. I have a good stash of SHTF batteries so I use Duracell mostly.

I think shelf life may be more important to manufacturers than use life. They don't know how long the item is going to sit in the warehouse or on the shelf before being put into service.

I've found the opposite is true for remotes. The included batteries last forever. Replacement batteries seem to last half as long.

For me, Energizer Ultimate Lithium is the go-to battery.

Some of my cheap flashlights come with batteries and I leave them in for a month or so. They don't seem too bad for that period. Got new tv remotes back in June and the batteries gave up last week.

I am suspicious of no name batteries, so usually chuck them in favor of Duracell. Duracel stands behind their batteries with a leakage guarantee. In fact, they just sent me a check to replace a device that was damaged recently.

It’s good that Duracells have that warranty. I’ve had to use it a bunch. I have more leaky Duracells than any other brand. They used to be a good battery. I won’t buy them any more.