I just ordered a bunch of AA and AAA batteries from Amazon to get ahead of all the toys that will be needing them at Christmas, and I realize that virtually all the toys our kids use, all electronic gadgets, remotes etc all seem to run on AA or AAA batteries these days.

You barely ever see C, D and 9V batteries in toys anymore.

Why is that? They’ve become more efficient?

Yes, the toys and many other electronic gadgets have become more efficient.

In addition to this many things run off of a lower voltage as well. That is a good reason 9V batteries are not used very much.

Efficiency allows devices to run off of AA instead of C and D because they do not require as much current draw.

I drag out my old waterproof Pelican work horse from a prior decade. It largely just sits around longing for someone to use it. Has 8 D cells. Thought at the time it was a monster bright light down about 100 yards to my corner. Now it just seems...well....flimsy/weak/so....incandescenty....

In my opinion, a lot of items are now easily rechargeable via USB. God Bless

I buy C & D for flashlights and 9 for smoke alarms.

I have a clock with motion elements that runs on 4 D cells. They least about a year.

flashguy

Remember those giant boom boxes?

You’d put in about 10-12 D Cells?

And it would last about 40 minutes?

I have some older equipment that runs on 9V. My Chronograph, metal detector, a few others. I can't think of much at all that I have that require C or D batteries.

My smoke alarms are 9V also. I can't think of anything I own that takes D's or C's.

What about those big ole, square ones? Whatever happened to them?

Didn't know these even existed - rechargeable 9V

https://www.amazon.com/EBL-Bat...harger/dp/B00HV4KFSA

 
I buy only Lithium cells (not rechargeable) in AA, AAA, and 9v sizes. They last longer than alkaline, and more importantly, you can leave them in indefinitely and they won't leak and leave that white stuff all over the battery case.

quote:

Originally posted by henryaz:
 
I buy only Lithium cells (not rechargeable) in AA, AAA, and 9v sizes. They last longer than alkaline, and more importantly, you can leave them in indefinitely and they won't leak and leave that white stuff all over the battery case.

I didn’t realize that 9V lithium batteries existed so I looked them up and…they do, thanks!
What brand do people like for 9V lithiums?

Batteries for commercial UPS units are still called "jars" in the trade. This because the early models used actual glass Bell jars (akin to a pint Ball canning jar) to contain the acidic electrolyte. I know of at least one medium-sized UPS that is still operational with these types of cells, 48 of them, I think. IIRC, these were 6V cells, and when one broke in the rack, it was a real mess.

And yes, I still have one of those 10 D cell boom boxes lying around somewhere, no Bluetooth, no USB, but a CD player, and count 'em, two cassette decks (for making mix tapes, of course). A true antique, like me and many of us here. How did we ever survive?

And, of course, we are almost all of us driving around with century-old lead-acid battery technology in our cars.

quote:

Originally posted by Tn226:
Didn't know these even existed - rechargeable 9V

https://www.amazon.com/EBL-Bat...harger/dp/B00HV4KFSA

9V NiMH aren't as interchangeable as the AA/AAA versions. 9V Alkaline is actually 6x 1.5V alkaline cells in series. NiMH is 1.2V. Not a big deal on a single cell, but 1.2V x6 = 7.2V instead of 9V. Most devices that use 9V do so because they need the increased voltage and 6x AA are too bulky. Some smoke alarms won't work on NiMH 9V, low batt warning will start right away.
Newer designs can use boost converters & bump the V up efficiently, taking advantage of AA or AAA space/popularity savings.

I keep them on hand for my smoke alarms and maglights...oh and the camping fans...that is about it.

quote:

Originally posted by smlsig:
I didn’t realize that 9V lithium batteries existed so I looked them up and…they do, thanks!
What brand do people like for 9V lithiums?

Personally, I use Energizer Ultimate Lithium in my Fluke meters and other instrumentation that takes a 9 volt.

Interesting now that I think about it. I have a battery buddy case and only find myself using the AA or AAA batteries, not the others. I do have a backup flashlight in the junk drawer that uses two D cells but have not yet had to put batteries in it.

I remember when I was working the street back in the late 70s / early 80s carrying a five D cell Kel-lite. Dang that was one heck of a flashlight back in the day and a helluva tool.

I am looking for something that may not even exist. I have a battery operated clock that uses one AA battery to operate it. It is mounted very high in my work shop and a real pain to get to to do a battery change.

Does anyone make a gadget that is the size of a AA battery that plugs into 110v outlet and puts out 1.5v DC ? Basically replacing the AA battery and powdered by 110v. If such a thing existed, and I could get one, it sure would make my like easier, and less likely I would fall off of the ladder.

quote:

Originally posted by GT-40DOC:
I am looking for something that may not even exist. I have a battery operated clock that uses one AA battery to operate it. It is mounted very high in my work shop and a real pain to get to to do a battery change.

Does anyone make a gadget that is the size of a AA battery that plugs into 110v outlet and puts out 1.5v DC ? Basically replacing the AA battery and powdered by 110v. If such a thing existed, and I could get one, it sure would make my like easier, and less likely I would fall off of the ladder.

Evidently they do.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Z...arkle_mcd_asin_0_img