Don’t settle for ordinary batteries that neither give your electronic devices enough power nor last long enough for your money’s worth.
Here is the lowdown on battery types and the devices they power.
For High Energy Consuming Devices
These devices typically consume lots of energy and ordinary batteries will drain very quickly.
Devices: CD, DVD and MP3 Players, PDAs, Digital Cameras
Recommended Battery Type: Rechargeable NiMH batteries with the highest power rating! (slight preference for the Energizer brand)
Reasons:
* Cheaper in the long run - lasts 500 times longer than disposable alkaline batteries or 140 times longer than disposable lithium batteries
* Can be recharged at any time - do not have memory effect
* The highest power rating lasts longer. Choose 2700 mAh over 1700 mAh.
* Rechargeable batteries are kind to the environment
* Energizer brand does last a bit longer
For High Energy Consuming Devices (But Where Recharging Is Not Possible)
Rechargeable batteries may cost more than non-rechargeable ones but they save you money in the long run. However, there are times when you are not able to recharge your batteries and still need to power your electronic devices.
Alkaline batteries are available almost anywhere and are relatively cheap, but now a new type of Oxyride batteries have come out that cost the same but have many times the output of ordinary alkalines.
Devices: CD, DVD and MP3 Players, PDAs, Digital Cameras
Recommended Battery Type: Panasonic Oxyride
Reasons:
* More powerful and lasts longer than alkaline or standard batteries
* Do not lose their charge with time
* Same price as alkaline batteries
* Perfect as backup batteries
For Low Energy Consuming Devices
For devices that do not consume a lot of energy, stick with the ordinary alkaline batteries.
Devices: Remote Control, Smoke Detector, Flash Light, etc.
Recommended Battery Type: Any alkaline batteries (slight preference for Duracell Ultra, if price is competitive)
Reasons:
* They do not lose their charge over long period of time when they are not being used (compare with rechargeable batteries which lose about 1% of their power everyday)
* Duracell Ultra lasts longer according to some reviews
Low Temperatures Use
In low temperatures, batteries tend to discharge faster or may stop functioning in extreme cold temperatures.
Devices: Any
Recommended Battery Type: Lithium batteries
Reasons:
* Last longer than alkalines or NiMH
* Keep working in low temperatures
* Cost more than alkalines or NiMH, but no substitute in cold weather conditions when you need a dependable source of power
References: Consumers Reports, CNET, Which?, Imaging-Resource, PC World
Check prices for alkaline batteries
