ABM Digital Info

The lowdown on three kinds of batteries.

WATT's The Difference?

Carbon Zinc

The granfather of dry cells batteries that first appeared in 1887 on the market.
Uses a zinc chloride and ammonium chloride electrolyte with cathode of manganese dioxide
and carbon, and a zinc anode.
Best for low-drain devices: clocks, radios, remote controls.

Price per Batt: 5 to 55 cents.
The good: Cheapest and the lightest at 12-15g.
The bad: Least powerful, shortest shelf life - 3 to 5 years.


Alkaline

Made their debut in 1959, using alkaline electrolyte of potassium hydroxide(instead of using the acidic ones in carbon zinc battery) , upping their power and shelf life.

Price per Batt: 85 to 95cents The good : Shelf life of 5 years to 7 years; works at temperature down to minus 18 deg C.
The bad : Heaviest, at 24g.


Lithium

The new kid on the block, appeared in 1989. Not to be confused with rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.(although both used the same metal - lithium)
Do have a lithium anode, iron disulphide on aluminium foil cathode and a lithium salt electrolyte.
Lithium is flexible, that batteries can be built with 20 times more active area than alkalines.
Longest shelf life and juice in powering tech devices - eg. digital cameras.
Can be use for any purpose, if you can afford it.

Price per batt: $3.80
The good: Most powerful and lightest at 15g.
The bad: The price- damn


Batteries that are tested on flashlight and digital camera.
Source: Digital Life (The Strait Times)


Duracell Alkaline:-

Price:$0.93
Camera Shots:187
Cost per shot: 2c
Flashlight time(mins):115 Cost per minutes: 0.8c



Panasonic Evolta:-

Price:$1.73
Camera Shots:425
Cost per shot: 1.6c
Flashlight time(mins): 125 Cost per minute:1.4c




Energizer e2 Lithium:-

Price:$3.80
Camera Shots: 1354
Cost per shot: 1.1c
Flashlight time(mins) : 274 Cost per minute:1.4c



Energizer Alkaline Max:-

Price:$0.83
Camera Shots:297
Cost per shot: 1.1c
Flashlight time(mins) : 105 Cost per minute:0.8c



PenesamiG General Purpose:-

Price: $0.04
Camera Shots:0
Cost per shot: N.A
Flashlight time (mins): 3
Cost per minute: 1.3c


Do's And Don'ts

• Abused batteries will leak/explode.
  Abuse: inserting upside down in device,peeling off label(act as battery insulation) and carrying them looselu in pockets where coins and keys are present. It may short circuit. Put one close to fire, it will explode.
• Batteries continued to be drain after they are exhausted will leak. Remove the batteries if not being use for a long time.Even when it is turned off, poorly designed devices will continue draining the batteries.
• Do not mix battery types (use same type or same brand batteries) or mix old batteries with new ones. The more powerful one may cause the lower capacity to fail prematurely or leak or lead to shorter life.
• Store them in cool place. Alkaline batteries stored at 20 deg C has almost twice the shelf life- more than 7 years - than one stored at 40 deg C. (According to Energizer Alkaline Handbook, 2008)