Solved Energizer Ultimate Lithium Batteries

[seekermeister]

according to the ads, these batteries last up to 8X longer. It doesn't say longer than what, but logic would tell me that they are compared only to standard batteries. Even if that is true, is it really valid, or just so much hype?

Unfortunately, these seem to only be available in AA, AAA and a couple of types that I'm not familiar with, so I can use them in my wall clock, which is where I need long life most, because to change the batteries, I have to break out my extension ladder to reach the clock high above my desk, which makes me a bit nervous, because I can imagine myself crashing down through the glass top desk, taking it and the computer with me to the next life.

Has anyone used these, and really compared them, to see how well they stand up?

 

[Britton30]

I don't know about 8x longer, but my experience with lithium batteries is they last a bit longer than alkaline ones. How long? I never measured, but they seem to keep the voltage till the end and fail quickly when depleted.

Also move the clock to a more accessible place.

 

[Sardonicus]

It really depends upon what you're gonna use them in.
They may work better in high drain devices.
For low drain devices, I'd say stick with the regular alkaline batteries.

 

[seekermeister]

Since they only have the small sizes that I mentioned, probably the only place that I would use them is in my Cordless Optical Trackman Wheel mice. They are a pain in the neck with my rechargeables, because they don't hold up very long (a day or two), and after recharging the battery, I feel that I need three hands to reconnect them...one for the mouse button, one for the receiver, and a third to move the trackball, until it finally moves the cursor, which often takes a number of minutes. They do better with alkalines, so hopefully they would do much better with these lithiums.

 

[seekermeister]

Britton30,

Also move the clock to a more accessible place.

I could of course do that, but when one lives in a very small apartment, there is a limited number of choices about where to put things, and it seems that some only fit properly in one place. I'm so accustomed to being able to simply glance up for the time, that it would really bother me to have to twist my head around somewhere else.

 

[Anak]

Has anyone used these, and really compared them, to see how well they stand up?

I have not used that particular type of lithium battery, but I have a small, 10"dia. AA powered quartz clock down in my shed, and it has been running for the last 25years.

From:

• 1987 to around 1995 I ran a carbon zinc battery in it, and would have to change it about every three months.
• 1996 to around 2003 I ran an alkaline battery in it, and would have to change it about every seven months.
• 2004 to present I run a lithium battery in it, and have changed it about every 18 to 20 months.

Being generous in the estimate, I would say for this use lithium's last three times longer than alkaline's.

Update (12/12/2011): We reran the tests for Energizer's two lithium AA batteries in our Ratings and obtained a higher number of shots for the Energizer Ultimate Lithium AA battery. As a result, the Rating for the Energizer Ultimate has been changed from Very Good to Excellent.

Source: Energizer Advanced lithium is longest-lasting nonrechargeable AA battery - Consumer Reports

So 4x and 8x are actually marketing breakthroughs and not technical ones.

Source beginning of last paragraph : 4x, 8x, huh? How much power do Lithium batteries actually have?

 

[seekermeister]

Anak,

Thanks, that would be good enough for me, because that might make my mice last a lot longer than they do now.

 

[Anak]

Your welcome!

They should last longer than the rechargeables, one thing to consider is how old your rechargeables are, they may be tired.

You may find this interesting especially Chapter Four: Table of Contents for Batteries in a Portable World
If you come across a page that asks to register or sign-in just glance down a bit, and you will see a link to continue without doing that.

I don't use a cordless mouse so I don't know the power settings, but you may want to review your mouse settings for optimal power savings to try and increase battery life especially in idle, and sleep modes.

Other factors to consider:

• Frequency and amount of usage
• Desktop surface type and color
• The type and current capacity of batteries used

Check with Logitech isn't that who makes the Trackman? There may be updated drivers that address any power issues.

One more anecdote,
I do use a pair of Eveready Advance Lithium's in my Kodak CX7330, and they last for a week long vacation after taking 100MB of pictures, about 200.
One time I did run out of power, and all I could get was alkaline's, I was lucky to get 32MB. Again about three times as long.

 

[Britton30]

Seeker you said you had to get your extension ladder out. That would indicate that the clock is 10-12 feet up the wall is why I suggested a move. You must be like myself, I have the time on the desktop but still look at a clock on the wall or my watch.

 

[seekermeister]

Seeker you said you had to get your extension ladder out. That would indicate that the clock is 10-12 feet up the wall is why I suggested a move. You must be like myself, I have the time on the desktop but still look at a clock on the wall or my watch.

No, it's only ~ 8 feet, but since it is directly over my desk, an extension ladder is required to reach it. It's a 12 foot ladder, which I extend all the way, so that there is still plenty of ladder to hold on to when I reach the clock. If it were a smaller clock, I could probably get to it easier, but being ~ a 24" diameter oak clock, it is large and heavy enough that one needs a steady hold of it.

 

[Britton30]

OK, to answer your initial question, I think the lithium batteries should last longer in a clock. They do real well in low drain devices.

 

[seekermeister]

The problem is that I have not found any lithium C size batteries. I did find some that said that they were C sized, but specified a voltage of ~3.6v, which is much more than a regular C cell, and I don't know that a clock designed for regular C batteries would work with them.

I did order a pack of AA lithiums for my mice, so I will keep my fingers crossed for them.

 

[seekermeister]

I finally drug out my ladder and hoisted the clock down. I had forgotten that the clock also uses AA batteries, so I put one of the lithiums into it. Hopefully, if Energizer's claims are valid, that is something that I won't have to do for ~ 8 more years.

 

[seekermeister]

I'm now sold on lithium batteries, because I just replaced the first one after 49 days of use, which is a record for me. I will continue to use my rechargeables for some things, but definitely not for the mice.

 

[pparks1]

Great to hear that the lithium batteries are working so much better for you. I've never wanted to deal with batteries in a mouse, so I have never moved from wired for those types of devices...

 

[Zepher]

I'm now sold on lithium batteries, because I just replaced the first one after 49 days of use, which is a record for me. I will continue to use my rechargeables for some things, but definitely not for the mice.

Sanyo Eneloop batteries are great for mice and they hold their charge for a long time, so you can have a set in your desk to put into your mouse when the ones in there die, and then just recharge the used set and put them in your desk again.

 

[seekermeister]

pparks1,

I can understand that, but I loathe having a wire to tangle, and I always had more problems with wired mice properly detecting movement, plus I simply like being able to park the mouse in one location where it doesn't need to move from. Of course, I use Trackman mice, which are a bit clumsy on some games.

 

[pparks1]

@Seeker: I'm a Microsoft Trackball Explorer guy for everything but games. I use a Logitech G9 Laser mouse for my gaming. I've got a trackball on each desktop computer at home and my primary work computer as well. I'm so disappointed that they don't sell them anymore, but I think I own like 5 of them, so if one breaks, I can just grab another one.

I may try out one of these lithium batteries on my car alarm keyfob for my Magnum. That thing eats a battery about every 60 days. I'll have to try out one of these fancier batteries and see how it goes.

 

[DustSailor]

I know this is likely hijacking this thread (feel free to msg me if you want me to take it down):

You prefer trackball mice, and unfortunately I haven't seen this in one of those, but the Bluetrack tech in some mice makes it sound as if they should last for near 8 months battery life (Standard battery) - Microsoft Wireless Mouse 6000 | Microsoft Hardware

Then there are 'touch' mice such as this one that also have the bluetrack tech.

And don't forget this 18 Month battery life mouse: Computer Mouse: Explorer Touch Mouse | Microsoft Hardware <- thats a new find for me...

Just thought all this was interesting. Would love to try the last one with the lithium battery

 

[seekermeister]

I don't know much about bluetrack tech, but it seems to have more to do with movement detection than with battery life. I may be wrong, but I suspect that "if" the battery will last 18 months, it would be if the mouse wasn't used, so that it would last the full shelf life. Maybe it has some kind of sensor that only turns the mouse on when moved...don't know.

I tend to take promotional statements such as this with a grain of salt.