On different batteries, they write a shelf life of three to twelve years. I decided to check how batteries actually lose capacity during storage and whether it matters how fresh batteries you buy.
Often in stores you can find batteries that are already a year old, or even two. The shelf life on these batteries is indicated for 10 years, so, in theory, it's okay. But I have a suspicion that these terms were invented by marketers with the expectation that no one will keep batteries for that long. Another suspicious fact is that the shelf life of different alkaline (Alkaline) batteries can differ fourfold. (FLARX - 3 years, Energizer Max Plus - 12 years), while the capacity and other characteristics of these batteries differ insignificantly.
I bought 288 AAA batteries (24 each of the eight types) and will try to test two of each type once a year.
For a long-term test, I chose two salt batteries (the cheapest from Auchan and a little more expensive - Trophy), and six alkaline (Alkaline): the most expensive and "coolest" Belgian Duracell Ultra, American Energizer Max + with a shelf life of 12 years, German Varta Longlife Power, popular and sold everywhere GP Super, optimal price-quality Lexman from Leroy Merlin and the cheapest FLARX from Fixprice.
I specifically looked for the "freshest" batteries, but still at the time of the first test they were 5-10 months old.
The first surprise was waiting for me even before the start of the test. One Energizer Max Plus super-duper battery leaked after staying in the box for a month.
So much for a shelf life of 12 years and American production. :) I marked it with the last, 24th number.
I specially bought two awls to measure the voltage on all batteries without opening the package, but only piercing it so that the batteries were stored in their packaging. FLARX accidentally short-circuited one battery, so it will no longer participate in the test.
The results of measuring the voltage turned out to be interesting.
The most stable batteries were GP Super and Lexman. The initial voltage is the same for all but one specimen. One specimen differs only by 0.001 V upward. This speaks of the stability and cleanliness of production.
The most expensive batteries Duracell, Energizer, Varta are worse in this regard, and both Duracell and Energizer got one copy each, the voltage on which is lower than the others. Let me remind you that the 24th copy of Energizer has flowed, so the voltage on it is appropriate. I ruined the first copy of FLARX. Three more have a voltage lower than the rest. The voltage of different types of salt batteries differs more, but this is already a feature of the technology.
I tested two copies of the batteries using the analyzer Oleg Artamonov (https://ammo1.livejournal.com/470053.html). I did not use the Yarostanmash ASK2.5.10.8 device for this test. (https://ammo1.livejournal.com/1161537.html), since I am not completely sure that I will be able to use it in five or ten years, and Oleg Artamonov's analyzer is not going anywhere.
Testing was conducted on September 7-8, 2021. The batteries were discharged with a current of 100 mA to 0.9 V. The capacity was recorded in ampere-hours and the energy delivered in watt-hours.
Results in the form of graphs, values in watt-hours.
Yeah, FLARX for 13 rubles does not differ in capacity from Duracell Ultra for 65-120 rubles, it is, of course, funny. Are you still buying expensive batteries? :)
Well, maybe after a couple of years of storage, something will change, we'll see.
Just in case, I will give the results in the form of a table.
The next sixteen batteries (2 copies of each of the eight models) I will test in September 2022. Let's see what changes there will be and if anyone else will flow. :)
© 2021, Alexey Nadezhin
For ten years I have been writing every day about technology, discounts, places of interest and events. Read my blog on the site ammo1.ru, v LJ, Zen, Mirtesen, Telegram.
My projects:
Lamptest.ru. I test LED lamps and help figure out which ones are good and which are not so good.
Elerus.ru. I collect information about domestic electronic devices for personal use and share it.
You can contact me in Telegram @ ammo1 and by mail [email protected].