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May 10th 04, 06:03 AM

Subject: RayOVAC Batteries...............
From: ercial (Duncan Ross)
Date: 5/8/2004 1:06 PM Mountain Standard Time
Message-id:

From: "Frank Dresser"
Date: 07-May-2004 18:54 GMT Daylight Time
Message-id:

"Tony Meloche" wrote in message
...

Consumer's Union tests alkaline batteries ever few years, and their
most recent tests say "buy by price" - they found no meaningful
differences in length of life from Duracell/Eveready all the way down
through "Rite-Aid" brand and the like. They seem to have become a
homogenized technology, like color TV - one is generally as good as
another (it was NOT that way 15 years ago with batteries, though). I
started taking a chance on "generics" again about 2 years ago, and have
been pleased with the length of life vis-a-vis Duracell or Eveready.
But the generics are probably made by one or the other of the "big
boys", anyway.

Tony

That makes sense. Alkaline batteries have been made for over 40 years, and
all the real important patents have probably run out. My biggest concern
with the bargain basement batteries is leakage. Some of them just don't
seem as well constructed.

Could be a smart point although bizarrely the only batteries I've ever seen
leak were duracells (twice!).

Strangely enough, Duracells are the only alkaline batteries I've had leakage
problems with also.

For what it's worth, I've recently bought several 48 packs of Panasonic AA
alkalines from a seller on eBay, and I swear that the Panasonics outlast either
Duracell or Energizer batteries in both my handheld scanners and CB walkie
talkies. I don't know if Panasonic makes any other size batteries besides AA,
but at $15.00 for 48 AA cells (including shipping), I'd say it's worth checking
eBay from time to time if you're looking for reliable and inexpensive alkaline
batteries.

73,
David