Eveready Batteries

Eveready Batteries: What They Are and When to Choose Them

Eveready provides three main battery types to cover everyday needs at a budget-friendly price: alkaline (Eveready Gold), carbon zinc (Super Heavy Duty), and NiMH rechargeables. Use this guide to match each type to your device, understand expected performance, and store and handle batteries safely.

Battery Types at a Glance

• Alkaline (Eveready Gold): All-purpose 1.5V batteries for remotes, clocks, flashlights, toys, and most household electronics. Good balance of runtime, shelf life, and cost.
• Carbon Zinc (Super Heavy Duty): Best for low-drain items like basic wall clocks or simple radios. Lowest cost, but shorter runtime and shelf life than alkaline.
• Rechargeable NiMH: Reusable AA/AAA for high-drain and frequent-use devices such as gaming controllers, handheld tools, wireless mice/keyboards, and camera flashes.

Quick Picks by Device

Device	Best Eveready Option	Why
TV remote, wireless mouse	Alkaline	Reliable, long shelf life, low standby drain
Wall clock, simple radio	Carbon zinc	Very low drain; cost-effective
Flashlights, camping lanterns	Alkaline	Good runtime and availability
Kids’ toys, RC vehicles	Rechargeable NiMH	High drain and frequent replacements; saves money over time
Game controllers, camera flash	Rechargeable NiMH	Handles high current draw; reusable
Smoke/CO alarms (9V)	Alkaline	Stable voltage and multi-year shelf life; check device manual

What to Expect: Runtime and Shelf Life

• Alkaline: Typically the best single-use choice for most home devices. In practice: a wall clock often runs 6–12 months on one AA; a TV remote can last many months; a 100-lumen flashlight may run a few hours per set. Shelf life is generally several years—always check the date code on the package.
• Carbon zinc: Suited to very low-drain loads. Expect shorter runtimes and a shorter shelf life (often a few years) than alkaline. Avoid for alarms, high-drain toys, or emergency kits.
• Rechargeable NiMH: Strong performance in high-drain devices. Typical capacities: ~700–1000 mAh (AAA) and ~1900–2500 mAh (AA), depending on the specific cell. With a smart charger, recharge time often takes 2–8 hours (faster with higher-current chargers). Many NiMH cells retain most of their charge for months, but top off if they’ve sat unused.

Choosing the Right Eveready Battery

• Use alkaline if you want dependable one-time use, good shelf life, and you don’t plan to recharge.
• Use carbon zinc if the device draws very little power and cost is the top priority.
• Use NiMH rechargeables if the device drains batteries quickly or you use it daily (controllers, toys, lights). The upfront cost pays off after a few recharge cycles.
• Avoid carbon zinc for safety-critical or emergency devices (smoke/CO alarms, flashlights stored for emergencies) where alkaline or rechargeable (if supported) is safer/more reliable.
• Consider lithium (non-rechargeable) for extreme cold/heat or very long storage in AA/AAA devices—these are typically outside the Eveready lineup; check your device manual.

Storage, Handling, and Safety

• Store in a cool, dry place; avoid heat, moisture, and direct sun.
• Do not mix old and new batteries, or different brands/chemistries in the same device.
• Insert with correct polarity (+/−). Remove batteries from devices you won’t use for months to reduce leak risk.
• Do not recharge alkaline or carbon zinc cells. Only recharge NiMH with a compatible charger.
• Recycle or dispose of used batteries according to local guidelines; many retailers accept drop-offs.

Simple Charging Math (NiMH)

Estimated charge time ≈ (battery capacity in mAh ÷ charger current in mA) × 1.2. Example: A 2000 mAh AA on a 500 mA charger: (2000 ÷ 500) × 1.2 ≈ 4.8 hours.

FAQ

Can I use carbon zinc batteries in smoke detectors?

Not recommended. Use high-quality alkaline 9V (or the type specified by the manufacturer). Carbon zinc cells have shorter life and are less suited for critical alarms.

How long do Eveready alkaline batteries last in storage?

Alkaline batteries generally hold power for many years when stored properly. Check the package date code and use older packs first.

Are Eveready NiMH batteries low self-discharge (LSD)?

NiMH performance varies by specific cell. Many modern NiMH cells retain most of their charge for months, but for best results, top them off if they’ve been stored for a long time.

Can I mix rechargeable and alkaline batteries in the same device?

No. Mixing chemistries or old/new cells can cause poor performance and may lead to leakage or device damage. Replace the full set with matching batteries.

What sizes does Eveready offer?

Common sizes include AA, AAA, C, D, and 9V. Check your device manual for the correct size and chemistry.