What he said
I have good results with Amazon Basics AA and AAA batteries, but not their CR123A and CR2 batteries.
Recently bought some devices that require 18650 batteries. Information overload about counterfeit UltraFire batteries. Bought a Fuzion 200 gram scale and an Opus charger/load tester to do some rudimentary comparisons. You would think a CR123A lithium battery would weigh approximately the same no matter the brand. I found a wide range comparing Duracell, Energizer, RayOVac, Panasonic, and Amazon Basics. The Panasonic weighed the most and the Amazon Basics weighed the least. To me, that states there isn’t as much inside the Amazon Basics CR123A compared to the Panasonic. This is true for 18650 batteries.
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I've been using these with great success...
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I also use the EBL rechargables for about 3 years. I have tested them on several advanced chargers and the capacity is legit. Low traffic areas I get 9-10 months, high traffic, about 6 months. They are rated 3.7V but the iris and sansung sensors don't mind the .5V extra. They have already paid for themselves.
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I've been using these which was the cheapest I've found, when ordering multiple lots of 10.
However it's time I ordered more and because of this thread I looked when the last time I rodered these which was almost exactly a year ago. Therefore I think this go at it I will swich to try out using rechargeables instead.
I get my batteries from Digikey.com in bulk. They usually have the best prices and selection. I agree that the Panasonic batteries seem the best but I have used some of the off brands too.
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I just started using the Titanium Innovations brand from Battery Junction, and so far so good! I order Energizer Lithiums from them as well. Typically good pricing and availability!
S
Or Mouser.com same...bulk supplier of fresh batteries and a whole lot more.
Panasonic comes up frequently, not by happenstance but by people's experience with the outcome of their Quality goals.
Just go with rechargeable CR2s (like the ones by EBL), if they work in your devices.
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Makes sense. I immediately noticed the difference in feel. I was replacing Panasonic with Amazon basics CR-2s. I ended up removing all of the Amazon Basics and putting Panasonic back in since most of my sensors take CR-2. I don’t want to be chasing down dead batteries a couple months after replacing them. The levels dropped to 87% in all of them within a couple days, then 75% within a couple weeks.
I’ll have to check out the EBL rechargeable batteries suggested.
Not that it matters as I won't ever be buying more disposable CR2s, but the comments made me want to test.
I don't have any Panasonic CR2s, but my Basics ones seem to weigh the most.
I have these 3 batteries:
top is a CR2 that came originally in an Iris v2 contact (sensor installed May 2020),
left a Tenergy purchased from Amazon in March 2016 (in use since March 2020)
right an Amazon basics purchased in April 2020 (installed April 2020)
As you can see, two weigh 11g and the Basics one is 12g.
FWIW, this Amazon Basics CR2 is from the other window in my RCR2 test (mentioned in the rechargeable thread). It reads 78%. It's been in place since April 2020.
Edit: for completeness, I measured it. the EBL rechargeable is 12g.
Edit: I noticed I've got to clean that scale.
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So ultimately what is your conclusion between the 3?
I found this thread searching for any feedback on the Tenergy brand on Amazon. Looks like it is decent, so thanks. But now I am wondering about rechargables people are speaking of. I used to use AA and AAA rechargeable a while back but they were not that great. I think what I am missing is a really good charger. Any recommendations on chargers?
Edit: Found this, was hoping for CR123 also.
Rechargeable batteries have shorter run times than non-rechargeable. If you want the absolute longest run time before having to change out the battery, you need non-rechargeable.
If you don’t mind taking the time to change out the batteries in your sensors more frequently, then rechargeable batteries are an option.
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I've had same luck with panasonic with cr123
My ultimate conclusion: buy rechargeables and stop filling landfills with dead single-use batteries.
Of the 3, they all seem to last fine in my uses. I don't record battery brand in my "Battery Replacement Dates" spreadsheet, so I don't know what I've had in the past. But I have all three of these in dozens of Iris v2 devices (47 contacts and 20 motions) and they've all lasted 18-24 months (at least). But as @Ken_Fraleigh points out, my Amazon Basics aren't what they are selling anymore.
But with the RCR2s lasting 18 months for me, I think they will be good enough to avoid the single use CR2s forever more.
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For CR2, I bought one of the EBL set of 8 with the charger, which looks slightly different then what they now sell (that you linked to).
For rechargeable CR123As, I just bought these and they are arriving today, so I'll be installing them in a few hours.
