I still have a couple of the Tesco AA LED torches (the old ones not the weak and crappy new ones) and have noticed that some makes of AA batteries are a tight fit and some will not fit at all.
Anyone else encountered this annoying problem?

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I have but it was some years ago now, in the mid 90's. I bought what was then a leading edge Garmin navigational device. No matter what reputable brand of AA battery I used they were always a tight fit. In fact I seem to remember that after use the batteries tended to swell.
I wrote to Garmin about it at the time, to no avail. Finally one got completely stuck. I've never bought another Garmin product since.

Peter.

I too had this problem with an old Garmin GPS unit, but no similar problem with my Tesco 2AA torch (1W version).

No help to you, but the batteries have always been a little loose in mine. The only thing that indicates is maybe some variation in the body machining tolerances.

Hi Roy
Your problem relates entirely to swelling of the cells usually caused by them getting hot while charging. Some of the AA chargers available are not fit for purpose.
If they get really hot they can actually burst.

Its possible that certain brands of cell may be more susceptible to this than others as well.

There is something about this on ME

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I still have a couple of the Tesco AA LED torches (the old ones not the weak and crappy new ones) and have noticed that some makes of AA batteries are a tight fit and some will not fit at all.
Anyone else encountered this annoying problem?

I have noticed this recently on nearly all my flash guns and some of my cameras that take AA, not only that but the stated capacities of the batteries vary immensly too.

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Hi Roy
Your problem relates entirely to swelling of the cells usually caused by them getting hot while charging. Some of the AA chargers available are not fit for purpose.
If they get really hot they can actually burst.

Its possible that certain brands of cell may be more susceptible to this than others as well.

There is something about this on ME

A good point Roy, but I've just bought a brand new set and they do not fit. My old and tired Energiser NiMh cells still fit after years of punishment. I was looking for cells with a higher capacity...no probs...they fit my S9600 OK :thumbsup:

If I remember I'll mike up a few and see what the variance is.
Makes you wonder what the industry tolerance is supposed to be :confused:

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I had this issue with one of my back-up lights a few years ago (a small single AA LED lamp), so I did a bit of "research" into the problem.

Initially I thought I'd fix the problem by removing the plastic sheath from the battery; it fitted in, but shorted on the metal light casing so it was on all the time...

It seems the higher capacity batteries push the limits of the standard size for a AA battery. Rechargeables are the worst offenders.
If Wikipedia is to be trusted, the diameter of a AA can be anywhere between 13.5 and 14.5mm.

Obviously for a small compact unit, the manufacturer will make the battery housing as small as possible, hence the occasional problem when the limits are pushed from both sides!

I get around the problem now by keeping a new non-rechargeable battery in this light which I replace from time to time, so my back-up should always work!

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any AA batteries that are on the tight side I strip off the plastic cover and replace it once round with thin brown packing tape does the job and is the right width.

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Finally...! I have just had a micrometer session and assembled a collection of 8 different AA batteries; 6 Rechargeable NiMh
and two Alkaline.
These are the results in millimeters, taken across the broadest part of the battery ie on the seam of the plastic cover;-

GP (RC) 1600 mAh = 14.11
Energiser (RC) 1850 mAh = 14.06
Uniross (RC) 1300 mAh = 14.10
Hähnel (RC) 1800 mAh = 14.20
Fameart (RC) 2700 mAh = 14.88 😮
PROFiTEXX (RC) 3200 mAh = 14.78
Duracell (Alk) = 14.06
Kodak (Alk) = 14.07

My 2 Tesco torches will not accept anything over 14.11mm

So much for ISO ::)

In addition, The best rechargeable performers so far have been the Energiser and the Uniross. Both have had severe punishment and have, IMHO performed above and beyond the call of duty; and are still doing so after 6 years....:thumbup:

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Finally...! I have just had a micrometer session and assembled a collection of 8 different AA batteries; 6 Rechargeable NiMh
and two Alkaline.
These are the results in millimeters, taken across the broadest part of the battery ie on the seam of the plastic cover;-

GP (RC) 1600 mAh = 14.11
Energiser (RC) 1850 mAh = 14.06
Uniross (RC) 1300 mAh = 14.10
Hähnel (RC) 1800 mAh = 14.20
Fameart (RC) 2700 mAh = 14.88 😮
PROFiTEXX (RC) 3200 mAh = 14.78
Duracell (Alk) = 14.06
Kodak (Alk) = 14.07

My 2 Tesco torches will not accept anything over 14.11mm

So much for ISO ::)

In addition, The best rechargeable performers so far have been the Energiser and the Uniross. Both have had severe punishment and have, IMHO performed above and beyond the call of duty; and are still doing so after 6 years....:thumbup:

The Fameart are total rubbish Roy, China at its worst.

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Or is that China at its best?

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All that remains to be asked now is....which brand/brands of AA batteries do you think offer the best performance or value for money etc. and for what purposes are you using them?

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Take a look at these and read what people are saying:

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/maxuss-1-2v-3000mah-ni-mh-aa-rechargeable-batteries-2-pack-7729 

I have been using them for about 18 months now. They are certainly not 3000 mAh, more like 2600 mAh, but still outstanding value at $5.72 USD which is £3.68 plus PayPal fees.

Mine do not seem to have lost any capacity.

However, DX description is nonsense as it often is, they are not 1.2V, fresh off the charger I get 1.46V. They are probably giving the 1.2V as a nominal voltage.

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Regarding alkaline AAcells:
Which? magazine usually has a winter test and in the December 2011 issue the Duracell and Energizer best buys are the most expensive, but the cheapest with a similar performance are Aerocell from Lidl at £1.99 for 8.

My Tesco 3 watt AA torch was very tight when new, but I reamed it out.

Lidl rechargeables seem to me to last well, using the Lidl charger. But when they fail it's dramatic - not a gradual tail off.

I've found these Extreme type to be very good, they seem to carry a higher voltage off the charger and work well in one of my Canon cameras and I found them to last very well.



http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/8-x-Extreme-2900-mAh-AA-NiMH-Rechargeable-Batteries-/190323663032?pt=UK_ConsumerElectronics_Batteries_SM&hash=item2c502ca0b8 


I did have some orange ones can't remember the make, but they hardly ran the camera at all, as straight from the charger upon fitting them into the camera the battery low indicator came on, plus I only got a handful of shots with them.

Now going to change all my AA batteries over to these .

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Brakeman, can you give me an accurate diameter measurement for those cells. They sound like just the ticket.

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Regarding alkaline AAcells:
Which? magazine usually has a winter test and in the December 2011 issue the Duracell and Energizer best buys are the most expensive, but the cheapest with a similar performance are Aerocell from Lidl at £1.99 for 8.

Maplin usually do very well in Which? and I think they did very well in The Gadget Show's test, they come in at about the same cost (£2-3 for 8, or 24 for £5-10) depending on the offers on at the time). I know I work for them, but I buy and use the things too, my backup lights are powered by them.

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For suitable equipment, the Maplin Extralonglife+ (lithium iron disulphide) came second in the recent Which? test and at £3.99 for four, a better bargain than the equivalent Energizer Ultimate Lithium at £7. I expect that staff discount helps as well. :thumbsup:

NP