AA batteries

I recently bought some AA batteries, a box of 40.

Needing to change the batteries in the house fone I tipped out the old ones and inserted the new fresh ones but found that the + contact did not reache the contact in the battery holder.

I am convinced that the new batteries + end is shorter than it should be.

I will now have to commit surgery on the battery box to cut away part of it to allow full contact.

The batteries came from a reputable supplier.

I've been finding this more and more recently - but I also think the length of the cells is increasing as they appear to be harder to fit into the available space. Duracell seem to be the major culprits, but I've also noticed that Panasonic Eneloop rechargeables are bigger than the traditional cells. Things like Nikon Speedlights seem to have enough latitude built-in to cope, but older TV remotes are definitely on the lower end of the tolerances.

Rob

Energizer quotes “industry standard” dimensions : **LINK**

https://data.energizer.com/pdfs/l91.pdf

I would be interesting to know how yours compare

MichaelG.

Was that a BT cordless phone by any chance? I had exactly the same problem when I changed batteries but when I prised the spring clips out a bit it was enough to make good contact. Alternatively I could have bought the BT approved/branded replacements instead at an inflated price.

Update - my phone uses AAA and not AA batteries.

Some rough measurements using digital calipers

Duracell AA cell Panasonic Eneloop

Diam 13.91 to 14.30 (not truly circular) 14.18 to 14.45

Overall length 50.67 50.43

Main body length 48.80 49.17

Pos terminal 1.88 1.30

The plastic sleeve makes accuracy difficult as you get difference depending where exactly you measure, but the above are as close as I could get. Also had to be quick as the caliper were effectively shorting out the cell on a couple of the measurements.

So it seems they are both within spec apart from the diameter of the Duracell in certain orientations.

I'll try a few others.

Rob

Edit - Drat! The careful formatting didn't work - first figures are Duracell, second are Eneloop

Edited By Grindstone Cowboy on 26/07/2021 23:12:34

A dab of solder on the contact should work ! Noel.

Scrunched up heavy tinfoil eg from pie case.

Yes, exactly same problem , the cap end would not reach the contact plate in the can opener.

Soldered a 'blob' onto the contact plates , fits all batteries now.

Another thing to watch is projection of the plastic sleeve at the negative end. Intemittent problems with replacement AAA rechargables in out Panasonic phones were due to poor contact due to this. They are now fine after trimming flush with a razer blade.

Naming an offender IKEA yellow AA batteries will not work in my Worcester Bosch wireless central heating controller for just this reason

And I thought this was a thread about Flak Batteries from WWII !!!!

Good one!

Hi AJAX, no, not a cordless fone,just a house fone with answerfone.

This is not the only item I have found with battery insert problems and to my mind the makers have changed the

design slightly.

Answers show it is a problem for people.

I thought it was more that the battery boxes in stuff made in you know where are a bit scant on dims. American stuff that takes batts is ok, or mine is!!

Do you now have lots of flat batteries?

Anyone measuring batteries with calipers, insert a piece of writing paper between one end of battery and caliper,

then measure thickness of paper. deduct paper thickness from battery length.

This is not meant to be patronising in any way

I have found some batteries that vary in the same pack

Edited By roy entwistle on 27/07/2021 15:58:58

This is where a cheapo plastic vernier caliper comes in really useful.

Peter

exactly what I was thinking.

regards

... or just zero the calipers with the paper in.