Author Topic: Lithium AA cells at Sainsbury's (Read 6601 times)

Tim Hall · « **on:** 10 November, 2009, 09:57:42 pm »

Those of you with a Lithium AA cell habit (users of LED torches bungeed to handlebars fit this description) will be pleased to note that Mr Sainsbury's Emporium of Toothy Comestibles are knocking out a pack of 4 Ever Ready Energiser Lithiums for four of your Earth Pounds. Leastways the one in Crawley is. As a comparison, Tesco had them at, ooh, must have been 7 notes.

We now return you to your regular programme.

Zoidburg · « **Reply #1 on:** 10 November, 2009, 09:59:43 pm »

The 99p shop are knocking out 4 for £2.

Tim Hall · « **Reply #2 on:** 10 November, 2009, 10:00:51 pm »

Now he tells me.

(Lucky I only bought two dozen packs)

andyoxon · « **Reply #3 on:** 10 November, 2009, 10:06:56 pm »

Quote from: Zoidburg on 10 November, 2009, 09:59:43 pm

The 99p shop are knocking out 4 for £2.

'Now with added hint of Lithium'?

clarion · « **Reply #4 on:** 10 November, 2009, 10:08:46 pm »

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/x698XNiV6T8&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/x698XNiV6T8&rel=1</a>

Jaded · « **Reply #5 on:** 10 November, 2009, 10:13:30 pm »

Presumably these are rechargeable and/or can be recycled easily when spent?

TimO · « **Reply #6 on:** 10 November, 2009, 11:17:40 pm »

As far as I know most common Lithium rechargeables have 3v cells, whereas what this thread is talking about are probaby Lithium Iron Disulphide cells, which have a voltage a little about 1.5v so can be used in the same sort of situations as traditional alkaline cells (eg AAs, AAAs etc). I believe it is possible to get rechargeable Lithium Iron Sulfide type cells, but they're not common.

Whilst we have bins at work for recyclng various battery types now, I don't think we can chuck these sort of Lithium batteries in there (or for that matter Li-Ion or Li-Polymer either), and they have to be treated as chemical waste. $:-\$

mattc · « **Reply #7 on:** 11 November, 2009, 10:04:56 am »

I've restricted my Lithium use to special occasions (1200k+ rides). This was for cost reasons!

I didn't realise they were also extra nasty.

[The 99p shop deal is not widespread, but the Sainsbury's' deal is.]

Biggsy · « **Reply #8 on:** 11 November, 2009, 06:59:57 pm »

Morrisons and Wilkinsons also have them at about £1 each. Less from 7DayShop.

And they're Energizer Lithium, not Ever Ready. The best non-rechargeable batteries available.

Save your dead batteries in a big box to make very occasional trips to whatever-politically-correct-place-you-dump-them-at.

Tim Hall · « **Reply #9 on:** 11 November, 2009, 07:15:31 pm »

Shows how good their branding is. Or how observant I am. Biggsy is right, they are indeed Energizer.

But beware their packaging. Make sure they've got "Lithium" printed on the packaging, as Energizer alkalines look very similar.

Bledlow · « **Reply #10 on:** 11 November, 2009, 07:42:02 pm »

Quote from: Biggsy on 11 November, 2009, 06:59:57 pm

Save your dead batteries in a big box to make very occasional trips to whatever-politically-correct-place-you-dump-them-at.

That reminds me that I have a box full . . . .

rogerzilla · « **Reply #11 on:** 11 November, 2009, 08:53:36 pm »

I read that they were more environmentally friendly than normal alkalines when disposed of $:-\$

Zoidburg · « **Reply #12 on:** 12 November, 2009, 04:42:18 pm »

Quote from: Biggsy on 11 November, 2009, 06:59:57 pm

Morrisons and Wilkinsons also have them at about £1 each. Less from 7DayShop.

And they're Energizer Lithium, not Ever Ready. The best non-rechargeable batteries available.

Eveready and Energizer are the same company.

Energizer is the brand name they started using for the better quality batteries.

Biggsy · « **Reply #13 on:** 12 November, 2009, 07:11:31 pm »

Good grief, I had no idea.

mattc · « **Reply #14 on:** 12 November, 2009, 07:17:39 pm »

Either way, using the same blue colour scheme as on the real Lithium batts is pretty sneaky.

Zoidburg · « **Reply #15 on:** 13 November, 2009, 04:39:29 pm »

Shame on them for using a company colour scheme and expecting people to read the label.

teethgrinder · « **Reply #16 on:** 13 November, 2009, 04:51:16 pm »

Quote from: Zoidburg on 13 November, 2009, 04:39:29 pm

Shame on them for using a company colour scheme and expecting people to read the label.

The Energizer Ultimate (overpriced alkalines) and Lithium batteries look almost the same. You do have to read the labels pretty carefully.

You can get 4 Maplins own brand lithium batteries for £4 too, all the time.

Biggsy · « **Reply #17 on:** 13 November, 2009, 05:03:02 pm »

To make it even more confusing, Energizer (sometimes) uses the name "Ultimate" for its lithiums too.

To be fair though, the shade of blue used for the lithiums is slightly different from the alkalines - less greeny.

teethgrinder · « **Reply #18 on:** 15 November, 2009, 09:24:06 pm »

Quote from: teethgrinder on 13 November, 2009, 04:51:16 pm

You can get 4 Maplins own brand lithium batteries for £4 too, all the time.

Whoops! No you can't!

Just been to Maplins today and they are £4 until 24/12/09. Then they go back to £5.

But also, the Enegrgizer lithiums are buy one, get one free, so at £6.99 are even cheaper. (£3.50 for 4) That offer also ends on 24/12/09

Edit: They weren't on offer in my local Sainsburys either.

Wobbly John · « **Reply #19 on:** 20 December, 2009, 05:07:06 pm »

A warning to anybody using Lithium batteries -

They do not like the cold!

I've got some in my Smart 1/2W rear light, and on Friday's commute home it had the output of a damp tealight.

They had only had a few hours use and are fine again now they have warmed up.

Moloko · « **Reply #20 on:** 20 December, 2009, 05:14:00 pm »

These...

And also, the AA packs are £4.89 in Wilkos.

teethgrinder · « **Reply #21 on:** 20 December, 2009, 05:16:26 pm »

Quote from: Wobbly John on 20 December, 2009, 05:07:06 pm

A warning to anybody using Lithium batteries -

They do not like the cold!

I've got some in my Smart 1/2W rear light, and on Friday's commute home it had the output of a damp tealight.

They had only had a few hours use and are fine again now they have warmed up.

Are you sure? Lithiums have a very good recovery, so can seem to work well if you leave them a while, but their output drops quite rapidly after a few minutes. No batteries work as well in the cold. Those Smart lights are very heavy on batteries too. It may be worth switchin it on indoors for about 5 minutes to see if it dims. Plus you could carry a spare light in your pocket with fresh batteries. Much easier to swap lights at the roadside than to faff around with batteries.

Chris N · « **Reply #22 on:** 20 December, 2009, 05:20:35 pm »

Quote from: Dicky Mo on 20 December, 2009, 05:14:00 pm

These...

are alkalines.

This

or this

is an Energizer lithium.

teethgrinder · « **Reply #23 on:** 20 December, 2009, 05:22:23 pm »

Quote from: Dicky Mo on 20 December, 2009, 05:14:00 pm

These...

And also, the AA packs are £4.89 in Wilko's.

I'd still not buy that. One lithium battery will last about 7 times longer than an alkaline. Even if those alkalines lasted twice as long as other alkalines, they would work out more expensive (about twice the price, at best) than lithiums.
Not only that, lithiums will give as good a lkight when almost exhausted as they did when they were fresh, until they get to the stage when they are pretty well finished and they deteriorate rapidly (so you have to be wary of that) Alaklines just deteriorate very gradualy, so a half expired alkaline will give a poorer light than an almost expired lithium.
Handy to know if you are desperate for batteries and there are no lithiums around though.

Moloko · « **Reply #24 on:** 20 December, 2009, 05:23:42 pm »

Quote from: chris n on 20 December, 2009, 05:20:35 pm

Quote from: Dicky Mo on 20 December, 2009, 05:14:00 pm
These...
are alkalines.

This or this is an Energizer lithium.

Yes, I had read the thread.

I wasn't aware that it was a "closed" thread, so very, very sorry for any shock I may have caused you.

Author Topic: Lithium AA cells at Sainsbury's (Read 6601 times)

Zoidburg

Zoidburg

Zoidburg

Chris N