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Comparison of battery life (mAh) in eight different brands of hearing aid batteries

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In reply to @HearingAidHelper

@HearingAidHelper said:

Has anyone noticed that Power One Batteries are not working the same as they used to? I am noticing that my patients are complaining that either the battery is dead, or making the hearing aid generate the low battery tone almost instantly once inserted into the hearing aids after removing the sticker.

The only thing that has worked so far to make these batteries usable, is to peel the sticker and wait about a minute and then insert them after that wait.

HAs anyone else had similar experience? Are there better batteries out there that I don’t know of?

Thanks in advance.

— Updated —

Has anyone noticed that Power One Batteries are not working the same as they used to? I am noticing that my patients are complaining that either the battery is dead, or making the hearing aid generate the low battery tone almost instantly once inserted into the hearing aids after removing the sticker.

The only thing that has worked so far to make these batteries usable, is to peel the sticker and wait about a minute and then insert them after that wait.

HAs anyone else had similar experience? Are there better batteries out there that I don’t know of?

Thanks in advance.

A notice comes with all batteries I order from the sponsor of this site that says: “wait 1 or 2 (3?) minutes before inserting batteries in after pealing off sticker”. I usually get the brand X batteries.

I normally wait less than a minute, I am a firm Power One user. Some time ago I had problems with Everedy Batt’s. I did some testing to see why I had short life. I found that the voltage of each new battery was much different between each one and some were dead. The exp date was a full year ahead of the time I was testing. My theory was the peel off tab’s were not sealing the air hole properly. I complained to the factory and got replacements but never used them,I switched to P_One’s and have been happy ever since. I use Type 10’s.

CLIFFORD

I use Power Ones and I pull the tab and wait one - two minutes before using and I’ve never had a problem. it may not take two minutes, but I believe some time is required before the battery reaches full power after the tab is removed.

In reply to @miket

@miket said:

A notice comes with all batteries I order from the sponsor of this site that says: “wait 1 or 2 (3?) minutes before inserting batteries in HA after pealing off sticker”. I usually get the brand X batteries.

I guess I will have to wait longer before I engage my batteries in my aids. But I have not really seen any change in battery life one way or the other.

Those people who use Power One Batteries, are you using the mercury batteries or the mercury-free batteries?

— Updated —

Those people who use Power One Batteries, are you using the mercury batteries or the mercury-free batteries?

Greetings from Switzerland.

I have 2010-era ReSound Dot2 in both ears - these take size 10 batteries.

My audi sells both Rayovac and Power One (Varta) - prices are pretty similar unless he has a special offer on one of them. Locals supermarkets stock both Duracell and Varta branded batteries but I’ve never bought from them as they only sell single 6-packs rather than the more economical boxes of 10x 6-packs.

I get at best 3.5 days with the Rayovacs, and usually nearly 4 days with the Power Ones.

I tended to get a lot of duds with the Rayovacs - maybe 1 in every second 6-pack so, and so after swapping between both brands in the early days based on price, I’ve been using Power Ones exclusively in the past 2-3 years.

Ever since I got my five years ago, I’ve been buying my batteries from the sponsor of the site. I’ve been buying their “no name” brand which is called “icelltech”. I have seen that same product advertised by other sellers. They seem to last almost as long as the more expensive namebrand battery. A couple weeks ago, I bought a pack of batteries when I was at Costco. They were cheaper, at least 10 or 20% cheaper. A few that I’ve tried lasted at least as long as the ones I had been using.
This does create a moral dilemma. This site was extremely useful in educating me in the year before I finally got my first HA. It has been useful since then as well. I figured I would say at least 20 or $25 a year buying all my batteries at Costco. I guess I can justify the added cost by saying that the added “service” I get from this site is worth $20 a year.

I wear Unitrons Moxis. I have tried Rayovac, Energizers, CVSs branded, and Duracells. Duracells are the only ones that I find to be reliable. I have found brand new Rayovacs to be DOA. The energizes and the CVS batteries were giving me less than 24 hours. I don’t know if I have just been unlucky with non-Duracells or if my hearing aids are persnickety but, I get 5-6 days consistently with the Duracells.

I am picking up a set of Trax42s on Wednesday with size 13 recharables. I hope they give me more consistent performance.

The 13’s should serve you. Some have reported that the 312’s don’t last an extra full day. They need to be recharged nightly compared to replaced weekly or whatever.

I too like Duracell and have gotten good results with them. Although the Costco ones do almost as well. I get about a day extra with the Duracell. That makes the Costco ones a bit more cost effective but I also like the longer pull tabs on the Duracell. The Costco ones are too short for easy use with my hands.

I’d be more interested if anybody has found that aids were struggling to maintain their longer term performance with the latest mercury free batteries across any battery/hearing aid type.

I have been using Rayovac and since they passed to the MF era they had issues. Voltage was 1,4 now they mention 1,45. DOA and huge fluctuations even a day of life. Now things seem again normal. No problems last 6 months.
I do believe that it would be time to do the test again that was done 6 years ago by the admin. Rayovac, PowerOne are the main competitors out there with icell, Zpower, Duracell
I wish i could do it for all of you i would be willing to do so if i was explained what equipment i need to have to do it.
I am thinking switching to Power one but not sure yet. Now people may use wireless also that do drain the battery faster for sure …that would be an addition to the test !!!

I use duracell. They cost more but batteries are a cheap part of it all. The duracells last a day or two longer for me. They come in a plastic case that is easy to throw in a pocket. They also have longer tabs which are a nice feature.

My audiologist had numerous complaints about Rayovac batteries that he sold a while ago and switched back to Power One. I myself find no difference between them since I get 8 days of power in my ’s with both brands. One caveat is that when I use accessories such as the Compilot, it tends to cut the time by a few hours.

In reply to @Um_bongo

@Um_bongo said:

I’d be more interested if anybody has found that aids were struggling to maintain their longer term performance with the latest mercury free batteries across any battery/hearing aid type.

If your question refers to h.a. performance over the lifespan of the battery, the discharge curve for zinc-air batteries is very flat. That is, their output voltage remains quite constant until they give out completely.

@Arxaios69 said:

I have been using Rayovac and since they passed to the MF era they had issues. Voltage was 1,4 now they mention 1,45.

Open-circuit battery output voltage is a function of the chemical reaction that makes them work. So all zinc-air batteries will have the same open-circuit voltage, regardless of manufacturer.

I have been wearing hearing aids for 35+ years and while battery technology from my first aid to now are vastly different when looking at modern batteries, be it 13 or 312 I have found little difference between the high priced models and the cheap Chinese Ebay batteries. My aids are on 16+ hours days and are high powered models. I get a week of life out of most batteries, be it high cost name brand and cheap Chinese batteries.
Failure rates are about the same regardless of who’s name is on the package. For $12-15 I can get 60 batterys to meet my needs for a year.

@ohgary said:

Failure rates are about the same regardless of who’s name is on the package. For $12-15 I can get 60 batterys to meet my needs for a year.

 I think your math is wrong - unless you only have one HA.   If a battery lasts a week - you would need 50-60 for ONE for a year.  Two HA would take twice as many.   I agree - not much diff. between "no-name" and expensive branded - not enuf to make up price  diff.

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