Can you mix different brands of batteries? (2023)

FAQs

Can you mix different brands of batteries? ›

Q: Can you mix different brands of batteries? A: As chemistries and voltage vary across both battery types and brands, we recommend that you do not mix batteries. Mixing of cells can result in battery leakage and sub-optimal device performance.

DON'T – Mix old and new batteries, batteries of different brands, or batteries of different types (for example heavy duty zinc chloride batteries and alkaline batteries) in the same device as this may cause the batteries to leak. DON'T – Attempt to recharge non-rechargeable batteries.

It is highly advisable to use batteries of the same type, brand, size and expiry date in one appliance. The electrical capacity of different types or batches can differ.

Joule's law dictates that thermal energy gain accompanies loss of electrical energy. Thus, mixing old and new batteries forces an excessive amount of energy through an abnormally high resistance. The new batteries run out sooner, while the old battery overheats. By mixing old and new, we are wasting good money.

When replacing the batteries, it is best to use new and unused alkaline batteries. We recommend name brand batteries, Duracell or Energizer brands are always good choices. Store brands do not operate at the same level of reliability.

Q: Can you mix different brands of batteries? A: As chemistries and voltage vary across both battery types and brands, we recommend that you do not mix batteries. Mixing of cells can result in battery leakage and sub-optimal device performance.

Different types of batteries (flooded or AGM) also can have different charge/discharge characteristics. When you connect two or more batteries that don't charge and discharge at the same rate, one battery will probably end up overcharged and/or one battery will end up undercharged.

Store your used and new batteries in separate containers or plastic bags and mention the date you bought them. Also, batteries of different types should be kept apart from one another. If they are stored together, they could react and cause short-circuit.

No. Car batteries differ in multiple ways to work with different vehicle's specifications, and they are generally year, make, model-specific.

Be careful not to let the wrench touch both the negative and positive terminals simultaneously, as it could create a spark, cause the battery to short out, or even damage the engine's computer or the vehicle's electrical system. With the negative cable set to the side, repeat the process with the positive cable.

Is it bad to replace only one battery? ›

One battery (the one with more charge) will tend to charge the other… Current is limited by the internal resistance and some power will be wasted heating that internal resistance. After some time the current flow will taper off. Some capacity will have been wasted as heat.

In general, batteries made by reputable companies with strong brand names do indeed perform better than the cheap stuff. Energizer, and Duracell (probably the most expensive battery brands) are among the best performers.

The battery life in these two brands differs. Energizer lasts three times longer in clocks than the Duracell, but Duracell takes the crown by lasting two times longer when used in flashlights. To ensure that our environment is not harmed, both brands support the Call2Recycle program.

But experts say that the batteries you can buy at dollar stores are lower quality, Kiplinger reports. The carbon-zinc batteries that dollar stores typically sell don't last as long as the alkaline name brands.

You can look at the battery section of the Owner's Manual of the car or truck. If the owner's manual can't be found, look at your existing battery and see what BCI Group Size is already installed. The Group Size is labeled in several places on the battery. Generally on the top and/or on the front of the battery.

It is a misconception that if one battery goes bad it will ruin all the other batteries. The reality is they can appear that way when they are all hooked up together in a bank. Once they are broken down and the bad one is removed you could hook the others back up and they would work just fine to keep you going.

No, not really, but they must be at the same voltage when put in parallel. Otherwise, will the battery with higher voltage charge the battery with lower voltage until they are at the same voltage.

Household batteries

Do not store batteries with the opposing ends touching one another. Avoid storing household batteries with other metal objects, like desk staples or loose change. Contact with metal can cause the battery to short-circuit, which could then cause the battery to leak.

In general, mixing batteries of different capacities and ages is not recommended because one will charge and discharge before the other. However, if the voltages are the same and technologies are the same, nothing really bad will happen.

There is no theoretical limit to the number of batteries that can be connected in parallel.

Why do you need to tape the ends of batteries? ›

By taping or bagging each battery, you prevent the terminals from coming into contact with other terminals, batteries, or metal objects, which can cause a short circuit, and, in some cases, a fire. Avoiding these hazards is a top priority.

While cold environments help maintain battery life, refrigerators and freezers are not safe to put batteries in. The moist environment will cause condensation on the batteries. This in turn will lead to rust or other damage. Avoid putting batteries under extreme temperatures at all times.

The answer from battery makers is a uniform and unequivocal. "That's a long-held myth, and the answer is no," says Tom Van Voy of Panasonic Energy Corp. of America. All the major brands recommend a clean, dry, room-temperature environment.

As far as disadvantages, placing batteries in parallel can make them take longer to charge. Also, the lower voltage means higher current draw and more voltage drop. It may be difficult to power large applications, and you'll need thicker cables.

To join batteries in parallel, use a jumper wire to connect both the positive terminals, and another jumper wire to connect both the negative terminals of both batteries to each other. Negative to negative and positive to positive. You can connect your load to one of the batteries, and it will drain both equally.

to make it clear, you can parallel a new battery with your old one, but as soon as you do the new battery will take on the same age and capacity characteristics of the old one. you can also parallel an identical older battery to your present old battery, but whichever is worse will be the standard for all.

By installing a larger battery, you may inadvertently install a battery of higher voltage than is required. This could cause undercharging and even burning out the electrical system in the car. Burning out the car's computer is very expensive and the fix can cost thousands of dollars.

Replacement batteries should equal or exceed the OE battery in ratings. Replacing a battery with a battery that has a lower CCA than the original equipment may result in poor performance.

Power drains rob the car battery of its total power. Extreme heat shortens its lifespan. Then a cold snap may suffocate the battery enough to kill it. Yet, your car battery is strong enough to work reliably for years.

What comes off first when changing car battery? ›

When disconnecting the cables from the old battery, disconnect the negative first, then the positive. Connect the new battery in the reverse order, positive then negative.” When you are replacing your car battery, It isn't always easy to remember the order in which to disconnect and reconnect the terminals.

If you use the wrong size battery, this could cause changes in the flow of electrical currents, resulting in power surges that can damage the onboard computers or other components.

Most hybrid vehicles, like the Toyota Prius, have two batteries. A smaller 12 Volt auxiliary battery, and the much larger high voltage Hybrid System Battery. The purpose of the 12V, is to power the computer and accessories when the hybrid system is not in Ready Mode, and to assist in starting the vehicle.

Some cars will get up to five or six years out of their battery, while others will need a new one after only two years. In general, your car will usually need a new battery after three to four years. Replacing your car battery is another part of routine maintenance.

Is a brand name battery any different from a generic or a store brand? "If you're talking about alkaline batteries, the chemistry is always the same," Illinois Institute of Technology physics professor Carlo Segre says. He says the quality of manufacturing can vary, making the name brands a safer bet.

When it comes to rechargeable batteries, Duracell batteries use Ion Core Technology, which allows for a longer-lasting charge.

Rayovac batteries are consistently cheaper than Duracell and Energizer, while maintaining the high quality standards of name brand batteries. Shelf Life: Energizer batteries have a shelf life of up to 20 years for AA and AAA batteries and up to 10 years for the Energizer 9V battery.

Energizer's AA batteries have 2200 mAh by contrast. A Duracell AAA battery has 1150 mAh. An Energizer AAA battery also has 1150 mAh. This gives Duracell a slight disadvantage in comparison to Energizer, which packs more power into its AA batteries.

They might be some of the cheapest batteries you can buy but, in my tests, the Amazon Basics Alkaline AA are some of the best. They have the second-highest total capacity, after the GP Ultra AA batteries, but the highest initial drain capacity.

1. Exide Industries Ltd. Exide Industries ltd is India's largest selling battery company.

Which battery is most cost effective? ›

Lead batteries are the lowest cost option compared with other battery technologies, in terms of both upfront cost and over the lifetime of the system.

Depending on power, size, and quality, prices for a replacement car battery range from about $45 to $250. Your local dealership, auto parts store or automotive service center can check your current battery or hook you up with a new car battery.

Average Price of a Car Battery

Based on the make and model of your vehicle, you can expect to pay around $50 to $120 for a standard car battery and around $90 to $200 for a premium type.

Depending on the manufacturer, batteries of the same size and capability of AAA, are referred to in a few different variations. Direct replacements for AAA would be LR03, R03, FR03, HR03, KR03, ZR03, 24A, 24D, 24LF, MN2400, MX2400, MV2400, Type 286, U16, HP16, UM 4, and more.

AAA batteries differ greatly in chemistry and hence they differ in capacity, voltage, current/voltage discharging characteristics, and many other features, which may be of great importance when powering sensitive electronic equipment.

You cannot connect batteries of different amp-hours in series with good results. We strongly recommend you DO NOT attempt to mix battery sizes (amp-hours) and connect together. Due to differences in battery management systems and battery cell counts, there may be a charging and voltage discrepancy between batteries.

The best type of battery will depend on the device you want to power. The single-use type is cheaper to buy but tends to cost more in the long run due to the need for replacement. Rechargeable AAAs will cost you more upfront, but you won't have to replace the batteries every so often.

Is a brand name battery any different from a generic or a store brand? "If you're talking about alkaline batteries, the chemistry is always the same," Illinois Institute of Technology physics professor Carlo Segre says. He says the quality of manufacturing can vary, making the name brands a safer bet.

Are Energizer batteries as good as Duracell? ›

Duracell uses Duralock Power Preserve Technology, whereas Energizer operates PowerSeal. In terms of power longevity, Duracell seems to have that advantage. Energizer has a longer storage lifespan and wins the price battle, which may be the deciding factor for most people.

In general, batteries made by reputable companies with strong brand names do indeed perform better than the cheap stuff. Energizer, and Duracell (probably the most expensive battery brands) are among the best performers. It turns out that when it comes to batteries, you get what you pay for.

As you will see shortly, the same group size battery can come in a variety of CCA ratings so you can choose a more powerful battery for your vehicle if needed. Using a battery with a higher CCA rating than what is recommended by the manufacturer is completely safe and won't harm your vehicle.

Batteries connected in parallel must be of the same voltage, i.e. a 12V battery can not be connected in parallel with a 6V battery. It is best to also use batteries of the same capacity when using parallel connections.

A low CCA rating indicates that the battery doesn't hold enough power to turn on headlights or start the engine. An ideal battery for a small car should have a rating of at least 150 CCAs, while high-performance vehicles should have a rating of around 500 CCAs.

In short, when two non-identical batteries are connected in parallel, current will flow from higher voltage battery to lower voltage battery. Which is not good. Small voltage difference between these two batteries can balanced but if voltage difference is high it may destroy lower voltage battery.

The basic concept is that when connecting in parallel, you add the amp hour ratings of the batteries together, but the voltage remains the same. For example: two 6 volt 4.5 Ah batteries wired in parallel are capable of providing 6 volt 9 amp hours (4.5 Ah + 4.5 Ah).