AA batteries in laboratory
Independent testing of AA alkaline batteries under varied load conditions
Independent testing of AA alkaline batteries under varied load conditions
A television crew from WDR visited our ALTER | HTV testing laboratory to carry out a technical assessment of standard AA alkaline batteries. The aim was to determine whether there are any noticeable differences in quality between budget and higher-priced products, and how they perform under various loads.
To test the battery life and self-discharge rate of the batteries, they were subjected to accelerated ageing at high temperatures. Seven standard AA alkaline batteries from different price ranges were analysed as part of a sample. The tests were carried out under two practical discharge conditions: 1 ampere (A) and 50 milliamps (mA). The different discharge currents are important because battery cells react differently depending on the load.Different discharge currents are important because battery cells react differently depending on the load. Some perform well at high currents but lose efficiency at low loads, and vice versa.
You can find more information about the differences revealed in the test and the research findings in the TV report here.