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Semi-related rant : I'm baffled that most AA batteries don't display their capacity. It's literally the most important spec. Models vary between 400 and 3400 mA

Semi-related rant : I'm baffled that most AA batteries don't display their capacity. It's literally the most important spec. Models vary between 400 and 3400 mAh!

kungito 5y ago
Batteries and coffee are the 2 supermarket things which amaze me. How is it possible there isn't some regulation on them having to display anything. Nescafe sometimes have "number of cups" displayed but sometimes they literally only have weight in grams. Next in line a hygienic products with also convoluted units but they seem to always have the "number of washes" at least.
- cyxxon 5y ago
  What other information besides weight (mass) in grams would you want? I mean sure, percentage of Arabica vs Robusta maybe, or lightness of roast, but the weight is exactly what you want and the most neutral and fair information regarding how much you get (and how much you get out of it).
  - HPsquared 5y ago
    Caffeine content labelling would be a big one. Could also be applied to things like cola.
    - kungito 5y ago
      Exactly! The most important question is how much caffeine is there. They market them as "strong" or "mild" and then they have the "new" "strong" and then they added the strength indicator. One has 4/5 dots the other one has 2/3 dots. Why not disclose caffeine content and let me decide how strong that is? Every other time I switch which coffee I drink or when I drink at friends house I get either headache or sleepy because I cannot maintain my caffeine intake
- morsch 5y ago
  Both the number of cups of coffee you get out of 200g of Nescafe and the number of washes you get out of 1 kg of washing powder will vary (depending on how you strong you like your Nescafe and how dirty your clothes are). The same is true for deodorant or shower gel. I think weight/volume measurements are fine for almost everything. Packages for things like dishwasher tabs usually have a number on them (in addition to weight/volume, which is mandated to be on the packaging).
londons_explore 5y ago
If they have the word zinc on them, they're about 400 mah. If they have the word alkaline, they're about 3000 mah. And there isn't much in between. There are a few other weird chemistries, but they're never on the sweet price-performance curve, so avoid them.
- 4gotunameagain 5y ago
  That's not entirely true, capacity greatly depends on current draw and there is significant variability between brands (e.g. https://www.powerstream.com/AA-tests.htm https://www.powerstream.com/AA-tests.htm) Long time ago I stumbled upon a great website with a Wh/€ (the metric that really counts) for almost all brands, but I couldn't find it right now
  - londons_explore 5y ago
    Anything I own that's discharging at 2 Amps (!) no longer uses AA batteries. All those devices now have built in li-ion batteries. AA batteries are relegated to clocks, TV remotes, doorbells, and other low drain devices. In that scenario, all alkaline are pretty much the same.
    - 4gotunameagain 5y ago
      I only use batteries to put them in socks and hit people. In that scenario, all different battery types & chemistries are the same.

Semi-related rant : I'm baffled that most AA batteries don't display their capacity. It's literally the most important spec. Models vary between 400 and 3400 mAh!

kungito 5y ago

Batteries and coffee are the 2 supermarket things which amaze me. How is it possible there isn't some regulation on them having to display anything. Nescafe sometimes have "number of cups" displayed but sometimes they literally only have weight in grams. Next in line a hygienic products with also convoluted units but they seem to always have the "number of washes" at least.

cyxxon 5y ago
What other information besides weight (mass) in grams would you want? I mean sure, percentage of Arabica vs Robusta maybe, or lightness of roast, but the weight is exactly what you want and the most neutral and fair information regarding how much you get (and how much you get out of it).
- HPsquared 5y ago
  Caffeine content labelling would be a big one. Could also be applied to things like cola.
  - kungito 5y ago
    Exactly! The most important question is how much caffeine is there. They market them as "strong" or "mild" and then they have the "new" "strong" and then they added the strength indicator. One has 4/5 dots the other one has 2/3 dots. Why not disclose caffeine content and let me decide how strong that is? Every other time I switch which coffee I drink or when I drink at friends house I get either headache or sleepy because I cannot maintain my caffeine intake
morsch 5y ago
Both the number of cups of coffee you get out of 200g of Nescafe and the number of washes you get out of 1 kg of washing powder will vary (depending on how you strong you like your Nescafe and how dirty your clothes are). The same is true for deodorant or shower gel. I think weight/volume measurements are fine for almost everything. Packages for things like dishwasher tabs usually have a number on them (in addition to weight/volume, which is mandated to be on the packaging).

londons_explore 5y ago

If they have the word zinc on them, they're about 400 mah. If they have the word alkaline, they're about 3000 mah. And there isn't much in between. There are a few other weird chemistries, but they're never on the sweet price-performance curve, so avoid them.

4gotunameagain 5y ago
That's not entirely true, capacity greatly depends on current draw and there is significant variability between brands (e.g. https://www.powerstream.com/AA-tests.htm https://www.powerstream.com/AA-tests.htm) Long time ago I stumbled upon a great website with a Wh/€ (the metric that really counts) for almost all brands, but I couldn't find it right now
- londons_explore 5y ago
  Anything I own that's discharging at 2 Amps (!) no longer uses AA batteries. All those devices now have built in li-ion batteries. AA batteries are relegated to clocks, TV remotes, doorbells, and other low drain devices. In that scenario, all alkaline are pretty much the same.
  - 4gotunameagain 5y ago
    I only use batteries to put them in socks and hit people. In that scenario, all different battery types & chemistries are the same.