Best D Batteries

Even though devices are getting smaller and smaller, you can still find things that use “D” size batteries nowadays. Since D batteries are so big, they have a high energy density, and can store a lot of charge. People find them especially useful for lighting solutions, as in larger flashlights--where you don’t need a lot of voltage, but you want the lights to be on for several hours at a time. So they have use in radio receivers and transmitters, toys and appliances with electric motors, motion sensors, and megaphones.There are also “boom boxes” that employ D batteries, to play music especially loud. Baby monitors, swings, and cradles, which have to be on for a long time, also employ D batteries.

We've put together this guide to help you select the best “D” batteries that answer to your needs. It'll help you:

• Choose the right type of D battery,

• See useful tips about that type of D battery,    

• Read reviews of different brands of D batteries, and what customers are saying,

• Select the right brand of D batteries, and

• Compare prices and find the best deals.

Batteries can be classified as primary and secondary batteries. Primary batteries are good until they use up their charge--then they must be disposed of. Secondary batteries are rechargeable batteries.

• Disposable Batteries: There are several materials employed in making disposable “D” size batteries:

  • Carbon-Zinc: A carbon-zinc battery produces a 1.5 V potential between the + and – ends of the battery. They are still employed in low-drain devices, as well as in toys that are used only occasionally. They have a short shelf life, because the zinc shell tends to react with the ammonium chloride paste in the cell, making it corrode and leak.

  • Alkaline:     These cost less than the lithium ion battery. They're best in devices that don't use a lot of power, but that you for a long time, like lights in a window display.    The Rayovac UltraPro D Batteries (ALD-6), as well as the Duracell Copper Top D Batteries are alkaline batteries.

• Rechargeable batteries: When you buy rechargeable batteries, they'll typically have no charge. You'll have to get a battery charger to     start using them. There is a limit to the number of times that you can recharge them. These can employ a number of combinations:

  • Lithium-ion: These offer greater stability than alkaline batteries, since they're less likely to leak, and keep their charge longer. So they're better in appliances and toys that you don't use very often, but use a lot of power.

  • Nickel Cadmium (NiCd): These provide 1.2 V, which is a slightly lower voltage than the standard 1.5 V. Even so, they typically will work with most devices that require 1.5V batteries, since the 1.5 V battery only provides that voltage initially, and then settles down to an average of 1.0 Volts.     These have an advantage over NiMH and Lithium-ion batteries, because they perform well in portable tools. NiCd batteries can totally     discharge without damaging the battery. Lithium-ion batteries may get damaged if they stay uncharged for too long.    

  • Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH):     Once charged, these can hold their charge for 12 months when not in use. The total lifetime of the battery is 5 years.

• Precharged Batteries: Some companies, such as Powerex, market precharged batteries. They employ a technology that works around a common problem with rechargeable batteries. Regular rechargeable batteries have to be recharged every few months, even if they haven’t been used. (They can lose their charge to the extent that they can’t be recharged again.) But precharged batteries use special materials that lose their charge more gradually. This way, they can have 85% of their charge, even one year after the last time they were charged up. Another advantage is that they are ready to use out of the package--you don’t have to charge them up before their first use. They also have higher capacity, lower impedance, and can deliver more current than conventional rechargeable batteries.

Based on all the consumers' reviews we've scanned, these are the top things they mentioned about their new stuff:

• Suggested not to overcharge batteries: It's recommended to take batteries out of the charger if they're fully charged. Not all chargers cut off the recharging when the batteries are fully charged.

• Number of times that they can be recharged: The Tenergy D     batteries can be recharged up to 1000 times without any significant     degradation. This can save you over $1000 over the lifetime of this battery, considering the cost of 1000 alkaline, disposable D batteries.

• Shelf life: A concern when buying disposable, non-rechargeable batteries is that they may be old and won't have much charge left in them. There should be an expiration date on the batteries. It's best to get alkaline batteries, which can be guaranteed for 7 years or more. The Rayovac UltraPro Alkaline D Batteries (ALD-6) are built with increased density, to keep their charge up to 7 years from the manufacturing date.

• Charge rate: This is how long it takes to charge up your batteries. A battery is rated in milliampere-hour, abbreviated mAh. A charger is rated in milliamperes of output power, mA. For a 100 mA charger, the charging time in hours = 12/1000 x mAh of the battery. If your recharger is rated at 500 mA, divide the answer by 5. Thus, if your battery is rated at 3000 milliampere-hours, and the recharger is rated at 500 milliamperes, it will take (12/1000 X 3000)/5 = 7.2 hours to charge your battery. Expect D batteries to take a long time to charge up--as much as half a day.    

• Battery recycling: All batteries should be disposed of separately from the general household waste. It is important to dispose of batteries where the materials can be recycled, and not leak into the environment.

Duracell—was founded in 1924 by Samuel Ruben and Philip Rogers Mallory, as the P. R. Mallory Company. Their headquarters is presently in Bethel, Connecticut. The name “Duracell” is a contraction of the words “durable cell”. They originally made mercury batteries, but over the years developed alkaline batteries, lithium batteries and NiMH (Nickel-Metal Hydride) rechargeable batteries. They also make rechargeable battery chargers, USB battery packs, and batteries for special uses.

Tenergy—was founded in 2004 in Fremont, California. They make power providing solutions for power backup and storage, data management, the medical field, the military, transportation and consumer electronics. They make rechargeable and primary batteries, chargers, and battery accessories.

Powerex--is a brand of Maha Energy Corporation. Maha was founded in 1993 as a designer and manufacturer of battery and battery charging technology for industry and the consumer. PowerEx batteries is one of their brands, making batteries and battery chargers.

Odec--is a manufacturer of rechargeable batteries in a variety of sizes: AAA, AA, C, D, and 9 Volt. They make both NiMH and Lithium Ion batteries. They also make rechargeable batteries for power tools from major hardware companies, such as Black and Decker, Makita, and Dewalt, as well as for cordless phones.

Rayovac—is a division of Spectrum Brands, which was founded in 1906 as the French Battery Company, in Madison Wisconsin. They make batteries under the brand names Rayovac and Varta, as well as making home appliances. They make all-purpose batteries, rechargeable batteries, lithium batteries, lantern batteries, and more.