Battery for Moisture Detector

[Snuffy "Hub Cap" McKinney]

I've got a moisture detector that takes a 9v battery, and it says not to use an alkaline battery. Never seen that type of warning before. Anyone know why an alkaline battery is not recommended?

Thanks.

[Snuffy "Hub Cap" McKinney]

Forgot to say - this is a soil moisture detector for potted plants.

"Snuffy "Hub Cap" McKinney" wrote in message news:odydndpUDa3hJJ [e-mail]... I've got a moisture detector that takes a 9v battery, and it says not to use an alkaline battery. Never seen that type of warning before. Anyone know why an alkaline battery is not recommended?

Thanks.

[Frank]

I know that different battery materials can have slightly different voltage but nominally alkaline and carbon-zinc are the same.

[Mike Duffy]

I'm guessing that if it leaks it is more toxic for plants than zinc-carbon or lithium batteries.

[Micky]

They're a different size, however. iirc carbon-zinc are shorter.

[Stormin Mormon]

I wonder if the writer of the instruction was having a bad day. Might been meant to write to use only alkaline battery?

[clare]

Voltage/current curve not compatible? Buy "heavy duty" zinc chloride batteries - they are a lot cheaper anyway.

[clare]

You sure about that?? Lithium and other rechargeables tend to be shorter, but zinc chloride and alkalines are generally the same.

[Stormin Mormon]

I did find a chart (half way down on the right) comparing alkalines to carbon zinc. If you find comparison between zinc chloride versus alkaline, I'd sure like to see it.

In my own tests, alkalines of various brands outlast carbon zinc four to one. I mixed and matched a bunch of cells in various applications. Came out 4:1 fairly consistently.

[clare]

And what does that have to do with the SIZE of a 9 volt battery???

[Stormin Mormon]

You're the one who has recently posted that zinc chloride cells last longer than alkalines.

[gregz]

Carbon voltage will be higher, but it makes little sense.

Greg

[Donald T. Rump]

Maybe it's because alkaline batteries leak and destroy?

[clare]

On this thread battery life was never mentioned. You just want to prove how big a prick you are. Stormin Moron.

[philo]

The only thing I can think of is that an alkaline battery has a much lower internal resistance and that might cause a problem for the electronics.

Just a guess.

[Stormin Mormon]

Thank you for displaying your true personality.

[clare]

I asked you a question about your response, and you chose to not answer the question, and be a prick instead. I call a spade a spade, and a moron a moron.

[Stormin Mormon]

Well, the gentle readers on this list can decide for them selves.

[Micky]

I don't remember for sure which one is shorter but in 9v, one is.

I can't use an alkaline battery in one of my voltmeters. I have to use a standard battery. Because it's shorter. So I guess it's the carbon zinc that is shorter.

(If it's not shorter is more narrow, but I'm sure it's shorter.)

[Snuffy "Hub Cap" McKinney]

I put him in my filter long ago. I only see his nonsense when someone else replies to it.