Battery changes in clocks and smoke detectors and flashlights

[Stormin Mormon]

With the changing of clock time coming up. I like to put new batteries in all the clocks. I have about half dozen clocks around the house. I do the clock batteries and time set at church, also. We have about 25 various clocks at church.

Yes, about this time of year. I like to dig out all my various bug out bags, fanny packs, tool boxes, cave exploration bags, clothing pockets, and every other nook and cranny. Change the batteries in various hidden and sequestered lights.

Of course, the smoke detectors, too. I was talking to my Dad over lunch. he says his detectors beep when they need a new battery, which can be as long as two years. I think waiting that long is false economy. I really reccomended he replace the batteries every year. Cheaper than fire damage. Eveready alkalines (I think?) at Home Depot in the multipacks, work out about a buck each. They also have good price on AA Energizer. For the clocks. It's also wise to push the test button on smoke detectors. I've had them stop working, and the button test is important.

[thanatoid]

"Stormin Mormon" wrote in news:i8u15p$tjt$ [e-mail]:

inanity ped

So what /exactly/ is the point of your post?

BTW, Costco's "Kirkland" batteries last the same or longer than the name brands, and cost about half less.

And PLEASE use a spellchecker when posting. Your "Usenet application", Microsoft Outhouse Express 6.00.2900.5931, has one built in, you know.

And WHAT is that dot after the

site address?

AFA the fictional money-making character referred to by some as "jesus", many of us stopped reading fairy tales years ago. So you're either preaching to the converted /or/ just making yourself look like a damn fool. FYI.

Not to mention that judging by your posts in the "pigeon" thread, you're one sick m*********er.

Nothing like jesusy love for all things living, huh? Oh, wait - all the dumb stupid animals were just created to serve us superior x-ians as food, torture and/or substitute sex objects (for when the choir boys are on tour), and target practice, right?

Plonk. (Look it up.)

[J O E]

Although a brand name alkaline will be useful well beyond one year, and I don't change them in my battery operated radios or flashlights until they show signs of weakening, I agree with Stormy, in that it is prudent to install fresh batt's yearly in smoke detectors. Consider the ramifications of a smoke detector failing, vs. grabbing a flashlight that offers up a puny yellow beam.

So, change out those smoke detector batteries every year, and use the still useful old ones in that transistor radio.

Smoke detectors too, have a finite life, so attention should be paid to replacing the entire unit after 8 -10 years of service.

Most smoke detectors made now have expiration dates printed on them, and some come with lithium-ion batteries installed in a sealed unit that will have to be discarded in 10 years, when the nearly depleted battery will sound a warning.

And, proper disposal is the right thing to do ... there is a facility in my 'hood that accepts all things toxic - batteries, organic solvents, and such.

Joe

[mdauria]

I changed all the batteries in my smoke detectors one time and I have now decided that I will not do that again.

First alert smoke detectors, connected to house power with battery backup. Changed all the batteries in all six smoke detectors in the house. After doing this one of the upstairs smoke detectors (there are three) would randomly beep every once in awhile. Unfortunately since its random, it will chirp and then maybe not make another chirp for a few hours or days. Changed all the batteries again but the problem still persisted. Found a review on amazon.com that said this is a common issue with the first alert detectors I have, to solve you turn off the breaker controlling the smoke detectors and pull out all the batteries, wait a minute and then put them back in and turn the power back on.

Big pain in the a

[thanatoid]

Bob Villa wrote in news: [e-mail] ups.com:

No.

Thank you.

Many, but I don't provide links, that's what your friend Google is for.

[Stormin Mormon]

You're using several times as many devices, but worry about using more batteries? I don't understand that logic.

"Hey, honey! Lets get four or five more smoke detectors, so we can use fewer batteries." Huh?

[Stormin Mormon]

I like your approach. Someday I may write a reply to Plonkasaurus Wrecks.

[aemeijers]

In the stress of moving in, I automatically bought a multi-pack of detectors, vaguely remembering an empty spot where one was. Turns out there were several others in place. I basically have one per room, but since I never close the doors (I know, bad fire safety practice, but I hate stubbing my nose or toes in the dark), they backstop each other. Clocks are one per room, since I detest wearing a watch.

I actually only have 2 clocks that use only batteries, and they eat 2-3 per year. I gave up putting backup batteries in the plug-in clocks, since they would show the 'dead battery' light in a month. I have a timex and a cell phone in the briefcase, if I don't want to wait for the Atomic Clock to resynch, or to dig out the shortwave and hit WWV.

[Peter]

Your timex keeps better time than an Atomic Clock that may have not resynched for 23 hrs. and 22 minutes?

Speaking of battery back-up plug-in clocks, I've noticed that after a power failure that lasts much longer than just a severe flicker, most of mine gained or lost at least 10 seconds. I really don't like inaccurate time pieces, so I also stopped keeping batteries in them because I would manually reset them anyway. My find was the Casio solar powered wavecepter wrist watch

both an analog and digital display on the face. It is solar powered and "atomic". Makes accurately resetting the clock radios, VCRs, DVR, microwave etc. a breeze.

[Jim Yanik]

[e-mail] wrote in news: [e-mail]:

You must be very lucky.Buy a lottery ticket.

I've had Duracells,Everready,Fuji Novel,the HF "Thunderbolt" brand,all leak. In remotes,flashlights,thermostat.

most of the Thunderbolt cells leaked before I ever got to use them,leaked right in the package. and the last batch of Fuji Novels leaked a lot,too,with an exp date of 12-

2014.

I'm trying RayoVac now,and using NiMH where possible.

[Jim Yanik]

Peter wrote in news:i91ng5$io6$ [e-mail]:

over long time periods,the mains frequency is pretty stable. OTOH,the watches and other timepieces can very widely. temperature cycling and initial xtal calibration are probably the big variables.

I use my PC and a "clock-align" program to update to Naval Observatory time,then set everything else to that. but my neighborhood gets a lot of momentary power interruptions.

[Bob Villa]

Toshiba had some batteries that where at the local "Fleet Farm". These were excellent and cheap. Now they push ROV and a Chinese brand.

[clare]

Were the harbour frights alkaline or Manganese Dioxide/ Zinc carbon?

Also, alkalines are NOT RECHARGEABLE, so if you recharge them, all bets are off.

[clare]

Must admit, I seldom buy the ultra-cheap batteries. Even then, I've only had them dead out of the box, not leaking.

Chateau is a common dollar-store brand up here and they are useless.

[Jim Yanik]

[e-mail] wrote in news: [e-mail]:

Duracells are hardly "ultracheap". I've used Fuji Novel for many years with a great record,but the last batch of AA(24 pack,12/2014exp.) has been leaky. I have a camping lantern with Fuji D cells that's been fine since 2007.

Big Lots sells the Fuji Novels.

[Jim Yanik]

[e-mail] wrote in news: [e-mail]:

the HF Thunderbolts are alkalines. I don't recharge non-rechargeables,never have.

[Stormin Mormon]

Actually, they DO MAKE chargers for recharging primary use ALKALINES. I own three of such chargers. If they are run TOO LOW before charging, they might LEAK. Many of the recharged cells are JUST FINE.

[Stormin Mormon]

The Dollar Tree near me, used to have packs of four carbon zinc AA cells, or two alkaline AA cells. The ..... were the better bargain.....

What's your guess?

[Stormin Mormon]

I've had leaky "new in the box" thunderbolts. Problem is, those Thunderbolt Magnums really make me feel invincible. I've had to buy lower voltage Thuderbolt Specials lately.

You should try recharging alkalines. Many of them take a charge, and continue to be useful.

[Stormin Mormon]

When I was a little guy, Dad got a charger for flashlight batteries. That was before alkalines came on the market. Didn't do a lot, but it was a good idea.