Small batteries?

[Daelith]

Most alkaline type batteries have a limited shelf life so we don't plan on their being around. Candles (store bought/home made) and such would be the light source. Won't need remote controls, etc., as there'd probably be limited or no electricity to run most of that stuff.

Since you pointed out that candles and such would be the light source, I thought this might be a good place to post this. Saw this on You Tube the other day about mason jar oil lamps - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJwCjFU3ESk&feature=plcp
Not sure I agree on how he's going to store them but...to each his own.

As for the batteries, I find we use more AA than anything else. I keep 9V for smoke dectectors. Got a good deal at our gun range on some CR2023. Got some gadgets that use those and one flashlight.

[blackhawk]

WOULD A SOLAR PANEL BE ENOUGH TO CHARE THEM?

[1Admin]

Lowes had a good couple deals last Black Friday on bulk packs of AA, AAA and D. Maybe something to watch for.

[Grantmeliberty]

I hadn't been on the forum for a few weeks, and looking at this thread, rather expected that someone might have suggested the Eneloop rechargeables by Sanyo along with their adapters for C and D cells. The Eneloops are Low Self Discharge NiMh cells which will hold 75% of charge after 3 years of shelf storage, and with the adapters to turn AA cells into C and D cells, they cover most needs pretty well. I have had a few items where the adapter didn't mate with the spring in the equipment properly, but for most items they work well. Something to try out before you need them. I also have some NiMh rechargeable C and D cells as well as a bunch of rechargeable 9 Volt NiMh batteries. I have a pretty good stash of 2016, 2032, Ag13 and other watch batteries on hand for watches, the illuminators on some scopes and pistol lasers.
Solar panels which put out 12 volts should be capable of charging your NiMh cells if you have the right charger. It would be a good thing to have a digital voltmeter on hand to check battery charge states. My digital meters use either 9 Volt or AAA batteries, and they will work on rechargeables.
For alkaline batteries I purchase bulk packs of Kirkland, and avoid Duracells like the plague. I have seen and dealt with more corroded equipment and flashlights containing leaking Duracells than I could ever have imagined 20 years ago. My first experience was with a 3 D maglite in about 1994 which I had put in my vehicle after purchase to have a good backup light. Within a year I had a need to use it and it was dead as a doornail. I opened it up and the middle cell was thoroughly corroded and stuck in the tube. I drove it out, cleaned up the corrosion, checked the voltage of the remaining cells, which were in excess of 1.5 volts (fully charged) and replaced the bad cell and marched forward. I thought that that was a flier and forgot about it until about 10 years later when I ran into a string of failures of AA and AAA duracells in flashlights and atomic clocks which really got my attention in a very bad way. I gave my negative feedback to Duracell and got reimbursed for the damaged flashlights and vowed to never buy any more duracells. I didn't stop purchasing led lights from Costco, though, and they generally come with duracells. Unfortunately I have had some of those corrode since then and I haven't yet given my negative feedback to duracell for those. The coupon which they sent for replacement batteries in addition to the check they sent for the damaged equipment was used to procure 9 Volt batteries because I haven't yet had a duracell 9 Volt fail by corrosion.
On the issue of chargers, my favorites are the Maha brand, the newest being the 9000 series which is programmable to cycle and restore as well as to charge at whatever rate you might choose. My older Maha, 10 years old at least, will recharge C and D cells as well as 9 Volts, but recharges the AA, AAA, C and D cells in pairs which is not my favorite system. I much prefer to charge individually, so I reserve that charger for C,D and 9 volt service.
As far as the CR123 cells are concerned, I avoid them because I don't want to deal with the Li Ion technology and its uncertainties. I have AAA cell Led lights which put out 200 lumens as well as AAA headlamps which put 140 or better lumens, so I really don't feel deprived in the brightness department.
Most of the solar yard lights utilize a single AA NiMh cell of very low capacity. The cells are generally 400 mah rated while the Eneloops I use are rated at a minimum of 1900 mah. The yard lights which have an on-off switch would be best suited to recharging the high capacity AA cells over a multi-day period. You would probably want to check the charge progress with a voltmeter to determine how many days you would need to get a full charge.
Wasn't planning on writing a book, but someone asked the question. LOL

[Rmplstlskn]

Batteries have always been the bane of aggravation for me... After many devices lost over the years to battery leakage (several different brands, even Duracell), I no longer store batteries in any of my "prep" devices, but keep them in a seperate ziplock bag with the device. When CVS or other places have sales (often 50% off), I buy more D, 9v, AA and AAA, the most commonly used... I store them in boxes inside. Even then, when I resort them after a new purchase (oldest used, newest to the bottom), I often find a pack that has LEAKED. I have a pack of D's I need to return to CVS right now, bought last year, good to 2017 (yeah, my arse they are)...

And rechargeables are just as aggravating, as I do not use them enough to rotate them as I should, so some fail due to my lack of rotation... Very frustrating to throw away batteries that should be good, but for some reason my fancy-arse charger says it can't charge them, or the hold a weak charge, dying out right when I NEED THEM most...

So I guess I keep batteries, but I do not plan on them in a PAW...

Rmpl

[Gus14]

I cant say I ever thought of standardizing for the stay in place stuff. In my packs, bags, bob, etc, I have 123 and AA stuff only. Basically it stays in their respective areas, get changed out twice a year, and I keep 2 extras/object using them.
In the house, barn, and cabin there are all kinds of battery users. 9v, 6v, AA, AAA, C, D, marine, 12v, 8v, and on, and on. I have an area for house related batteries in the house and all others get stored in the shop in a ventilated battery storage rack.
There is no way I could standardize even if I wanted to. Some things would need overhaul in order to convert/change over and it would be far more expensive than it would be worth.
I simply prioritize the need for having additional batteries and increase on hand supply as needed.

[Klayton]

@Rmpl... I havent used a 9V in over 10 years, what are you still using 9V for?

[Spock]

AAs. smaller lighter can shove more into storage space, plentifull, I have two lights that use a single AA and they are brighter than my 3 d cell mag WITH its 3 watt led conversion. camera uses AAs I have a pile of rechargables and rechargers, lithiums are available.

[miked2345]

@Rmpl... I havent used a 9V in over 10 years, what are you still using 9V for?

Smoke detectors... at least both of mine do.