Panasonic Zinc AA Batteries (R6) - 10 Pack

These are Panasonic AA cells in zinc carbon chemistry, supplied on a single blister card of ten. Zinc carbon is the oldest and plainest of the everyday battery chemistries, and the cells themselves carry the words for low power products printed on the wrap, which tells you most of what you need to know. An AA zinc carbon cell gives a nominal 1.5V, the same working voltage as any other AA, so it will fit and run anything that takes the size. What sets the chemistry apart is how much current it will give up at once, and how it copes with a long, hard load. The card also prints 0% Pb Hg Cd added, meaning no lead, mercury or cadmium has been put in.

Put them where the draw is small and steady: wall clocks, kitchen timers, television remotes, door chimes, mantel radios, simple calculators and the sort of children's toys that beep rather than drive a motor. Zinc carbon is at its best trickling out power over months in devices like those. Anything that pulls hard, a motorised toy, a digital camera, a bright torch left running, will flatten a zinc carbon cell noticeably faster than an alkaline one, so keep alkalines for the greedy jobs and use these for the rest of the house.

One unit of this listing is a single card of ten cells. It is a trade line, so the minimum order is 20, sold in multiples of 20, which brings 200 cells to the first order. Primary cells simply keep longest somewhere cool and dry, out of a hot loft or a sunny windowsill. Change all the cells in a device together, since one tired cell drags a fresh set down with it.

How many batteries are in the pack?

You receive ten AA cells on one blister card. The pack front reads AA 10, and the flash printed on it notes ten for the price of eight.

What is the difference between zinc carbon and alkaline?

Both give a nominal 1.5V, so either will run an AA device. Alkaline holds up far better under heavy continuous current, while zinc carbon suits low drain use.

Which devices are these best in?

Wall clocks, remote controls, door chimes, kitchen timers, radios and quiet toys. The cells are printed for low power products, which is the maker's own guidance on the wrap.

Can these be recharged?

No. Zinc carbon cells are primary cells, made to be used once and then recycled. Only cells sold as rechargeable should ever be put into a charger.

Do they contain mercury, lead or cadmium?

The card prints 0% Pb Hg Cd added, so none of the three is added in manufacture. Spent cells still belong at a battery collection point rather than in the bin.