Do You Have All the Batteries You Need For the Holidays?
- by Bryan Veldboom - updated on 11/30/2020
There’s nothing worse than opening up a new gift, only to find “Batteries not included” written on the packaging. If you want to be a hero this holiday, be sure to have plenty of alkaline batteries on hand for toys and other electronic gifts. Keep reading for recommendations on how to save money with our battery best buys, plus tips on how to get the most life out of your batteries.
Which Batteries are Best For Toys and LED Christmas Lights?
Alkalines are the batteries of choice for a variety of toys, including talking dolls, remote controlled cars, video game controllers and more. Alkaline batteries come in a variety of different sizes. AA batteries are the batteries most commonly used in toys, although some items might require AAAs or a combination of several sizes.
Alkaline batteries are also commonly used in battery operated Christmas lights. Most new battery operated options are LED lights, which also typically rely on AA batteries, although you may encounter some non-LED battery operated light options that run on other sizes such as C alkaline batteries.
We also offer plenty of rechargeable battery options too, including rechargeable AA batteries. Rechargeable batteries offer an environmentally-friendly alternative to disposable batteries and can save you the cost of constant replacement. If you opt for rechargeable batteries, just remember to pick up a high-performance charger in order to recharge them.
Save Money by Buying Batteries in Bulk
Here's a tip to help save you some money; it's much cheaper in the long run to buy alkaline batteries in bulk. The majority of alkaline batteries have a shelf-life of 10 years or more, so there's no worry about them going bad.
Your local Batteries Plus Bulbs has bulk packs from the brands you trust, including 24 packs of Duracell Coppertop batteries. Duracell Coppertop is designed to deliver dependable power for toys, remotes, digital cameras and other household applications. Looking for the perfect battery for video game controllers, wireless headsets and other high-drain devices? Pick up a 36 pack of Rayovac High Energy batteries.
How to Store Batteries Safely
Alkaline batteries perform best in temperatures between 30° and 70° F, so try to store your batteries in a dry area free from extreme temperatures. Temperatures over 85° F can shorten a battery's life cycle, while temperatures below freezing can decrease an alkaline battery's overall power.
An important tip for the end of the holidays is to be sure and remove batteries from toys, lights and decorations before putting them back in storage. Batteries sitting idle for long periods of time are likely to become discharged. Once a battery becomes discharged, the build-up of internal gases can cause the battery to leak, potentially damaging the item it is stored in. Before you pack away your battery-powered decorations for another season, it’s a good idea to remove the batteries first.
Battery Recycling
What should you do with all of those old batteries once they're spent? Bring them to any Batteries Plus Bulbs location to have them recycled. It's an easy way to help the environment by keeping your spent batteries and light bulbs out of landfills. Get the full story on what we recycle.
A good supply of alkaline batteries is a must-have for the holiday season. Batteries Plus Bulbs makes it easy to shop safe with our curbside service. Just pick the batteries you want on our website and select Buy Online, Pick Up In-Store. While you're there, check out our selection of great gift ideas for that hard-to-shop-for friend.