Rayovac vs Duracell in my Luminara Window Candles

SHOPR · ‎04-17-2013

I have the original Luminara windows candles that look like chambersticks, first brought to QVC with the co-name of Bethlehem Lights.

This year I bought both Duracell Coppertops and Rayovac Alkaline, D Cells, to use in these candles and other holiday decorations.

I started the 5 window candles all the same night, and kept them on 5-hour timer the whole time. I noticed last night that the very last of my window candles to quit had 2 Rayovacs in it. It lasted a day longer than the only other one that had still been going, which had 2 Duracells in it. With the first 3 to quit, I hadn't paid attention to which of the 2 brands were installed.

I was a little surprised. I knew the Rayovacs were good batteries and cheaper, but I didn't expect them to outlast the Duracells a little, at least in this case.

HTH!

Mominohio · ‎08-08-2010

I wouldn't have expected that either, as I always thought that Rayovac was a lesser quality battery.

This year, Sam's Club (where I always get all my batteries) had a 'new' Quantum Duracell battery. They were more expensive than the regular Duracell's but I thought I'd give them a try in my new VPH window candles with the metal base.

Those candles were advertised to give 40 days of light per battery change, and I'm pushing 60 days on them now. I don't know how long I'd have gotten with the standard copper tops, but I am pleased to know I'm getting as much time as I am on those candles.

I'm thinking that even batteries (good brands included) have been cheapened. I never had a problem with batteries leaking in things, and it happens to me all the time now.

Also, it seemed that several years ago, my Candle Impressions candles would go 6 months or more, without a battery change, and that is time is getting shorter sometimes now.

Nothing is made like it used to be.

Marsha2003 · ‎03-12-2010

Interesting. I often wonder just how freshly made batteries are. Too bad they don't have a manufacturing date like eggs. Instead, they have that outside date listed, but that doesn't mean much to me. I do have a cheap battery tester, but I never thought to test new batteries. The tester probably isn't sensitive enough to differentiate a one day's difference anyway.

PeterDM · ‎07-30-2014

I've tested Duracell batteries alongside Energizers, and Energizers last weeks longer than the Duracells in my Luminara window candles that I keep up in my kitchen all year long. I picked up a set of those Duracell Quantum D batteries at Sam's, @Mominohio, and I didn't notice a difference from the regular Duracells in my pillar Luminaras. After experimenting for years with different batteries, I still think the Energizers I buy at Home Depot are the best bang for my buck, at least when it comes to Luminaras.

GCR18 · ‎07-03-2013

I used to only get rayovak batteries whenever they were on sale. I was having issues with some candles not working with new batteries. I tried Duracell and found them to work better in the luminaras and they lasted longer. When they were last on sale at Costco, I bought a couple sleeves of them. I wondered if the store I was buying them at was selling old batteries.

BornToShop · ‎03-10-2010

@SHOPR wrote:
I have the original Luminara windows candles that look like chambersticks, first brought to QVC with the co-name of Bethlehem Lights.

This year I bought both Duracell Coppertops and Rayovac Alkaline, D Cells, to use in these candles and other holiday decorations.

I started the 5 window candles all the same night, and kept them on 5-hour timer the whole time. I noticed last night that the very last of my window candles to quit had 2 Rayovacs in it. It lasted a day longer than the only other one that had still been going, which had 2 Duracells in it. With the first 3 to quit, I hadn't paid attention to which of the 2 brands were installed.

I was a little surprised. I knew the Rayovacs were good batteries and cheaper, but I didn't expect them to outlast the Duracells a little, at least in this case.

HTH!

SHOPR, I am a huge advocate for the Rayovac batteries. I stock up every time DH & I go to Walmart. The prices are a deal sealer for me. With my collection of battery operated items, the prices on Rayovac are the right fit for me.

SHOPR · ‎04-17-2013

Very interesting comments and differing experiences.

I have a cheap tester, the kind with the needle and the green, gold and red areas on the gauge, and all of the new batteries tested very high green before I placed them.

I bought both the Duracells and Rayovacs in 8 or 10 packs (can't remember) at Walmart in November. I would think that the stock was fresh there because WM in our town has zero competition and almost everyone ends up going there for basic purchases.

It would've been interesting to check Energizers at the same time, but I didn't have any. I'm one who will use any brand if the price is right, realizing that the lesser brands won't last as long. I sometimes even use the Sunbeam heavy duty batteries from Dollar Tree, but they leak so badly, that I have to be careful to remove them as soon as they die.

I do think I'll be buying more Rayovacs for my Luminaras if the price stays quite a bit lower than Duracells and Energizers.

lucymo · ‎12-13-2010

Too bad I don't own stock in Energizer batteries because I just think they work better for me. I'm going to go buy some Rayovac D's and put in one window candle and Energizer in another and date them so if I find out Rayovac last as long as the Energizer then I'll be a convert for sure. I like to get more for my money. @SHOPR, thanks for the results info on the Rayovac batteries. I, too, have tried the Sunbeam ones from Dollar Tree and wasn't careful about removing them and they ruined a set of candles for me so I don't think they were a good buy. I also have had some Duracell leak so I've learned to keep a better check on dead batteries. So far I haven't had Energizer leak but I'm sure they do as nothing is as well made as it used to be.

SHOPR · ‎04-17-2013

@lucymo wrote:
Too bad I don't own stock in Energizer batteries because I just think they work better for me. I'm going to go buy some Rayovac D's and put in one window candle and Energizer in another and date them so if I find out Rayovac last as long as the Energizer then I'll be a convert for sure. I like to get more for my money. @SHOPR, thanks for the results info on the Rayovac batteries. I, too, have tried the Sunbeam ones from Dollar Tree and wasn't careful about removing them and they ruined a set of candles for me so I don't think they were a good buy. I also have had some Duracell leak so I've learned to keep a better check on dead batteries. So far I haven't had Energizer leak but I'm sure they do as nothing is as well made as it used to be.

@lucymo, I'm so bad about remembering to record the date of a new battery placement and then remembering to catch it when it first starts blinking or quits, to see how long it lasts.

It was easier with the window candles since I put them all out the first week of December and took them down when they quit. With all of my other candles, they're always needing new batteries just one candle at a time.

Let me know what kind of results you get with your little experiment.