Comparison: Lithium Vs Alkaline Batteries

Although some electronic and photographic devices are designed to only be used with either lithium or alkaline batteries, others allow either type to be used. Some battery types which are available in both alkaline and lithium include "AA", "AAA", and 9V. It usually isn't possible to buy lithium batteries equivalent to larger alkaline types ("C", "D"), or alkalines equivalent to three-volt lithiums.

POWER: A major advantage of lithium batteries in comparison to alkalines is that they last longer before running out of energy. According to the Office Depot website, they will last "4 hours longer" when used to power MP3 players, and "7 times longer" in digital cameras. Wikipedia.org indicates that they can also output a greater voltage for a longer period of time than alkalines, which is useful for some devices like digital cameras.

COST: A disadvantage to lithium units is that they cost substantially more than alkaline equivalents. For example, the price indicated (as of 06/08/2007) on Office Depot's website for four Energizer Max "AAA" batteries is $4.99, while they offer a set of four Energizer e2 Lithium "AAA" batteries for $11.99, which is almost 2.5 times as much. While the additional cost of lithium units may be acceptable if you can afford it, you should avoid putting them in any device which has much chance of being lost or stolen.

VOLTAGE: If you decide to replace alkaline with lithium (or the opposite), make sure the replacement has both the appropriate voltage and type/size. Be aware that some lithium batteries exist which produce a higher voltage than their alkaline equivalents, such as the Tadiran TL2100S "AA" battery (Radio Shack catalog number 23-037) or Saft LS14500, which produce 3.6 volts, rather than the usual 1.5 volts provided by regular "AA" batteries; these are only intended for some specific applications. Energizer e2 lithium "AA" batteries produce 1.5 volts, so they can be used to replace regular alkaline "AA" units in most situations.

WEIGHT: In its details on the Energizer e2 "AAA" batteries (23-661), the Radio Shack website indicates that they weigh 1/3rd less than equivalent alkaline batteries. While this is not a major factor in many situations, it is convenient when using portable devices, and is more likely to be noticed if the device uses several of them.

Both lithium and alkaline batteries are available at Radio Shack, Office Depot, and Target stores. They can also be found on many shopping websites, as well as eBay auctions.