Eunicell SR44 … These are very cheap, but are they any good ?

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

I have previously used, and been very happy with, Energizer 357

… but noticed these Eunicells on ebay : **LINK**

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10-x-357-303-SR44W-SR44SW-SB-B9-V303-303-V357-Silver-Oxide-Watch-Battery-1-55v/183917904009

Has anyone tried them ?

MichaelG.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Button cell as required for many digital calipers, etc. …

[Bill PhinnParticipant @billphinn90025]

I've not tried them, Michael. Might be worth a punt, but I think I'd want to know the manufacture and expiry dates before buying.

It looks like twenty cost only £1 more than ten.

They're made in the place where nine tenths of the world's merchandise seems to be made these days – Shenzhen.

BTW, you have to keep them in a "tray"; it says so on the packet. 

Edited By Bill Phinn on 29/04/2020 01:58:20

[pgk pgkParticipant @pgkpgk17461]

Posted by Michael Gilligan on 28/04/2020 21:14:57:

I have previously used, and been very happy with, Energizer 357

… but noticed these Eunicells on ebay : **LINK**

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10-x-357-303-SR44W-SR44SW-SB-B9-V303-303-V357-Silver-Oxide-Watch-Battery-1-55v/183917904009

Has anyone tried them ?

MichaelG.

A bit pricey or me to have tried when there's cheaper ones about. It depends on your application. If it's for some fancy watch you don't want to open up often then perhaps a more 'relaible' source. But that doesn't apply to me since fancy watch implies expensive.
I have some 'cheapest on ebay' button cells for my cheapo calipers which eats batteries anyway and they last as long as the originals. On the other hand the ones I had in the glove compartment of my old car for the entertainment remote do seem to have stopped working and only 10 or 15 years old. I must get around to throwing them away. The button cell for my car fob again are the cheapest.. bought 4yrs ago and last change out about a year ago and still working in the fob.

pgk

[Kiwi BlokeParticipant @kiwibloke62605]

I've had a few retailers claim that LR44 were the same as SR44. Perhaps this one does, too…

Caveat emptor!

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Kiwi Bloke on 29/04/2020 07:11:41:

I've had a few retailers claim that LR44 were the same as SR44. Perhaps this one does, too…

Caveat emptor!

.

Me too … But these are clearly stated to be SR44 Silver Oxide

It is of course plausible that the packaging is an outright fake … Hence the question.

MichaelG.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 29/04/2020 07:33:44

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Just to put this question in context: Please see my posting, yesterday, on this thread: **LINK**

https://www.model-engineer.co.uk/forums/postings.asp?th=154244&p=4

The Energizer 357 lasts about three years in the Mitutoyo caliper, and is the cell that I have frequently recommended.

They are typically a little over £2 each, and I am happy spending that.

MichaelG.

[Ron LadenParticipant @ronladen17547]

I am not a cheap skate I promise but I bought a card of button cells (£1) from a cheapie shop a couple of years back as we needed some for one of grand daughters toys.

When my Mitutoyo battery gave up the ghost about 4 months back and I didn't have a replacement I used one of the cheapies it was the correct dia and thickness but obviously not a silver oxide. It is still going strong and there are another 3 cells left on the card.

The only worry I have with cheap cells is not how long they last but will they leak so I keep a close eye on it though it looks fine at the moment.

Edited By Ron Laden on 29/04/2020 08:47:09

[nigel jones 5Participant @nigeljones5]

I bought these a while back for 99 pence…cant go wrong **LINK**

[Cornish JackParticipant @cornishjack]

Spent some years working part-time in a clock and watch shop. We made a sizeable income repairing or replacing watches which had been fitted with 'bargain' 357/LR44s etc. They invariably started to 'salt' long before losing power and the resultant corrosion did the damage. Unfortunately, the average 'punter' cannot verify quality of sources so the fake batches are readily available. The 2032s/2025s etc appear to be less prone to faking or poor quality.

rgds

Bill

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

What could possibly go wrong?

• Fake, a cheap Lithium Cell badged as Silver. (Short life)
• Cell genuine but cheaper to make because it contains less electrolyte than best of breed. (Shorter life)
• Electrolyte made of cheaper – less pure – chemicals. (Reduced charge and more likely to leak)
• Case thinner, &/or made of less appropriate metal. (Leaks)
• Genuine, but out-of-date or badly stored (Short life, or dead)
• Made using obsolent technology or to a lower standard (Shorter life)
• Low charge cells made for 'battery included' products, but only intended to prove the product works out-of-box, not to run it permanently.
• Factory rejects. (An out of tolerance machine churns out 10,000 dodgy cells before anyone notices!)
• Stolen (Bargain?)

Against that, there are plenty of legitimate reasons why the cells might be real bargains. A recent thread discussed the cost of crude oil dropping to $0 per barrel. It got worse: 'The price of a barrel of West Texas Intermediate (WTI), the benchmark for US oil, fell as low as minus $37.63 a barrel.' The reason being producers insure against oil price variations by selling it in advance to a third party who gambles they will be able to sell at a profit at some point in the future. Millions of tons of oil, not a couple of cans in a shed! Costs huge money if oil has to be stored after the due date, and the lock-down additionally meant there was no storage available in the US. When this happens the unlucky owner is obliged to pay someone to take the oil away. Same thing on ebay – goods and services are only worth what people are prepared to pay for them.

For the price, these cells are worth a try. Eunicell the company appear to be genuine, but I notice their current product list doesn't include SR44 cells. Could mean the ebay item is either fake (bad) or an end-of-line product being sold cheap (good!) It's a risk.

What surprises me about ebay is most of their stuff being acceptable. However, some goods are far too cheap, or dishonest. For serious work the risk of buying them is off the scale, for you and me at home, buying a pack is a cheap punt. Why not? No tears please if they turn out to be a disappointment!

Only way to find out is to buy some. Be interesting to measure one alongside an expensive brand equivalent and find their actual capacities. Not sure it proves much because what's bought from a small online seller in April might be completely different from what arrives in June – no consistency.

Dave

[Former MemberParticipant @formermember32069]

[This posting has been removed]

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Barrie Lever on 29/04/2020 10:49:30:

Retana

https://www.renata.com/

Specifically says on the case 'Swiss made' hardly worth the trouble of buying cheap tat when these don't cost an arm and a leg.

B.

.

Retana Renata … Part of the Swatch group,

Datasheet here: **LINK**

http://www.farnell.com/datasheets/1497200.pdf

MichaelG.

.

Edit: and here’s the Energizer that I normally use:

https://data.energizer.com/pdfs/357-303z.pdf

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 29/04/2020 11:09:07

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

eBay is a risky place to buy things like batteries and USB sticks, so many fakes around. If the price is right then it might be ok. I am finding that as more tools are becoming battery powered that ones I don’t use regularly it’s best to remove the battery or it will be dead when you do need it. This policy now has the unfortunate effect that the dates are passing on batteries I stocked up with. My Mitutoyo caliper that is now 30 odd years old still work perfectly and has outstanding battery life.

Mike

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by SillyOldDuffer on 29/04/2020 10:34:50:

What could possibly go wrong?

• […]

For the price, these cells are worth a try. Eunicell the company appear to be genuine, but I notice their current product list doesn't include SR44 cells. Could mean the ebay item is either fake (bad) or an end-of-line product being sold cheap (good!) It's a risk.

[…]

Only way to find out is to buy some. Be interesting to measure one alongside an expensive brand equivalent and find their actual capacities. Not sure it proves much because what's bought from a small online seller in April might be completely different from what arrives in June – no consistency.

Dave

 

.

So it would appear, Dave … My alternative approach of asking the forum having failed.

I doubt if I will bother though.

MichaelG.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 29/04/2020 11:11:52

[Former MemberParticipant @formermember32069]

[This posting has been removed]

[Martin Hamilton 1Participant @martinhamilton1]

I bought a card of the cheap JCB brand batteries, i needed to change my watch battery that had been used for around 2+ years on its original battery. Cheapo JCB battery that i fitted only lasted about 6 months & had to change again, they were ok to have as a stand by but would not buy again. I have always had good luck with the Tronic button cells that Lidl sell though.

[JohnFParticipant @johnf59703]

One question — which is the more valuable the tool you instal it in or the few pence you save by using cheap suspect batteries ???

Having been there and a leaking battery wrecking a fortunately not too expensive digital calliper I now purchase known brands from known sellers – not where they are or could be fakes !

You pays you money etc etc

John

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Barrie Lever on 29/04/2020 11:40:20:

Michael

In seriousness (Retana and Renata) that could that be a bit of dyslexia? in later life I have realised that I would be classed autistic if I went through school now, maybe linked.

However thanks for finding those data sheets, Renata 190 mah capacity against 138 mah capacity for Energizer, that is seriously larger capacity in the same package size. I rest my case.

B.

.

No offence intended, Barrie

… I hope it didn’t come across that way

… I was simply trying to maintain some clarity

Yes, I agree that Renata seems to be superb.

I was looking at them yesterday, which is why I had the datasheet to hand.

MichaelG.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by JohnF on 29/04/2020 12:39:06:

One question — which is the more valuable the tool you instal it in or the few pence you save by using cheap suspect batteries ???

.

Presumably a rhetorical question, John

… but if it was addressed to me, then I hope the answer is obvious.

MichaelG.

[Former MemberParticipant @formermember32069]

[This posting has been removed]

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

[John PParticipant @johnp77052]

I gave up using these caliper batteries some while ago they all suffer the same
fate ,flashing display dim readings battery low warning and it seems much
the same if you use cheap or dear batteries.
They all use AAA batteries now , a dummy battery , 2 bits of brass and a fibre
washer some enamelled copper wire soldered to an AAA battery
wrapped in masking tape and stuck on the back with a hot glue gun.
The micrometers use these contacts from RS components.
I leave them turned on all of the time ,most likely will last until the
sun goes dim.

John

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by John Pace on 29/04/2020 17:52:02:

I gave up using these caliper batteries some while ago they all suffer the same
fate ,flashing display dim readings battery low warning and it seems much
the same if you use cheap or dear batteries.
[…]

.

That’s surprising, John

I mentioned earlier, that the battery in my Mitutoyo lasted about three years

… looking back at purchase dates, it’s probably longer than that.

MichaelG.

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

A while ago, Neil carried out a comparison of various digital callipers, including current drain when switched off.

generally, the two most expensive callipers showed Zero drain when off.

Possibly, predictably, the worst were nthe cheapest.

Having said that my very old one, bought for less than a tenner at bIDL seems to have a long life, so maybe, I was lucky.

My £24 M & W one seems to be confirming Neil's findings, although that doesn't use SR44s.

Howard

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