Batteries - Best Buy Tips
Introduction
AA and AAA batteries are used for years in toys and sensors to make them portable, and with the coin cell batteries, devices can be made very small but still battery powered.
The advantage for sensors is that you can place them everywhere without the need to wire them. Some devices can run for years on a single battery, but now and then you still need to replace them.
Before you start using a new sensor, first check what kind of battery it uses and if you already have some of them available in case they are empty. When it gets out of fuel, you can directly replace it with a new battery.
To avoid waste of pressure metals, you can also use rechargeable equivalents.
Did you know that for all the regular coin cells, there are also rechargeable variants available
On the long end, they are cheaper because you can use them over and over again. You also don’t have to worry about buying new ones, just recharge and reuse them!
If you use the disposables, and they are empty, bring them to a location where they can recycle them!
These are common types of batteries:
On this page, you find links to online stores where you can buy the most common batteries also the links to the rechargeable equivalents.
Also, ways to convert a battery powered device into a wall powered device.
And how you can replace a CR2032 battery for two AAs for a much longer battery life.
Table of Contents
- AA
- AAA
- CR2032
- CR1632
- CR2450
- Battery eliminators
- DIY Zigbee outlet sensor
- Battery powered Christmas decorations
NOTE 1: Links on this page can be affiliate links. You pay the same price AND support my blog.
AA
Disposable
Disposable AA batteries - Yuform (AliExpress)
Disposable AA batteries - Yuform (AliExpress)
Rechargeable
Rechargeable AA batteries - Eneloop Panasonic (AliExpress)
(AmazonUS)
(AmazonNL)
4x Rechargeable AA batteries - Duracell (AmazonUS)
(AmazonNL)
Charger
Charger for AA and AAA batteries
AAA
Disposable
Disposable AAA batteries - Yuform (AliExpress)
Disposable AAA batteries - PARAISO (AliExpress)
Rechargeable
The advantage of these is that they are everywhere available to buy, also in your local supermarket. Because of the size, they can run for a long time on a single battery. Even these are available as rechargeable. The downside is that these make the sensor also quite big.
Rechargeable AAA batteries - Eneloop Panasonic (AliExpress)
(AmazonUS)
(AmazonNL)
4x Rechargeable AAA batteries - Duracell (Amazon)
Charger
Charger for AA and AAA batteries.
CR2032
Disposable
This CR2032 is the most commonly used battery. It’s small, but still has enough power to run sensors for a year.
CR2032 - Panasonic (AliExpress)
(AmazonUS)
(AmazonNL)
Rechargeable
The CR2032 rechargeable version is the LIR2032.
Instead of buying batteries for only a single use it's also possible to buy the rechargeable variant of the CR2032, called LIR2032.
They are not very famous and more expensive, but environment friendlier, and it reduces waste.
2x LIR2032 rechargeable batteries (AliExpress)
5x LIR2032 rechargeable batteries (AliExpress)
(Amazon)
Charger
LIR2032 rechargeable adapter with USB-C (batteries not included) (AliExpress)
Lights green when it’s full.
DON’T CHARGE NORMAL DISPOSABLE CR2032 WITH IT!
LIR2032 and others coin cell charger with USB-C (batteries not included) (AliExpress)
CR2032 USB battery replacements
It's also possible to convert a wireless CR2032 devices to a USB wired devices.
Now you don't have to care about replacing batteries.
CR2032 USB battery replacements (AliExpress)
CR2032 USB battery replacements (AliExpress)
CR2032 coin cell to two AA batteries adapter
Replace a CR2032 with two AA to get 18.5x longer life span!
See my dedicated page about this “hack”.
CR1632
This CR1632 battery is a bit smaller than the CR2032.
Disposable
CR1632 - Panasonic (AliExpress)
(AmazonUS)
(AmazonNL)
CR1632 - Panasonic (AliExpress)
Rechargeable
The CR1632 rechargeable version is the LIR1632.
Rechargeable LIR1632 (AliExpress)
Rechargeable LIR1632 (AliExpress)
Charger
LIR1632 and others coin cell charger with USB-C (batteries not included) (AliExpress)
CR2450
This CR2450 battery is a bit thicker than the other ones.
Disposable
CR2450 - Panasonic (AliExpress)
(AmazonUS)
(AmazonNL)
Rechargeable
The CR2450 rechargeable version is the LIR2450.
Rechargeable LIR2450 (AliExpress)
Rechargeable LIR2450 + charger (AliExpress)
Charger
LIR2450 and others coin cell charger with USB-C (batteries not included) (AliExpress)
Battery eliminators
Battery eliminator (aka battery replacements) is, as the name already says, a replacement for battery power device to connect them to the main power. This saves you from buying new batteries. The big advantage is also that you now can control them with your home automations by adding a smart plugin between the plug and the wall outlet. Now you also don’t have to worry that you forgot them to put them off again. There are different variants of them. Replacements for AA or AAA batteries and with a plug or USB connector. The advantage of a USB connector is that you can plug multiple to an active powered USB-hub to control multiple ones.
AA battery replacement with USB (AliExpress)
(Amazon)
AAA battery replacement with USB (AliExpress)
(Amazon)
AA battery replacement with power socket EU (AliExpress)
AAA battery replacement with power socket EU (AliExpress)
CR2032 battery replacement with USB (AliExpress)
USB A or C to clips 3V (same voltage as two batteries) (AliExpress)
DIY Zigbee outlet sensor
Sometimes you want to convert a battery powered Zigbee sensor to a hardwired sensor. You can use these battery eliminators for that. Check this out on my DIY Zigbee outlet sensor page.
Battery powered Christmas decorations
I use these a lot for all kinds of my Christmas decorations. I have a dedicated page about how I did this to automate my battery powered Christmas decorations.
See ESPHome DIY sensors - Best Buy Tips for all kinds or hardware buy tips to create your own sensors.
Or Zigbee - Best Buy Tips for all kinds of Zigbee devices buy tips.
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