Does brand name really matter for 9v batteries in smoke detectors?

[Omy]

Replaced 9v batteries in my 3 year young Kidde smoke/co detector (hardwired with battery backup). It continued to make a strange sound, so I decided to replace the device. Before I bought new detectors, I read the back of the device and it said that you had to use Energizer or Duracell (I had used less expensive Rayovac High Energy batteries) or the detector might not work properly. I purchased Energizer batteries and installed them and the device now works perfectly.

Does brand really matter in this case? Has anybody else experienced this?

[zolotiyeruki]

I've never run into the same issue, and we generally use Rayovac batteries in everything.  Sometimes even less-name-brand than that.

[Omy]

It was very odd....but Rayovacs were half as expensive as the other required name brands so maybe there's something in their construction that makes them incompatible.

[lifeisshort123]

No, battery brand name does not matter.  Buy whatever is cheapest.

[reeshau]

If you are a member of Sam's Club, Energizer makes their batteries.

Duracell makes Costco's.

[Omy]

I would have said the same thing until yesterday's experience. I tried two different brand new rayovacs and they both failed...and after reading the warning on the back of the device, I installed a new energizer battery and it worked perfectly. I'm perplexed.

[nereo]

The short answer is it involves manufacturing tolerances.

When I was deploying marine sensors Duracell batteries were far more consistent both in terms of capacity and mass. Neutral buoyancy was crucial for us, and the variance between Duracell batteries was less than 1%. IIRC Rayovacs had a variance of 4-6%, and ‘generic’/off-brand were even higher. We couldn’t buy Energizer batteries in bulk where we were but it’s my understanding they are of similar tolerances as Duracell.

I’m a bit surprised that a smoke detector would have that tight requirements, but it could matter.

[Omy]

Interesting!

[NWGriot]

Were those Rayovac batteries both out of the same package? Perhaps they were stale.

[BlueMR2]

Some devices are sensitive and need alkaline batteries.  The cheaper 9v batteries use different chemistry and as a result have a different power curve.  I'm really surprised that you had an issue right away though.  Usually it shows up later on.  The big name brand alkalines tend to maintain voltage well over time with a sudden drop at the end whereas the "other brands" tend to have a steady decline from day 1 over time.  It's just different, not worse.  In some use cases the cheaper batteries are the better choice.

[Omy]

Were those Rayovac batteries both out of the same package? Perhaps they were stale.

Yes. Brand new package. I suppose it's possible the entire package was defective. Marking on the bottom of the battery says 1221FO and on the side says 12-2027. I'm not sure if either of those indicates when it was made or when it expires.

[HipGnosis]

Energizer & Duracell are alkaline batteries.  They have a higher energy density (and longer shelf life).
Aldi Activ Energy (brand) batteries are Alkalines at a great price.

I've got a 10 yr battery in my smoke detector.

[Tempname23]

No, battery brand name does not matter.  Buy whatever is cheapest.

  I don't think that is true, brand does make a difference. This video tests different brand AA batteries. The best MAH per penny is the Amazon Basics, but the longest lasting battery is the Energizer. The Energizer produced 1888 MAHs, vs the Amazon Basics at 1382 MAH (milliamp hours) under a 300milliamp load.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7-ghrTqA44

[Just Joe]

No, battery brand name does not matter.  Buy whatever is cheapest.

...that doesn't leak. Duracell has leaked and made a mess in a couple of our gadgets.

[GuitarStv]

Brand of 9V can matter.  At least I've found that it can with acoustic guitars that have built in preamps.  Apparently there's no hard standard for the size of 9V batteries.  Some of them are physically larger and some are physically smaller.  I've had issues with non-energizer/duracell batteries not fitting into some guitars.