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2026-04-14 Kodak Super Heavy Duty Batteries

I noticed an ad in a sale catalogue from Princess Auto for Kodak Super Heavy Duty Batteries. They are made with a Zinc-Chloride mixture, which is different than the normal Carbon-Zinc found in other “Heavy Duty” batteries. 
    Before we go on we should point out any battery labelled “Heavy Duty” are the weakest batteries made. In order of capacity disposable batteries go—
  1. Heavy Duty (Carbon-Zinc)
  2. Alkaline (high capacity and good life)
  3. Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cad—strongest power, but limited capacity)
  4. Lithium (powerful and high capacity)
Some are “rechargeable” to a small degree, and some are not.
    I looked up what a zinc-chloride battery has as an advantage and found they have a very long life on the shelf—in the range of at least 3-years. They are slightly higher capacity than the carbon-zinc batteries. They are not rechargeable!
    I ended up going to Princess Auto after the sale date. Princess Auto has a large Surplus area and these batteries were part of that category. Sometimes Surplus items are available long after the “Sale”.
    I found the batteries in the alley herding the public to the check-outs. Much to my delight I found both the advertised four batteries for $.99, but another deal of 14-batteries for $2.22. Obviously a much better deal at 16¢ a battery instead of 25¢ each.*
    I snapped a pack of 14-AA size and 14-AAA size. After all, when am I going to get such an opportunity again?
    Batteries are the mine field of photography.
    Camera rechargeable batteries all seem to require different dedicated chargers or cords. Sometimes the batteries have to be recharged and discharged several times to hit their capacity. 
    Then there are flash units. 
    The flash units without built-in rechargeable NiCad batteries almost all use AA size batteries. Some require alkaline—although you are welcome to use Heavy Duty carbon zinc if you are looking at a really small number of shots—and specify not using Ni-Cad (danger of overheating the flash electronics).    Some flash really prefer Ni-Cad and handle them with faster recycling, but of course less reserve power than alkaline batteries (faster performance but fewer shots).


    The back of the blister pack does point out the batteries are best for low drain products. For high power applications the Kodak Alkaline battery is best. Ideally these low drain batteries would work well in toys with sounds, clocks, weather stations, timers and the like. In this use the batteries life time is important, while the demand for real power is not high. At the same time these batteries are slightly higher in power than the Carbon-Zinc Heavy Duty batteries, so can be used in a high demand item like a camera with a built-in flash, or to stretch a point an electronic flash. 
    In all uses the Kodak “Zinc” battery is better than regular “Heavy Duty”.

*You can buy bulk packages of AA and AA alkaline batteries at many retailers. It is not uncommon to buy 24 and even 40 battery packs in the $10-14 range. That makes them cost 25-35¢ each. On the other hand Alkaline batteries might have a shelf-life problem. 

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