I believe it's been mentioned that the LR types are alkaline.. and IME, the
cheap ones often go bad just sitting in a drawer, but many have a short
shelf life (unlike better quality AAA to D alkaline cells).
I've bought the very cheap bulk, no-name, flea market LR44 10 or 20 packs
from various sources in the past, and they were the worst.

A couple of years ago the Big Lots stores started stocking a better variety
of small cells, and I found the silver oxide SR44 cells in a blister pack of
5 for under $2.. but I think the cost was a little higher the last time I
got a few packs.
But the SRs are branded (not Ever/Dura) and have dates on the packaging, so
it's fairly easy to see that they aren't just salvaged freight which may
have been sitting around for a couple of years.

These SRs far outlast even a brand-name LR cell. I put them in anything that
uses 44/13 size cells.
I take the digital caliper batteries out when I put it back in the case..
there are round cut-out holes in the foam to store them, or some cut-outs
can be cut to hold 1-2 extra cells.
Marking the battery cover with a bright paint pen helps to prevent it from
getting misplaced.

I keep intending to install a tiny switch (from a small LED light or other
little gizmo) to be able to shut the power off when not using the calipers,
but removing the batteries isn't so inconvenient.. losing the battery cover
would be.

--
WB
..........


"Bob La Londe" wrote in message
...
I seem to recall a conversation a while back some of you guys mentioning
another battery in place of the LR44 with a lot longer life. I never
really worried about it before. I just used the LR44s for my laser pointer
for playing with the cats, but I recently picked up a digital caliper and
it came with an LR44.

What was that other battery?

P.S. I could not find an affordable (ok cheap) dial caliper with a metric
dial. Lots of metrics out there, but the dials on all the ones I looked
at had .001 inch gradations. I actually prefer a dial caliper, but I
needed a metric one right now for some measurements where I didn't want to
have to slow down and multiply constantly to get the metric conversions.

On a positive note. I did want a caliper that would do inch fractional
for a while, and this cheap digital will do that too.

I guess I can always stock up on LR44s. It will make the cats happy.
LOL.