# Is there a technical reason for requiring certain brands of batteries in a home thermostat? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 8, 2010, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-technical-reason-for-requiring-certain-brands-of-batteries-in-a-home-thermostat/535414 "2010-04-08T15:33:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-technical-reason-for-requiring-certain-brands-of-batteries-in-a-home-thermostat/535414/1 "2010-04-08T15:33:04Z")
I have a Luxpro thermostat, and in the battery compartment it has warning saying to use only Energizer or Duracell AA batteries. Is there a technical reason for this? Or is this BS? ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-technical-reason-for-requiring-certain-brands-of-batteries-in-a-home-thermostat/535414/2 "2010-04-08T15:38:22Z")
My guess would be that perhaps they want you to use longer-life alkaline batteries instead of some cheapo Ray-O-Vacs that aren’t going to last as long. I’m not sure why they couldn’t specify “alkaline batteries” though instead of specific brand names. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-technical-reason-for-requiring-certain-brands-of-batteries-in-a-home-thermostat/535414/3 "2010-04-08T15:43:17Z")
I would have said they have an endorsement deal with the battery company, but seems less likely if they recommend the two biggest competitors in the business. Possibly they want you to avoid using cheap batteries that might leak and ruin the unit. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-technical-reason-for-requiring-certain-brands-of-batteries-in-a-home-thermostat/535414/4 "2010-04-08T15:49:53Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > Possibly they want you to avoid using cheap batteries that might leak and ruin the unit. This would be my guess. They probably get tons of bad 'stats back that were damaged by leaking no-name batteries. By specifying a better quality battery, they can cut down on returns. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-technical-reason-for-requiring-certain-brands-of-batteries-in-a-home-thermostat/535414/5 "2010-04-08T15:49:55Z")
they are quality long lived batteries. if you used lower quality batteries, like a store brand, they might need to be replaced more frequently. if you needed to replace batteries frequently then you might develop a dislike for that seeming ‘battery eating’ thermostat and tell all the people you know to stay away from that brand. ---
**Author:** ![Khendrask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@Khendrask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khendrask)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-technical-reason-for-requiring-certain-brands-of-batteries-in-a-home-thermostat/535414/6 "2010-04-08T15:51:22Z")
There is no technical reason, except to try to ensure that the battery life is consistent. Physically and electrically, an alkaline AA cell is an alkaline AA cell, regardless of manufacturer, even if some have lower overall capacity then others. ETA - I don’t know what your thermostat is, but my electronic/programmable one for the heat pump only uses the battery to keep the program intact, and the clock running if the power goes off. There is a slight chance that they recommend the ‘Big Brand’ batteries because they are less likely to leak then off-brand ones are, but that is only conjecture, and meaningless if you change them out every year or two. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-technical-reason-for-requiring-certain-brands-of-batteries-in-a-home-thermostat/535414/7 "2010-04-08T15:55:22Z")
> [@Khendrask](#): > > There is no technical reason, except to try to ensure that the battery life is consistent. > Physically and electrically, an alkaline AA cell is an alkaline AA cell, regardless of manufacturer, even if some have lower overall capacity then others. > > ETA - I don’t know what your thermostat is, but my electronic/programmable one for the heat pump only uses the battery to keep the program intact, and the clock running if the power goes off. There is a slight chance that they recommend the ‘Big Brand’ batteries because they are less likely to leak then off-brand ones are, but that is only conjecture, and meaningless if you change them out every year or two. This is so not true. Different manufactures use different techniques when they make their batteries. Cheap batteries have much poorer seals and thinner case metal. They leak more often than better quality batteries. ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-technical-reason-for-requiring-certain-brands-of-batteries-in-a-home-thermostat/535414/8 "2010-04-08T15:57:00Z")
Change your battery once a year, say at the beginning of heating season. One time my cheap battery failed while the heat was ON, so it just kept running. I woke up at midnight, and the house was about 95 degrees! ---
**Author:** ![raindog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@raindog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raindog)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-technical-reason-for-requiring-certain-brands-of-batteries-in-a-home-thermostat/535414/9 "2010-04-08T16:00:44Z")
> [@campp](#): > > Change your battery once a year, say at the beginning of heating season. > > One time my cheap battery failed while the heat was ON, so it just kept running. I woke up at midnight, and the house was about 95 degrees! That was unrelated to the batteries… ---
**Author:** ![raindog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@raindog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raindog)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-technical-reason-for-requiring-certain-brands-of-batteries-in-a-home-thermostat/535414/10 "2010-04-08T16:03:00Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > I have a Luxpro thermostat, and in the battery compartment it has warning saying to use only Energizer or Duracell AA batteries. > > Is there a technical reason for this? Or is this BS? I would tend to agree with **CookingWithGas.** I suspect any alkaline battery will work, although I only use Duracell. ---
**Author:** ![3waygeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/e95f7d/32.png) [@3waygeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3waygeek)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-technical-reason-for-requiring-certain-brands-of-batteries-in-a-home-thermostat/535414/11 "2010-04-08T16:03:36Z")
Not mentioned yet is the difference between alkaline and rechargeable batteries. One thing I’ve noticed with my thermostat is that when I use NiMH instead of alkaline, the LCD is considerably dimmer. That is unique to thermostats, in my experience – every other LCD-bearing device I’ve used NiMH is just as bright & legible as it would be with alkalines. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-technical-reason-for-requiring-certain-brands-of-batteries-in-a-home-thermostat/535414/12 "2010-04-08T16:19:10Z")
> [@3waygeek](#): > > Not mentioned yet is the difference between alkaline and rechargeable batteries. One thing I’ve noticed with my thermostat is that when I use NiMH instead of alkaline, the LCD is considerably dimmer. That is unique to thermostats, in my experience – every other LCD-bearing device I’ve used NiMH is just as bright & legible as it would be with alkalines. a NiMH battery at fulll charge is 1.2V an alkaline battery at full charge is 1.5V i have some devices that don’t run long at 1.2V (or just below). depends on how the device was engineered. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-technical-reason-for-requiring-certain-brands-of-batteries-in-a-home-thermostat/535414/13 "2010-04-08T17:28:22Z")
I have seem minor, but significant differences in physical dimensions between brands. I used to have an SLR that used a lithium battery, and it was a known issue that Name Brands W and X simply would not work reliably unless you cut a shim out of a business card so the contacts would be secure. ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-technical-reason-for-requiring-certain-brands-of-batteries-in-a-home-thermostat/535414/14 "2010-04-08T17:36:31Z")
> [@raindog](#): > > That was unrelated to the batteries… 😕 Where you there? What was it, then? ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-technical-reason-for-requiring-certain-brands-of-batteries-in-a-home-thermostat/535414/15 "2010-04-08T17:53:47Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > My guess would be that perhaps they want you to use longer-life alkaline batteries instead of some cheapo Ray-O-Vacs that aren’t going to last as long. I’m not sure why they couldn’t specify “alkaline batteries” though instead of specific brand names. Rayovac claims their alkalines last just as long. [http://www.alice.com/products/1264692](http://www.alice.com/products/1264692) ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-technical-reason-for-requiring-certain-brands-of-batteries-in-a-home-thermostat/535414/16 "2010-04-08T19:58:26Z")
> [@3waygeek](#): > > … when I use NiMH instead of alkaline… I’d put te blame on Mrs. Frisby and the Rats 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-technical-reason-for-requiring-certain-brands-of-batteries-in-a-home-thermostat/535414/17 "2010-04-08T20:19:10Z")
> [@Philster](#): > > Rayovac claims their alkalines last just as long. > > [http://www.alice.com/products/1264692](http://www.alice.com/products/1264692) Yeah, I guess that wasn’t very clear. I didn’t mean the Rayovac alkalines, just their cheaper “heavy duty” batteries. In fact I have a package of them here in my desk and it says “For higher drain devices use Rayovac alkaline”. ---
**Author:** ![raindog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@raindog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raindog)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-technical-reason-for-requiring-certain-brands-of-batteries-in-a-home-thermostat/535414/18 "2010-04-08T21:00:12Z")
> [@campp](#): > > 😕 Where you there? What was it, then? Batteries-----weak or strong couldn’t have caused it. It could have been the thermostat, but not the batteries in the thermostat. As **Khendrask** pointed out, the batteries just hold the program. They don’t have anything to do with the actual operation of the furnace. ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-technical-reason-for-requiring-certain-brands-of-batteries-in-a-home-thermostat/535414/19 "2010-04-08T21:05:15Z")
Hmmm, that’s weird then. I wonder what it was? Even the furnace guy said it was the battery. Oh well, hasn’t happened since. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-technical-reason-for-requiring-certain-brands-of-batteries-in-a-home-thermostat/535414/20 "2010-04-08T21:09:58Z")
> [@raindog](#): > > Batteries-----weak or strong couldn’t have caused it. > > It could have been the thermostat, but not the batteries in the thermostat. > > As **Khendrask** pointed out, the batteries just hold the program. They don’t have anything to do with the actual operation of the furnace. Don’t programmable electronic thermostats need power to keep the internal thermometer and electronics going as well? If I pull the batteries, the thermostat will stop determining current temperature and comparing it to programmed temperature, and thereby signalling the furnace, won’t it? I can see a badly designed one leaving the connection that tells the furnace to turn on connected when the batteries get weak. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-technical-reason-for-requiring-certain-brands-of-batteries-in-a-home-thermostat/535414.md?page=2)