2032 Li button batteries on Amazon not all created equally

[Cropduster172]

I don't think the problem is with the key fob or batteries. Put a multimeter on the new Panasonic battery and see if it reads 3.0 volts. If so, the battery is good.

The condition highlighted above indicates a problem with the door lock actuator(s) or a bad door lock switch.

I suspect it is a sporadic problem that comes and goes. I'd focus on the driver's door lock actuator.

Thank you. I believe this to be the issue. Warranty issue for next week.

 

[Marcozi]

Ditto on Renata. Swiss made. Was the coin cells Radio Shack sold, a little hard to find now locally.

I bought some Renata CR2032 batts from Mouser. They were made in Indonesia.

 

[andrew_j]

For wireless key fob I only buy Japanese brands at a trusted store not online where they can have fakes.

 

[Cropduster172]

For wireless key fob I only buy Japanese brands at a trusted store not online where they can have fakes.

That's a good plan for the more commonly available batteries but doesn't work for the the more scarce ones

 

[SOUNDMAN5000]

I had bad luck with Amazon batteries for my key fobs... I gave up on them actually and is one of the few things I will now go to Walmart to purchase. ( I hate Walmart and seldom go anymore ) I can check the date and have never had a "fresh" Walmart CR whatever battery fail when opening the package like with my Amazon experience. I have had great luck buying AA, AAA batteries from Amazon but not the CR's

 

[y_p_w]

When it comes to these button-style batteries, I stick to well known brands: Panasonic, Energizer, Toshiba, and used to be Sony, but they got out of that business (sold to Murata). The lesser known brands are a crapshoot.

Maxell (used to be Hitachi-Maxell) is the best in the business. Their Li-Mn button cells are still made in Japan and are of the highest quality. Panasonic is OK although they've moved production to Indonesia.

 

[y_p_w]

If you can pick Renata batteries, they're top notch. They use zinc powder and are paste-like on the inside, not liquid, which minimizes leakage issues.

Renata are notorious for their silver-oxide batteries leaking. And they're factory installed in a lot of battery powered Swiss watches. Seizaken or Maxell seem to resist leaking better.

https://www.thewatchsite.com/threads/friends-dont-let-friends-use-renata.144394/

Their lithium primary cells don't seem to have any issues though.

 

[jtwrace]

I use the Thunderbolt Harbor Freight buttons and they are excellent.

https://www.harborfreight.com/search?q=batteris&category=2234&current=1

 

[CarLuver]

i wish someone would make a tester that will put a load on these button batteries to check capacity

 

[Quattro Pete]

i wish someone would make a tester that will put a load on these button batteries to check capacity

Yeah, capacity testing is challenging with these coin cells because the expected load is very tiny, and normally not applied continuously.

Here is some interesting reading on the topic:
https://thecavepearlproject.org/202...scharge-time-with-our-2-part-promini-loggers/

The quickest/simplest test would likely be with using a 220 Ohm resistor to observe voltage sag under load, but this of course will not measure capacity:
https://batteryskills.com/how-to-te...ls/#CR2032_Battery_Voltage_What_Readings_Mean

 

[willbur]

i wish someone would make a tester that will put a load on these button batteries to check capacity

the cheapo ($7 ?) Harbor Freight multimeter does. I keep mine around just for that

 

[Cropduster172]

the cheapo ($7 ?) Harbor Freight multimeter does. I keep mine around just for that

I bought one of those last summer. Thing works great....I think I paid $8 for it.

 

[Quattro Pete]

the cheapo ($7 ?) Harbor Freight multimeter does. I keep mine around just for that

That will only test voltage under no load. Previous poster asked about capacity testing.

 

[dubber09]

I buy those button sized batteries as well as 9V ones at a local dollar store, Panasonic or Sunbeam. 9V ones go into smoke detectors and last years, 2032 were going into Suunto wrist watch. Both Kias still have factory batteries in their remotes, about 12 years old.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Both Kias still have factory batteries in their remotes, about 12 years old.

Impressive. The 2032 battery in my Subaru remote didn't even last 3 years.

 

[willbur]

That will only test voltage under no load. Previous poster asked about capacity testing.

true-if a given resistive load decreases voltage then it is an indirect way to judge capacity. It does place a resistive load on the tested battery, not "under no load"

 

[Quattro Pete]

true-if a given resistive load decreases voltage then it is an indirect way to judge capacity. It does place a resistive load on the tested battery, not "under no load"

Can you share a link to this multi-meter?

Is it this one?
https://www.harborfreight.com/7-function-digital-multimeter-59434.html

So it basically runs it through a 360 Ohm resistor, simulating a load. If so, then you're right. My bad. Apologies.

 

[willbur]

Can you share a link to this multi-meter?

Is it this one?
https://www.harborfreight.com/7-function-digital-multimeter-59434.html

So it basically runs it through a 360 Ohm resistor, simulating a load. If so, then you're right. My bad. Apologies.

View attachment 326713

thank you for posting that- I wondered what the internal resistance of the battery is. Knowing it I can calculate true battery health, but I'm too lazy.

 

[GSCJR]

Energizers also get my vote (CR1632) for lasting the longest in our DENSO fobs. If only SONY was still available, those were my favourite in terms of quality.

 

[Pablo]

It's interesting. I had to bail the wife out once around 10 years ago and couldn't swing by home base to get some 2032's. So I bought some no names at a medium sized market. Just a two pack. Those batteries are lasting longer than most any 2032 I've put in any device.