Household & Alkaline Batteries

These are the ordinary cells that everything else on a jobsite runs on — the ones nobody thinks about until a meter dies mid-test. Alkaline AA, AAA, C, D and 9V cells cover flashlights, radios, detectors and the bulk of handheld instruments, and they are the right choice where a device is used regularly and the cost per cell matters. Lithium cells are the other half: a lithium 9V lasts far longer than its alkaline equivalent in a smoke detector or a test instrument and holds voltage better in the cold, which matters for anything living in a truck through winter. CR123A and CR2032 coin cells power the smaller electronics — non-contact voltage testers, laser levels, calipers, remotes and key fobs — and are the ones most often missing when they are needed. Shelf life is the quiet argument for buying ahead: modern alkaline and lithium cells hold their charge for years in storage, so a box in the van costs nothing and saves a trip. Check the device for the cell it takes before ordering; the coin cell numbers look alike and are not interchangeable.