Good point about compatibility—I've had similar hiccups myself. Another thing worth considering is rechargeable NiMH batteries. They're budget-friendly in the long run and more eco-friendly too. Sure, they don't have lithium's cold-weather performance, but for indoor sensors or easily accessible spots, they're a solid compromise. I've been slowly swapping out disposables for rechargeables around my place, and it's definitely cut down on waste (and trips to the store...). Just something else to think about if you're looking to stretch your smart home budget sustainably.
"I've been slowly swapping out disposables for rechargeables around my place, and it's definitely cut down on waste (and trips to the store...)."
Yeah, I've been doing the same thing lately—especially for indoor sensors and remotes. One thing I noticed though is that some devices seem picky about voltage levels with NiMH batteries. Had a couple of motion sensors act up until I switched brands. Just something to keep an eye on if you're going that route. Still worth it overall, though, considering the savings and less waste.
I've had mixed results with rechargeables myself. A while back, I swapped out batteries in my smart thermostat and noticed it started randomly rebooting. Thought the thing was defective until I realized it was just picky about voltage levels like you mentioned. Ended up switching back to disposables for that one device... annoying, but at least now I know. Still, overall, rechargeables have been solid for remotes and sensors—definitely saves money in the long run.
"Ended up switching back to disposables for that one device... annoying, but at least now I know."
Yeah, thermostats seem oddly picky about voltage—I've had similar headaches. Makes me wonder if manufacturers could do a better job clarifying battery compatibility upfront. Has anyone else noticed certain brands or models being more forgiving than others?
On the rechargeable front, I've found them pretty reliable overall, especially for remotes and motion sensors. But I did run into trouble with some LED candles (don't judge my fake candle obsession, haha). They'd flicker weirdly or dim way too fast. Turns out the slightly lower voltage of rechargeables was the culprit there too.
Makes me curious—are there specific smart home gadgets you've found that actually perform better with rechargeables? Or is it mostly just a cost-saving thing for you guys?
I've noticed the same issue with rechargeables in LED candles—thought it was just me! I ended up going back to disposables for those too, even though it feels wasteful. Weirdly enough, my smart door lock actually seems happier with rechargeables. It used to eat through regular batteries like crazy, but since switching to decent-quality rechargeables, it's been way more consistent.
On the thermostat front, I totally agree about voltage sensitivity. When we first moved into our new place, I tried using rechargeables in our thermostat and it kept randomly resetting itself. Drove me nuts until I figured out the battery was the issue. Switched back to regular alkalines and haven't had a problem since.
Honestly, for me it's not just about cost-saving (though that's definitely a bonus). I'm trying to cut down on waste overall, so rechargeable batteries seemed like a no-brainer at first. But now I'm realizing they're not always the best fit for every device.
Has anyone tried those lithium AA or AAA disposables? They're pricier upfront but supposedly last way longer—wondering if they'd be worth it for picky devices like thermostats or smoke detectors...
