Best Batteries for Your Battery-Operated Clock

Clocks that are battery-operated are always convenient to have around the home or office, especially when you don't have electrical outlets accessible or if there's a sudden power outage; you won't be left scrambling to get to work on time. However, when the batteries die, it can leave you scratching your head to determine how to find the appropriate batteries for your clock. If you purchased the clock at a garage sale, flea market, or don't have the manufacturer's manual to indicate the specific type, it can be tough to identify when you're out shopping. That's why we're here to help! Here are our quick tips to find the right batteries.

Battery Life Expectations by Clock Type

Before you go shopping, it helps to know roughly how long a battery should last in the first place, so you're not caught off guard by a clock that seems to "die" early. 

A standard quartz wall clock typically runs 12 to 18 months on a single AA alkaline battery, since the movement only needs to advance the second hand rather than power a display or any extra features. 

Alarm and tabletop clocks are less predictable, since backlighting, snooze buttons, or radio reception all pull extra power and shorten how long a battery lasts. Add chimes, lights, or moving parts, and you could be swapping batteries every six months. Temperature and humidity play a role too - a clock kept in a garage, sunroom, or damp basement will often go through batteries faster than one in a climate-controlled living room, since extreme conditions cause the battery to discharge more quickly even when the clock isn't doing any extra work.

*Actual battery life depends on movement design and usage.

How to Find the Right Batteries for Your Clock

If the compartment doesn't tell you what you need to know, a few other approaches can help you track down the right battery.

Look for Battery Requirements on the Back

If you can't tell what type of battery is just by looking at it, then open up the battery panel, remove the current batteries (if you haven't done so already), and look for a sticker. There's usually one placed here to indicate the specific type of battery required, so when you're out shopping, you can ask someone to point you in the right direction to find them in store. Otherwise, it could be imprinted onto the plastic.

Bring the Dead Batteries with You

Of course, if that fails, you could just take the dead batteries with you and search your local electronics store or ask a handy employee what type of battery it is and where to find it.

Bring it into a Specialized Clock Store

If you happened to pick up your new clock at a garage sale or flea market without any batteries included, and without any information about the type needed, your best bet is to leave it to the pros and bring it into a specialized clock store. There's no better person to identify the exact battery you need than a clock guru. And, in many cases, they'll have all the battery options available for you to purchase right in store.

Measure the Old Battery Yourself

If none of the tips above turn anything up, a small ruler can help you narrow things down on your own. Measuring the length and diameter of the old battery, and checking the numbers stamped on its casing, will usually match it to a standard AA, AAA, C, or button-cell size, even if the printed lettering has worn away.

Choosing the Best Battery Brand

Not every battery on the shelf performs the same way once it's inside a clock movement. 

• Rayovac and Duracell are the brands we recommend for battery-operated clocks, since both hold up well in this kind of low-power device. 

• Energizer batteries, by contrast, use extra plastic coating on the negative terminal, and that coating can prevent a clean connection, leading to a clock that malfunctions or won't run at all. 

• Off-brand or bargain store-brand batteries are also worth skipping, since they often don't hold enough charge to keep a clock movement running reliably.

Alkaline vs. Lithium and Rechargeable Batteries

Stick with alkaline batteries for clock movements - they're built for exactly this kind of steady, low-power use. Lithium and rechargeable batteries are designed for high-drain devices like digital cameras, and putting one in a clock usually leads to malfunction or a clock that won't start in the first place.

Rechargeable batteries deserve a second mention, since reaching for one is an easy habit if you're trying to cut down on waste. The trouble is that most rechargeables put out slightly less voltage than a standard alkaline battery, and that gap is enough to make a clock run slow, stall out, or fail to start altogether. Reusing batteries is a good instinct in general, but a clock movement is one of the few places it backfires.

Battery Replacement Best Practices

Plan on changing clock batteries at least once a year. Daylight Saving Time is an easy day to remember, since it's the same time most people check the battery in their smoke detector.

Beyond that yearly swap, a few habits make a real difference:

• If a clock uses more than one battery, replace them all at the same time rather than just the one that died - mismatched batteries drain unevenly and can cause the clock to run erratically.

• Avoid mixing old and new batteries in the same clock for the same reason.

• Try to stick with one brand rather than combining different manufacturers, since voltage can vary slightly between them.

• Check the expiration date on the packaging before installing, since even an unused battery loses some charge over time and an old one may not have enough left to properly start the movement.

• Check the polarity markings inside the compartment carefully - a "dead" clock is often just a battery installed backward, and it's an easy thing to overlook when you're changing batteries quickly.

• If you're putting a clock into storage for an extended period, remove the batteries first rather than leaving them in for the duration.

When batteries are left in a device for a long period of time (over 1 year), they have a much higher chance of leaking. When the batteries leak, this causes battery acid to leak onto the contacts in your clock movement or device. Once this has happened, the clock will not function properly, and you may be forced to change the movement in the clock, which can be costly.

Quick Troubleshooting Checklist

A short checklist covers most of what goes wrong, and it's worth running through before assuming the worst about your clock.

If you notice that your clock is not functioning properly, or not functioning at all, make sure to check your batteries! Working through this list takes just a few minutes, and it rules out the most common causes before you start suspecting the movement itself. Very often we find that a simple battery change will solve the problem.

When Is It More Than a Battery Problem?

If you replace your batteries and the clock still does not function, then it may be time to have the movement replaced. Our repair department is happy to look at your clock to see if the movement can be replaced. Be sure to give us a call ahead of time, and we can set up an appointment for you to bring your clock in to be serviced.

Final Thoughts

If you just snagged a new clock and realized there are no batteries included or any instructions to help you identify the right type, come by Frankenmuth Clock Company. We are Michigan's go-to spot for all things related to clocks. We sell all sorts of clocks, including authentic German cuckoo clocks, and can take care of any repairs or maintenance you may need.

Picking the best batteries for a battery-operated clock and replacing them the right way is one of the simplest habits you can build to keep your clock accurate and avoid the more expensive problem of a corroded or failing movement. It costs a few dollars and a couple of minutes once a year, which is a small price for a clock that keeps good time and lasts for the long haul. When in doubt, fresh alkaline batteries from a name you trust are the place to start, and if you ever run into trouble beyond a simple battery swap, Frankenmuth Clock Company is here to help.