Batteries

[Totterdown]

I have been given a small battery powered light to put under the stairs. I needed to get 3 AAA batteries but when I went to the shop, there was a choice of Alkaline or Zinc Chloride batteries, both exactly the same size. The girl in the shop didn't know what the difference was any more than I did. Could I use either? Or is one (like the girl guessed) just for cameras? Thanks for any help.

[pug100]

Zinc chloride batterires are less powerful than alkaline and will probably be cheaper. Cameras will only function using high power types the cheap ones can't deliver enough energy for the camera to work. Batteries for small lights you could use anything really.
Alkaline
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alkaline_battery
Zinc types
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinc-carbon_batte ry

[Totterdown]

Thank you for that. I will get the Alkaline ones. I did notice that the Zinc ones were cheaper. Thank you also for putting the links in.

[ianmunt]

left over time zinc chloride batteries leak with the likelyhood of corroding the contacts in the unit. Alkalines are much better at preventing this.They also hold their output much longer. Alkaline every time in this application