It is really frustrating when batteries suddenly die on us when we need them the most. Especially if you want to use battery-operated LEDs to decorate your space for a party or other occasion.
LED lights often work best with AA batteries. But, AAA batteries may also power the LEDs pretty well.
But how long do aaa batteries last in LED lights?
The answer is anywhere from 3 hours up to 14 hours on consistent use of LED. AAA battery runtime will depend a lot on the battery capacity, the type of battery you’re using, and how many LEDs it’s powering. The battery’s brand also has a big impact on runtime at the same time. It will undoubtedly last much shorter if the LEDs are on constantly.
So, which LED should you pick, and which battery will give you the longest runtime? Let’s find out right down below-
What Type of LED Lights Can be Powered with AAA Batteries?
Before we move on to the probable runtime of AAA batteries in LED lights, you need to know which lights can actually be powered with batteries. Conventional LED bulbs cannot be powered by batteries.
Normally the LED puck lights and the LED string lights are battery-operated. Most string lights are powered by a DC connection. You can easily connect the string lights to a battery. There are many battery-operated string lights on Amazon as well.
How Long Will Your LED Last with AAA Batteries?
LEDs come in a variety of lengths. It can range from 9 feet to 35 feet and beyond. Given the length differences, some strips will contain more LED bulbs than others.
This has an impact on how much and how long the battery will be drawn upon. Obviously, this will have a significant impact on battery life. At the same time, the capacity of a AAA battery varies considerably. Its capacity ranges from 860 mAh to 2000 mAh.
Now, in the table below, we’ve given an estimate of how long AAA batteries will last when powering a specific number of LED lights. Three AAA batteries, each with a 1.5 V voltage, were used to calculate the runtime.
LED Type: LED Strips
You need at least 200 LEDs to cover and illuminate an area properly. With the high-capacity battery on average, you can expect 6-7 hours of runtime when the lights are kept on at a stretch.
| LED Quantity | LED Wattage | AAA Battery Capacity (mAh) | Runtime(For Continuous & Blinking) |
200 | 2.4 w | 860 mAh | 5-10 h |
| 1000mAh | 6-11 h | ||
| 1200mAh | 7-14 h | ||
500 | 6w | 860 mAh | 2-4 h |
| 1000 mAh | 2-5 h | ||
| 1200 mAh | 3-6 h |
For 200 LEDs with blinking features, you can expect 10 hours of service at least on battery with 860 mAh capacity. And if the lights are continuous, they will last at least 5 hours.
And for 500 LEDs with a blinking feature, the lowest runtime is 4 hours with a battery of 860mAh capacity.
LED Type: LED Puck
Puck lights are normally set up with a set of 4 or 6 lights together. You can find them on Amazon with an already-connected battery box. Here, we have calculated the probable runtime considering 3 AAA batteries in use.
| Quantity of Puck Light | Wattage | AAA Battery Capacity(mAh) | Runtime(For Continuous) |
1 | 2.5w | 860mAh | 5h |
| 1000mAh | 6h | ||
| 1200mAh | 7h |
The runtime we demonstrated above is a reliable prediction for a AAA battery, but there are other factors that have a direct impact on the runtime.
Which Other Factors Affect AAA Battery Runtime in LED Lights?
Along with battery capacity and quantity of LEDs, there are other factors that affect the runtime. The longevity of your battery can only be better understood after taking these factors into consideration. So, let’s see what other factor is affecting AAA battery life-
Battery Type
Battery runtime heavily depends on the material it is made of. Lithium-ion, alkaline, and NiMH batteries are frequently utilized for making AAA batteries. Each of these comes with its significant advantages.
The energy capacity and storage life of alkaline batteries are quite higher than others. All household electronics work best with alkaline batteries. These are also preferred for powering LEDs as well.
Although lithium batteries have a high charge density, they are quite expensive for a single cell. For highly sophisticated equipment and applications with high drain numbers, lithium batteries work the best.
Sometimes, NiMH batteries can offer two to three times the capacity of a NiCD battery of the same size. The typical lifespan of a high-quality rechargeable battery is over 100 recharge cycles. However, rechargeable batteries have a fairly limited shelf life because they lose a small amount of energy every day.
Rechargeable batteries work better in LED lights overall. Traditional batteries won’t last as long as rechargeable batteries. And these rechargeable batteries can be charged when they go low. So sometimes rechargeable batteries are better than alkaline ones.
Battery Brand
The battery life will undoubtedly be impacted by the brands of the battery you are using. Some batteries have limited capacity due to the use of low-quality materials by the manufacturer.
As a result, they discharge quite quickly. Energizer, Rayovac, and Duracell commonly dominate the battery market for the exceptional runtime provided by their batteries. Both high-drain and low-drain devices work well with batteries from these brands.
Usage Of LED
LED usage duration varies depending on the individual. Naturally, regularly used LEDs won’t survive as long as they should. The same is true for LEDs that are on for an extended period of time. But when used sparingly, LEDs can last a long time on battery.
Which Battery is Better for Powering LED Lights: AA or AAA?
AAA batteries are cheaper than AA batteries but with all things considered electricians mostly recommend using AA batteries for LED lights. Here’s why-
- Compared to AA batteries, AAA batteries have a lower charge capacity. The usual milliampere-hour capacity of AA batteries is 2000–3000. On the other hand, a AAA battery’s capacity ranges from 350 to 1200 milliampere-hours only.
- AA batteries are larger in size than AAA batteries. When paired with AAA cells, AA batteries have a longer power supply life as they are larger.
- AAA batteries are quite difficult to replace, particularly if you have a large number of lights. And in this case, there are at least 100 LED strings or a couple of LED pucks you’ll be using. Moreover, AAA batteries are more prone to leaking than AA batteries.
Given the durability and other benefits, AA batteries are the best option if you want your LEDs to be on consistently.
What Brand Of AAA Battery Lasts the Longest?
Different AAA battery brands have different reputations for durability. Energizer AAA batteries often last the longest. For a high-quality long-lasting battery, this is a great choice with 10 years of shelf life.
Panasonic and Duracell are two other excellent AAA battery brands. Rayovac vs Duracell is always a close competition. But the main thing is that these brands provide batteries with high durability.
Duracell occasionally costs a little more than other brands. However, the quality more than makes up for it. The batteries come with a warranty for both material and workmanship flaws. If your batteries don’t meet the standards, you can ask for a replacement.
What Type of LED Light Should You Use?
The best LED light to use for a long runtime of battery is the energy-efficient LEDs. As they consume low power, you won’t need to change the batteries as regularly. They are an excellent way to cut costs on batteries.
For example, energy-efficient technology is used to create the Energizer Motion-Activated LED Path Light. This light conserves battery life by only turning on in low light. They are powered by three AAA batteries. The light turns on when it detects motion from up to 15 feet away, keeping the area secure and illuminated.
Typically, string consumes far less power than other LEDs. However, some colors of string lights could use more energy than others. So, you need to pick the color which consumes less power for lasting your batteries longer.
Each RGB LED chip has three LEDs. The LED strip uses the most energy when all 3 of its LEDs are lit at maximum brightness. This happens for illuminating white color.
When a single hue is used, the usage is approximately one-third of this. And when color is composed of two main hues, the consumption is two-thirds. For instance, both red and blue are used to create the color purple.
How Can You Extend the Runtime of AAA Batteries?
LED lights are an effective way to lower operating expenses and save money. They are low-maintenance and provide useful bright lighting. These easy-to-install lights are the most energy-efficient, but not all of them.
So, we’ve gathered a few general pointers to help you get the most out of your batteries. This should give you a better understanding of how to extend the battery life and make the most of your LED lights.
Use Branded Batteries
It should be obvious why this is important. These branded batteries have a far longer runtime than typical shop-bought batteries due to the high-quality materials used in their manufacturing.
Our recommendation is to use batteries from reputable brands like Energizer or Duracell. Your LEDs will be illuminated at their brightest point using a high-quality battery without consuming excessive power.
Use Proper-Sized Battery
In addition to high-quality batteries, be sure you’re using the correct size of batteries for your LED lights. Don’t use AAA batteries where AA or any other battery is suggested.
Because the light could gradually get dimmer if you use a smaller battery than what is suggested. And the light may flicker if a larger battery is used instead of a small one.
Avoid Extended Use
It is typically advised not to use LED lights continuously. However, we advise carrying a backup if you do want to use them for an extended period of time, such as during a party or event. An additional set of batteries or a power adaptor can be the power backup for this.
Check for Corrosion
Keep an eye out for corrosion buildup on battery terminals. You can maintain healthy batteries by keeping them clean and free of dirt and dust. This ensures a proper connection with the light and makes sure it operates well.
Store Properly
Ensure that you store the batteries suitably when the LED lights are not in use. Keep them in a dry and cool place away from heat. The battery’s lifespan can sometimes be shortened if it is stored in a moist or humid environment.
We really hope that these pointers will assist you in maximizing the life of your batteries and in turn keep powering your LEDs for a long time.
FAQs
How Long Do the Batteries in LED Fairy Lights Last?
AA batteries last for 18 to 24 hours. With brand-new batteries, these LED light strings are known to be illuminated for 100 hours. But this depends on the use also. If they are on continuously the batteries might have less runtime. Also, whether the lights are flickering or not and the temperature of the lights will affect the runtime as well.
How Long Will a 12-volt Battery Power LED Lights?
You should be able to operate 1200 watt-hours on a 100 ah, 12-volt battery. On the other hand, it can operate the minimal 33-watt light string for a little longer time than 36 hours. This is dependent on the amount of electricity or wattage required for the LED light strings to be illuminated.
Is It Okay to Leave String Lights On All Night?
Yes, LED light strings can be left on all night long without posing a risk. But if we’re talking about LEDs outside your home, then this is different. It’s not a good idea to leave outdoor lights on all night or for extended periods of time. Because if LED lights are exposed to flammable materials or dry leaves they could overheat and catch fire.
End Words
This ends our discussion on how long do aaa batteries last in LED lights. Depending on the type of LED light you are using and a couple of other factors regarding the battery you can have an estimated runtime.
But there are ways to extend the battery life and signs which show your battery is going to die soon. Hopefully, you took note of these from our discussion above. Comment to us about anything you want to know about LEDs or AAA batteries.
Until next time!
