DaveLeeNC

I have a couple of devices that run off CR2032's. So I buy them in bulk online once or twice per year. I had a Amazon gift certificate(s) and recently placed an order for a bunch of mostly small stuff (batteries, great deal on some golf balls, 2 books, etc). When the battery part of the order arrived I was surprised to see 60 CR2032's! I looked more carefully at my order and, sure enough, I had somehow ordered three 20-packs of CR2032's (at like $8 per 20 pack). I think I've got 2016 covered WRT my CR2032 needs :-)

dave

ItsJustMe

I do DIY soldering classes that use circuits that I designed that use CR2032 cells. I buy a couple of boxes of 500 at a time. They get pretty cheap when you do that. I will caution that the ones that are in bulk packaging seem to be pretty garbage. I only buy the boxes of cards now.

noglider 

I made that mistake, too. I even sold a few on ebay for about $1 each, but I didn't end up making a profit. It was fun, though. Most of them died before I got a chance to use them, confirming that the bulk ones aren't very good.

DaveLeeNC

What exactly are CR2032 batteries "in bulk form". Is a blister pack of 5 or 10 "bulk form". Is it a bunch of loose batteries in a bag?

Thanks.

dave

vol

What are some of the devices you run CR2032 on? What I've read was that, e.g., the Nite Ize spoklit spoke lights are supposed to use 2xCR2016, but can also use 1xCR2032; however it's said that the light using 1xCR2032 would be less bright than 2xCR2016. The LED leg straps I have uses 1xCR2032, but I'm going to replace it with 2xCR2016 for the said reason.

ItsJustMe

No, it's batteries shipped in vacuum formed thin plastic trays stacked in a box. Manufacturers such as Cateye or watch makers would buy them like this.
Example:

500 Piece CR2032 2032 DL2032 LM2032 L2032 Coin 3V Bulk Lithium Battery | eBay

You can get the best and the worst quality batteries like that. You just have to watch out. If you're going through a LOT of batteries (dozens/hundreds a day - if you're manufacturing something or selling things that take batteries and putting the batteries in at point of sale) they're a lot more convenient. But they're a mess if you try to open it up and get one or two batteries out once in a while, the batteries tend to spill out, get jumbled, short against one another, etc. So I've gone to carded batteries even for my medium use (where I'll go through 100 to 200 batteries in a day, but only 2 or 3 days a year when I'm at an event).

dwmckee

I buy them a half dozen at a time for about $3.00 and free shipping from DX. They take a few weeks to get here from China, but I get a kick out of knowing they can be shipoped all of that way for so little cost.

noglider 

I'm glad you brought that up. I made the same discovery. I think the Spokelit is an excellent product but the two cells thing really annoys me. Those CR2016 cells cost a lot more. The good news is that at the dimmer output, I think they're still effective enough. The lights don't have to be bright to be eye-catching.

For what it's worth, I use only one, in the rear wheel. A light in the front light distracts me too much. I think one is good enough.

ItsJustMe

My wife says that Ikea has CR2032s on a card of I think 6 for $1.50 If you get in there occasionally that's probably as good a place as any to get them locally. And you can get a $5 meatball lunch while you're there!

rmfnla

Last time I bought batteries in bulk on the 'Bay they had a life span about half what was getting from domestic brands.

Not my idea of a bargain...

vol

Should the bulk button batteries be stored in room temperature or in the fridge?

rmfnla

No battery should be stored in the fridge:

Is it a good idea to store batteries in a refrigerator or freezer?

Sci-Fi

Buy my 2032 at the 99 cent only store. 3 in a pack. Don't replace them often enough to make buying in bulk a reasonable decision.