What are your batteries of choice when replacing the 9V in smoke detectors? In terms of price/value and lifetime/durability, what do you prefer?
I was originally looking at some of the Amazon Basics 9V; however, I am reading that their sizing is slightly off. Has anyone used those before? https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-Everyday-Alkaline-Batteries-8-Pack/dp/B00MH4QM1S/ref=sr_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1531707693&sr=8-3&keywords=9+volt
I know lithium batters are better for high output uses and slow output like tv removes and smoke detectors aren’t ideal.
Edit https://lenpenzo.com/blog/id710-why-rechargeable-batteries-are-rarely-cost-effective.html
Am I off mark here guys?
Buy the detectors with a claimed 10year battery life and be done with it. Afterall a smoke detector does have a lifespan. Usually around the 10 year mark you are supposed to upgrade despite it still working as the internal sensors overtime can wear out or become off spec. I have 4 of the listed below alarms and they have worked for the past 6 years flawlessly and without the annoying low battery chirp despite going off multiple times a month due to cooking.
Worry-Free Kitchen Sealed Lithium Battery Power Smoke/CO Alarm P3010K-CO https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FHW7QRG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_TybtBbZTJZW53
We replaced all smoke detectors just about 2 years ago, so sorry @cava3395 we are definitely looking for a battery based solution, but thank you for your information which will surely help others.
Go with lithium 9V batteries then. Ive had them before and they stand up to the long service life of detectors and cure the annoying low voltage chirp that you get from alkaline 9V batteries.
Energizer Ultimate 9 Volt Batteries, Lithium 9v Battery (2 Count) L522BP-2 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01684J7P0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_1edtBbYCJEYJH
Related question: why do smoke detectors ALWAYS start their low battery chirp at 2:00am in the morning?! 
Or is it just me?
That is the impetus of this question. Not only chirp, but also trigger all the others.
Years ago, when the ex wasnt the ex, we had a friend who worked for a very large alrm company. They “protected” most of the high street banks.
He’d usually give us a handful of… Duracell pro-cell
Duracell 9V Procell Battery (Pack of 10) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005YF6C5I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_GaptBbNQT3NPJ
These I found fitted almost every make n model
I just use basic Rayovac 9v Lithium batteries. They are cheapest and seem to hold decent charge. I can usually get about 2+ years out of them.
At some point we will upgrade to a better system.
In England (don’t know about rest if uk) the local fire brigade will five n fit dire alarms for free… to them it’s cheaper than putting out a house fire.
Plus if in social housing, they will supply new alarms on request (but not batteries). We had new optical alarms fitted recently, mainly due to an upgrade. During a recent upgrade of electrics they replaced the old smoke alarms, but they were too sensitive and kept going.off. so they swapped with new optical alarms and no false alarms since.
Not the cheapest, by far, but I really like the networked alarms. When
smoke is detected by one all connected alarms start to beep. That’s great when
you for example can’t hear the alarm in your kitchen when you are in bed.
Without networking the fire has to burn longer before the alarm in your bedroom
goes of.