Hello all, I’ve been using hearing aids over 40 years and I was always careful to peel off the sticker and wait five minutes as I was always told. Just lately I was curious and took a voltmeter reading on two fresh rayovac 312 batteries after the 5 minutes I got 1 volt or less! Nevertheless I put them in my aids figuring the voltage would continue to climb as I used the aids. Two days later I rechecked and the voltage never came above 1.3 and even on day four, 1.33.
I activated a new pair of 312 batteries a day ahead of time of changing day and spot-checked the voltage. It took ONE WHOLE DAY–a full 24 hours-- for the voltage to come up to 1.4, and only then did I insert them into my aids. The sound quality throughout the 6 days of this cycle was greatly improved.
So what gives with this five minute rule? I’m sticking to my own 24 activation period because I proved it worked with my trusty voltmeter. Hope this improves all of your lives!