Showing posts with label low discharge nimh. Show all posts
Showing posts with label low discharge nimh. Show all posts

12/20/2012

Rayovac Rechargeable NiMH Batteries, AA-size, 8-count Carded Pack Review

Rayovac Rechargeable NiMH Batteries, AA-size, 8-count Carded Pack
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The latest family of Rayovac rechargeable NiMH batteries are all missing one thing: the capacity rating. Previously, you can see the charge capacity (such as '2500mAh') marked on every package and also on each cell. But newer Rayovac rechargeable NiMH cells are just grouped into three classes ('Everyday-Use', 'High-Energy' and 'Hybrid'), with vague claims such as 'Up to 275 photos' printed on their packages.
Of course, those claims make very little sense to us, because Rayovac never tell us which camera was used, and under what test conditions were those photos taken.
After a lot of searching, I was able to find the spec sheet for those cells from rayovacindustrial dot com:
- NM715-4OP 'Everyday-Use' AA, 'Up to 275 photos': capacity=1400mAh
- NM715-4B 'High-Energy' AA, 'Up to 375 photos': capacity=1900mAh
- LD715-4A 'Hybrid' AA, 'Up to 400 photos': capacity=2100mAh
The item offered here is the NM715-8OP (the 'OP' stands for 'Opening Product'). It has the LOWEST capacity amoung all Rayovac NiMH batteries. I have tested some in my La Crosse BC-900 Battery Charger, and the average capacity is actually higher than spec at 1500mAh. But this number is still very low by today's standard for NiMH AA cells. So although the price looks attractive, this is just not a good value.
As of this writing, this 8-pack (NM715-8OP) is actually priced higher than two 4-pack (NM715-4OP). Furthermore, the Rayovac 4.0 AA 4-PACK is available at even lower cost. Those are low-self-discharge cells with higher capacity of 2100mAh. So it is a no-brainer which package you should buy.
[Update on July 16, 2010]
I recently discovered a hidden benefit of those Rayovac 'Opening Product' AA cells: they are exactly the same size as alkaline AA cells, while other NiMH cells with capacity 2000mAh or over are all slightly thicker. So for some appliances with extremely tight battery compartment (such as the Rayovac Sportsman Xtreme 1W LED Flashlight), those are the only rechargeable cells I can use.
[Update Sep 4, 2010]
As if the offerings above is not confusing enough, Rayovac has now discontinued the 'Hybrid' series, and replaced it with another two types:
- LD715-4OP 'Pre-Charged': capacity=1400mAh
- PL715-4 'Platinum Pre-Charged': capacity=2100mAh

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10/14/2012

Sanyo HR4UTG2BP Eneloop 800 Mah AAA Precharged Rechargeable Battery Bundle of 12 Review

Sanyo HR4UTG2BP Eneloop 800 Mah AAA Precharged Rechargeable Battery Bundle of 12
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Ordered both AA & AAA sizes. Batteries work as advertised so far. Since they can be recharged 1500 times it will be awhile for a final verdict. Seller sent the latest version (1500 vs. 1000 recharges) at no additional cost.

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10/13/2012

8-Pack Long-Lasting 2200mAh HYBRID AA Ni-MH Rechargeable Batteries w/ Latest Hybrid Technology Review

8-Pack Long-Lasting 2200mAh HYBRID AA Ni-MH Rechargeable Batteries w/ Latest Hybrid Technology
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These were great for the first six months, but then started to degrade significantly after that. I use the top-of-line slow recharger from MAHA, and even with attempts to revive them two of four wouldn't hold a charge and my camera wouldn't even turn on with the batteries fresh from the charger.
The weight of these batteries gives you some sense that these could be subpar made - when I compare the weight of these batteries in-hand with those from another manufacturer I noticed these have half the weight of other AAs. I recommend the Green hybrid series from Sony or regular NiMH batteries from from Panasonic or Sony (orange series) that have

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9/19/2012

IMEDION AA 2400mAh NiMH Rechargeable Batteries w/Holder- 4 Batteries Per Pack Review

IMEDION AA 2400mAh NiMH Rechargeable Batteries w/Holder- 4 Batteries Per Pack
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As I googled the Internet and Forums, I found mixed result, some people claims Eneloop performs better, and some claims otherwise. Therefore I decided to do an experiment on both of these batteries to find out which one is a BETTER PERFORMER and better for investment.
Objective: To find out the better performer battery
Items:
1. Four pieces of Sanyo Eneloop AA 2000mAh NiMH Battery
2. Four pieces of PowerEx Imedion AA 2100mAh NiMH Battery
3. Nikon Speedlight SB-800
4. Remote Flash Trigger
5. Process recording device (Sony DSC-P10)
Methodology:
1. Fully Charge the battery
2. Insert battery into Nikon Speedlight SB800
3. Nikon Speedlight SB-800 set to M 1/4 -oEV
4. Fire the Speedlight as soon as it is ready (when the red light is on)
5. Repeat step #3 until the battery is completely depleted
6. Record the following:
a. X number of shots per minute after X number of shots
b. Total shots per charge
7. Repeat the process with next set of battery
To ensure both battery both are in identical optimal condition, I bought both new set of Eneloop and Imedion. Both sets are new and fully charged for 8 hours as recommended by manufacturer for initial use with the same PowerEx MH-C204W Travel Charger before begin the test.
Please refer to the graph my site.
I started off with Eneloop with a recorded blazing fast 60 round per minute (rpm). It drops to 53rpm after the first 100 shots, and then it drops further to 52rpm after 200 shots. It stabilized at average of 45rpm from 300 shots to 1300 shots. It drops to 39rpm at 1400 shots and drops further to 37rpm after 1500 shots. Finally it drops sharply but still managed to squeeze a total recorded 1564 shots. Pretty impressive for first round.
I followed by Imedion immediately. At the initial minute it has a noticeable lower refresh rate compared with Eneloop and I recorded a 51rpm for the first minute, lower than Eneloop 9rpm. It then dropped 20% performance to 42rpm after the first 100 shots. After 200 shots, it stabilized at average of 39rpm from 200 shots to 1200 shots (compared to 45rpm Eneloop). It drops slightly to 36rpm after 1300 shots to 1500 shots. Then it drops further down to 17rpm after 1600 shots. Finally it is completely depleted at 1660 shots.
Conclusion:
Eneloop completed at 1564 shoots and Imedion completed at 1660, approximately 100 shots more than Eneloop, which is pretty much expected as it is a 2100mAh vs 2000mAh, with approximately 5% extra power. For a fair comparison, I only benchmark up to 1500 shots, which is already beyond what average number of photos a person can take on a whole day event (with speedlight)
On cycle performance point of view, Eneloop out performed Imedion from 4rpm to 14rpm with an amazing everage of 6rpm on a consistant performance.
In this experiment, I concluded that the Sanyo Eneloop is a better performer than PowerEx Imedion, at least in speedlight point of view.
Full review, graph, experiment results are available in my blog at: http://www.calvinstudio.net/?p=472


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9/14/2012

SANYO Eneloop Spacer Pack with 2 AA and 2 C-Size Spacers Review

SANYO Eneloop Spacer Pack with 2 AA and 2 C-Size Spacers
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We were really surprised to see that Sanyo Eneloop has devised a way to make AA batteries fit in all C and D products. We were doubly surprised that Sanyo Eneloop AA batteries can power our virtual walls for our iRoomba robotic vacuum cleaners, speakers, small lights, flashlights and other products.
What a great idea! I love the new ideas that Sanyo Eneloop is developing -- they produce by far the best rechargeable batteries on the market.

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9/13/2012

Tenergy Premium NiMH AAA 1000mAh High Capacity Rechargeable Battery Review

Tenergy Premium NiMH AAA 1000mAh High Capacity Rechargeable Battery
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Always quality batteries at great prices. I use only their products in my radiio control planes cause if you loose power in the air you just lost a plane and that would be tragic just because you skimped on a battery.

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9/11/2012

SANYO Eneloop 4 Pack AA NiMH Pre-Charged Rechargeable Batteries Review

SANYO Eneloop 4 Pack AA NiMH Pre-Charged Rechargeable Batteries
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Excellent rechargable batteries. These are NIMH batteries, so from what they say, you can 'top them off' without doing too much damage to the overall capacity. They also claim to have a significantly less drop off in overall capacity over time.
For things that don't require frequent charging, like TV remotes, I use regular Akaline batteries.
I use these to power the infrared sensor, kitchen garbage can, that opens automatically. The garbage can needs size D batteries. But ENELOOP makes D size adaptors that you just slide these "AA" into. It's great. So for quite a few months now, these 4 little "AA" batteries have been doing the work of 4 "D" batteries. If you buy these, BUY the adatpers that ENELOOP makes, they come in "C" and "D". You'll never buy "C" and "D" batteries again!!


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8/10/2012

TruCELL AA NiMH 2900 Series Rechargeable Batteries - 12-Pack Review

TruCELL AA NiMH 2900 Series Rechargeable Batteries - 12-Pack
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What a great product the mAh rating is much higher than other batteries I looked at. They hold a charge a long time. Use them in my cordless mouse and digital camera with no problems. The cool thing I got a great charger at Sam's Club $4.85 made by Eveready.

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8/07/2012

Sanyo Eneloop AA/AAA 4 Position Charger And 4 Rechargeable AA Batteries With Eneloop Rechargeable AA Battery 4 Pack Review

Sanyo Eneloop AA/AAA 4 Position Charger And 4 Rechargeable AA Batteries With Eneloop Rechargeable AA Battery 4 Pack
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They really are all they're cracked up to be. They don't overheat quickly, and they hold their charge even when not used for a while. For example, dumb-dumb me put a Nikon SB-900 Speedlight away in its case without turning it off after a shoot. When I took it out a week later, it was still going strong!
The charger makes it clear when it's finished charging so you don't have to guess.

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7/18/2012

Rayovac Platinum Low Self Discharge NiMH AA Size Batteries, 4 Pack Review

Rayovac Platinum Low Self Discharge NiMH AA Size Batteries, 4 Pack
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When I first saw the product description of Rayovac Platinum LSD NiMH AA, my immediate reaction was: "Oh no! Not ANOTHER new wrapper for the same old Rayovac Hybrid!". After all, that's exactly what Rayovac did last year for the so-called Rayovac 4.0 cells. But after examining this package more carefully, it turns out to be not the case.
First encouraging sign: unlike the case with 'Rayovac 4.0' cells, those 'Platinum' LSD cells actually have their capacity number printed on each cell (2100mAh for AA, 800mAh for AAA).
I measured those Rayovac Platinum AA cells upon arrival using my La Crosse BC-900, and they contain about 87% of their rated capacity. After two discharge/recharge cycles, their average capacity reached 2095mAh. This performance is very consistent with that of the old Rayovac Hybrid AA cells. However, by comparing the shapes of their (+) and (-) terminals, I can tell that the 'Platinum' cells are indeed different from 'Rayovac Hybrid' and 'Rayovac 4.0' cells. (Check out my Customer Image and judge for yourself)
Rayovac claims that the Platinum's charge retention rate is same as previous generation Rayovac LSD cells: 80% after 6 months, 60% after 12 months. In contrast, Sanyo claims the eneloop can retain 85% charge after 12 months. My own testing has shown that this claim is accurate.
One disturbing sign is that: Rayovac states that the lifespan of new Platinum cell is only '275 cycles', while previously it was '500 cycles' for the old Rayovac Hybrid.
In summary, the new Rayovac 'Platinum' LSD cell is not any better than the old 'Hybrid', yet it may suffer from shorter lifespan. As of this moment, it is being sold at a much higher price than Rayovac Hybrid and Sanyo eneloop, so it is just not a good value.
[Update on Oct 16, 2010]
Long-term self-discharge test: after 3 months sitting on the shelf, a pair of Rayovac Platinum AA cells retained 83% of original capacity. This is slightly worse than the rate for old Rayovac Hybrid, whcih typically can retain 85% after 5 months.

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5/16/2012

Rayovac 4.0 Rechargeable AA 4-Count (Pack of 2) Review

Rayovac 4.0 Rechargeable  AA 4-Count  (Pack of 2)
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The product description of Rayovac 4.0 AA cells appears to be intentionally deceptive. It says "Rechargeable Battery with Lithium Technology", but did not mention anything about the battery chemistry, voltage, and capacity. On the front of the package it says "Compare to ADVANCED LITHIUM", and "Ready to use like LITHIUM". All these seem to give the impression that "Rayovac 4.0" is similar to the Energizer L91BP Lithium AA Battery, which has a higher operating voltage (1.6V) and larger capacity (3000mAh) compared to normal NiMH AA cells.
Upon closer examination, however, you'll see the fine print of "NiMH 1.2V" on each cell. Suspiciously, its capacity (mAh) is still not specified. So despite of all the hype, this is still a Nickel-Metal Hydride battery, perhaps with a trace amount of Lithium added to justify the claim of "Lithium Technology".
I tested four Rayovac 4.0 AA cells using my La Crosse BC-900. Right out of the package, they hold an average charge of 1485mAh, or about 70% of full capacity. After two more charge/discharge cycles, their avarege capacity improved to 2080mAh. This performance is nearly identical to that of Rayovac Hybrid AA Batteries, which I have tested many times before. Further examination also revealed that the (+) and (-) terminals of "Rayovac 4.0" are exactly the same shape as "Rayovac Hybrid". Therefore I'm convinced that those two series are in fact the same cell under different wrappers.
I really dislike the shiny wrapper of "Rayovac 4.0" cell. It makes the cell look too much like the Energizer Lithium AA cell, and it doesn't even mention "Rechargeable" on the wrapper. I can only imagine how many of those rechargeable cells were thrown out after first use, because people confused them with desposable cells.
On the other hand, the price for 8 of those "Rayovac 4.0" AA cells is less than half that of Sanyo Eneloop 8 Pack AA (as of this writing). This makes them an amazing value. It is much better to buy those, instead of trying your luck with other so-called "Ready-to-Use" rechargeable batteries from less reputable brands.
[Update on Feb 25, 2010]
Data on long-term self-discharge rate: I have tested four each of Rayovac 4.0 AA and AAA cells, after 100 days of storage at approximately 19 degree C. The average charge retained in both sets were exactly 86% of original. This is consistent with the self-discharge characteristics of Sanyo eneloop and Rayovac Hybrid.

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2/22/2012

Amazing Rayovac 4.0 Rechargeable AA Batteries Review

Amazing Rayovac 4.0 Rechargeable AA Batteries
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The product description of Rayovac 4.0 AA cells appears to be intentionally deceptive. It says "Rechargeable Battery with Lithium Technology", but did not mention anything about the battery chemistry, voltage, and capacity. On the front of the package it says "Compare to ADVANCED LITHIUM", and "Ready to use like LITHIUM". All these seem to give the impression that "Rayovac 4.0" is similar to the Energizer L91BP Lithium AA Battery, which has a higher operating voltage (1.6V) and larger capacity (3000mAh) compared to normal NiMH AA cells.
Upon closer examination, however, you'll see the fine print of "NiMH 1.2V" on each cell. Suspiciously, its capacity (mAh) is still not specified. So despite of all the hype, this is still a Nickel-Metal Hydride battery, perhaps with a trace amount of Lithium added to justify the claim of "Lithium Technology".
I tested four Rayovac 4.0 AA cells using my La Crosse BC-900. Right out of the package, they hold an average charge of 1485mAh, or about 70% of full capacity. After two more charge/discharge cycles, their avarege capacity improved to 2080mAh. This performance is nearly identical to that of Rayovac Hybrid AA Batteries, which I have tested many times before. Further examination also revealed that the (+) and (-) terminals of "Rayovac 4.0" are exactly the same shape as "Rayovac Hybrid". Therefore I'm convinced that those two series are in fact the same cell under different wrappers.
I really dislike the shiny wrapper of "Rayovac 4.0" cell. It makes the cell look too much like the Energizer Lithium AA cell, and it doesn't even mention "Rechargeable" on the wrapper. I can only imagine how many of those rechargeable cells were thrown out after first use, because people confused them with desposable cells.
On the other hand, the price for 8 of those "Rayovac 4.0" AA cells is less than half that of Sanyo Eneloop 8 Pack AA (as of this writing). This makes them an amazing value. It is much better to buy those, instead of trying your luck with other so-called "Ready-to-Use" rechargeable batteries from less reputable brands.
[Update on Feb 25, 2010]
Data on long-term self-discharge rate: I have tested four each of Rayovac 4.0 AA and AAA cells, after 100 days of storage at approximately 19 degree C. The average charge retained in both sets were exactly 86% of original. This is consistent with the self-discharge characteristics of Sanyo eneloop and Rayovac Hybrid.

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10/18/2011

Sanyo Eneloop 8 Pack AA NiMH Pre-Charged Rechargeable Batteries Review

Sanyo Eneloop 8 Pack AA NiMH Pre-Charged Rechargeable Batteries
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[Updated Oct 24, 2008]
My original review on the Sanyo eneloop NiMH cells was written nearly two years ago. Since then, I have learned a lot more about the characteristics about eneloop and other low-self-discharge cells. So it is time to clear up some inaccurate information I wrote about eneloop's self-discharge rate.
1. I was told that the Sanyo eneloop cells were not 100% fully charged when they leave factory. This makes sense because new cells are fast-charged in the factory to save time. In order to avoid problem with heat and gas built-up, they cannot be charged to 100%. I have tested some eneloop cells that were manufactured 20 months ago, and they still maintained about 70% charge. On the other hand, cells manufactured 6 months ago contain about 75% charge. This confirmed that the discharge rate is much lower than I previously estimated.
2. The self-discharge rate of eneloop (and other LSD cells) is not linear! My own testing showed that a fully charged eneloop may lose 10% of its initial charge during the first month of storage, but in the second months it may lose just 2-3%. The rate becomes even slower after three months. In fact, my 5-month self-discharge test using various brands of LSD cells gave nearly identical results as my previous 3-month test.
3. When an eneloop cell is freshly charged, its capacity actually measures at about 5% higher than its rated capacity (2100mAh vs. 2000mAh). In my previous tests, I used measured capacity as base to calculate the percentage loss. This results in apparently higher percentage loss. Had I used the rated capacity as base value, the self-discharge rate would be about 5% lower.
Based on the above revelation, I believe Sanyo's claim about eneloop (maintain 85% charge after one year, 80% after two year) to be accurate. Therefore the title of my previous review ("The News of LSD Has Been Slightly Exaggerated") has to be replaced.
Over the past two years, I have tested several different brands of LSD cells available from Amazon.com, including Rayovac Hybrid, Kodak Pre-Charged, and Duracell Pre Charged. They have all performed very well - practically no difference from the Sanyo eneloop. So the bottom line is: just pick which ever brand of LSD cell is on sale, and you can't go wrong.[Update on April 21, 2011]
- After testing and using various brands of LSD cells over the past four years, Sanyo eneloop cells have proven to be the most reliable and consistent of them all. I now have to recommend Sanyo eneloop over all others brands.
- Recently Amazon started to offer the SANYO NEW 1500 eneloop cells, at around 25% higher price. In my testing, the improvement of the new eneloop over the original is hardly noticeable. So you'll have to decide whether it is worthwhile to pay the extra cost.

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From the Manufacturer Why Sanyo eneloop? Sanyo eneloop rechargeables can replace an entire kitchen drawer's worth of dry cell batteries You already know the benefits of using conventional rechargeable batteries. But Sanyo eneloop batteries have advantages over other rechargeables that put them a step ahead. Sanyo eneloop batteries are an excellent choice for your rechargeables because: * They can be used right after purchase * They consistenly yield high performance * They have a long shelf life with no loss of energy * They can be used everywhere * They are environmental friendly Self-Discharge: Why Conventional Rechargeables Don't Cut It Conventional rechargeable batteries have numerous advantages that make them great to use for your portable electronics. But they also come with certain disadvantages. After purchase, rechargeable batteries have to be charged before they can be used. And once charged, rechargeable batteries lose the stored energy rather fast. The charging takes quite long and rapid chargers are expensive. Not only that, but continuous charging or frequent charge to "top off" the lost energy (without complete discharge) can destroy the battery. All these negative attributes have one root-cause: self discharge. Self-discharge means that a charged battery slowly discharges itself without any equipment consuming any current. This is the reason for rechargeable batteries being sold in a discharged state. And this is the reason that keeping charged batteries for some time did not make any sense. When you needed them, the energy was gone. Sanyo eneloop batteries have an extremely low rate of self-discharge, which means they hold their stored energy for a very long time--charge your batteries once and put them in your kitchen drawer, and over a year from now you'll still be able to use them right away, without needing to charge them again.

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10/11/2011

AmazonBasics AAA NiMH Pre-Charged Rechargeable Batteries (4 Pack, 800 mAh) Review

AmazonBasics AAA NiMH Pre-Charged Rechargeable Batteries (4 Pack, 800 mAh)
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With all the pre-charged batteries from different manufacturers out there now, there is no need for 1-time use alkaline batteries anymore.
Using my Lacrosee BC-700 battery charge/test function, the 4 "AAA" batteries performed as follows:
Battery 1 = 846 mAh
Battery 2 = 874 mAh
Battery 3 = 876 mAh
Battery 4 = 860 mAh
(See picture on customers' submitted images)
Straight from the box, the batteries show remaining voltages between 1.31 to 1.32 volts (see pic above). All packs more juice compared to its rated capacity of 800 mAh. Comparable to the capacities of Eneloops and Duracell.
I have been using pre-charged batteries for everything now, from toys, digital cameras, clocks, to remote controls.


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BYD 4 Pack AAA NiMH Pre-Charged Rechargeable BatteriesProduct Features 4-pack of 800 mAh rechargeable AAA batteries for TV remotes, portable flashlights, and more. Pre-charged and ready to use right out of the pack;Extremely slow self-discharge rate maintains 80% of capacity after 1 year of storage at 20℃.Greater Power and Better Performance in lower temp than Alkaline.Combines best features of AAA alkaline (ready to use) and rechargeable (reusable) batteries. Can be charged up to 1,000 times (including partially) without experiencing memory effect.

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9/18/2011

Energizer Rechargeable Batteries, AA Size, 2-Count Review

Energizer Rechargeable Batteries, AA Size, 2-Count
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All rechargeable battery manufacturers love to boast about their product's current capacity (mAh). But there is a dirty little secret that they don't want you to hear: self-discharge rate. Simply put: a fully charged NiCd or NiMH cell will gradually lose its stored energy over time. Technical papers I have researched typically put the self-discharge rate at 10-20% per month for NiCd cells, and 20-30% per month for NiMH cells. This kind of self-discharge rate is usually acceptable in applications such as digital cameras.
I bought 8 of those Energizer 2500mAh rechargeable NiMH batteries over one year ago. At first, I was very happy about the large current capacity offered by those batteries. But within a few months, I started to notice that they die very quickly in my digital camera. In fact, a set of Sony 2300mAh NiMH batteries I bought one year earlier seems to last much longer when used in the same camera.
I recently did some controlled experiments (using the LaCrosse BC-900 AlphaPower Battery Charger) and found out what's wrong: The Energizer NiMH batteries have very high self-discharge rate. After fully charging all 8 cells and left them on the shelf for one week, five of them lost over 30% of their charge, and the other three lost about 20%. In comparison, the set of older Sony batteries only lost around 10% over the same one-week period.
So what this really means is: if I charge up those Energizer 2500mAh batteries and leave them in my camera for three weeks, they will become totally exhausted. I found this kind of self-discharge rate completely unacceptable, therefore I strongly advise against buying those batteries.
[Update on April 9, 2007]
I have hardly used those Energizer 2500mAh cells in the last few month. Now they have deteriorated even further. Five of them can't even hold their charges for more then a day.
Instead of the Energizer 2500mAh cells, I recommend buying the Rayovac "Hybrid" 2100mAh cells. They have very low self-discharge rate (see my review on "RAYO 4PK AA") and are cheaper than the better-known Sanyo eneloop 2000mAh cells. Kodak also sells a "Pre-Charged" NiMH cell with exactly the same spec as the Rayovac Hybrid.
The bottom line: Low-Self-Discharge NiMH cells are your best choices. There is absolutely no point in taking chances with older generation 2500-2700mAh NiMH cells now.
[Update on Oct 20, 2010]
The product image of Energizer Rechargeable AA has changed. It no longer advertises '2500mAh'. I went to my local W*mart to check out the actual batteries. All Energizer rechargable AA cells are now 2300mAh. Evidentially, Energizer has 'rollled back' battery technology to 2004. This is actually a good move because the lower capacity cells do not suffer from hideous self-discharge rate. Contrary to popular belief, a 2300mAh cell is not any less capable in delivering high power than a 2500mAh cell. Just that the run time will be about 8% shorter.

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9/13/2011

AmazonBasics AA NiMH Pre-Charged Rechargeable Batteries (8 Pack, 2000 mAh) Review

AmazonBasics AA NiMH Pre-Charged Rechargeable Batteries (8 Pack, 2000 mAh)
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(More customer reviews)
I just finished testing one set of those AmazonBasics AA NiMH Pre-Charged Rechargeable Batteries, using my old La Crosse BC-900 Charger/Analyzer. Here are my findings:
- Right out of the box, their average remaining charge is 1946mAh. The spread is very small, ranging from 1933 to 1959mAh. Note that the date code on those cells says 'MAR2011', so they probably left factory just two months ago. Still, those numbers are really impressive.
- After just one recharge/discharge cycle (done at 700/350mA), the average capacity improved to 2217mAh. That is about 11% higher than the rated capacity of '2000mAh'. Again the spread is small, varying from 2200 to 2250mAh. Those numbers remain unchanged in subsequent recharge/discharge cycles.
It is interesting to note that: performances of those AmazonBasics Pre-Charged AA cells are nearly identical to that of GP ReCyko AA cells, which I have tested last November. So I won't be surprised if those 'AmazonBasics' cells turn out to be rebranded GP ReCyko.
Just for comparison, the NEW Sanyo eneloop AA cells are also rated for 2000mAh typical, but the average capacity I measured is around 2130mAh, or 'only' 6% higher than rated. On the other hand, Sanyo claims the second-generation eneloop cells can be recharged up to 1500 cycles, whereas GP and AmazonBaisc NiMH batteries are rated for 'only' 1000 cycles. In real life, most people will probably never notice the difference.In summary, all three brands I mentioned above (Sanyo, GP and AmazonBasics) are excellent products. They all live up to the claim of "pre-charged and ready to use right out of the pack", and offer even higher capacities than rated. So just go by which brand is on sale, and you can't go wrong.
[Aside]
Most battery makers are touting their products as 'Advanced', 'Platinum', 'Ultra', and so on. Why oh why does Amazon simply call those superior batteries 'AmazonBasics'? If this is 'Basic', I can't wait to test the 'AmazonPrime' batteries!
[Aside#2]
Those AmazonBasics Pre-charged NiMH batteries are in black, which (to me) makes them look like disposable alkaline cells. On the other hand, the AmazonBasics Alkaline Batteries are in white, which makes them look like rechargeable cells. I really wish the color scheme were the other way around.

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BYD 8 Pack AAA NiMH Pre-Charged Rechargeable BatteriesProduct Features 8-pack 2,000 mAh rechargeable AA batteries for digital cameras, remotes, and more. Pre-charged and ready to use right out of the pack;Extremely slow self-discharge rate maintains 80% of capacity after 1 year of storage at 20℃. Greater Power and Better Performance in lower temp than Alkaline.Combines best features of AA alkaline (ready to use) and rechargeable (reusable) batteries Can be charged up to 1,000 times (including partially) without experiencing memory effect

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