best rechargeable AA batteries ? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Flump
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 29, 2014, 06:45:14 pm
content: I recently bought a small torch/flashlight which hasa 3w led in it and is powered by a single AA battery.On a fresh duracell the led draws 1.3 - 1.4A.for a single battery the brightness is truly amazinghttp://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007ZXUUOG/ref=pe_385721_37038051_TE_3p_dp_1I would like to get some good rechargeable AA batteries for itanyone got any reccomendations ?

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 29, 2014, 06:49:13 pm
content: Eneloop, Eneloop, Eneloop, Eneloop, ...

author: Afrotechmods
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 29, 2014, 07:15:03 pm
content: Get "low self discharge" or "pre-charged" NiMH cells. I bought a bunch of Sanyo Eneloops years ago and love them.

author: dannyf
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 29, 2014, 07:45:12 pm
content: QuoteThe ones that are charged when you need them.

author: rolycat
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 29, 2014, 08:02:33 pm
content: Quote from: Flump on June 29, 2014, 06:45:14 pmIf you think they're bright with an AA cell, you should try chucking in a 14500 lithium ion. Dazzling - literally.QuoteAs others have said, low self discharge batteries are the ones to go for. The original Eneloop and others are on the low side capacity-wise these days - you can now get high-capacityDuracell, Eneloop and others boasting 2400 mAh or better.

author: Flump
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 29, 2014, 08:06:01 pm
content: Thanks guys, looks eneloops it isbeen looking through ebay at them and there seems to be2 different kinds.3rd gen 1800 mahxx mignon 2450 mahamazon sells the 3rd gen ones with a chargerbut there is no mention of chargers for the 2450 mah ones.This is the charger I use for enegizer rechargeableshttp://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002IRP4T0/ref=pe_217191_31005151_3p_dp_1could I use that on the eneloops ?

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 29, 2014, 08:07:15 pm
content: Quote from: rolycat on June 29, 2014, 08:02:33 pmYou can, but there is a price for the higher capacity: they may have a shorter lifetime, be less robust, and be less easy to charge. If a battery can be recharged 100's of times, how much does it matter that the capacity is a little less?

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 29, 2014, 08:13:14 pm
content: Quote from: Flump on June 29, 2014, 08:06:01 pmThat charger should be fine for Eneloops.Look for the standard 3rd gen Eneloops with 1900 mAh capacity. You may find 2nd gen Eneloops which are also fine. These standard Eneloops are the ones that have rock solid performance and durability.The higher capacity batteries up to 2500 mAh will likely have disadvantages: be less charger-friendly, be less long-lasting, be easier to damage. Personally I will be sticking with the standard 1900 ones.Watch out on ebay, there are many counterfeits around. Amazon should fine as a source.

author: rolycat
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 29, 2014, 08:33:03 pm
content: Quote from: IanB on June 29, 2014, 08:13:14 pmThe high capacity versions can still be recharged up to 500 times, and the 2400 mAh Duracell batteries linked to above are guaranteed for five years. Duracell obviously don't think they are fragile or short-lived.I'm not sure what you mean by 'less charger-friendly' - wouldn't they have the same charging characteristics as any NiMH cell? Any reasonably smart charger should work fine.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 29, 2014, 09:03:39 pm
content: Quote from: rolycat on June 29, 2014, 08:33:03 pmIt's all about test results and user experience. You are free to make your own choices of course, but I will always put actual test data above manufacturer claims and guarantees.QuoteIt is common and possible for smart chargers to miss termination and keep going, overcharging the cell. Such an event is more likely with the higher capacity cells than with the ordinary eneloops. A fair number of people have reported such problems with the high capacity Eneloop XX cells.

author: BennyBoy
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 29, 2014, 10:11:53 pm
content: My Eneloop batteries are going on 10 years old, and I use them all the time. There 2000 mAh.

author: rolycat
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 29, 2014, 10:43:24 pm
content: Quote from: IanB on June 29, 2014, 09:03:39 pmVery enlightening, thanks.Your warnings prompted some research on the subject, and I'm inclined to agree that the lower capacity cells are a safer choice, at least for now.It also appears that Duracell and Energizer rechargeables aren't well regarded, although I'm sure that the nice executives in those companies wouldn't deliberately sabotage their performance to protect their disposable battery salesYou are clearly a big Eneloop fan - I've also had very good results from Uniross 'Hybrio' batteries, which - perhaps due to being less well known - tend to be somewhat less expensive. I've owned a number of these for many years and they have performed impeccably despite heavy use. They do benefit from occasional reconditioning using a decent battery manager - presumably the same is true of Eneloops?

author: Rick Law
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 30, 2014, 03:56:28 am
content: Quote from: IanB on June 29, 2014, 08:07:15 pm(Until better technology arrives...)higher capacity = lower recharge cycle and more self-discharge.Since there is no way to tell for sure the SOC (state of charge), I would prefer to have two lower ones (with LSD) than one 2x higher capacity one without LSD.Eneloop is the best I have encountered. TEnergy is not bad either. I have mainly Eneloop AA's and TEnergy for other sizes (AAA's and 9V's). My DMM battery (9v) is a TEnergy. It served me very well thus far.

author: BravoV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 30, 2014, 04:43:34 am
content: Fanatic eneloop user here, been using since 1st gen eneloop black and white up to the latest gen 4th eneloop pro (formerly XXX) without any problem. As IanB said, when it comes to Nimh cell, Eneloop basically rules the world.The higher XXX or eneloop pro version even has tad higher leakage, but still very good compared to ordinary nimh, my old heavily used 1st gen XXX black can retain its power at about 80-85% for almost a year, verified using MH-9000, which is still very good imo. Reliability is also very good, the 1st gen xxx black eneloop already > 4 years with frequent use still has avg 90% capacity. Of course the white one is even better.Besides, usually people use eneloop black for frequent usage and very unlikely unused and stored for years, with it's higher capacity and better for high current drain (lower internal resistance) application like camera flash unit compared to white version.Took a pic of spare cells happened to be in front of me, with a pack of eneloop pro 4th gen.

author: VK3DRB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 30, 2014, 12:03:24 pm
content: I know it has been said before, but you cannot beat ENELOOP. They are simply brilliant. I have recharged about 10 in a charger every week for 4 years. They still seem as good as new! They cost a bit more, but the quality is long remembered after the price is forgotten.

author: Hydrawerk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 30, 2014, 01:07:45 pm
content: I do not know which are the best, but for my still camera I use Sanyo Eneloop and they are OK. And Made in Japan.

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 30, 2014, 03:35:00 pm
content: I recently bought some Enloops and some Amazon branded ones the enloops are great but one of the Amazon batteries which came as a pack of 16 was DOA.