Question about eneloops

[strep3241]

I have been looking into buying some different kind of rechargeable batteries for our camera and flashlights. I have always heard good things about the Sanyo Eneloop batteries. I have also heard that the Duracell rechargeable's are the same thing as Eneloop's. Is this true? If being used all the time, how much longer do these batteries last vs. regular alkalines?

Do they make C and D sizes in either brand? I did a search on ebay and there was not too many options for these sizes. What local stores would carry these batteries or would I be better off buying online?

Also, will I need a different charger? I already have an Energizer charger that is capable of charging AA, AAA, C, D, and 9 volt.

 

[esquared]

I have been using eneloops for a couple years.

Got tired of the regular NIMH batteries going flat if they weren't changed up every 60 days or sooner.

Eneloops will retain 85% or so of their charge, even after a year of non-use. This way I can use my camera even if I haven't used it in a month or two or three, then find out I have dead batteries.

The power of these are around 2100 mA hours as opposed to some straight NiMH batteries that can be closer to 3000 mA hours
I got mine at Costco. 8 AAs and 4 AAAs and a charger and "C' cell and "D" cell adapters for around 25.00

I haven't seen it in awhile at Costco but occasionally they still pop up there.

AFAIK, they don't make C or D cell eneloops but they have these adapters for them. For me, not real useful but others may find a use for them.

Here's a set from Amazon that's similar to what they sold at Costco but a little more money but with 4 more AAs.

http://www.amazon.com/Sanyo-SEC-N16S...535567&sr=1-10

edit:
Regarding the Duracell rechargeables? Unless it says its a hybrid battery I don't think they are similar. Hybrids (enelopps) are the NiMH batteries with the characteristics of longer storage similar to Alkalines. Thus, their superiority as opposed to straight NiMH batteries.

I did find these so these particular ones may be similar

http://www.amazon.com/Duracell-Recha.../dp/B000XSG300

Look at the reviews for both.

This one claims that the 1st generation Duracells were eneloops (made in Japan) and the susequent ones are made in China.
That was first reported 3 years ago.

http://www.amazon.com/review/R334DZE...R334DZE0N0MZKQ

 

[ElFenix]

any rechargeable packaged precharged is similar to eneloop if not an OEM sanyo product.

nimh batteries should have more mah than alkaines. alkaline's big benefit is shelf stability.

 

[esquared]

The only similarity of eneloops to alkaline batteries is the length of the storage and still work. Alkalines are really crappy batteries to use in high-drain devices. Eneloops are NiMH batteries with additional technology to give them a longer life similar to alkalines. Hence, they are hybrid NIMH

The chemistry used is NIMH
http://www.eneloop.info/home/faq/eneloop.html

If one want to gets a better feel of the technology, here's another link

http://www.eneloop.info/home/technology.html

 

[zanemoseley]

I've ordered the Enerloop kit from Amazon that was linked. Just be aware it has a 1-2 month lead time. I'm not thrilled about waiting that long but seems like a good deal. My daughter is already on her 3rd set of batteries on her Leapster Explorer she got for Christmas.

 

[strep3241]

If they don't make C or D cells, then why do they have adapters for them?

How do I know which Duracells are the same as Eneloops?

Would I have to get a different charger for Eneloops or Duracells?

 

[ElFenix]

If they don't make C or D cells, then why do they have adapters for them?

How do I know which Duracells are the same as Eneloops?

Would I have to get a different charger for Eneloops or Duracells?

charger for eneloops and duracell precharged is any NiMH charger afaik. i use my lacrosse.

the precharged duracells are similar, if not the same as, eneloops. any precharged rechargeable battery is going to be a low self-discharge NiMH.


the adapters are little pieces of plastic the size of C and D cells that you put AA cells into. you're thinking the other way around.

 

[Rubycon]

Adapters allow an AA to fit into place of a C or D cell holder. Short change capacity big time! Buy real C or D cells and see runtimes soar! We use C nimh cells and their capacity is 10Ah, for example! Compare that to 2.6Ah of an AA and you can see why they go down so fast.

 

[The_Dude8]

costco has the 12 AAA or 10 AA eneloops batteries w/o a charger for $19.99 each.

 

[Rumpltzer]

I'm running eneloops in my console controllers, TV and cable remotes, and I popped them into my DECT 6.0 handsets; they've outlasted the original rechargeables that came with the phones.

My DSLR external flash still runs on alkalines because I get a better lifetime out of them. I buy alkalines every year at either Home Depot or Lowes when they run the Black Friday special. 40 batteries for $5 or whatever... keeps me in alkalines for at least a year. My work collects dead batteries for recycling, so I don't feel too horrible about it.

 

[0roo0roo]

If they don't make C or D cells, then why do they have adapters for them?

How do I know which Duracells are the same as Eneloops?

Would I have to get a different charger for Eneloops or Duracells?

they do

look at the mah rating.

fake c/d battery have mah rating of 2xxx, same as a AA, because they are just AA in a shell.

Online you can buy http://www.thomasdistributing.com/D-Low-Discharge-Batteries_c_930.html
http://www.thomasdistributing.com/D-Rechargeable-Batteries_c_931.html
real D nimh, you see the reason why they don't keep them on retail shelves though, they cost a lot more, but their capacity is also massive.

You dont have to get a new charger but you should. cheap chargers cook the batteries as they are dumb timers. if you are going to buy nice batteries, this would be a huge waste. good chargers detect end of charge correctly, can refresh battery doing deep drain/recharge cycle, and tell you the true capacity of a cell.

 

[strep3241]

they do

look at the mah rating.

fake c/d battery have mah rating of 2xxx, same as a AA, because they are just AA in a shell.

Online you can buy http://www.thomasdistributing.com/D-Low-Discharge-Batteries_c_930.html
http://www.thomasdistributing.com/D-Rechargeable-Batteries_c_931.html
real D nimh, you see the reason why they don't keep them on retail shelves though, they cost a lot more, but their capacity is also massive.

You dont have to get a new charger but you should. cheap chargers cook the batteries as they are dumb timers. if you are going to buy nice batteries, this would be a huge waste. good chargers detect end of charge correctly, can refresh battery doing deep drain/recharge cycle, and tell you the true capacity of a cell.

I don't know if my charger is a cheap charger but it is not a fast charger and it will occasionally flash red as if there is something wrong with the battery.

Would places like Walmart, Sears carry these batteries? If they don't show them online, does that mean they do not carry it in the store? I don't think there is a Cotsco in the area.

 

[The_Dude8]

I don't know if my charger is a cheap charger but it is not a fast charger and it will occasionally flash red as if there is something wrong with the battery.

Would places like Walmart, Sears carry these batteries? If they don't sow them online, does that mean they do not carry it in the store? I don't think there is a Cotsco in the area.

i think so, i just checked walmart.com and they don't carry the eneloops batteries, your best bet is amazon.com.

 

[KLin]

http://www.amazon.com/Crosse-Technol...5548979&sr=8-1

I have that charger for my eneloops. Works well.

 

[0roo0roo]

I don't know if my charger is a cheap charger but it is not a fast charger and it will occasionally flash red as if there is something wrong with the battery.

Would places like Walmart, Sears carry these batteries? If they don't sow them online, does that mean they do not carry it in the store? I don't think there is a Cotsco in the area.

Not likely retail sells any true C/D.
You gotta buy online.
Your charger probably is cheap unless it charges each cell alone there is no way it detects true end of charge.

In fact some of the fastest chargers are probably better than a cheap charger, they have to detect end of charge carefully trying to hit that 15 minute mark.

 

[esquared]

I don't know if my charger is a cheap charger but it is not a fast charger and it will occasionally flash red as if there is something wrong with the battery.

Would places like Walmart, Sears carry these batteries? If they don't sow them online, does that mean they do not carry it in the store? I don't think there is a Cotsco in the area.

They're harder to find at a retail B&M store

http://us.sanyo.com/eneloop/Dealers

The eneloop kit from Costco comes with its own charger. It's a slow charger (trickle charger) but it has it's own shutoff when the batteries are charged.

oroo is correct that some really cheap chargers don't even have the feedback circuitry to shut off the charger and it's possible to cook your batteries.

If you're going to spend money on a good charger, there is the Lacrosse
http://www.amazon.com/Crosse-Technol...pr_product_top

Or the Maha wizard one
http://www.amazon.com/Maha-Powerex-M...sr=1-1-catcorr

Advantage to these are they have a few charging modes where you can charge in as little as 3 hours as opposed to these overnight trickle chragers.

They will also recondition NiMH batteries by cycle discharge to help you get the most out of any NiMH batteries you have.

 

[Aluvus]

Would I have to get a different charger for Eneloops or Duracells?

You can use any normal NiMH charger.

All low-self-discharge NiMH batteries are technologically pretty much the same.

 

[the DRIZZLE]

The Duracell's that are rebranded Eneloops say "Made in Japan" on them. The non Eneloop Duracell's say "Made in China".

 

[strep3241]

So what is the difference between the Duracell's precharged and staycharged?

I may look into getting a different charger and either some Duracell or Eneloops, depending on which is cheaper.

 

[Joseph F]

Why don't we have AA and AAA-sized LiPo batteries?
Obviously, you'd need a pricier charger (than NiMh) to keep them from exploding, but other than that, why not?

 

[0roo0roo]

Why don't we have AA and AAA-sized LiPo batteries?
Obviously, you'd need a pricier charger (than NiMh) to keep them from exploding, but other than that, why not?

voltage incompatible/charging dangerous.

 

[dan4patriots]

i have been using eneloops for a while now for my xbox 360 controllers- they have worked great so far so if you can find some i say go for it

 

[Joseph F]

voltage incompatible/charging dangerous.

So, it's physically impossible or unfeasible to manufacture 1.5V LiPo cells?

 

[0roo0roo]

So, it's physically impossible or unfeasible to manufacture 1.5V LiPo cells?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium-ion_polymer_battery

 

[Locut0s]

They sell like crazy every time we(ncix) have them on sale. Never used them myself. Don't think they last any longer than regular AAs under heavy use, just that they discharge very very slowly if not used. Could be wrong anyone want to correct me?