Rechargable Batteries... Which are the best?

[Kelemvor]

We have a few things around the house that use batteries... MP3 Player, NC Headphones, soap dispenser, kids toys, etc. These things are constantly needing new batteries.

I haven't used rechargeable batteries since about 25 years ago when they were brand new and very few people made them.

I know they are more prevalent now but don't know anything about them. Are there certain brands that work better than others? DO the batteries of one type last longer each charge and then last longer before they can't be charged any more?

Mainly just talking about AA and AAAs.

Any input at all would be more than I know now.

Thanks.

 

[Ns1]

Check out the eevelope's on amazon/costco.

i'm pretty sure that's how it's spelled...

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Originally posted by: Ns1
Check out the eevelope's on amazon/costco.

i'm pretty sure that's how it's spelled...

Eneloop

 

[frostedflakes]

Get the NiMH with low self-discharge. Sanyo markets them under the Eneloop name, and I think other companies sell basically the same thing under different names.

 

[alien42]

eneloop, although their pre-charged advertising is false from my experience.

 

[Ns1]

Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny

Originally posted by: Ns1
Check out the eevelope's on amazon/costco.

i'm pretty sure that's how it's spelled...

Eneloop

Yes, thanks

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny

Originally posted by: Ns1
Check out the eevelope's on amazon/costco.

i'm pretty sure that's how it's spelled...

Eneloop

Then get this charger - MH-C401FS. It has 4 separate charging circuits, whereas some others have only two for charging 4 cells - the latter depend on each pairing of cells being absolutely identical. Problem is, if you put in two cells with slightly different states of discharge, one will finish charging first, and sustain an overcharge while the second one still absorbs energy.

The 401 has 4 circuits, so each cell gets individual attention, which helps them last longer. You can also switch it between a rapid charge and slow charge - if you've got the time, slow-charging is less stressful on the cells.

 

[sniperruff]

sanyo and panasonic both make great rechargables.

 

[Ns1]

From Rossman

Can you make a post on my behalf?
http://forums.anandtech.com/me...id=38&threadid=2158456

Another vote for Sanyo Eneloop charger and batteries $25 @ CostCo B&M

Review: http://www.stefanv.com/electronics/sanyo_eneloop.html


Thanks

 

[dighn]

eneloop rocks! must buy! or equivalent batts like ryyovc (sp) "Hybrid"s

 

[0roo0roo]

no need to go enloop only. they are simply hybrid/low discharge batteries. kodak/duracell/energizer/rayovac also sell such "precharged" batteries. they all have their own selection fo buzzwords for this newer low discharge type of nimh. any of em are fine really. they are basically the same, just look at the mah rating. use for higher draw applications like cameras/media players etc.
the low discharge thing really makes them more convenient, takes away one of their major downsides of rechargeable where your charge would bleed away by itself.
add a 15 min charger..i use duracells and rechargeable are damn convenient these days.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
no need to go enloop only. they are simply hybrid/low discharge batteries. kodak/duracell/energizer/rayovac also sell such "precharged" batteries. they all have their own selection fo buzzwords for this newer low discharge type of nimh. any of em are fine really. they are basically the same, just look at the mah rating. use for higher draw applications like cameras/media players etc.
the low discharge thing really makes them more convenient, takes away one of their major downsides of rechargeable where your charge would bleed away by itself.
add a 15 min charger..i use duracells and rechargeable are damn convenient these days.

Just beware of going too cheap. I've had some Chinese NiMH's that die after less than 50 charge/discharge cycles - terminal voltage will drop suddenly to less than 0.1V (much less than 0.9V is considered "dead"), and the current capacity goes to about half of the spec. My worst luck has been with Powerizer cells. Of a batch of 20, at least 6 of them were dead within 6 months. Some of the bad ones will work in low-drain applications, but if they get hit with a current drain of 1 amp, the voltage drops sharply to less than half a volt, making them useless in digital cameras. A good AA NiMH should maintain at least 1V under such a load.

I've also done some capacity tests. Chinese Powerizer 2250mAh AA's have only slightly higher capacity than Japanese Sanyo/GE AA's rated for 1700mAh. Of 10 of the Sanyo's, none have died, and they're at least twice the age of the Powerizers.

 

[0roo0roo]

yea major brands are ok.
i don't like lenmar and such, they do die quick. and powerizer..yea a load of sh*t, and they weren't really cheap either. major brands are relatively cheap these days, basically 2.50 a battery. the lenmars might be 50 cents less but suck so much worse.

 

[mugs]

Sanyo

 

[eelw]

Sanyo Eneloops and Rayovac Hybrids > *