2 ?s about Energizer e2 rechargeable batteries

[bethc]

Hi. I'm new - was referred to this board from someone at a camera site.

Two weeks ago bought a package "deal" at Sam's for an Ener. compact charger and four AAA's and eight AA's (2450mah). Been taking lots of pics and the low battery light on my Canon sx10is (takes four AA's) just came on. Two questions:

The Energizer literature (of which there wasn't much) states that it is okay to leave them in the charger. I wanted more info so I called and was told not to leave them in longer than 24 hours. Now I have them rubber banded together, positive side up, in my case. What do you think?

Read that the self discharge rate is about .5 to 1% daily. So that means that my next 4 AA's have, at most, lost 14% of their power. Should I use them as is, or recharge to the max?

Thanks for any advice! Beth

 

[Mr Happy]

Hi and welcome to CPF! :welcome:

It is best not to leave batteries in a charger for a long time as many chargers continue to feed a small current into the batteries after they are charged that over a period of days and weeks will tend to damage them.

As for the Energizer batteries, many people have found they develop a fault after a little use so that they discharge completely to empty after only a few days. If they develop this fault it makes them very impractical to use.

For really good results in a camera it would be worth looking for the new breed of "pre-charged and ready to use" battery like Eneloops, or Duracell Pre-Charged or Rayovac Hybrid. The Eneloop is often regarded as the best of breed, and some of the Duracell Pre-Charged that say "made in Japan" with white tops are the same battery in a different package. The Eneloops and other similar batteries will stay charged for months and remain ready to use when you need them.

It is difficult to say what is best to do with the Energizers. If the charger charges AA batteries in less than six hours or so it is a "smart" charger and you can top up your batteries before use. If it takes 12 hours and needs to run overnight then it is a "timed" charger and it is best to use it only for charging completely empty batteries. In that case you should use the Energizers until they are empty before recharging them.

 

[TinderBox (UK)]

Hi.

Bethc , glad to see you made it here.

These guy`s know their stuff.

I have 12AA Eneloops , and 16AAA and 4AA Uniross Hybrio`s and they are great.

John.

 

[bethc]

Thanks for the responses. Ours doesn't say "smart charge" however it says it charges the AAs in 4 hours. Think I'll get some eneloops as they seem to be the battery of choice. Will they work with the Energizer charger? Thanks so much.
Beth