AA: "best" NiMH AA and charger, all around...

[DualMonitors]

Hi all: long time user but newbie to higher end flashlights and the latest current crop of NiMH and chargers. started using dedicated lithiums for a while and no longer have my old Maha charger...etc.

i'm getting some new flashlights, i.e. the NiteCore D10GDP, maybe the Olight T15Q15, etc, so all are AA. I prefer to use standard AA alkalines but am now getting interested in the newer generations of NiMH that seem to be much improved.

i cannot seem to figure out the finer differences, taking quality of construction/reliability/price/long run time/good current into account. i know it's a tall order but i'm sure there are others who would like a "conclusion" of all the mountains of test results as well.

i found 48 AA Duracell 2650mAh for $35 at costco, which is less than $1 each AA. One person mentioned to me on a forum that these do not hold charge at all if you don't use them in a couple of days. Yet, the shoot out results are rather good from the sticky on this forum!!

i also looked at eneloop 2100 but they do not appear that great when compared with the Duracell 2650mAh (of course, if you have a special need and were traveling for months, for example, that's a unique use which is not my situation).

the Sanyo 2700 mAh do look rather good, but aren't that much better than the less expensive Duracell 2650.

is it fair to conclude that the Duracell 2650 is rather good and that the person who told me about the ridiculously quick discharge of these cells are misinformed (though he may be well intentioned)?

i also need a good "smart" charger, as i no longer have my old Maha. may i know what you all might suggest as a great, higher end /excellent functions yet reasonably cost effective (need not be super cheap but no need for a $100 charger either ?

thank you so much in advance.

never knew that getting some new flashlights is such an exercise in learning about batteries and everything else!! (rather...re-learning about batteries!)

PS: why is it that one cannot buy rechargeable AA LITHIUMS? makes no sense to me. if we can buy all form factors of lithium rechargeables, why not in AA format (or AAA, C, D?). thx!

 

[Mr Happy]

In practical terms the Eneloops are good not only because of their low self-discharge, but also because they are robust -- they will survive many charge cycles and will take abuse without degrading, they have a low internal resistance and can deliver relatively high currents, and they tend to have a slightly higher operating voltage.

For many people, especially those looking for a rechargeable alkaline replacement, the Eneloop or one of its many imitators is the one to get.

Incidentally you can get rechargeable lithiums in the AA form factor, they are known as 14500 cells. However, these cells have lithium voltage of 3.6 V rather than AA voltage of 1.2 V, so you have to be careful how you use them.

 

[DualMonitors]

At BestBuy now.

$38 for 4 Japan AA Duracell plus the 15-min charger.

$28 for 4 China AA Duracell plus the regular charger.

$13 for 4 Japan AA Duracell white ring rebadged Eneloops.

Today's conclusion: no deals at BestBuy. Made no purchase. At $13 for 4 AA Duracell Japan, I might as well buy 4 Eneloops from Thomas for around $9 or another source. No need to buy here. Right?

Plus, the included charger isn't independent circuits for each battery so I would buy a better charger from Thomas anyways. Is my train of thought correct?

Thx.

 

[ironhorse]

So with the voltage difference between the AA's and 14500's, I could not use them in my two way radio's or GPS, correct?

 

[paulr]

Basically of the two types of nimh aa's:

Eneloop type: 2000 mah or so capacity, long charge retention like 1 year.

High capacity type: capacity up to 2700 mah or so, shorter charge retention like 1 or 2 months before noticable effect.

There have been a lot of incidents with Energizer and Sanyo 2500 mah cells (sold under other brands too) that after a few charge cycles start self-discharging after just a few days. That is NOT normal for nimh cells, it seems to be due to overaggressive design as these were the first cells with such high capacity. I.e. they are DEFECTIVE. Energizer and Sanyo were generally pretty good about replacing them.

While NiMH cells have traditionally self-discharged much faster than lithium or alkaline cells, discharge after just a few days is NOT normal. They should be good for a few months at least. That is enough for most regularly used devices such as cell phones, edc flashights, etc. It's maybe not enough for standby lights.

 

[Black Rose]

So with the voltage difference between the AA's and 14500's, I could not use them in my two way radio's or GPS, correct?

Correct...you'd fry them with 14500s.

 

[DualMonitors]

i noticed that the La Crosse BC-900 charger is now $38.97 INCLUDING 4 La Crosse 2600mAh AA NiMH batteries, AND 4 La Crosse 1000 mAh AAA NiMH batteries! even if you value the 8 batteries at a total of $10, then the recharger is only $29.

isn't that a really excellent deal?

Option #2
the retailer's other option that sounds good is $58:

LA CROSSE BC-900 CHARGER plus

8 Sanyo Eneloop AA 2000 mAh batteries
4 La Crosse 2600mA AA Rechargeable Batteries NiMH
4 La Crosse 1000mAh AAA Rechargeable Batteries NiMH

for this 2nd option "package", i figure that the 8 AA Eneloops are worth $18, bringing the charger plus the remaining 8 La Crosse branded batteries to $40, basically the same as the first deal above. that means that there's really no advantage in getting the 2nd option as one can always buy Eneloops at $9 per 4 AA's.

am i correct, please?

from the many reviews that i read, the BC-900 La Crosse charger is deemed to be very good/excellent, right? i wonder why they are having a sale? maybe a new model is around the corner?

 

[Black Rose]

The BC-900 has been on sale at various places for awhile now.

 

[DualMonitors]

But why has it been on sale at various places for a while already? Is it at the cusp of a new model being introduced?

 

[FredM]

I have a LaCrosse and I would probably say get something else. It always seems to put more juice into my cells than the Triton2.

 

[DualMonitors]

I don't understand: what do you mean by "... It putting Moe juice into your cells than the Triton..."?

Isn't a full charge considered a good thing?

Thx in advance for your clarification.

 

[Black Rose]

A full charge is good, but overcharging is bad.

 

[Marduke]

I have the LaCrosse, and it seems fine. Doesn't overcharge at all.

Either option is a good deal, and that's also a good price for Eneloops

FredM,
Do you have one of the old ones with the old firmware? And what charge current are you using for what cells?

 

[DualMonitors]

thx all. i get a sinking feeling in me that says the La Crosse BC-900 must be replaced soon by a newer model, which is why they are selling them for around $39 including 4AA and 4AAA La Crosse branded NiMH's. that puts the charger at around $30, which is pretty low.

that said, i believe Silverfox said that one must be very careful with La Crosse's as there is one component internally that is used at its maximum capability, and it CAN melt or plain malfunction and fry both your batteries and the charger - which he recommends putting on a non-flammable surface.

is the La Crosse BC-900 that "iffy"? is the quality as well as quality control that mediocre? one would think that after all these years of making this model, and after new firmwares/versions (now i believe onto V. 33), they would upgrade that ONE single component in order to eliminate the Achilles' heel!! As Silverfox's review was a couple of years back and with an earlier version, we wouldn't really know if the currently sold version has any improved/upgraded hardware components to upgrade that some-time overloaded component.

any comments/advice, please? thx again!

 

[Marduke]

thx all. i get a sinking feeling in me that says the La Crosse BC-900 must be replaced soon by a newer model, which is why they are selling them for around $39 including 4AA and 4AAA La Crosse branded NiMH's. that puts the charger at around $30, which is pretty low.

You're forgetting that the economy sucks right now, and everyone is running specials to drum up business.

BTW, the included cells are pretty iffy. Okay for beaters, but I wouldn't count on them for anything, and would get some quality cells in addition to them.

 

[paulr]

I thought the general sentiment around here was that the Maha MH-C9000 was the best general purpose AA charger these days. It's quite a bit more capable than the Lacrosse. I don't have one yet but one of these days will probably get one.

 

[SilverFox]

Hello DualMonitors,

We have not heard of a LaCrosse BC900 melting down now for quite awhile. There is a new version out and perhaps the adjusting things to take care of this issue.

Tom