Duracell 2650 NiMH: Amazing

[HarveyRich]

After a bit of use, I just charged two Duracell 2650 NiMH cells on my LaCrosse BC-900 charger at the lowest setting (100ma discharge and 200ma charge rates). Both cells charged to 3,700 mah capacities. I was amazed. Does this sort of thing happen very often with NiMH cells? Also, can I count I getting this sort of capacity regularly with these cells now or is this a fluke?

 

[chevrofreak]

That doesn't mean that the cells are holding all of that energy. You need to discharge them to see how much they are actually holding.

 

[koala]

Are they new or used cells? Did you charge it in two separate sessions as the BC-900 has a limit of 3000mAh capacity.

 

[SilverFox]

Hello HarveyRich,

That sounds like a missed termination to me.

It is also strange that you were able to get above 3000 mAh. You may have a defictive unit.

Tom

 

[HarveyRich]

You need to discharge them to see how much they are actually holding.

Oh. I didn't realize that. I thought the charging capacity was actual energy inputted since I went through the discharge cycle first.

Are they new or used cells? Did you charge it in two separate sessions as the BC-900 has a limit of 3000mAh capacity.

Slightly used. I should look up the termination limit. Charged in a single session. It just kept on going. Maybe it missed a negative delta point. Isn't this how these units detect capacity?

You may have a defictive unit

I sure hope not. This is the first time this has happened. I did notice that these cells charged above capacity the past couple of times I've charged them. Oh, at least the unit isn't melting down!

 

[wptski]

Hello HarveyRich,

That sounds like a missed termination to me.

It is also strange that you were able to get above 3000 mAh. You may have a defictive unit.

Tom

Tom:

Maybe the specs are defective? Wouldn't be the first time that we've seen incorrect specs!

 

[koala]

Hello HarveyRich,

Can you do this test to let us know the software/hardware revision of your BC-900 charger?

Unplug your charger. Wait 5 seconds. Plug in. There will be a version number displayed briefly in one of the LCD slots. Please let us know the number.

Your charger being able to go pass the 3000mAh capacity mark, might be a new version or might be defective.

 

[thekobk]

The limit of the BC900 is 3,700 mah. I did a test some time ago with 2 2500 cells solderd together in both v32 and v33 chargers to rech this number.

 

[glire]

The BC-900 displays above 3.0Ah (mine is v32).
Each time I fully charge discharged Sanyo's 2700 the display goes beyond the 3.0Ah "limit".

The specs say it can charge cells up to 3.0Ah, which doesn't mean the LCD can't display above that.
It's hard to verify that spec, there aren't any AA cells of more than actual 3.0Ah yet.

 

[wptski]

The BC-900 displays above 3.0Ah (mine is v32).
Each time I fully charge discharged Sanyo's 2700 the display goes beyond the 3.0Ah "limit".

The specs say it can charge cells up to 3.0Ah, which doesn't mean the LCD can't display above that.
It's hard to verify that spec, there aren't any AA cells of more than actual 3.0Ah yet.

I don't think that the maximum limit is in the specs or in the manual either, it's stamped on the bottom of the unit itself.

 

[DevL]

So did you discharge them to see what the actual capacity of the cells was?

 

[koala]

I see then, it's quite nice to see it works beyond it's limit.

 

[light_emitting_dude]

I have a set of these batteries and yet they have a high capacity, they have a fast discharge rate. They were replaced by eneloops.

I still use them tho, as long as I charge them up prior to use. Hopefully energizer will jump on the slow discharge rate bandwagon soon like sanyo and rayovac!

 

[HarveyRich]

Originally Posted by Koala: There will be a version number displayed briefly in one of the LCD slots. Please let us know the number.

 

[HarveyRich]

Originally Posted by Koala: There will be a version number displayed briefly in one of the LCD slots. Please let us know the number.

I did this and found three numbers. In the first two lcd slots were numbers in the twenties and in the last one was 33. I assume this means I have version 33, right?

 

[koala]

That's right and that's latest version I think.

 

[Jerry_S]

Hi: I think the BC-900 claims to charge 3000mah batteries fully. Since the charging process is NOT 100% effecient, a max of 3700 mah for max input charge sounds like a perfectly reasonable number to me.