wasBlinded
Flashlight Enthusiast
I've done a 30 day comparison with two Sanyo Eneloop 2000 mAh AA cells and two Ray-O-Vac Hybrid 2100 mAh AA cells. I know this is a very small sample and I apologize for that, but at least its something. I am also editing this post to add the 60 day results on another set of four cells.
Each cell was run through the "Forming Charge" routine on the Maha C-9000, and the initial mAh ratings were taken from those runs. This entails a C/10 charge for 16 hours and a C/5 discharge. They were then stored at about 60 deg F for 30 days and 61 days until put through a discharge test at 400 mA to give the following results:
Eneloop Eneloop Hybrid Hybrid
Initial mAh 1951 1938 2040 2050
30day mAh 1802 1800 1830 1825
Capac. Loss 7.6% 7.1% 10.3% 10.9%
Eneloop Eneloop Hybrid Hybrid
Initial mAh 1935 1955 2039 2039
61day mAh 1767 1789 1807 1803
Capac. Loss 8.7% 8.5% 11.4% 11.6%
The Hybrids started off with a bit more capacity, lost more of their capacity in the first month, but still ended up with a higher capacity at the end of 30 and 60 days. It is interesting to note that both Hybrid and Eneloop cells in this test seemed to lose only a little more than another 1% of their capacity in the second 30 day period (if the two batches can be considered to behave the same).
Just for some more data, the first four cells were then put through the C-9000 "Refresh-Analyze" program, with a 1000 mA charge followed by a 400 mA discharge, and the cells (same order) gave the following mAh capacities:
1928 1925 2004 2021
So the standard C/2 charge does not lose you too much total capacity compared to the forming charge on the C-9000
Each cell was run through the "Forming Charge" routine on the Maha C-9000, and the initial mAh ratings were taken from those runs. This entails a C/10 charge for 16 hours and a C/5 discharge. They were then stored at about 60 deg F for 30 days and 61 days until put through a discharge test at 400 mA to give the following results:
Eneloop Eneloop Hybrid Hybrid
Initial mAh 1951 1938 2040 2050
30day mAh 1802 1800 1830 1825
Capac. Loss 7.6% 7.1% 10.3% 10.9%
Eneloop Eneloop Hybrid Hybrid
Initial mAh 1935 1955 2039 2039
61day mAh 1767 1789 1807 1803
Capac. Loss 8.7% 8.5% 11.4% 11.6%
The Hybrids started off with a bit more capacity, lost more of their capacity in the first month, but still ended up with a higher capacity at the end of 30 and 60 days. It is interesting to note that both Hybrid and Eneloop cells in this test seemed to lose only a little more than another 1% of their capacity in the second 30 day period (if the two batches can be considered to behave the same).
Just for some more data, the first four cells were then put through the C-9000 "Refresh-Analyze" program, with a 1000 mA charge followed by a 400 mA discharge, and the cells (same order) gave the following mAh capacities:
1928 1925 2004 2021
So the standard C/2 charge does not lose you too much total capacity compared to the forming charge on the C-9000
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