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Energizer is selling D NIMH batteries that are merely AA's in an adapter.
http://www.naturalnews.com/PhotoTour_Energizer_Batteries_1.html
Mike Adams from NaturalNews said:
...Why are Energizer "D" batteries so weak? To find out the answer, I decided to take one apart and see what was inside. As this picture reveals, inside the "D" battery is a much smaller battery! The Energizer "D" battery is actually just a cheap plastic shell surrounding a much smaller, low-capacity battery similar in size and capacity to an "AA" battery (2500 mAh)...
Man, is HE out of touch!
That cell in the picture is CERTAINLY not an AA, and it's BIGGER than the cell inside my "
Energizer ACCUrechargeable 2200mAh NH50-D" D cell whose plastic bottom recently broke apart allowing me to see what's inside.
I don't have the energy / initiative right now to GOOGLE cell sizes, but, using a plain old ruler and eyeball, the cell inside my NH50-D is 1.6" high and ~.75" width (using the ruler, one-eye-closed method since the positive pole extension is ~.65").
Also, IIRC, a couple of SAFT NiMH Ds that I 'dremeled' open years ago were about the same dimensions (gut-feeling).
IMHO, 'fake' D cells supply a viable demand from the 'non-technical majority'. (Face it folks, if you're reading this, you're not in the 'non-technical majority'!). Also, AFAICT, AA-to-C and D cell adapters aren't that widely available (i.e. Brick&Mortar) so folks besides US don't have any La Crosse / Lenmar / Sanyo adapters handy.
Now, do they (the 'non-techincal majority') have a charger available?
Years ago, before the (online) availability of the La Crosse / Lenmar / Sanyo adapters, I bought a few 'fake' D (and probably C - haven't 'dremeled' one open yet) cells along with a Rayovac PS3. Just today, in Walmart, I saw an Energizer charger that supported AAA, AA, C, D. So, they ARE supported.
But, *IF* I were in need of a low capacity D cell today, CERTAINLY I would NOT buy another 'fake' D cell. I would buy an AA Eneloop with an adapter.
And, on the other hand, to complete this discussion, IMO, some folks that buy TRUE 10,000mAh D cells are WASTING THEIR MONEY.
*IF* you need 10,000mAh (at least) WEEKLY for ~10 years, by all means, buy a TRUE 10,000mAh D cell. Otherwise, why wouldn't a 2000mAh AA in a D adapter serve you better?