Energizer "D" Battery Exposed

[bansuri]

Saw this today.
Energizer is selling D NIMH batteries that are merely AA's in an adapter.
http://www.naturalnews.com/PhotoTour_Energizer_Batteries_1.html

 

[Tekno_Cowboy]

It should be an obvious thing to anyone who pays attention to the capacities.

It's still pretty dirty of Energizer to sell them that way though.

 

[jayflash]

They've been pulling this devious charade for more than 20 years.

 

[LEDAdd1ct]

I have mixed feelings on this one:

A) It states the capacity right there on the label. Not deceptive at all.

vs.

B) The general public may not know a thing about amp-hours, and just think bigger is better.

So, I sit on the fence.

 

[rookiedaddy]

Amazing! It's almost 2 years since the article published, and Energizer still selling these cells... :eek: :sick:

 

[45/70]

Yeah, they've been doing that for quite a while. Back when NiCD's were "The" rechargeable cylindrical cell, most of them were sub C's. I don't remember using any Energizer/Eveready D's like this, maybe they used AA's, not sure.

At least nowadays the capacity is printed on the cell (or maybe we should say "shell" :)), back then it never seemed to be. You could always tell by the weight though.

Dave

 

[Mr Happy]

While the price of those cells is of course outrageous, I have mentioned before that few consumer chargers are equipped to charge a true 10,000 mAh D cell. At the common charge rate of 500 mA or so it would take 24 hours to charge one from empty.

 

[Illum]

it only takes one explosion for them to come clean...

and it can be done with a charger designed to juice up a 10,000mah battery in a couple hours...putting this bugger in a charger like that I don't know what will happen, but certainly I wouldn't want to be near it:party: :poof::shakehead

 

[Hrvoje]

That cell looks like sub C, not AA.

Hrvoje

 

[jar3ds]

friends don't let friends by batteries locally! :D...

 

[VidPro]

That cell looks like sub C, not AA.

Hrvoje

it sure does, or somebody needs to work on thier aspect ratio for pictures.

 

[Chodes]

What a load of crap.
The author does not have a clue - can't even recognize a Sub C cell.

"the Energizer company is deceiving consumers by packaging what is effectively an "AA" battery in a "D" size and shape"

I don't know what Sub C cells they are using , what current limits if any the contacts and case can handle. That's what somebody who knew what they were talking about would investigate.
What about the capacity? Can they actually deliver 2500mAh? At what current draw? What's their self discharge like? Have you ever heard of self discharge.

He says "For the record, competing high-capacity AA batteries now deliver 2700mAh."

I wonder if he's written an article saying how stupid all the people who buy Eneloop AAs with a low 2000mAh are?

The cost per cell is the only issue. Don't like the price , don't buy.

 

[metlarules]

2500mah is entirely too low for any d cell in my book regardless of whats inside. Hell,lowly nicad d cells have twice as much mah as that cell.

 

[TakeTheActive]

...Energizer is selling D NIMH batteries that are merely AA's in an adapter.
http://www.naturalnews.com/PhotoTour_Energizer_Batteries_1.html

...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! :o

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. :eek: *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? :confused:

 

[Turbo DV8]

Man, is HE out of touch! :o

That cell in the picture is CERTAINLY not an AA...

What a load of crap.
The author does not have a clue - can't even recognize a Sub C cell.

Why are you two ripping this guy a new asshole? You even quoted him as saying "similar in capacity to an AA." He's making a valid point even if he does not know what a sub-C cell is.

 

[TakeTheActive]

Why are you two ripping this guy a new asshole? You even quoted him as saying "similar in capacity to an AA." He's making a valid point even if he does not know what a sub-C cell is.

IMHO, *YOU* over-reacted.

1. PLEASE learn how to QUOTE
   You attributed the first QUOTE to me and the second to ???
   .
2. I did NOT "rip this guy a new asshole"
   I *DID* explain how the 'non-techincal majority' would have a use for 'LT 10,000mAh D cells'.

 

[VidPro]

Why are you two ripping this guy a new asshole? You even quoted him as saying "similar in capacity to an AA." He's making a valid point even if he does not know what a sub-C cell is.

because he has a FIT about something and does a tantrum, but has his info wrong. read on, he has a fit about juice companies LYING about the pomagranite juice, then turns around and claims (practically) that it will prevent 7 medical illnesses including cancer.

its just if your going to go all off on people about Truth, then turn around and state "facts not in evidence" then he deserves the same treatment he dishes out.

i am not going to rip him, but i sure can see why.

 

[Chodes]

He ranted ignorantly. He accused Energizer of a conspiracy. He could have googled, found some forums (such as CPF!) and posted a link to the cells asking for opinions.

Something like "Hi everyone , I'm a complete noob but I saw these cells and it seems to me like they are not very good value. Almost deception. What do you think? Am I missing something?"

Usually a forum member has already tested , or will get hold of a cell , put it under various loads , see what the voltage sag is and test the capacities at various current draws. Discharge over time is usually done and in this case , I'm sure someone would try to determine what resistance the contacts in the adapter had and what current implications that had. Is the adapter case far superior to the cheaper chinese brands that melt at medium current loads.
Another obvious point would be attempting to identify what the sub c cell is inside the adapter.
If the cell passed various criteria , then the internet search would be on for the cheapest source.

If I did any hole ripping it was based on fact. I believe he tried to rip a big one in Energizer ignorantly.

 

[jayflash]

Well, for the great unwashed public... Hopefully, most people will pay attention to the capacity and understand what it means. At least it is prominently displayed nowadays. Still, the track record for Energizer rechargeable AAs is not good for reliability.

Back when only NiCd cells were available, the sub-C had only about an amp hour of capacity - roughly double the AA cell of that era. I don't remember the yellow D & C Energizers of the 1980's having the capacity printed on the cell case. If experienced, you could tell by weight and recommended charge time that a small cell was in a larger body. The low runtime for Energizer C & D cells surprised many buyers.

 

[Bullzeyebill]

Hey guys, this is a family forum. Watch your language, and let's remember to be polite to each other.

Bill