Energizer now claiming LSD on their 2500 mAh AAs!?!?

[Power Me Up]

In a local shop today, I found packs of Energizer 2500 mAh AA cells with a big red sticker on the front claiming that they hold their charge for up to 6 months! In smaller writing on the bottom of the sticker, it said that they retain up to 80% of their charge after 6 months.

Other than the sticker on the front, there was nothing else on the packaging to indicate that the cells were of the low self discharge type. On the back, it even said that they should be charged before first use...

I managed to find what looked like a date code on a couple of cells which read: 09 - 07 which I would suspect means that they were manufactured in September this year. Although it's possible that Energizer have managed to make improvements with their cells, I'm still rather sceptical of these claims considering all of the problems that others and myself have had with Energizer 2500 mAh cells in the past.

I tried taking photos of the packet with my camera phone, but they were pretty much worthless. I have however found a page on the Energizer site which says basically the same:
http://www.energizer.com/products/h...ables/Pages/rechargeable-battery-charger.aspx

From that page:

Stay Charged for Every Occasion
Long-Lasting Batteries and Innovative Chargers — More Power. More Often.
Energizer® Rechargeable AA 2500 mAh batteries provide long lasting rechargeable battery power — lasting up to 4 times longer in digital cameras versus leading ordinary alkaline (varies by device and usage). They also hold a charge for up to 6 months and can be recharged 100s of times. So, they're ready when you are. Pair them with the chargers that are right for you.

Also on that page:

Energizer® Rechargeable — Reusable Power Solution for Many Devices

• Highly recommended for high drain or frequently used devices — ones that you use more than once a week — such as digital cameras, MP3 players, CD players, two-way radios, remote control cars, handheld games, photoflash and GPS equipment
• Also recommended for toys, infant devices, PDA's and medical & safety devices such as smoke detectors
• Not recommended for remote controls and radios (for those, use Alkaline batteries, like Energizer® Max®)

Strange that they should recommend them for smoke detectors, but not remote controls...

I tried to have a look at their specification sheets, but data.energizer.com isn't resolving for some reason...

 

[VidPro]

They also hold a charge for up to 6 months

frequently used devices — ones that you use more than once a week
-----------------------------------------------------

i would buy that, carefully worded enough
What is A charge? 2%.
Up to 6mo? does that include 2 weeks .

(ok call me skeptical)
i still use many E 2500s , they work great for frequentally used devices, and they did hold some sort of charge for 6 months when they were newer.

 

[TorchBoy]

They also hold a charge for up to 6 months

That sounds about right, considering how much abuse they've received from CPFers. Perhaps all the other "100s" of charges last about 6 hours.

I can't load that page, just get a can't find the server "www.energizer.com" error. :shrug:

 

[Power Me Up]

That sounds about right, considering how much abuse they've received from CPFers. Perhaps all the other "100s" of charges last about 6 hours.

Yep - I had thoughts along those lines as well.

It's tempting to pick up a packet and try them out - but I'm so sceptical that I don't think that it's worth it

I can't load that page, just get a can't find the server "www.energizer.com" error. :shrug:

They must be having some serious DNS problems then...

 

[Mr Happy]

A couple of Q & A's from the FAQ located here: http://www.energizer.com/products/hightech-batteries/rechargeables/faq/Pages/faq.aspx

Question:
Do Energizer® NiMH Rechargeable batteries need to be charged before using them for the first time?

Answer:
Yes, Energizer® NiMH Rechargeable batteries are not fully charged upon purchase, so they need to be charged before the first use. However, because they are not fully discharged, either, they should actually charge in less time before the first use.

Question:
Do rechargeable batteries lose their charge when not in use?

Answer:
All NiHM batteries lose their charge when not in use; however, the rate of capacity loss varies. Some NiMH batteries lose their charge at about 1.5% per day. Energizer® Rechargeable batteries self-discharge at a rate of about 0.5% per day.

Make of that what you will.

(I calculate that at 0.5% per day, a fully charged cell would be down to 40% after six months of storage.)

 

[Zenster]

Question:
Do rechargeable batteries lose their charge when not in use?

Answer:
All NiHM batteries lose their charge when not in use; however, the rate of capacity loss varies. Some NiMH batteries lose their charge at about 1.5% per day. Energizer® Rechargeable batteries self-discharge at a rate of about 0.5% per day.

Make of that what you will.

(I calculate that at 0.5% per day, a fully charged cell would be down to 40% after six months of storage.)

Hmmm, they sound sort of like an in between thing; sort of a "Hybrid Hybrid".

While the advertising likes to make inferences about lower rates of self discharge, they don't actually come out and YELL it, so I'm of the opinion that these are maybe better than "ordinary" NiMH batteries, but NOT really a "Low Discharge" chemistry battery.

Still, if this isn't just empty marketing claims, maybe the chemistry of standard rechargeable NiMH batteries is being improved over time.
It may mean that in the near future, there will be no such thing as a standard NiMH battery, and ALL NiMH batteries will not only be Low Discharge types, but at the same higher capacities of today's standard NimH's as well.

That's pretty cool, right?

 

[TorchBoy]

I'm of the opinion that these are maybe better than "ordinary" NiMH batteries ...

Still, if this isn't just empty marketing claims, ...

Call me cynical, but I'm of the opinion that it's just empty marketing claims. I've finally managed to get onto the Energizer site, and there isn't any claim or even implication that the cells have been redesigned. That combined with their 2500mAh C and D cells confirms they're very much into marketing fluff. :scowl: Buyer beware.

:welcome:

Edit: I cynically note there aren't any testimonials for their rechargeables.

 

[Lightingguy321]

I for one would doubt that claim. I think it is their marketing people going a little over the edge. From what I recall none of my cells can last out 2 weeks with out loosing half of their charge.

 

[cave dave]

Call me skeptical after getting screwed on their previous batches. I would guess they either:
1) Have switched to a LSD design and are now overstating capacity.
2) Haven't changed a thing and are misleading folks about the self discharge.

 

[TorchBoy]

1) Have switched to a LSD design and are now overstating capacity.

They haven't said anything has changed, though. They haven't put a "NEW" claim on anything (packaging or their web site). But yeah, the capacity is probably overstated.

 

[Mr Happy]

I too measure about 2200 mAh on a pair of Energizer 2500s that I got free with a charger. But worse than that, their self-discharge is very high. After about 3 months they have very little useful charge left.