Is anyone still buying Eneloop (or other Ni-MH batteres), if so do you ever need to replace them?

[vicv]

I tend to buy them every once in a while. But not because they die. But due to more electronic purchases. My wife likes these little LED strings that she puts inside of globes all over the house. They take 3 AA each. It's almost a full-time job keeping them all charge. Lol. So every once in a while I pick up a couple extra packs at IKEA

 

[ZMZ67]

I haven't bought eneloops for a while but I have purchased Tenergy Centura LSD C and D more recently. Figured I might as well get the higher capacity instead of using AA with adapters that don't always work as well in my vintage D and C lights anyway.
I don't have any technical information to provide but for my purposes the Tenergys have worked well so far.
The biggest downside for me is the weight they add. They are noticeably heavier than Alkaline cells.
One note of caution make sure you look at the battery capacity if you are buying Tenergy Centura as they also have a low capacity "light" version. The "light" batteries work fine,weigh less and are cheaper but are closer to AA in capacity.

 

[MidnightDistortions]

I might have overlooked this but I bought some AAA Duracells (4 pack) back in 2019 and from my understanding they're just Eneloop Pro under the Duracell label but I'm not 100% sure or know the manufacturer date, but for 6+ years they still mostly work, except one that seems to self discharge. The internal resistance on them is roughly 30-40% and slightly higher than the Energizers bought at the same time and those were manufactured March 2019. The Energizers doesn't self discharge like the Duracells do.


I did start charging both the Duracell and Energizer batteries 1,000mA (or 1 amp) on the Maha C9000. So for their age they're doing quite well, minus the one Duracell that won't stay completely charged. I also have a set of AAA Goal Zero that are manufactured January 2017 and the IR is pretty much the same as the Energizers.

Don't quite have money yet to buy some actual Eneloop Pro batteries but considering I put over 8 cycles on these batteries already and they're working just fine. Duracell claims their batteries hold up for 10 years which is sort of true I guess, like I said one battery won't stay fully charged. I haven't ran a proper test to see how long they charged/how much capacity being left but this one battery was doing this before I actually started charging them. I only began using them earlier in this year.

But so far other than that one particular battery, they run just fine (including that battery) and I make sure to allow them to rest a couple of hours before tossing them in the charger at 1 amp.

 

[MidnightDistortions]

I have my doubts as to whether the Pros can give a higher current flow, otherwise flashlights would be brighter with Pros, and that's not something I've ever noticed.

Sorry for my late response, haven't been on here but you can check using a lumen meter with white and black Eneloop batteries in identical flashlights. Or you can discharge them at 2 amps (maybe 1 amp) In an analyzer charger to note the voltages per battery. You can do multiple batteries to verify that.

 

[Monocrom]

To be honest, I'm happy with my standard Eneloops.
Doubtful that the Pro version is worth the increase in price.

 

[vicv]

To be honest, I'm happy with my standard Eneloops.
Doubtful that the Pro version is worth the increase in price.

Yeah I've never tried them. Double the money and 1/4 of the lifespan for only an extra 500mah. No thanks. Even the ikea cells I get the regular ones

 

[russprechtl]

I've had terrible luck with the Pros and great luck with the white ones. To borrow an old concept, I think I'd rather eat a white one than buy any more black ones.

 

[cave dave]

I threw a charged AA Pro in a convoy T3 the other day and the 30% and 100% levels looked about the same, I swapped it for a white Eneloop from 2007 and it had no problem getting an obvious turbo (100%) mode. I've had similar issues with AAAx2 pros in Reylight pineapple penlight and 2xAAA Preon Turbo mode.

I think pros suck.

 

[wayben]

I've never tried the Pros, due to the extra expense and the negative comments on them. I initially bought the white ones and am still using my originals and some more added to them. Very happy with their performance and haven't had one go bad yet, so why fix what ain't broke.

 

[vicv]

I threw a charged AA Pro in a convoy T3 the other day and the 30% and 100% levels looked about the same, I swapped it for a white Eneloop from 2007 and it had no problem getting an obvious turbo (100%) mode. I've had similar issues with AAAx2 pros in Reylight pineapple penlight and 2xAAA Preon Turbo mode.

I think pros suck.

That's interesting. That light draws 1.5a on 100% and an eneloop pro should easily be able to do that. Maybe yours has went bad

 

[cave dave]

That's interesting. That light draws 1.5a on 100% and an eneloop pro should easily be able to do that. Maybe yours has went bad

That's my point. I have about 16 pros around and all of them have went bad like this. They still work in remotes though. White ones dating back to 2007 mostly still work fine, only a few have gone bad.

 

[vicv]

That's my point. I have about 16 pros around and all of them have went bad like this. They still work in remotes though. White ones dating back to 2007 mostly still work fine, only a few have gone bad.

Ya I get that. Glad I never wasted my money on them

 

[Ray_of_Light]

I mostly moved away from NiMH since the advent of lithium AA cells with a 1.5 Volt buck converter.
I still have a lantern and an ambience lighting in two unpowered areas, which are powered by thee AA cells, lasting 48 hours. Yes, I replace the cells every two days, after which the AA cells are at 50% state of charge.
I don't use Eneloops for such trivial application; but rather some generic batteries I purchase at the LIDL supermarket, at four dollars for a pack of four.
Well, these NiMH batteries give up after two years of continued use. Their internal resistance shoots up noticeably (from 100 mΩ to 500+ mΩ), and the -dV/DT charge termination signal become undetectable; therefore the batteries are rejected from all automatic chargers.
NiMH batteries are much more delicate than Ni-Cd from our recent past. Discharging an AA cell above 1C (2 Amps) kills it quickly; the same happens when you cycle them from 0% to 100% - this is why I stop at 50%. Also, make sure the charger terminate the charge properly, and doesn't heat up the cells toward the end of charge.
NiMH cells still have an use in the battle against alkaline batteries - each and every alkaline battery ends its life with a leakage, it is by design. Ni-MH batteries don't leak, just like lithium-ion don't leak; so, they are always welcome - even if they are obsolete.
Regards,
Anthony

 

[vicv]

I mostly moved away from NiMH since the advent of lithium AA cells with a 1.5 Volt buck converter.
I still have a lantern and an ambience lighting in two unpowered areas, which are powered by thee AA cells, lasting 48 hours. Yes, I replace the cells every two days, after which the AA cells are at 50% state of charge.
I don't use Eneloops for such trivial application; but rather some generic batteries I purchase at the LIDL supermarket, at four dollars for a pack of four.
Well, these NiMH batteries give up after two years of continued use. Their internal resistance shoots up noticeably (from 100 mΩ to 500+ mΩ), and the -dV/DT charge termination signal become undetectable; therefore the batteries are rejected from all automatic chargers.
NiMH batteries are much more delicate than Ni-Cd from our recent past. Discharging an AA cell above 1C (2 Amps) kills it quickly; the same happens when you cycle them from 0% to 100% - this is why I stop at 50%. Also, make sure the charger terminate the charge properly, and doesn't heat up the cells toward the end of charge.
NiMH cells still have an use in the battle against alkaline batteries - each and every alkaline battery ends its life with a leakage, it is by design. Ni-MH batteries don't leak, just like lithium-ion don't leak; so, they are always welcome - even if they are obsolete.
Regards,
Anthony

I think a lot of your problems came from the cheap NIMH cells you're using. Eneloops don't die like that. And you can get them for one dollar apiece, you just have to get them at IKEA

 

[NiOOH]

I threw a charged AA Pro in a convoy T3 the other day and the 30% and 100% levels looked about the same, I swapped it for a white Eneloop from 2007 and it had no problem getting an obvious turbo (100%) mode. I've had similar issues with AAAx2 pros in Reylight pineapple penlight and 2xAAA Preon Turbo mode.

I think pros suck.

Eneloop Pro cells are short lived, fragile and not suitable for high current applications. For the service life of an Eneloop Pro, you'll get 2-3 times less total discharged capacity, compared to a standard (white) Eneloop. They are best suited to some light duties, like kitchen radios and other loads around c/10.

 

[dc38]

Eneloop Pro cells are short lived, fragile and not suitable for high current applications. For the service life of an Eneloop Pro, you'll get 2-3 times less total discharged capacity, compared to a standard (white) Eneloop. They are best suited to some light duties, like kitchen radios and other loads around c/10.

120% capacity, lifetime of 500 charges, vs 100% with 2000 charges, lol...600 vs 2000, no brainer for longevity. Basic loops all the way!

 

[Claypole]

If you absolutely need the little bit of extra capacity, and can accept the reduced longevity, then Eneloop Pro’s do fulfill a purpose.

I found another good use for them: I put them in a light and kept the light in my car for a year. I then took them and ran a discharge test, and they had lost about 500-600 mAh. (AA). So, whilst that is a fair amount of self discharge, they still had the same remaining capacity as my regular, fully charged Eneloops. So, the extra capacity made them useful in this situation.
These Pro’s were a fair few years old at the time, and are in fact still working OK today, at over 12 years old.
My AAA Pro’s also held up well, and lasted almost 10 years of fairly hard use before failing.

So, whilst the Pros do have their limitations, I would still prefer the Pro’s in certain situations over regular Eneloops. However, If it could only use one type though, the regular ones would be my choice.

 

[NiOOH]

So, whilst the Pros do have their limitations, I would still prefer the Pro's in certain situations over regular Eneloops. However, If it could only use one type though, the regular ones would be my choice.

If you cycle them infrequently, yes. For everyday use (means 50-200 cycles per year), regular Eneloops are far superior and much more economical choice.

 

[IMA SOL MAN]

I just wish Panasonic would start making C and D Eneloops!

I have an old school JVC brand boom box ("ghetto blaster" for you older members ) that holds 10 yes, TEN D cells, and I've been powering it with AA white Eneloops in adapters but they don't last hardly any amount of time, and I run the radio at very low volume. I can see why they put 10 D cells in it, because it is a power HOG! The AA Eneloops just are not practical to power this thing with, so after I recharge them and put them back in, I'll plug it into the 120 V AC and not plan on using it in a long-term power outage.

 

[vicv]

I just wish Panasonic would start making C and D Eneloops!

I have an old school JVC brand boom box ("ghetto blaster" for you older members ) that holds 10 yes, TEN D cells, and I've been powering it with AA white Eneloops in adapters but they don't last hardly any amount of time, and I run the radio at very low volume. I can see why they put 10 D cells in it, because it is a power HOG! The AA Eneloops just are not practical to power this thing with, so after I recharge them and put them back in, I'll plug it into the 120 V AC and not plan on using it in a long-term power outage.

Ya I've always wished they did. I'm sure they would be expensive. But there are maha imedions. They make c and d cells. And they're very good. Right up there with eneloop quality