New Sanyo Eneloop HR-3UTGA cells at Costco!

[Audiotweaker]

Sorry if this is old news (I briefly searched the forums without seeing related posts).

A friend of mine sent me this picture, saying that they were $25. I asked him to snag me a package! They are 8 of the new 1500 cycle HR-3UTGA AA cells and the AAA equivalent (I have the AAAs on the charger to break them in and I install them all with the logos facing up so I can't pull the model number off of one). As you can see in the picture, they look like the blue/light blue tones batteries for AA and green/light green tones AAA (though I didn't realize they made the AAA in colors.
It's neat that it comes with the charger, but unfortunately it's the one that charges the batteries in pairs; no cover. I had no plans for the charger, and didn't care.
Thought I'd pass this find along in case anyone was interested

 

[fishinfool]

Aloha and :welcome: Audiotweeker! There are already a few threads on these which you can look at by searching when you get a chance. Lots of good reading here on CPF. I just bought a couple of these myself and I just love the new colors. I also have some of the other aa tones that come in 8 different colors. I just can't seem to get enough batteries. I think I'm addicted more so on batteries than on torches.

 

[etc]

what's the date?

 

[thedeske]

A friend tipped me on this same set here in Atlanta for 26.
I'm not a Costco member and don't really need more at this point, but
it's not a bad way to start a set or add for the price.

Too bad they don't sell the kit without the charger for 20

 

[worm]

I've been looking for these for a while now, unfortunately, i'm 250 miles away from any costco... Would anyone be generous enough to help me out and ship a box my way?

 

[TakeTheActive]

Re: New Sanyo Eneloop HR-3UTGA cells (also) at Amazon.Com!

I've been looking for these for a while now, unfortunately, i'm 250 miles away from any costco...

Monitor Amazon for a sale...

(figuring that USPS Priority Mail for a member to ship starts at $4.95 for a Priority Mail Small Flat Rate Box) :thinking:

 

[Audiotweaker]

Thanks fishinfool - I'm thankful for the amazing resource that is abundant throughout these forums! Continued searching pulled up the other relevant threads

The dates on the AAs in the package were May 2010 (10-05LG) and the AAAs were May and June 2010 (10-05OE, 10 06LL).

I suppose I should have mentioned that these were found in a Sacramento, CA store.

 

[fishinfool]

Thanks fishinfool - I'm thankful for the amazing resource that is abundant throughout these forums! Continued searching pulled up the other relevant threads

The dates on the AAs in the package were May 2010 (10-05LG) and the AAAs were May and June 2010 (10-05OE, 10 06LL).

I suppose I should have mentioned that these were found in a Sacramento, CA store.

Now that you've got a nice set of brand new Costco Eneloops, you should invest in the best nimh smart charger out there which is the Maha MH-C9000. It will take care of all your aa and aaa nimh battery charging needs and then some. I have 2 of them that I use with my 88 eneloops, 8 duraloops, 12 appleloops and the rest of my rechargeable nimh batteries.

 

[Beacon of Light]

88 Eneloops, holy cow!!!!

 

[Dances with Flashlight]

88 Eneloops, holy cow!!!!

I think CPF needs a new member classification: Battaholic.

 

[fishinfool]

88 Eneloops, holy cow!!!!

I think CPF needs a new member classification: Battaholic.

I know right? Battaholic. I don't know what it is about batteries but I think it has to do with me having no life. I walk into any store and the first thing I do is go and check out the battery section for new batteries. Oh well, better a battaholic than an alcoholic or dug addict right?

 

[Lynx_Arc]

I think CPF needs a new member classification: Battaholic.

If you think about it, 88 eneloops can replace about 50+ alkalines which even most non -aholics stock up on when in power outage country.

 

[JDest]

Tweaker, you're a hero.:thumbsup: No idea these bad boys were at Costco. I can't wait to drop a mere 25 bucks at the local warehouse.

 

[TakeTheActive]

Yes, But, How Many Are 'In Active Service'?

...I have 2 of them (edit: Maha MH-C9000) that I use with my 88 eneloops, 8 duraloops, 12 appleloops and the rest of my rechargeable nimh batteries.

Once your non-LSD cells reach the HIGH category (see below), you might consider adding a La Crosse BC-900 / BC-9009 (on *SALE*, of course! ) to your fleet.

I know right? Battaholic (edit: Me too! And proud of it!!!). I don't know what it is about batteries but I think it has to do with me having no life. I walk into any store and the first thing I do is go and check out the battery section for new batteries...

• How many, of the 108 'Loops' are in regular 'Active Service' and how many are 'Storage Box Queens'? :thinking:
  .
• How many non-LSD cells do you have?
  • How many of THEM are in regular 'Active Service' and how many are 'Storage Box Queens'? :thinking:
    - I posted my 11/21/2009 inventory in: Do You Maintain *CRAP* NiCD/NiMH Cells? and looking at it today, it's *STILL* pretty much the same - 3 of the 4 Energizer 2200/2500mAh NiMH D cells died (~2000/2002), while the OLDER Maxell NiCD D cells are still running (~1998) :shrug: ; the Rayovac AAAs have pretty much had it :mecry:.

I originally headed down the same path as you, once I began (DAILY! ) reading of the CPF 'Batteries Included' forum, bought my Maha MH-C9000 :twothumbs and started keeping EVEN MORE DETAILED records :tinfoil: - picking up Eneloops, Duraloops, Kodaks, RadioShacks (LSD AAA & AA) whenever I saw a good *SALE* . But, amazingly, with the knowledge gained from HUNDREDS OF HOURS of reading here

, the majority of my non-LSD cells (*CRAP* to some ) are *STILL* happily powering clocks, thermometers, remotes, non-critical incandescent and LED flashlights, Furbys, Shelbys, Yoda, etc... (with NO FEAR of LEAKING!). Someone once commented on my choice of categories in: Maha MH C9000 with older cells. Experts needed! But a HIGH or MODE will gladly power a 'seldom-used' remote *AND*, if I forget about it for months, I don't have to worry about cleaning up an ALKALINE LEAK.
What a MESS I had a 'couple' of years ago when, after a period of poor health a 'few' years ago, I was ignoring just about everything except the bills .

 

[fishinfool]

Once your non-LSD cells reach the HIGH category (see below), you might consider adding a La Crosse BC-900 / BC-9009 (on *SALE*, of course! ) to your fleet.

I've been thinking about getting one for a while so now maybe I will.

How many, of the 108 'Loops' are in regular 'Active Service' and how many are 'Storage Box Queens'? :thinking:

Since I keep track of all my batteries and know which ones have and have not been used, I make sure that I rotate through my batteries as they are needed. It doesn't happen weekly but they are cycled thru at least once a month.

How many non-LSD cells do you have?

• How many of THEM are in regular 'Active Service' and how many are 'Storage Box Queens'? :thinking:

I had about a hundred non-lsd batteries but gave most of them to my sister and her kids this past summer along with a few flashlights. I now have about 40 left and half of them are part of my self-discharge test that I've had going since this past April. Most of these will be given away once I'm done with them.


I too have had my share of electronics ruined by leaky alkalines so now everything that uses aa's and aaa's use rechargeable nimh's. The only things I have that use alkalines are the 9v smoke alarms and eventually those will be replaced too.

 

[WeAreNotAlone]

Sanyo Eneloop HR-3UTGA cells, Costco #523519 New product

Sanyo Eneloop HR-3UTGA cells, Costco #523519 New product (7-2010)

Costco now carries the new and improved Eneloop batteries pack.
It has 8 AA, 4 AAA and a Sanyo charger for $25. No C or D adapters.
(Previous kits only had 2 AAAs, 2 C, and 2 D adapters IIRC)

According to this SANYO link, there are 8 colors available for limited time.
The one from Costco pack are green and blue

What is the difference between the "old" and the "new" improved eneloop?
* An extra of 500 charging cycles - instead of being rechargeable 1000 times, the new eneloop is even rechargeable up to 1500 times.
* Improved self-dischcharge. Even though the self discharge of the old eneloop was already very impressive, you can store the new eneloop for 3 years and still it will retain 75% of its capacity.
* You need a battery, which is reliable even when having cold temperatures? Before eneloop was suitable for temperatures as low as -10°C - now even until -20°C.
* The new eneloop is even more environment-friendly as it is pre-charged with solar energy in Japan


Batteries made in Japan
Charger made in China

Charger is NC-MQN06U. Pair charging only.
It is same as the one in the older Costco package

Just called Costco,

Story is this is a new item, my local store showed them in computer but no ETA.

Costco Item number (very useful when pic above goes stale), or are relying upon some kind of text reader that reads text is 523519



Found this on another board:

To find out if your store carries item.

Do go Google search for the following:
site:costco.com costco 523519
You will see it say "New items at the X Costco" where X is a location. For example, the first three for me are North Miami Beach, Chicago (Lincoln Park) and Alhambra.
These are not all that carry them, only the ones that update online.


TIP: I would assume that you could do a Google search and add the store number of your local store(s). I would assume the store number would be on Costco receipt / you could call local store to get their id number. This said Google is only showing 47 hits... so above tip may not be that useful.
(I would assume Costco has more than 47 stores?)


Best bet would be to call local store, they should be able to tell you if other stores in area have stock of item (If they are like SamsClub, etc)


.

 

[coppertrail]

Saw this set at the local costco the other day but passed as I don't want the charger that comes with it and I'm waiting until they can be purchased in 4 and 8 packs.

 

[Mgz]

What is the difference between the "old" and the "new" improved eneloop?
* An extra of 500 charging cycles - instead of being rechargeable 1000 times, the new eneloop is even rechargeable up to 1500 times.
* Improved self-dischcharge. Even though the self discharge of the old eneloop was already very impressive, you can store the new eneloop for 3 years and still it will retain 75% of its capacity.
* You need a battery, which is reliable even when having cold temperatures? Before eneloop was suitable for temperatures as low as -10°C - now even until -20°C.
* The new eneloop is even more environment-friendly as it is pre-charged with solar energy in Japan

meh they said nothing about more juice breakthrough , I were hoping the new Eneloop would have 5-10% more juice or something, not this green pre-charged solar energy crap

 

[arjay]

are these "2nd gen" eneloops worth the extra price? my supplier tells me that they are about $2 more than the 1st gen.

I've read date that the 1st gen would still have 75% charge after 3 years of storage. Is it possible that sanyo just made adjustments to their specs on paper that are in line with what people experienced 4-5 years from their release?

 

[KWagle]

I'm glad someone (other than me) finally posted about these. They seem to be hard to find in New England anyway; only one of the stores I frequent had them in stock. I grabbed two kits, but I'm inclined to take them back since I really don't want the two-channel chargers, and don't want to give the chargers away to any of my *friends*. (Thomas Distributing claims to have the new ones in stock for 16/$35, which is only slightly more than Costco's price and doesn't lead to more junk chargers in the world, and you can get the ratio of AAs to AAAs you actually need, which since I use 'em in headlamps is skewed towards 1:1.) Obviously if anyone really wants these kits, I'd be happy to pass them along, but that seems a bit silly.


Oh, hmm, Costco (US) online has 3 different kits. It's not clear whether these are the new ones, but I'd be surprised if they weren't since Costco hasn't had Eneloops in years. And the plain cells are quite a bit more pricey than Thomas, which did specify they were the new ones. But they also have a kit with two-cell quick charger and C/D cell holders. Does anyone know which charger that one is?

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11504514

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11504528

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11504531


Costco Canada has a different kit with a 4-bay charger and car power cord, two extra AAAs, for a lot more money, and basically the same prices on just batteries.

http://www.costco.ca/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=10317279

~ Kiran <[email protected]>