New Sony Cycle-Energy Cells

[Curious_character]

I've been using Sony Cycle-Energy cells for a while now, and found them to be very similar to Eneloops in just about all respects. Recently, I picked up a pack of new ones, size AAA, that say "typ. 900 mAh" as opposed to the 800 mAh of the ones I've been using. There seem to be a couple of differences besides the possibly greater capacity:

1. The cells were fully discharged when unpackaged, rather than partially charged like the older ones.
2. My Maha MH-C5000 isn't catching the end of charge voltage drop. Charging at 400 mA, I didn't think to look until they were at 1700 mAh applied charge. They were really hot, but don't seem to have vented. After cooling, they showed a discharge capacity of over 800 mAh. The Maha missed the end of charge the second time, too, but I pulled the cells before the overcharge got gross.

I've had the end-of-charge problem with various chargers in the past with new NiMH cells, and found that the problem went away after a half dozen or so cycles (except that the Maha still misses an AAA from time to time). I suppose that a 16 hour 0.1 C forming charge would fix it too. But I haven't had to do this with LSD cells in the past. So I'm wondering if the new Cycle Energy cells really are LSD or just standard technology. I'll know the answer after I let them sit charged for a couple of weeks. All I know now is that they're behaving differently than Eneloops or previous Sony Cycle Energy cells.

Does anybody have any experience with these new ones?

c_c

 

[Mr Happy]

I have seen two kinds of Sony Cycle-Energy cells on the shelves: one kind is pre-charged LSD, and one kind is not. Did the ones you recently bought definitely say pre-charged and ready to use on the package?

As far as I could tell from inspection, the pre-charged LSD ones really are Eneloops. But since they were the same price as Eneloops I saw no reason to choose them.

 

[Bones]

As well, the Sony CycleEnergy Blue ready-to-use AAA cells still appear to be 800mAh:

http://www.sonystyle.ca ... productId=1003717

The only 900mAh version I could find isn't the ready-to-use:

http://www.sonystyle.ca ... productId=1000464

Click on 'Specifications' to reveal the capacity of the cells.

 

[Mr Happy]

The important thing to note is that "Cycle-Energy" is not Sony's brand name for LSD cells, it is Sony's brand name for all rechargeable NiMH cells, both old and new. Check carefully what you are buying before you pick it up.

 

[Curious_character]

Thanks for the info - looks like I blew it. I had assumed, wrongly it seems, that Cycle Energy meant LSD. I've tossed the packaging, but I'm sure from the comments that these aren't LSD.

c_c

 

[Bones]

Thanks for the info - looks like I blew it. I had assumed, wrongly it seems, that Cycle Energy meant LSD. I've tossed the packaging, but I'm sure from the comments that these aren't LSD.

c_c

The upside is that even the regular AAA NiMH cells from Sony perform very well.

The downside is they'll probably be around to remind you of your oversight for a long, long time...

 

[lightforce2]

In Oz there are "Cycle Energy Blue" which are pre-charged LSD's and perform exactly the same as Eneloops. (would'nt be surprised if these are Eneloops in a Sony wrapper).
Then there are "Cycle Energy Green" , I've had no expeirence with these