Recharagables frustrations

[chiphead]

I don't know about you guys, but I've about had it with rechargable cells! I've got to many odd number cells due to other cells stop taking a charge after a 1 1/2 years. So far I've had good luck with the Rayovac Hybrides. They seem to work in everything except my SL/Propolymer Xenon. What luck are ya'll having with the Duracells?


chiphead
What have you got against being prepared? Burt Gummer, the movie Tremours

 

[Eugene]

I had lots of issues with them and spent a lot of $ on batteries and chargers. I gave up for a couple years until early this year I tried some Sanyo Eneloop which are low self discharge like the rayovac hybrid and those and a decent charger actually do work. The problem is most batteries and chargers sold in the stores are junk.

 

[chiphead]

I had lots of issues with them and spent a lot of $ on batteries and chargers. I gave up for a couple years until early this year I tried some Sanyo Eneloop which are low self discharge like the rayovac hybrid and those and a decent charger actually do work. The problem is most batteries and chargers sold in the stores are junk.

I'm going to try the Duracell models this month and see how the work out before the winter sets in. In the mean time I'm going to order the MaHa PowerEx AA Charger/Conditioner(www.mahaenergy.com). From the spec I've downloaded, it sounds bad ***. I've got to many odd number cells laying around.

chiphead

 

[Eugene]

There are a couple different threads in here where people compared the different low self discharge NiMH and they are all nearly the same with the Sanyo Eneloop having a slightly lower self discharge rate that then rest. I'd stick to one brand that way if you notice one set doesn't have as much runtime as another you can tell they need some maintenance rather than just a difference from different brands.
I bought a MAHA charger myself.

 

[chiphead]

There are a couple different threads in here where people compared the different low self discharge NiMH and they are all nearly the same with the Sanyo Eneloop having a slightly lower self discharge rate that then rest. I'd stick to one brand that way if you notice one set doesn't have as much runtime as another you can tell they need some maintenance rather than just a difference from different brands.
I bought a MAHA charger myself.

My MH-C9000 just came in today, if you're using Rayovac Hybrides what is your best setting? Before for I smoke something!

CHIPHEAD

 

[NiOOH]

Hi CHIPHEAD.
There are many threads here describing this charger in detail, as well as the best charging practicies. Just search the forum for awhile.
I personally charge my Eneloops at 1000 mA (default setting).

 

[mdocod]

I hear you on the frustrations, When I can afford to, I'll be phasing out all of my Tenergy/Powerizer/Energizer/Digital/Kodak AAs and AAAs and replacing with eneloops or something comparable. I liked the idea of rechargables, but I find all too often a light that I charged up and set aside for a month is nearly dead when I need it. That's no good way to prepare for anything. I figure with eneloops I could just make it a once a year thing to cycle and charge the cells that are in emergency lights or other low drain devices.

 

[VidPro]

phasing out my energyser 2300-2500s to basically, but they served me well.
i am putting them now in lesser applications where other crusty old low-capacity ni-mhys were doing the job.
the enlooopy things are now doing thier job with less frustrations TODAY

i dont expect any of this stuff to last forever, so far it NEVER has, i have a few batteries back from when 1600ma was "high-capacity" that still work at "ok capacity" and i still saved at least 300-400 dollers a year, after piddling with recharging junk.

but i can Never go BACK, back to them worthless alkalines ? no way, they never worked in high-drain applications.
and for "JOB" applications, you cant go out half cocked with a half drained battery, even if the rechargable had far less power, i leave with it fully charged.
i cant go out backpacking 20 miles from a store with a bunch of half used , sub par batteries.
i wont even go out walking the dog or to the store for hours with a half drained alkaline that will give up the ghost at the worst possible moment.
i would even trust my rechargables li-ion and ni-mhy to make it through an emergency better than an alkie, course having solar helps
i still use alkies in many situations, but not for stuff that is a constant, and not for high-drain, it would be like another "monthly fee" i hate monthly fees.

man dont even get me started on LEAD acid

 

[chiphead]

I've got a bunch made by NoMem(AA) and they're sized funny. For an AA body style, if you can put one in a MiniMag/AA they're Hell to get out. Nor do they fit my Photon Headlight. I'm going to dump them and go all Rayovac Hybrid. But there are those made by POWEREX that I'd like to check out.

chiphead

 

[Eugene]

I bet they are too big around, that was an easy way to get more capacity, instead of better material they would just pack more in the cell and make it slightly large.

 

[NiOOH]

NoMems are supplied by Lenmar. While I like their chargers (Mach1 Gamma and Pro66) the same cannot be said for their cells. Substandard cell size and bad balance are the main reasons. From 8 AA cells I used to have I could put together a set of 4 that was sort of ballanced and will test to 90% of nameplate capacity after forming. I'd say avoid these.

 

[BentHeadTX]

Chip,
I feel your pain! After going through three dozen "HR" stamped 2500mAH NiMH cells and watch them die in a week from self-discharge; I was ready to chunk them all.
Then I noticed my 3 year old Sanyo 1700's in my LuxV Mag generally always worked even if I did not charge them in a month or two. My wife has four Wal-Mart 2000mAH cheapies that tended to hold a charge also.
I think in the race to pack as much capacity in an AAA/AA cell, the manufacturers ignored self-discharge and to the normal consumer, batteries got worse as capacity rose. I am still nervous using a NiMH AA cell that has not been charged in a week. It was time to clean house of all the old, dead cells and start fresh.
My personal high usage batteries are Powerex 2700mAH cells and they will hold a charge for months. I did a 45 day test and they were sitting at 82% of freshly charged capacity. They get hammered by my Fenix LxD series frame/helmet bike lights and get recharged twice a week.
The old Sanyo 1700mAH are still being used in the Mag LuxV mod in a 8AA to 2D adapter since they fit. The larger capacity cells are thicker and won't fit. Once these old batteries die, they will be replaced with Eneloops.
My family uses quite a few rechargables for cameras, wireless trackballs and other gizmos. They are all being fed Eneloops with no problems. As my family builds up trust for those batteries, it will increase the amount of things that are used in them. I'll need to pick up a Maha MH-C9000 analyzer so I can exercise the cells on occasion. An Accupower AccuManager 20 is the main charger used in my house and works well.

I would suggest getting the low self discharge Eneloops and the Maha MH-C9000 charger/analyzer and pressing on.

 

[NiOOH]

Chip,
I feel your pain! After going through three dozen "HR" stamped 2500mAH NiMH cells and watch them die in a week from self-discharge; I was ready to chunk them all.
Then I noticed my 3 year old Sanyo 1700's in my LuxV Mag generally always worked even if I did not charge them in a month or two. My wife has four Wal-Mart 2000mAH cheapies that tended to hold a charge also.
I think in the race to pack as much capacity in an AAA/AA cell, the manufacturers ignored self-discharge and to the normal consumer, batteries got worse as capacity rose. I am still nervous using a NiMH AA cell that has not been charged in a week. It was time to clean house of all the old, dead cells and start fresh.
My personal high usage batteries are Powerex 2700mAH cells and they will hold a charge for months. I did a 45 day test and they were sitting at 82% of freshly charged capacity. They get hammered by my Fenix LxD series frame/helmet bike lights and get recharged twice a week.
The old Sanyo 1700mAH are still being used in the Mag LuxV mod in a 8AA to 2D adapter since they fit. The larger capacity cells are thicker and won't fit. Once these old batteries die, they will be replaced with Eneloops.
My family uses quite a few rechargables for cameras, wireless trackballs and other gizmos. They are all being fed Eneloops with no problems. As my family builds up trust for those batteries, it will increase the amount of things that are used in them. I'll need to pick up a Maha MH-C9000 analyzer so I can exercise the cells on occasion. An Accupower AccuManager 20 is the main charger used in my house and works well.

I would suggest getting the low self discharge Eneloops and the Maha MH-C9000 charger/analyzer and pressing on.

Hi Ben
I couldn't have puti t better myself :twothumbs
Exactly the same observations here. I still use 4 1600 mAh Sanyos which were purchased at the end of 2001 and they still test around 90% of their initial capacity, which was around 1650 mAh at 0.2C discharge current. As you, me too went through the frustration of the 2500 mAh Sanyos, having to recycle 16 of them after a year of use. other were exchanged by Sanyo for Eneloops.

 

[coppertrail]

I'm down to 2 types of NiMH cells and one charger:

Cells:
Sanyo Eneloop
Powerex 2700 mAh

Charger:
Maha MH-C9000

For standard NiMH cells, the Maha cells have a very low self discharge rate and the capacity is above 2700 on all 8 of my cells.

 

[jayflash]

Back in 2000 I bought 50, surplus, no-name, green (from Singapore), 1200 mAh NiMH AA cells for only $0.50 each. They were flat top so I had to solder a nib to the + end.

Most of them still have over 1200 mAh capacity and hold their charge for months. This is after using dumb chargers before the BC-900 or C. Crane were purchased. 1200 mAh after a month of sitting, idle, is better than nothing from the Energizer 2500's after the same time.

 

[GaryF]

For standard NiMH cells, the Maha cells have a very low self discharge rate and the capacity is above 2700 on all 8 of my cells.

Coppertail, I'm wondering how long you have been using the Maha 2700 cells? The reason I ask is that I have 4 Sanyo 2700's, which initially held a charge quite well. After a few months and maybe 6-8 cycles I began to notice the self discharge rate. I'd consider buying a set of the Maha's for a special application if they will hold up better than the Sanyo's have.

 

[WDG]

I'm down to 2 types of NiMH cells and one charger:

Cells:
Sanyo Eneloop
Powerex 2700 mAh

Charger:
Maha MH-C9000

For standard NiMH cells, the Maha cells have a very low self discharge rate and the capacity is above 2700 on all 8 of my cells.

Ditto, here.

I got the Powerex 2700's just before I really started doing some research, and didn't yet understand the Eneloop advantage. I'm keeping them (the 2700's) stored discharged with monthly cycling, as I use them primarily for flash units, and don't use them very often. Good to know they seem to be respected cells, though. I had a feeling Powerex was a good bet when I ordered them.

Once I began to understand the Eneloops, I got very excited about finally having rechargeables that actually fit my usage patterns to a "T". I'd nearly given up on "normal" usage of rechargeables before this.

Love the Eneloops, and love the 9000! :twothumbs

 

[chiphead]

Just got a 8 new POWEREX cells to charge my new C9000 charger, should I condition them before charging?

chiphead

 

[chiphead]

Now that I've gotten my new C9000 charger figured out, I think I can pull off an all rechargable road trip for the up coming holiday. I've also just gotten 8 new PowerEx cells. If I can just find a nice Pelican case to fit the C9000, I'm good to go!

chiphead

 

[BentHeadTX]

Just got a 8 new POWEREX cells to charge my new C9000 charger, should I condition them before charging?

chiphead

Chiphead,
Yes, run a conditioning charge (200mA) and then a charge/discharge cycle to get them going. I have eight Eneloop AA cells with a manufacturing date of Sept 2006 and I will give you the results using a professional analyzer (Cadex) The analyzer should be here in a week or two so results are pending.