What brand battery is this?

[JSWrightOC]

I have recently acquired four AA-size, button-topped, shrinkwrapped Ni-MH cells. The shrinkwrap is dark green in color, with the printing "EKH JAPAN" on the side, and "HR" stamped on the negative terminal. Other than said markings, these cells have no other identification...manufacturer, capacity, or otherwise.

Can anyone identify these? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/help.gif

Please indicate if pictures are desired. Thanks!

 

[shankus]

I'm almost positive that what you have are Sanyo industrial cells.

I have 16 (I think), Sanyo industrial 1600 mAh NiMH cells, almost like yours.
Mine are marked "ELH JAPAN", or "1600mAh JAPAN ECH", though.

I don't know what the difference of the middle letter may be, though.

 

[JSWrightOC]

These units were purchased about a year ago, and never used because the user couldn't identify them and was afraid to use them. I was thinking Sanyo but I wasn't sure.

Perhaps the "EKH" "ELH" and "ECH" represent date or series codes...maybe a search on the Sanyo site will reveal some information.

Thanks for the input!

 

[shankus]

Also, I forgot to mention, that all of mine have the "HR" on the bottom.

Even my Sanyo 2100 mAh commercially marked cells have the HR.
And all Sanyos that I've seen have the slightest, almost unnoticeable crimp at the positive end.

 

[shiftd]

why is he afraid to use them? NiMH pose a lot less danger than the li ion counterpart. It is even safer and more enviromentally friendly than the NiCd. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon3.gif

 

[JSWrightOC]

Yeah, these have a tiny crimp at the top--one of the reasons why I was thinking Sanyo. I had heard about the "HR" stamped on the bottom before, that's the other reason why I was thinking Sanyo. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

As for why they were never used...there are no markings on the cells indicating brand, capacity, or what have you, and the operator who had ordered them didn't trust the cells because of this. I wasn't made aware of their existence until recently, and by that time the operator wanted to get rid of them. (He swaps out his cells every 6 months or so...I know, they'll last a lot longer than that, but considering the broadcast application it's not worth the risk to him.) As a side advantage, he gives them to me when they get replaced! Read: Free rechargeable batteries.

The other cells he had been using were Varta 1100mAh and 1600mAh, and now he's using Radio Shack 1800mAh cells. That was per my recommendation because I have had zero problems with the RS cells, and they are locally available and consistent in labelling (more reliable than his previous source).

 

[batterystation]

They are Sanyo metal hydrides.

 

[shiftd]

Ahh, Js

that explains everything

 

[JSWrightOC]

Thanks everyone. I plan to put them to good use, knowing they are high-quality cells. Of course, the best part is that they were FREE! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif