What is this mysterious "HR" stamp?

[BatteryCharger]

As many of you may know both Duracell and Energizer have replaced their older, higher capacity NiMh batteries with new ones rated at 2450mah. Having both in my hands I can only guess they came off the same assembly line.

My main question is about this "-HR-" stamp that is on the bottom of both batteries. What does this mean? I know it's been on other batteries in the past. Is this a Sanyo thing? Kinda hard to see in the pic but all of them are clearly stamped with it.

Also noticeable is the same square-ish nipple on both batteries, with small 4 triangular vent openings.

Both made in Japan, I don't have a micrometer but they seem like exactly the same size to me.

Twins seperated at birth? :thinking: Can we start calling these Duragizers? :laughing:

 

[core]

It has been said that HR stands for "High Readyness".

Which is even funnier when you take into account that I'm currently holding an Energizer 2500 stamped "HR" on the tail end.

My 2500 has it stamped _with_ the quotes around it. Way too funny.

As an aside, I always wondered what it was too. Since it was virtually everywhere (even Eneloops) I just assumed it was some ISO-payforit size thing. *shrug*

 

[Ziemas]

FWIW, 2650mah Duracells are still on sale in Europe. I saw some just yesterday.

 

[BatteryCharger]

Since it was virtually everywhere (even Eneloops) I just assumed it was some ISO-payforit size thing. *shrug*

Even then it seems odd that it's stamped in exactly the same place, in the same font and size, with the same dashes on either side. But then again it seems ridiculous for Energizer and Duracell to use the same OEM. :ironic:

Eneloops have the HR stamp? None of my Duraloops do.

 

[BatteryCharger]

FWIW, 2650mah Duracells are still on sale in Europe. I saw some just yesterday.

That's interesting, I wonder if they are just old stock? I've always thought it was odd how they release different batteries in different countries.

I'm starting to wonder if the lowering of capacity has anything to do with the LSD cells only being 2000mah? If regular cells have a lower capacity, the LSDs seem even better, to the "average idiot".

 

[Jack Reacher]

I've got a set of Japanese-made Fuji NiMH 2500's that have *HR* stamped on the bottom. My Chinese-made Energizers don't have this marking.

— Jack.

 

[SilverFox]

Hello BatteryCharger,

HR is an EIC reference for a sealed NiMh cylindrical rechargeable cell.

The fact that both cells have the HR stamp means that whoever manufactured the cells purchased the cans from the same supplier.

Tom

 

[BatteryCharger]

So, does anybody think these might be the same batteries with different labels? If they buy the cans from the same source, would that include the nipples and the insulating disc on the top? Funny how they're exactly the same color...

Once I get some more time I'll try to do some discharge testing comparisons between the two...

Is it weird that I even care? :thinking: :green:

(on that same note, do Duracell or Energizer even manufacture their own alkalines?)

 

[snakebite]

every cell i have seen with the hr stamp has been a sanyo.
even on old nicads.just rebuilt a alinco 580 pack from the early 90's
hr stamp on the bottom of each cell.

 

[Robin24k]

I wouldn't be surprised if they were from the same OEM, neither Duracell nor Energizer manufacture their own rechargeables. There aren't that many NiMH manufacturers, and if you limit down to Japan, there's a good chance it's Sanyo.

 

[BatteryCharger]

Now core's really got me wondering about the Eneloops...do they all really have the HR stamp? I'm confused about why my Duraloops do not...I thought "we" were pretty sure they're Sanyo?

Did Sanyo make the 2500mah Energizers that have such a bad reputation?

 

[Meterman]

I don't find that stamp at the can of my eneloops, only on the sleeve I can read:

SIZE AA HR6
HR-3UTG 1.2V


Wulf

 

[WildChild]

Now core's really got me wondering about the Eneloops...do they all really have the HR stamp? I'm confused about why my Duraloops do not...I thought "we" were pretty sure they're Sanyo?

Did Sanyo make the 2500mah Energizers that have such a bad reputation?

At the same time, the Sanyo 2500 mAh would crap out exactly like the Energizer 2500 mAh did! I had a bunch of both brands and they all suffered from the same fate. High internal resistance and very high self discharge after only a few cycles (usually under 10-15 cycles).

 

[Mr Happy]

Eneloops...do they all really have the HR stamp?

No, someone was mistaken. I have never seen an Eneloop with an HR stamp. The negative end of all Eneloops I have seen is plain with no markings at all.

 

[InHisName]

I checked all the brands I have and only found two with stamps. Both were Energizers. Blue/Tan has 2 digit number stamped 08, 96. Gray with HR stamped. ALL other brands have NO stamps on the negative end. None of my Duraloops. I am lacking any official eneloops so cannot answer that.

 

[Lynx_Arc]

That's interesting, I wonder if they are just old stock? I've always thought it was odd how they release different batteries in different countries.

I'm starting to wonder if the lowering of capacity has anything to do with the LSD cells only being 2000mah? If regular cells have a lower capacity, the LSDs seem even better, to the "average idiot".

I don't know what they did but several types of energizer batteries I have went bad, the 2200 AAs and the 2500 AAs with the 900mah AAAs being victims of HSD disease I am thinking that they got cheap on the 2200s and changed formula on the 2500s to get more capacity but the side effect was HSD and fragility. All the lower capacity cells 1800mah and less have been fairly solid with no noticeable self discharge problems some discharging so slow that I don't even put LSD cells in place of them I just charge them every 3-6 months as they are being used slowly I probably got about half the capacity out of them before they ran out.

 

[BatteryCharger]

It is funny, that I still have some 1800mah "Dynacell" batteries from Duracell about 10 years old...many of them still hold a good charge! Interestingly the 4 2500mah Duracells I use in my camera have always lasted pretty well, though they haven't been cycled a huge amount of times.

 

[BatteryCharger]

The plot thickens!

Today I noticed Energizer has introduced a new battery too - now only 2300mah, the 2450s are gone. I have no idea who made it. I wonder if Duracell took over the contract on Sanyo's 2450 batteries now that Energizer is using something else? (at the same time even) I wonder when Energizer will start branding LSD cells...Energyloops?:laughing:

As a side note, Target is stocked full of new Duraloops, with a 2010 date code on the package. Didn't buy any so I don't know the date of the cells...

 

[Robin24k]

I have a couple of the 2300's. They're Made in Japan, presumably by Sanyo.