What's up with Duracell 2450's?

[BatteryCharger]

I'm just somewhat curious about this. Duracell has been selling their regular NiMh AA batteries at 2650mAh for like a year or two now. I happen to have a large number of them and find the 2650 rating to be quite accurate.

Now all the sudden all the Duracells I see in the store are 2450. What happened to that other 200mah? :thinking: Is there a reason they changed the batteries - bad performance or something? I thought they had a pretty good reputation. Or did they just relabel the same batteries for some reason? Or maybe just a different supplier?

While we're talking about it, it seems the white top Duraloops have disappeared too. Are they gone for good?

 

[Robin24k]

Those are older, discontinued models. Their current product line is 2650mAh AA and 1000mAh AAA.

As for Duraloops, I sure hope not, but availability of those varies, so you may have to shop around. Costco carries Duraloops in their 8xAA/2xAAA pack for $18.49, didn't see any black tops at any of my local Costco's.

EDIT: Just saw an Ebay auction that said the 2450's are replacing the 2650's...of course, being Ebay, take it with a grain of salt. The 2450's do have the latest packaging though. The 2650's are the only regular NiMH on Duracell's website, no 2450's mentioned there.

 

[BatteryCharger]

The 2450's do have the latest packaging though.

Yeah, I noticed they have a newer looking shrink wrap that looks much like the new label they just put on the LSD cells. Otherwise I would have thought it was old stock too.

I wonder if these are the same as Energizer's 2450's?

Costco carries Duraloops in their 8xAA/2xAAA pack for $18.49, didn't see any black tops at any of my local Costco's.

Local Costco(s) already got rid of those.

 

[Robin24k]

Have you tried another Costco or asked an employee about it? I had seen the Duraloop package stock last last week for the same price.

 

[ampdude]

Are the 2450's LSD cells? That might explain the decrease in capacity.

 

[Robin24k]

Doesn't look like it. Here's the image of the packaging from Ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?VISuperSize&item=270544276259

 

[BatteryCharger]

Have you tried another Costco or asked an employee about it? I had seen the Duraloop package stock last last week for the same price.

Tried two of 'em, I think all they had were the chargers that come with black top batteries. I'm hoping they'll get some more in...

Are the 2450's LSD cells? That might explain the decrease in capacity.

No, just plain ol' NiMh. Everywhere I've seen these on the shelf I've also only seen the black top Duracell LSDs aside from AA.

 

[Robin24k]

Huh, interesting. I saw the value charger pack here too, and they had white tops. I hope the black tops isn't the new shipment, as you could be right that they've stopped asking Sanyo to OEM their Pre-Charged batteries...

 

[GarageBoy]

Not old stock, saw them with the newest packing

 

[csa]

I wonder if perhaps they were having yield/reliability problems with them. They have a good reputation, but lowering the spec slightly might improve their production yield.

Or as others have said, maybe they switched OEMs.

 

[BatteryCharger]

Well, I finally bought some of the new 2450s just out of curiosity. Haven't got a chance to test them yet. I can't help but notice they look JUST LIKE the Duracell 2500mah I bought several years ago before the 2650s came out.

The top is a different color than the 2650s, but the same as my older 2500. The bottom of the 2650 is blank but the new 2450 has a small "HR" stamped into it - again, just like my old 2500.

I seem to remember this "HR" thing having something to do with Sanyo...am I wrong? Anybody have any insight into where these new batteries are coming from?

 

[Ziemas]

I'd be willing to bet that it's an economic decision. The 2650 were made in Japan (most likely by Sanyo) and I'd venture to guess that the 2450 are made in China. Most consumers don't look at the capacity of a rechargeable, so it's not like it would affect sales.

Can anyone confirm where the 2450 are made?

 

[BatteryCharger]

Can anyone confirm where the 2450 are made?

Japan.

 

[Ziemas]

Japan.

Maybe Duracell is buying a lower bin from Sanyo as a cost cutting measure. AFAIK Sanyo is still selling 2700 under their own name.

 

[BatteryCharger]

Well, after 3 cycles they're all holding 2.46 - 2.52 AH according to my BC700. Not bad, as advertised I guess...still less than the old 2650s. :thumbsdow

Does anybody know anything about the "HR" stamp on the negative contact?

 

[ampdude]

Maybe they fit better in some tighter spaced electronics. I'm wondering if Duracell decided the 2650's were too far out of the AA size specification.

My best Powerex 2700's are only giving about 2.52 amp hours anyways, the same as those cells.

 

[BatteryCharger]

My best Powerex 2700's are only giving about 2.52 amp hours anyways, the same as those cells.

Don't get me wrong...they're still good batteries...just seems funny to me to see a decrease in capacity - all rechargeable batteries have done for the last 2 decades at least is INCREASE in capacity! I am happy to see that Duracell accurately rates their batteries though.

I have noticed the Duracell 2450 looks 100% the same as a new Energizer 2450. Same nipple, same vents, same color top, same HR stamp on the bottom, same diameter, both made in Japan. Hmmmm....

 

[Ziemas]

Don't get me wrong...they're still good batteries...just seems funny to me to see a decrease in capacity - all rechargeable batteries have done for the last 2 decades at least is INCREASE in capacity! I am happy to see that Duracell accurately rates their batteries though.

I have noticed the Duracell 2450 looks 100% the same as a new Energizer 2450. Same nipple, same vents, same color top, same HR stamp on the bottom, same diameter, both made in Japan. Hmmmm....

It's most likely an economic decision.

 

[nuambenzina]

Hello old Thread!

I wasn't into rechargeable batteries but I took a chance long time ago.

I had 4 rechargeable, orange with white. I can't remember the name, it was like 6 years ago. I remember that they where "rated" like 2800 mAh.
Then I had a Compact Canon Poweshoot A580 or something like that, I was able to shoot ONLY 6 pictures with them right of the charger ! ! !
Being a disappointing thing I tried then the most cheapest alkaline battery and I was able to shoot about 80 Pictures.

I belived that they where expired or something, and I borrowed them to a friend which used them into some DSLR dedicated Speed Light. They performed ok there, the friend was pleased as the flashlight was performing quite well with them, (far more than 30 flashes)

Since then I was avoiding at all the cost's NiMh. I buyed a Nikon DSLR with Li - Po battery and I was able to shoot more than 480-520 of pictures with one charge when was new.

Last year, I gived another try to NiMh Recharable as the price was very very good for 2 DuraCell 2450 mAh but I was expecting them to fail like the orange ones.
I don't have the old compact Canon Powershoot but I used them to power up DC motors and red cateye on the bike (had 5 leds).

I recharged them only 3-4 times in 12 months, with a wireless mouse charger.

They performed pretty well as my requirements and expectations wasn't bigger.

They where made in Japan, with White Cap.

Sadly I've lost them, with the bike red-cat-eye but since then I said to give another chance to NiMh, as the 2450 mAh was good enought for me at the time.

I would love to see some charts with the Duracell 2450 Versus other brands-types (eneloop white&black, energizer, and of course "duraloop", duracell 2600 or 2650 etc.) to know what I've lost somewhere on the road while riding the bike and because I am preparing to buy some more NiMh.