Why are Eneloops fatter question?

[Paul520]

My minimag 2aa is maybe 15 years old. Did they used to make em thinner I wonder. Eneloops will not fit, to fat. Seems I heard some here use them in theirs. I could press them in, but then never get them out. Do these batteries fit in your minimags, or must the mm be bored out a bit?

 

[Bradlee]

I just tried a couple different Eneloops in a ~5 year old and ~12 year old MiniMag. The 12 year old MiniMag did have a slightly narrower bore since there was added suction when inserting and removing them, but not nearly enough for them to get stuck.

 

[Bullzeyebill]

Yes, they did make the mini-mag bodies thinner 15 years ago. Current bodies handle Eneloops just fine. I find the Kodak Eneloop type batteries fairly fat.

Bill

 

[Mr Happy]

There are some dimensions of Eneloops in this thread: http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=192345&highlight=hybrios+eneloops

I believe the Eneloop diameter of 14.1 mm is within spec for an AA cell, which should normally have a diameter less than 14.5 mm.

Maybe the standard size for an AA cell has been increased over the years?

As Bill said, the Kodak PreCharged cells definitely come up fatter and there are some things those cells in particular don't fit.

 

[Turbo DV8]

Yup, the Eneloops were pretty durned tight in my old MiniMags. So I just stick with my Rayovac Hybrids in those, which are a tad smaller.

 

[Illum]

older minimags can't fit alot of things, 14500s and NiMHs alike
It has something to do with the threading I think

 

[Paul520]

Any brand of alkaline AA falls in it by it's weight, but my eneloops would have to be forcefully inserted, never to be removed. That MM might be even 20 years old. I might get a new one to see what's up.

 

[h2xblive]

I have a minimag that's about 15 years old and my eneloops fit just fine in it.

 

[Burgess]

About 12 years ago, Mag Instrument
began making the AA Mini-Mag with a slightly larger
inside diameter.

To my knowledge, it all came to fruition
when Duracell added a "built-in battery tester"
to their line of AA alkalines.


(because Eveready / Energizer already had one)


Suddenly, users of Duracell batteries, (like myself)
found these new cells would no longer fit ! :hairpull:

Called Mag Customer Service, and they patiently explained:

" The problem is Duracell, not us ! "

" You can simply switch to another brand of battery "


-- or , you have a choice --


" We have Recently increased the Inside Diameter slightly, and this will solve the problem.

You can simply mail your Mini-Mag(s) to us, and we'll
gladly replace 'em (free) with the New Models. "


I told the nice lady (at Mag C.S.):

" Gee, that's very generous of you ! "


To which she replied:


" Hey, we're not payin' for it. Duracell is footing the bill for all this. "





Very soon afterwards, Duracell seemed to drop
that built-in battery checker gimmick.

:devil:



Once again, i want to stress that Mag Customer Service
was GREAT during this entire ordeal.

:twothumbs


Just wanted to bring this incident to yer' attention, folks.

_

 

[Mr Happy]

Here, for your delectation and delight, are some max/min diameters just measured from a few AA cells near to hand, in mm:

[FONT=Courier New]Duracell (made in USA)   14.12/14.04
Duracell (made in China) 14.09/13.98
[/FONT][FONT=Courier New]Rayovac Maximum Plus     14.20/13.80[/FONT][FONT=Courier New]
Duracell Precharged      14.24/14.07
Eneloop                  14.21/14.12
[/FONT]

 

[lctorana]

Here, for your delectation and delight, are some max/min diameters just measured from a few AA cells near to hand, in mm:

[FONT=Courier New]Duracell (made in USA)   14.12/14.04[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New]Duracell (made in China) 14.09/13.98[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New]Rayovac Maximum Plus     14.20/13.80[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New]Duracell Precharged      14.24/14.07[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New]Eneloop                  14.21/14.12[/FONT]

Just in case any of you are thinking that AA cells might have grown over the years, I just looked up the Eveready Australia catalogue for 1962, and both the 915 and 1015 were of 9/16" diameter. That's 14.29mm.

 

[glockboy]

Every bodies thinner 15 years ago.

Yes, they did make the mini-mag bodies thinner 15 years ago. Current bodies handle Eneloops just fine. I find the Kodak Eneloop type batteries fairly fat.

Bill

 

[Bullzeyebill]

Every bodies thinner 15 years ago.

LOL.

Bill

 

[csshih]

lol indeed Bill....