1 Year LSD shootout: Eneloops, GP ReCyKos and Imedions...it's done!

First off, this isn't a peer reviewable scientific test, so keep that in mind while proceeding.

Obviously, it's a statistically insignificant sample size, but oh well?

Four NEW batteries each of Eneloop Gen 2 2000 mAh (minimum 1900 mAh, date code of 9/2011,) GP ReCyKos 2050 mAh, bought in early 2012 and four of the PowerEx Imedion 2400 mAh (minimum 2250 mAh,) also bought in early 2012.

Eneloops were taken out of the pack, discharged (500mA) on the Maha C9000, charged back up and then discharged in my Klarus P2A, so they essentially had one cycle, or at least, that's how I'm writing it up. The GPs and Imedions were new out of the pack. They were discharged at 500mA and 600mA respectively and then put through the CYCLE function on the Maha.

Charger is the Maha C9000. I didn't perform a break in on these cells but did use the Maha's Cycle function.

Eneloops cycled two times at 500mA charge/300mA discharge.

GP ReCyKos cycled three times at 500mA charge/300mA discharge.

Imedions cycled three times at 600mA charge/300mA discharge.

Final capacity in mAh after cycling, before hibernation:

Eneloops:

1. 1954
2. 1968
3. 1939
4. 1971

Average: 1958

GP ReCyKos:

1. 2038
2. 2059
3. 2039
4. 2063

Average: 2050

Imedions:

1. 2236
2. 2225
3. 2228
4. 2230

Average: 2230

State of charge after cycling, but before hibernation:

Eneloops (3 hrs rest):

1. 1.437v
2. 1.439v
3. 1.437v
4. 1.441v

GP ReCyKos (1:45 hrs rest. I had to leave early, lol.):

1. 1.434v
2. 1.432v
3. 1.430v
4. 1.438v

Imedions (3 hrs rest):

1. 1.427v
2. 1.428v
3. 1.428v
4. 1.430v

1 year hibernation to the day, for the 3 brands.

State of charge after 1 year:

Eneloops (2/28/12-2/28/13):

1. 1.305v
2. 1.305v
3. 1.305v
4. 1.305v

GP ReCyKos (3/1/12-3/1/13):

1. 1.285v
2. 1.286v
3. 1.283v
4. 1.283v

Imedions (3/4/12-3/4/13):

1. 1.271v
2. 1.272v
3. 1.269v
4. 1.270v

Discharged at 100mA, for all cells: "What's in the box?":

Eneloops:

1. 1695 (86.7% left)
2. 1705 (86.6% left)
3. 1692 (87.3% left)
4. 1717 (87.1% left)

Average capacity: 1702 mAh
Average loss after 1 year: 13.08%

GP ReCyKos:

1. 1696 (83.2% left)
2. 1703 (82.7% left)
3. 1674 (82.1% left)
4. 1691 (82.0% left)

Average capacity: 1691 mAh
Average loss after 1 year: 17.5%

Imedions:

1. 1557 (69.6% left)
2. 1593 (71.6% left)
3. 1419 (63.7% left)
4. 1517 (68.0% left)

Average capacity: 1522 mAh
Average loss after 1 year: 31.8%

Numbers rounded up.

Batteries were stored in the dark, in a credenza, in a climate controlled (summer) condo. 75*-80* for the most part.

The numbers speak for themselves.

Thanks for reading, Chris

Thanks for the test! Always good to see that eneloops are still top quality.

Thank you so much for doing this test!
Eneloops will still be my preferred AA/AAA cell, but ReCyKo is also looking really good, so it will be safe to get these in other sizes where Eneloops are not available.

Thanks for the testing Chris! It looks like the Imedion cells are not in the same league compared to Eneloops in terms of low self discharge characteristics.

Hello Chris,

That was an excellent test and the results speak for themselves.

Thanks for sharing.

Tom

Thanks for the tests

I know this is several months old, but I came across it because of a link in a more recent thread. Thanks for the test! I wish duraloops were put up to this sort of test too. Looks like I'll stick to buying eneloops for long term storage in a few lights.

Eneloop are still the best

John.

Great information, what are the opinions of how the gen 3 eneloops would be looking?

Any wild guesses or possible numbers?