Difference between revisions of "Rechargeable"

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 Currently a popular cell type, with fast charging times, high capacity, and much improved recyclability. However, they do lose charge faster than the old NiCad types, so work less well as, for example, a TV remote battery (economically, you might be better off using alkalines in a TV remote or other very low drain device).
-A newer generation of NiMH cells, called Low Self-Discharge (LSD), are able to hold a charge for a much longer time, claiming 75% charge after a year, instead of 50% discharge after 6 months for standard NiMH cells. The trade-off is that these new cells only have 75% capacity of current 'state-of-the-art' products. These batteries are marketed as 'Pre-Charged' because they still retain much of their factory charge after months or years on a store shelf. Brands include Sanyo Eneloop, Duracell Precharged, Uniross Hybrio, Rayovac Hybrid, Powerex Imedion, Sony Cycle Energy, GP Recyko, and others. Because they are NiMH batteries, they can still be charged in any NiMH battery charger.
+A newer generation of NiMH cells, called Low Self-Discharge (LSD), are able to hold a charge for a much longer time, claiming 75% charge after a year, instead of 50% discharge after 6 months for standard NiMH cells. The trade-off is that these new cells only have 75% capacity of current 'state-of-the-art' products. These batteries are marketed as 'Pre-Charged' because they still retain much of their factory charge after months or years on a store shelf. Brands include Sanyo [[Eneloop]], Duracell Precharged, Uniross Hybrio, Rayovac Hybrid, Powerex Imedion, Sony Cycle Energy, GP Recyko, and others. Because they are NiMH batteries, they can still be charged in any NiMH battery charger.
-[[File:Duraloop.jpg|thumb|Comparison of white-top Duracell Precharged and Eneloop AA cells]]Eneloops seem to perform better than any other LSD cells ([http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=149804 Eneloop Self-Discharge Study] [http://candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=151183 Eneloop vs. Rayovac Hybrid] [http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showpost.php?p=2955510&postcount=271 Eneloop vs. Imedion]). While most LSD cells retain 75-80% of their charge after a year, Eneloops can retain 85%. They are very consistent in their performance, retain their original capacity better after many cycles, and deal well with high drain applications (like a flashlight on "turbo" or a flash for a camera). Therefore if you ask on the forums what kind of battery to buy, you will be told to buy Eneloops. That said, the other brands also perform well, just not quite as well as Eneloops. If money is an issue, try the other brands, which can sometimes be purchased for as little as $1 each on a good sale. The term "duraloop" (a [[Terminology#CPF|CPF]] nickname, not an official name) refers to Duracell precharged cells that are made in Japan and are white around the positive button just like Eneloops, and in fact are thought to be Eneloops re-badged as Duracells. Other Duracell precharged cells have a black top and are made in China, and are not called "duraloop."
+[[File:Duraloop.jpg|thumb|Comparison of white-top Duracell Precharged and Eneloop AA cells]]
-The Eneloop brand has diversified into light blue Eneloop Lite cells with less capacity (950 mAh for AA cells and 550 mAh for AAA, and supposedly less cost, designed for use in low-drain devices like remotes) and black Sanyo XX cells using Eneloop techniology (higher capacity than Eneloops at 2500 mAh for AA, but not as low self-discharge: more like 75% after a year and said to be good for 500 cycles). Also in 2010 new improved Eneloops began showing up promising 2,000 charging cycles vs. 1,500 cycles for the earlier versions. There seems to be a price premium for the newer ones right now. Sanyo also has limited edition Eneloop Tones which come in an 8-pack of different colors and seem to be the 1500 cycle version. Tones with glitter have also been advertised. Many of these Eneloop offshoots are available only in Japan.
 Larger cells are also available as NiMH cells. A true D-sized NiMH should have a capacity of about 10,000 mAh. Watch out for Energizer, Rayovac, and other brand versions that are 2200-2500 mAh: these are mostly hollow and have no more capacity than AA cells. If lower capacity is not a problem, hollow adapters can be purchased (provided with some chargers like the BC-9009 and Costco Eneloop Pack) that allow you to put a AA in a D-sized shell.