I see a lot of Eneloop deals post on OzB…just wondering, what's so good about them?
The kids are chewing through non rechargeable batteries here at the moment. We have one of the Energizer chargers and a few rechargeable Energizer batteries; but wondering if I'm missing out on something really exciting by not have Eneloops…
What's So Good about Eneloop Rechargable Batteries?
curlycee on 21/09/2015 - 13:04
Comments
If you need to ask you wouldn't understand
this^^^
if youre using non rechargeables you arent even in this century yet…
Don't let kids chew on batteries, it's not good for their health :P
Stupid jokes aside, I think the reason why people like Eneloop is that it holds charge far longer (when it's in storage) than other rechargable batteries out there. Other than that I've heard that they are better quality than other rechargable batteries in terms of durability (capacity retention and such) and I've heard other things like maintaining voltage under high load (from a forum to learn why eneloops as well) on a forum (I guess it is unreliable information). Though some people were saying that these reputations are more from Japanese manufactured ones which is hard to find in Australia (DSE sells Chinese made ones, mainly).
From there, it sort of went beyond the level of brain cells I am willing to lose for informations on rechargable batteries. People say it's good, the deal on it pops frequent enough for me and they are not expensive for me to buy them.
Eneloop, about 8yrs ago, had a successful marketing campaign pushing for high quality made in Japan batteries that had good storage retention and high capacity (they also looked good).
Now almost every reputable brand has caught on and lifted their tech, it's unlikely Eneloops are any better than other brands but they are now the trusted brand.
this is untrue
as yet even famous brand 'low self discharge' batteries arent close to eneloop
if you don't need lsd batteries, other leading battery manufacturers offer ones with higher capacity.
Eneloop Pro 2550's are pretty good if you need higher capacity. 4pk from DSE for $12.13 not long ago.
realistically, the vast majority of devices dont need more than the 2-2,200 that normal eneloops have
I don't know about other people, but my impression has been they keep charge for longer when you don't use them. I have had other rechargeable batteries go flat if you don't use them for a while. Which is kinda annoying, because when I need to use them, I need to charge them first. Eneloops solve this problem. Quality wise, I wouldn't think they are much better than other brands, I have had a few duds, in a few packs of 8.
AA and AAA rechargeable batteries are awful for two reasons:
- The go flat when you're not using them. This is called "self-discharge".
- They lose capacity over time. That is, every time you recharge them they last for less time .
Eneloops are much better at both of these than most rechargeable batteries.
but the burning question is … "wheres the next eneloop BARGAIN goddammit!!!"
Basically the de facto rechargeable battery (alkaline) at the time was rubbish in comparison, it would lose it charge in a mere few days after not being used.
Eneloops were practical for use in all the shitty appliances that did not have rechargeable batteries in them for some reason, because they are NiMH (nickel-metal hydride) as were most good rechargeable built in batteries that were made to last.
So basically people were putting these in xbox controllers, Wiimotes, tv remotes and other low drain appliances, and they never really had to recharge them.
Personally I use them whenever I need a rechargeable AA battery (not often, Wiimotes, my PC's 360 controller) because I never need to remember to charge it, until I've genuinely used that device extensively.
If you compare this to your phone or your camera, or just rechargeable alkalines in general (cough grand-cell), you'll notice that they all die within a week if they are left sitting there.
Actually alkalines (and C-Zn for that matter) are not rechargeable. You are actually thinking of non-LSD NiMH cells.
That was a curiosity for a while. There aren't many of these on the market now. 99.9% chance if you buy an alkaline battery at random, it will be non-rechargeable. The rechargeable chemistry that NiMH displaced was actually NiCd, not alkaline.
@greenpossum: of course, but I was specifically talking about grandcells. I suppose "de facto rechargeable battery" is inaccurate, but that's what Australians were using.
I get what you're saying though, I'm no battery expert. :(
I replaced some existing NiMH batteries in an Angelcare AC1100 baby monitor with eneloop's and the advantage was huge. When new, the monitor would last 90 minutes at best off the charger. With the eneloop's the monitor lasts for ~10 hours of use off the charger. Charging time is slightly longer, but is largely irrelevant as it is on charge all night. I also use them for camera flashes and devices which get used infrequently during the year, but are heavily used when they do as the eneloops work better in these use cases.
Merged from Eneloops (& Other Rechargeable Batteries) - Are They Really Worth It?
Hello OzBargainers,
Most of you have bought, heard or seen a deal posted on, the holy eneloop. Yes. I know what they are, and for those who don't! (Eneloop (Japanese: エネループ Hepburn: Enerūpu?) is a brand of 1.2 Volt nickel–metal hydride (NiMH) rechargeable batteries and accessories, developed by Sanyo (now Panasonic) and introduced in 2005). So what is OzBargain's not-so-secret love affair with these rechargeable batteries? Are they good investment to make for the long run compared to the regular batteries? What are they like?. How long do they last?. What's the best Eneloops?. I'm asking these questions as I could consider these soon (after I run out of my other batteries).
TL;DR:
Are Eneloops good for the long run?
Yes, of course, it's waay, waaay cheaper to use rechargeables. Well assuming you aren't just buying Eneloops for the sake of buying Eneloops. I use them for everything.
IME Turnigy LSD batteries from Hobby King are both cheaper and higher performance than Eneloops though, even batteries with the same amount of power.
I use 2 bog standard dumb chargers, no idea if this has anything to do with it. Personally I haven't seen any evidence that smart chargers actually do anything other than allow people to monitor what is going to happen anyway.
Yes
Care to elaborate?
You can recharge a rechargeable battery 500-2000 times depending on the battery. I haven't bought new batteries for a year and a half.
When you say regular, what do you mean by that? Non-Eneloop NiMH or alkaline?
If you mean non-Eneloop NiMH, then the advantage is low self-discharge so will not go flat left in place.
If you mean alkaline, the advantage is that it's rechargeable of course.
By Eneloop, which is a brand name, I also include LSD NiMH cells made by others.
However there are places I wouldn't bother to use Eneloops. There are places like remotes, clocks, scales, mice, where the draw is low. Alkalines there will often outlast the appliance and you'd just be tying up a more expensive Eneloop in that position which will never need to be recharged. And anyway you usually get a set of alkalines with the appliance. I know this irks the Eneloop everywhere mob.
We have one of the Energizer chargers and a few rechargeable Energizer batteries; but wondering if I'm missing out on something really exciting by not have Eneloops…
Well, I rank it exciting:
There is no need for the masses to buy AA/AA/C/D disposables anymore. And there hasn't been a need for at least the last few years (for most mortals using most devices). C and D are cheaply handled by adapters. Though personally I started using rechargeables when Ni-CDs were all the rage.Each year BILLIONS of batteries reach landfill.
Of course it might take several lifetimes for the disposble-buying masses to finally understand what a false economy is. And then several more lifetimes for them to catch on to the fact that rechargeables today have solved the self-discharge problem.If you haven't had the charge going out of your batteries while sitting in storage then consider yourself lucky: that is the main selling point of eneloops (and batteries like them). Though there are others.
You can recharge them more times than a regular rechargeable battery, without losing as much battery power. Plus they come pre-charged. That's about it…