NiMH Batteries for Safari/Explorer

[Ray in WA]

I had read a couple posts here regarding AA NiMH batteries but can't remember from which posts I read them. So I'm asking folks if they could post here the different brands they use in their Safaris and Explorers. I'm asking for myself, naturally, as I'm about to receive a Safari, but I'm sure there will be others who could use this information too.

Also, has anyone used Radio Shack NiMH batteries? And if so, what do you think of them?

Ray

 

[John (Australia)]

Here's my view - Sanyo Eneloop batteries take some beating, they loose very little charge when not in use, great for cameras that take aa or aaa batteries also. Some other brands have also come out with their own ready to use rechargeables which are probably as good. Here in Australia there were tests done on various rechargeables and after 200 continuous cycles of charge and discharge the Eneloops were one of those that had no failures.
John

 

[nick hunter]

It is amazing to see different brands in other countries !

The same for batteries.

Dunno about the brands mentioned. I live in Europe.

I use GP 2700 rechargeable, with no trouble at all, getting between 14 and 16 hours of detection per charge.

At the same time, my backup 2300 cheapos are doing a great job too, so what?

I would go for the highest mah possible with a reputable brand.

HH

Nick

 

[Onus]

How about any US users? Can't get those brand names here. I just made a post regarding batteries on a seperate line. Onus

 

[NamVetLesTreasureSeeker]

Onus, I know my local COSTCO Warehouse Store carries those Sanyo Eneloop Nimh Batteries. I'm sure there are other stores here in the US, that carries those batteries. Try your local camera shops or especially a Electronics Supply Store. I'm sure they can order them for you if you are interested. HH, Les Robinson

 

[Onus]

I found some of those Sanyo Eneloop batteries on Amazon that come with a charger. Onus

 

[dont know nutin]

I am aware that the Eneloop cells need to be shipped in refrigerated containers, but the reason is to eliminate the normal self discharge associated with NiMh cells. If these cells are kept below 38 C (not 38 F), they will be ready to use right out of the package without having to charge them first. At higher temperatures, their self discharge rate increases.

Since the freight from Japan comes into the port at LA, temperatures can often be up to 50 C or over inside the shipping containers. The impact of this is that these new cells would have to be charged before use, and that does not fit with their advertised capability of being able to use them right out of the package.

Sanyo did a series of tests at 20 C that indicated that the Eneloop cells would retain 85% of their initial capacity after 1 year of storage (at 20 C). You can view their press release here:

http://www.sanyo.co.jp/koho/hypertext4-eng/0511/1101-2e.html

It appears that Sanyo is using a thicker separator (hence the lower mAh capacity) that is saturated with deionized water. This has the effect of shutting down the self discharge process. At higher temperatures, the electrolyte is more active and you end up with a normal self discharge rate. I am not aware of any permanent damage that is done if the cell is stored at higher temperatures, but it is possible.

I have been using them for the past 3 months at normal summer temperatures and have not seen any drop in performance. I have tested them extensively and they seem to be very good cells. The tests indicate that the self discharge rate starts off higher than they indicate, but I have not had them long enough to draw any long term conclusions. I plan to test out to 6 months at room temperature storage and then to re-evaluate after that.

At 1 month of 20 C storage they still had about 93% of their initial capacity. That is a vast improvement over normal NiMh cells.

 

[Ray in WA]

Thanks for the replies, folks.

I decided to give the Radio Shack 2100 mAh a try. Got eight of them and two chargers (4 batteries/charger) for $40. We'll see how they hold out compared to regular Alkaline AA batteries.

Ray

 

[Steve from Ohio]

Try Duracell 2650 MAH NIMH rechargeable batteries. They last about 8 hours per charge in my E-trac with the back light on.

Got them on E-bay ---16 of them for 16 bucks. Takes 4 hours to charge and then they are good to go. So far I love them.