TEST: Sanyo NiMH eneloop VS Sanyo NiMH 2500

Frederick - If I leave a fully charged AA NIMH sitting unused for 3 months, when I put it into my FZ30, it will show a black segment on the battery indicator, which I take to mean some discharge. The Kodak battery will show as full charge. Please note that I did not say there was no discharge, but that there was no sign of discharge.
geeno
effzee 1, 5 and 30
http://genet.smugmug.com/

Fredrick said:

gene thomson said:

The Kodak 2100ma Ultra Low Discharge AA's are supposed to be
identical to the Eneloops. I have had some sitting, charged but
unused, for over 3 months without any sign of discharge.

Click to expand...

I am wondering how you know there are no signs of dischage.

Click to expand...

gene thomson said:

Frederick - If I leave a fully charged AA NIMH sitting unused for 3
months, when I put it into my FZ30, it will show a black segment on
the battery indicator, which I take to mean some discharge. The
Kodak battery will show as full charge. Please note that I did not
say there was no discharge, but that there was no sign of discharge.

Click to expand...

Gene, I don't want to sound stupid but I have to ask because you have really gotten me curious now. Do you have an external battery pack for your FZ30? Where did you get it? I've been looking at a setup to use AA's in my FZ50 and have been looking for some tips.

--
TWiCS
FZ50, TZ3, and lots of old useless darkroom junk.

Here's another report on the self discharge rate that was updated on March 17th:
http://candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=149804
(84.34% after one year)

You got me thinking on what is a Rapid vs Fast vs Standard vs Trickle Charge so I've gone back and reviewed a site I've used as a reference in the past.

http://www.batteryuniversity.com

There is a lot of interesting info here but I cannot see any references to the new NiMH formulation used in the Eneloops and similar products.

Reading the side of the battery in front of me, a La Crosse 2400mAh AA, it states "Standard Charge: 14-16h at 240mA"

My Panasonic 2300mAh AA's have nothing like that on them.

My AAA 800mAh Eneloop's have nothing on them other than charge in Sanyo charger.

Reviewing Eneloop info off the web seems to indicate that with the MDU01 Sanyo charger for either AA or AAA:

When one battery is charged either 850mA or 730mA is used (DC1.2V)
When two batteries are charged either 450mA or 390mA are used (DC1.2V)

http://www.eneloop.info/uploads/media/MDU01_SPECIFICATION_01.pdf
(document dated Jan 23,2007)

For the MQN04 Sanyo charger:

2 or 4 batteries can be charged with the following currents.
AA type : Approx.250mA(at DC2.4V)
AAA type : Approx.120mA(at DC2.4V)

http://www.eneloop.info/uploads/media/MQN04_SPECIFICATION_01.pdf
(document dated Sept 21, 2006)

So I'm a bit baffled atm as to what is ideal. Certainly, I'd prefer to have a charger where I can control the rate and I have the option to discharge the battery as suggested every month or two.

--


Newsy FZ20 user
http://newsy.smugmug.com

.

NewsyL said:

Reviewing Eneloop info off the web seems to indicate that with the
MDU01 Sanyo charger for either AA or AAA:

When one battery is charged either 850mA or 730mA is used (DC1.2V)
When two batteries are charged either 450mA or 390mA are used (DC1.2V)

http://www.eneloop.info/uploads/media/MDU01_SPECIFICATION_01.pdf
(document dated Jan 23,2007)

For the MQN04 Sanyo charger:

2 or 4 batteries can be charged with the following currents.
AA type : Approx.250mA(at DC2.4V)
AAA type : Approx.120mA(at DC2.4V)

http://www.eneloop.info/uploads/media/MQN04_SPECIFICATION_01.pdf
(document dated Sept 21, 2006)

Click to expand...

any info on the MQN05 charger?(i remember somewhere that the difference b/w the 04 and 05 charger is that 05 regulates each battery indivdually and thus allows single-battery charging

TWiCS - No, you didn't sound stupid. It was I that messed up. Of course, the FZ30 doens't use AAs. I meant to say "Coolpix 950" rather than "FZ30". I use the FZ30 so often that I forget I have other cameras. Sorry to mislead anyone.
geeno
effzee 1, 5 and 30
http://genet.smugmug.com/

TWiCS said:

Gene, I don't want to sound stupid but I have to ask because you have
really gotten me curious now. Do you have an external battery pack
for your FZ30? Where did you get it? I've been looking at a setup to
use AA's in my FZ50 and have been looking for some tips.

Click to expand...

gene thomson said:

TWiCS - No, you didn't sound stupid. It was I that messed up. Of
course, the FZ30 doens't use AAs. I meant to say "Coolpix 950"
rather than "FZ30". I use the FZ30 so often that I forget I have
other cameras. Sorry to mislead anyone.

Click to expand...

Thanks for clearing that up Gene. I was expecting you were using one of these or something similar. I wonder if anyone on the forum has one?

It fits to the bottom of the FZ30/50 and holds 12 AA's. A connector fits to the external power and the remote shutter jacks on the side of the FZ to power the camera and operate the shutter release buttons on each side.



--
TWiCS
FZ50, TZ3, and lots of old useless darkroom junk.

NewsyL said:

So I'm a bit baffled atm as to what is ideal. Certainly, I'd prefer
to have a charger where I can control the rate and I have the option
to discharge the battery as suggested every month or two.

Click to expand...

Yes it is a bit baffling. I had no idea that such a simple thing could be sooooo complicated! I followed all of your links and read most of it but I'm still not convinced that any one of them could be significantly better than the one suggested by the mfg. Thanks for the interest; you really know how to do your homework.
--
TWiCS
FZ50, TZ3, and lots of old useless darkroom junk.

TWiCS said:

TWiCS wrote:
...snip... but I'm still not convinced that any one of them could be
significantly better than the one suggested by the mfg.

Click to expand...

I believe you are right in this regard.

When made my AA/AAA battery charger purchase, due to the overwhelming number of positive user reviews for eneloop rechargeable, I decided to convert "all" of our AA & AAA alkaline battery purchases to eneloops. This includes for non-camera units.

With that in mind, I decided to buy the La Crosse BC-900 charger so I could use it for rechargeble battery maintenance over the many years to come. I also like the idea that I can recharge at the 200ma, 14 hour rate to maximize battery life when time is not a consideration, and also be able to charge at higher currents when time is of the essence.

When pro-rated over the amount of years I expect to use the charger. the difference in cost seemed more palatable.

Skyglider

skyglider said:

skyglider said:

TWiCS wrote:
...snip... but I'm still not convinced that any one of them could be
significantly better than the one suggested by the mfg.

Click to expand...

I believe you are right in this regard.

When made my AA/AAA battery charger purchase, due to the overwhelming
number of positive user reviews for eneloop rechargeable, I decided
to convert "all" of our AA & AAA alkaline battery purchases to
eneloops. This includes for non-camera units.

Click to expand...

Even so i think I'm going to invest in the same La Crosse BC-900 charger.

--
TWiCS
FZ50, TZ3, and lots of old useless darkroom junk.

TWiCS said:

skyglider said:

TWiCS said:

TWiCS wrote:
...snip... but I'm still not convinced that any one of them could be
significantly better than the one suggested by the mfg.

Click to expand...

I believe you are right in this regard.

When made my AA/AAA battery charger purchase, due to the overwhelming
number of positive user reviews for eneloop rechargeable, I decided
to convert "all" of our AA & AAA alkaline battery purchases to
eneloops. This includes for non-camera units.

Click to expand...

Even so i think I'm going to invest in the same La Crosse BC-900
charger.

--

Click to expand...

I recently got the BC-900 and have been quite pleased with it. I decided to conduct a little unscientific test of my own. I took a pair of old Sanyo, 1600 maH batteries that I use in my mouse, and charged them in an old Maha 204F (I think) till they went to trickle charge. I then waited a few minutes and put them in the BC-900, which immediately identified them as "full". This indicates to me that the Maha was able to charge them to their full existing capacity. Next time I will condition them with the Maha first, then do a "test mode" with the BC-900 to see what that capacity is. Finally, I will condition them with the BC-900 to see if that capacity can be increased.

Fredrick said:

I recently got the BC-900 and have been quite pleased with it. I
decided to conduct a little unscientific test of my own. I took a
pair of old Sanyo, 1600 maH batteries that I use in my mouse, and
charged them in an old Maha 204F (I think) till they went to trickle
charge. I then waited a few minutes and put them in the BC-900, which
immediately identified them as "full". This indicates to me that the
Maha was able to charge them to their full existing capacity. Next
time I will condition them with the Maha first, then do a "test mode"
with the BC-900 to see what that capacity is. Finally, I will
condition them with the BC-900 to see if that capacity can be
increased.

Click to expand...

Thank you for posting your experience fredrick. Thomas Distributing seems to me to be the best place to get one so far but i am looking for a Canadian source, any ideas?
Nice video at the TD website:
http://thomas-distributing.com/bc900-video.php

--
TWiCS
FZ50, TZ3, and lots of old useless darkroom junk.

Hey folks - I have been following this thread and noticed someone mentioned they purchased Eneloops for &19.98. I have been buying these from a local Ritz Camera for $11.99 (4 pack). This seems to be their standard price. Just a heads up.
--



Photography - One of the few things you can still do legally - sort of.

Well fellow Vancouverite (assumption from your signature photo), I was also trying to find one last fall and in the end, with the Canadian $ worth more than the USA$ and Thomas dropping the price from $60 to where it is today, I ordered through Thomas.

At that time, it took a couple of weeks via parcel post (high volume due all the internet buyers).

The MAHA is also a good unit, likely better than the La Crosse for controlling heat in the batteries, and is available in Canada.

I looked all over Vancouver and saw neither of these in any stores.

--


Newsy FZ20 user
http://newsy.smugmug.com

.

sharkync said:

Hey folks - I have been following this thread and noticed someone
mentioned they purchased Eneloops for &19.98. I have been buying
these from a local Ritz Camera for $11.99 (4 pack). This seems to be
their standard price. Just a heads up.

Click to expand...

I should have been more clear the Costco price of $19.98 is for six AA's AND two AAA"s, its a good deal (in Canada) if you need the AAA's, which i don't.
--
TWiCS
FZ50, TZ3, and lots of old useless darkroom junk.

NewsyL said:

Well fellow Vancouverite (assumption from your signature photo)

Click to expand...

Coquitlam actually.

Member said:

I was also trying to find one last fall and in the end, with the
Canadian $ worth more than the USA$ and Thomas dropping the price
from $60 to where it is today, I ordered through Thomas.

Click to expand...

They have the kit "on sale" right now for $35.97

Member said:

At that time, it took a couple of weeks via parcel post (high volume
due all the internet buyers).

Click to expand...

Thanks for sharing you experience, I think I'll go ahead and order it from them.

Member said:

The MAHA is also a good unit, likely better than the La Crosse for
controlling heat in the batteries, and is available in Canada.

Click to expand...

Hold on! I'll check this out first.

Member said:

I looked all over Vancouver and saw neither of these in any stores.

Click to expand...

Thanks for your help. I certainly appreciate it.
--
TWiCS
FZ50, TZ3, and lots of old useless darkroom junk.

TWiCS said:

TWiCS wrote:
I should have been more clear the Costco price of $19.98 is for six
AA's AND two AAA"s, its a good deal (in Canada) if you need the
AAA's, which i don't.

Click to expand...

Maybe consider using AAA eneloops in your remote controls. Low discharge rate is ideal for that type of useage.

Make sure you read that Candlepower thread on the MAHA before you buy it.

There is an issue with it sensing that the batteries are fully charged - it prematurely terminates the charge cycle in at least one version of its' firmware. Maybe not a bad thing, better than cooking the batteries, but also not a good thing. There is a work around.

--


Newsy FZ20 user
http://newsy.smugmug.com

.

I use Eneloops in my wireless mouse, several other remotes including my all-in-one Home Theatre remote and our head mounted miner's lights for walking dogs late at night.

In our household, they have vitually replaced the energizer Bunny....you know the one...takes a lickin and keeps on tickin or some such slogan.

--
Best regards,

Andy

FCAS Member/Masters Category
Pbase Supporter

In case you can't find Eneloop, there are othe options,
here's from Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low_self-discharge_NiMH_battery

These new type of batteries are marketed with over a dozen different brand names, but only actually made by 3 companies - (Sanyo, Panasonic and Yuasa-Delta).[7]

Sorted by manufacturer and the product name:

• AccuPower AccuLoop
• Alcava All in One
• Ansmann maxE
• Conrad Electronic Endurance
• Duracell ActiveCharge
• Duracell Pre-charged
• Gold Peak ReCyko
• Hähnel Synergy
• Kodak Pre Charged
• Maha Powerex Imedion
• Nexcell EnergyON
• Panasonic INFINIUM[8]
• Panasonic R2
• Radio Shack Precharged
• Rayovac Hybrid
• (GE/)Sanyo Eneloop[9][10][11]
• SBS BiReady
• SKB ready2use
• Sony CycleEnergy
• Sunmol AnyEnow
• SWISSBATTERIES accubattery
• Titanium Enduro
• Uniross Hybrio[12]
• VARTA Consumer Batteries Ready2Use
• Vapextech Instant

Just my two oere
Erik from Sweden
--

In fact, a DSLR sensor made up from the pixels of P&S cameras would have even better image DR than current DSLR sensors do. The (possibly temporary) roadblock is high ISO. -John Sheehy

NewsyL said:

Make sure you read that Candlepower thread on the MAHA before you buy
it.

There is an issue with it sensing that the batteries are fully
charged - it prematurely terminates the charge cycle in at least one
version of its' firmware. Maybe not a bad thing, better than cooking
the batteries, but also not a good thing. There is a work around.

Click to expand...

That was a long read but very informative none the less. It speaks well of the La Crosse bc-900. The sale price of $35.97 is irreistable when you look at what it come with.

--
TWiCS
FZ50, TZ3, and lots of old useless darkroom junk.
http://lh3.google.com/twics.picasa/RvXGdN_1HYI/AAAAAAAAA90/Jpvn668ZtKc/