NiMh Battery Queston?

[flashbang]

I have been using NiMh, size AA batteries for the last few years, mostly to power shoe-mounted strobes, shooting an average of 1 job a week. Mostly, I’ve been using Eneloops and have been pretty satisfied with their performance (I also have several sets of Powerex, but they never did seem to hold a charge as long or give me as many shots).

Anyway, my batteries are now getting on to 2 years old – definitely gotten my money’s worth! - so 2 questions:

1.Given my usage, what is the practical life expectancy of the cells I have?
2.I have seen batteries labeled “Low Discharge” – is this something I need?

3.Since it has been a couple of years since I bought new ones, is there any recommendation as to what’s come on the market recently?

As always, any advice is most appreciated!

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Photography has been going downhill since Kodak stopped making Panatomic-X.........

 

[Ed Ingold]

NiMH batteries do wear out, prematurely if you allow them to deep discharge or overheat. The usual symptom is not low capacity, rather NO capacity. Often low capacity is the fault of the charger. Make sure your charger does each battery individually. Most work in pairs, and the lower battery never gets properly charged. Used in sets, the weakest battery rules (q.v., Maha chargers).

Any NiMH battery will work if you are diligent about recharging the night before a job. For most of us, the new low-self-discharge (notice "self") work best. These batteries will lose less than 15% of their charge in a year, whereas standard NiMH batteries lose that much (or more) in a week. That's perfect for spur-of-the-moment opportunities. LSD batteries include Eneloop brand, but PowerEx makes them too. They tend to have lower capacity than standard NiMH batteries, but the gap is closing. The last ones I purchased were 2300 mAH.

 

[balloonchasers]

Eneloops are still one of the most recommended batteries. What type of charger are you using?

Here is a great site for anyone interested in recharging batteries:
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/forumdisplay.php?f=9

John
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[alanscape]

I bought Sanyo eneloop when they first came on the market.

I bought some more on Amazon "8 for 4". They are they very best of their type that I've ever had, the ones I have are 'only' 2000's (1.2v.) but they behave like 2800.

They cost GBP 13.oo. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend for flash units, or anything else for that matter and for some unkown reason they didn't seem to mind the cold as much as others I've used.

 

[flashbang]

Actually, I have 3 chargers for AA batteries: don’t ask, after the first, the other 2 just appeared…… Anyway: MAHA MH-C9000, MH-C204GT and one marked “Sanyo NIMH Battery Charger.” Use them all, with the fancy one (MH-C9000) usually just set to charge at half the battery rating.

Looks like consensus is to go with Eneloops. Will also check out Low Discharge and probably pick up a couple of sets. Guess I’ll keep the Powerex for my TV remote.

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Photography has been going downhill since Kodak stopped making Panatomic-X.........