Hybrid (LSD) NiMH Batteries Compared

sanyo-eneloop
Sanyo/Panasonic Eneloop Cells

Receiving a set of NiCad batteries as a 10 year old (for use in a ‘Knight Rider’ RC car – how awesome was that?!) started a lifelong obsession with rechargeable cells.  My interest in batteries started even earlier than this, after being given random lengths of wire, torch bulbs and supposedly dead C cells to ‘play’ with.  Well, it kept me quiet 🙂

maha-charger
Maha/Powerex Smart Charger

Some 35 years later and I’m still doing much the same, only with NiMH cells and a Maha MH-C9000 intelligent charger/analyser.

Recently, I’ve switched to so called ‘hybrid’ or Low Self Discharge (LSD) cells as whilst the capacities are lower, I find the low self discharge rate to be more beneficial in the long term.

All cells are new and run through a charge (0.5C) and discharge (500mA) cycle, the average capacity of 4 cells recorded. Capacities are expected to marginally improve over several cycles.

Edit: Some have pointed out that I should a) be testing remaining capacity after 6 or 12 months and b) my tests are not the IEC standard.  Firstly, I’m not so interested in specific rates of self discharge (these tests are available elsewhere online).  Secondly, I find the standard IEC test (0.1C charge, 0.2C discharge, from memory) entirely unrealistic for my typical workloads such as amateur radio, DSLR, etc.  My 500mA discharge rate was chosen as a reasonable average figure for my typical use.

AA Hybrid

BrandTypeRated mAhMeasured mAh
SanyoEneloop Pro (black)24002386
SanyoEneloop (white)19001858
MaplinHybrid21002101
EnergizerACCU Recharge Extreme23002075
TescoHybrid20001880
7 Day ShopGood To Go21502220
DuracellDuralock13001345
VartaRecharge Accu26002570
AmazonBasics25002320
IKEALadda24502400
PowerOwlPowerOwl28001852

AAA Hybrid

BrandTypeRated mAhMeasured mAh
SaynoEneloop (white)750726
EnergizerACCU Recharge Extreme800742
AmazonBasics850840
IKEALadda900895
PowerOwlPowerOwl1000729

This post will be updated as further brands/types are tested.

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2 Responses to Hybrid (LSD) NiMH Batteries Compared

  1. Nick Rapson says:

    Wow, those Tesco hybrids are dire, aren’t they?

    Question, though. Why are the capacities expected to improve over cycles?

  2. m0spn says:

    I’ve re-tested a set of four Tesco Hybrids and the results are much more in line with expectations; I have no idea what happened the first time! The results in the table above have been updated to reflect the new result.

    Also, I can’t find a technical explanation but it often seems that battery capacity will increase after the first few cycles. I assume it’s because the batteries have been idle in their packaging for months (potentially years?) and a few cycles has a positive effect on the battery chemistry. However, I’m no chemist and my google-fu is currently failing me 🙁

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