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 🙂
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
Brand | Type | Rated mAh | Measured mAh |
---|---|---|---|
Sanyo | Eneloop Pro (black) | 2400 | 2386 |
Sanyo | Eneloop (white) | 1900 | 1858 |
Maplin | Hybrid | 2100 | 2101 |
Energizer | ACCU Recharge Extreme | 2300 | 2075 |
Tesco | Hybrid | 2000 | 1880 |
7 Day Shop | Good To Go | 2150 | 2220 |
Duracell | Duralock | 1300 | 1345 |
Varta | Recharge Accu | 2600 | 2570 |
Amazon | Basics | 2500 | 2320 |
Ikea | Ladda | 2450 | 2400 |
AAA Hybrid
Brand | Type | Rated mAh | Measured mAh |
---|---|---|---|
Sayno | Eneloop (white) | 750 | 726 |
Energizer | ACCU Recharge Extreme | 800 | 742 |
Amazon | Basics | 850 | 840 |
Ikea | Ladda | 900 | 895 |
This post will be updated as further brands/types are tested.
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