Question about those rechargeable AA batteries...

Redbug · Apr 2, 2010

I have been using some of those rechargeable AA batteries in my digital cameras, instead of the alkalines. I have been using the Kodak Ni-Mh 2500mAh, the Duracell Ni-Mh 2000mAh, and the Rayovac Ni-Mh 2000mAh. These rechargeable batteries don't seem to hold a charge for more than a 4 or 5 days and they don't last very long in the camera. I have tried a couple different chargers which does not seem to make any difference in battery life.

What do you guys use? There has got to be better rechargeables than what I am using. What do you recommend? These batteries are frustrating at best. I really do wonder if it's worth the money to buy them with their poor performance vs the alkalines.

SARG · Apr 2, 2010

I share your pain. I've got three cheaper digital cameras I keep in my vehicles.

I learned the hard way to use the big name batteries..... the cheap imports are dimensionally different ..... enough so the cameras would often not turn on with them. It took me awhile to figure out what was wrong.

I also tried the rechargeable batteries with the same poor result. I have gone back to the standard alkaline big name batteries and have reduced the frustration.

RonMar · Apr 2, 2010

What type charger are you using? Ni-Mh batteries require a charger designed specifically for that type battery. It is a smart charger that charges the batteries at a particular rate and to a set cutoff point. I have two sets of 4 that I have been using for quite some time. One set sets in the charger and one set in the camera. I swap them when the cam indicates low battery.
The ones in the charger charge till full then set idle till needed. It might be weeks or even months between swaps depending on how much I use the camera.

Do the batteries go dead just setting on the shelf, or when in the camera(cam could be draining them)?

Redbug · Apr 2, 2010

The charger I use the most is a Duracell NiMH model CEF14NC. It holds 4 batteries, (2 banks of 2 batteries). The lights are red when low or needs charging and green when charged. It takes several hours to charge. I have read that a slow charge is better on the batteries than a fast charge.

And I have started to reverse 1 battery in the camera, (camera holds 2 batteries), when not in use since the camera seems to have a small drain on them when not in use. The batteries don't seem to hold a charge on the shelf and don't seem to last very long in the camera, either. Maybe my expectations are too high with the rechargeables vs alkalines...

RonMar...what brand of batteries are you using and which seem to work the best?

aczlan · Apr 2, 2010

We have 6 Kodak 2500mAh NiMh batteries and a Kodak NiMh slow charger that we use in our Canon A1100-IS, they seem to last about as long as a good set of Alkalines do and are 3-4 years old. Before we had the Canon I used them in a Kodak Easyshare CD33 that I had and they did well there.

Having a NiMh charger is the key IMO, otherwise they will not charge properly.

Aaron Z

Scooby074 · Apr 2, 2010

sanyo enerloops are among the best out there. theyre low self discharge and long lasting.
as youve seen some brands self discharge more than others
a good charger is important,one with a "refresh" cycle helps. ill post mine up when i find it. ive read where the duracell chargers have a reputation for killing batteries.better chargers have better charge cycles. i started with a duracell before my new one

i have a MAHA wizzard one. it reviewed among the best out there http://www.paulsfinest.com/Maha-PowerEx-C9000-WizardOne-charger-8x2700mAh-AA-Maha-Batteries-2xBH4-1xBH8-cases-FREE-CC150-Case-p-572.html

check out candlepowerforums.com for all you need to know about batts and flashlights

Wis Bang · Apr 2, 2010

I have duracel NaOH that are 8 - 9 yrs old. I use them in my GPS and the don't have much shelf life but charging them brings them right up to full power. When hunting I work w/ 8 - 10 AA, two in the GPS, two spare for the GPS and 6 in the two Motorola talkaout 250s...I get two full days in the radios and 3/4th of a day in the GPS so I'm always charging a set every night.

Off season I keep a set in the GPS to maintain the sat lock. If you use it within two weeks it links faster that way.

CurlyDave · Apr 2, 2010

I tried rechargeable AAs quite a while ago, but have decided that the Costco house brand AA alkalines are actually quite good and very cost effective.

Plus I can stuff a handful in my pocket if I am going to be away from electric outlets for a few days.

dgl24087 · Apr 2, 2010

Redbug said:
I have been using some of those rechargeable AA batteries in my digital cameras, instead of the alkalines. I have been using the Kodak Ni-Mh 2500mAh, the Duracell Ni-Mh 2000mAh, and the Rayovac Ni-Mh 2000mAh. These rechargeable batteries don't seem to hold a charge for more than a 4 or 5 days and they don't last very long in the camera. I have tried a couple different chargers which does not seem to make any difference in battery life.

What do you guys use? There has got to be better rechargeables than what I am using. What do you recommend? These batteries are frustrating at best. I really do wonder if it's worth the money to buy them with their poor performance vs the alkalines.

I have used the Energizer rechargeables, and suffered the same issues that you have.

Bird · Apr 3, 2010

I bought my Olympus D460ZOOM digital camera at Circuit City on 1/17/2001 and at the time got 4 Maxell Ni-MH batteries and a Maxell Model V-3969 Class 2 charger, which, like Redbug's, holds 4 batteries. A short time later, I bought 4 Rayovac batteries. So I'm still using the original 8 batteries and charger and am quite happy with them so far.

The charger has a slide switch to change between Nickel-Metal Hydride and Nickel Cadmium batteries. I've only used it for the Ni-MH batteries. Charging output for four AA batteries is listed as 1.4V DC 210 mA, charging time for Ni-MH batteries is shown as 7 hours while Ni-Cd is 4 hours.

Travelover · Apr 3, 2010

Plus 1 on the Sanyo Eneloops. They have slightly less capacity, but hold a charge for much longer when not being used.

The Haymaker · Apr 3, 2010

CurlyDave said:
I tried rechargeable AAs quite a while ago, but have decided that the Costco house brand AA alkalines are actually quite good and very cost effective.

Plus I can stuff a handful in my pocket if I am going to be away from electric outlets for a few days.

The Home Despot sells 36ct of AA's for 12 bucks and change. I gave up on rechargeable batts a long time ago. Junk, don't hold a charge, don't have the capacity of an alkaline, and have a very short life cycle compared to alkalines.

When I need batteries, I need them now, not when they are recharged.

E

Bird · Apr 3, 2010

have a very short life cycle compared to alkalines

I've never found any alkalines that would last 9 years as my rechargeables have.

SpringHollow · Apr 4, 2010

+2 on the sanyo enerloops - only way to go for rechargeable AA's.

Ken

irvingj · Apr 4, 2010

Plus 3 on Sanyo-- if you do some research into what radio control flyers use... you'll see Sanyo right up there. There really IS a difference in how they're made.

Ditto the charging; it has to be right, depending on the cell.

If you really need LONG shelf life, go with the Li cell non-rechargeables; they'll last darned near forever (least it seems that way) on the shelf.

jinman · Apr 4, 2010

I buy lithium batterys at Sam's Club and use them in our Canon Powershot S5 IS camera. They last a long time and then die instantly. I think they easily last 7x as long as alkalines at less than 7x the price.

Redbug · Apr 4, 2010

I will get some of the Enerloops since you guys recommend them above the others. With the camera then I suspect it is like what K7LN mentioned...a much shorter use time since the batteries are lower voltage to start. Didn't think of that. You think the engineers would design the batteries to be closer to 1.5 volts.

SpringHollow · Apr 4, 2010

Redbug said:
You think the engineers would design the batteries to be closer to 1.5 volts.

It is a question of chemistry and size limitations.

Ken

SpringHollow · Apr 4, 2010

K7LN said:
The voltage is determined purely by the chemistry involved. Size has no affect on the output of the cell. As you must realize, we have way too many different size batteries today.

You are correct for cells but Redbug was discussing batteries. Size has no effect on the output of the cell but it does on the output of the battery - size limits the number of cells (the chemistry of the cell, the number of cells and how they are wired determines the voltage of the battery) and the size of the cells (which determines the current/storage capability of the cell and thus the battery).

Ken