Ni-MH Battery Measurements

<< Edit: Found three more of the original eight-pack of Eneloop 1900 mAH batteries (for a total of seven now) and added them to to the tabulated data in Table 3. > >

Because I enjoy measuring things, here are three sets of Ni-MH batteries that I recently completed capacity and internal resistance measurements on:

  1. Eight AmazonBasics High Capacity, 2400 mAh min, made in Japan, three months old (see Table 1).
  2. Six AmazonBasics High Capacity 2400 mAh min, made in Japan, three years old (see Table 2).
  3. Seven Eneloop, 1900 mAh min, three years old (see Table 3).

Table 1 - AmazonBasics High Capacity Ni-MH Batteries
May 18 Manufacture Date (Three Months Old)
Battery
Number
Capacity1
(mAh)
Internal Resistance2 (mΩ)
Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Average
1 2441 18.9 18.8 18.6 18.8
2 2473 18.8 18.7 18.5 18.7
3 2425 19.7 19.6 17.0 18.8
4 2404 17.3 17.3 17.1 17.2
5 2439 19.0 18.8 18.6 18.8
6 2463 17.6 17.3 17.1 17.3
7 2439 19.2 19.0 18.8 19.0
8 2413 19.9 19.8 19.6 19.8
1. Measurements made with Zanflare C4 analsying charger, Aug 18.
2. Measurements made with SM8124 1 Hz internal resistance meter, Aug 18.

Table 2 - AmazonBasics High Capacity Ni-MH Batteries
Jun 15 Manufacture Date (Three Years Old)
Battery
Number
Capacity1
(mAh)
Internal Resistance2 (mΩ)
Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Average
1 2319 100.6 98.3 97.0 98.6
2 2346 20.2 19.9 19.9 20.0
3 2381 75.3 72.1 70.5 72.6
4 2058 52.3 51.3 50.3 51.3
5 2291 86.2 84.3 83.2 84.6
6 2448 19.2 19.0 18.9 19.0
1. Measurements made with Zanflare C4 analsying charger, Jul 18.
2. Measurements made with SM8124 1 Hz internal resistance meter, Aug 18.

Table 3 - Eneloop Ni-MH Batteries
May 15 Manufacture Date (Three Years Old)
Battery
Number
Capacity1
(mAh)
Internal Resistance2 (mO)
Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Average
1 1973 19.4 19.3 19.2 19.3
2 1911 17.2 17.2 17.2 17.2
3 1922 17.3 77.2 17.1 17.2
4 1837 17.4 17.4 17.3 17.4
5 1952 17.8 18.1 18.1 18.0
6 1975 18.1 18.0 17.9 18.0
7 1947 17.8 17.9 17.9 17.9
1. Measurements made with Zanflare C4 analsying charger, Jul 18.
2. Measurements made with SM8124 1 Hz internal resistance meter, Aug 18.


Results:

  1. All eight of the new AmazonBasics High Capacity batteries (Table 1) met their 2400 mAh min capacity rating. They also had fairly low and uniform IR measurements..
  2. Only one of the six the three-year old AmazonBasics High Capacity batteries (Table 2) met their original 2400 mAh min capacity rating. Additionally, some are showing significant IR increases.
  3. Six out of the seven Eneloop batteries (Table 3) met their original 1900 mAh capacity rating. All still have low and uniform IR measurements.

Conclustion:

  1. When new, AmazonBasics High Capacity meet their stated minimum capacity rating and have good IR measurements.
  2. AmazonBasics High Capacity batteries show noticeable degradation over a three years period.
  3. EDITED: Regular Eneloop batteries show less degradation than AmazonBasics High Capacity Ni-MH batteries after three years.
1 Thank

Interesting. AA Cycler results also agree that their cycle performance is below eneloops and eneloops pro. It’s possible that they are made in the same factory as it’s believed but clearly either the production process or the QC is not to the same standard.

I know that on my next purchase of Ni-MH batteries I will probably buy Eneloops instead of AmazonBasics because I think I am likely to get better longevity with them. Since the AmazonBasics are made in Japan, I agree that they may be Eneloop seconds.


ADDED:

As Pete mentioned below, it is not valid to compare standard Eneloop batteries to either AmazonBasics High Capacity or even Eneloop Pro batteries because they are built to different performance specifications, as shown in the table below.

Comparison of Standard and High Capacity AA Ni-MH Batteries
Battery Eneloop1 Standard Eneloop Pro AmazonBasics
Standard
AmazonBasics High Capacity
Capacity 2000
1900 min
2550
2450 min
2000
1900 min
Not Provided
2400 min
Cycles/Recharges 2100 500 1000 Not Provided
Storage Life Holds 70% charge up to 10 years Holds 85% charge up to one year Holds 70% charge
up to three year
Holds 65% charge up to 3 years
Country of Origin Japan Japan Japan Japan
Cost for
an 8-Pack2
18.99 $32.99 $14.99 $18.99
  1. An excellent site for Eneloop battery information is Eneloop 101.com.
  2. As listed on Amazon.com, Sep 16, 2018.

It would make more sense to compare AmazonBasics High Capacity against Eneloop Pro, as these two are more similar in characteristics, including cycle life. The standard Eneloops have much longer cycle life.

Thanks, you're right Pete.

EDIT: I decided to bite the bullet and purchase some Eneloop Pro batteries to make a valid comparison. Thanks again!

No problem.

You may still find that Eneloop Pro outperforms AmazonBasics High Capacity ones because the AmazonBasics ones are speculated to be some older generation of Eneloop technology, but at least it will be more of an apples-to-apples comparison.

The trade-off with these high capacity cells is that you get shorter life (in terms of recharge cycles).

BTW, I paid $8.79 for a 4-pack of AB HC AA cells, so that’s roughly half price of Eneloop Pro.

It’s 80% after 1 year, and 70% after 3 years.
Cycles: 1,000.

http://a.co/d/1OqiMNw

Yup, and 75% after 1 year.

Also, your price link goes to AmazonBasics alkalines, not rechargeables. :slight_smile:

Pete, thank you one more time! I've updated the table.

You’re welcome. Sorry for nitpicking your data. :slight_smile:

Also, interesting tidbit of information: the original 1st gen Eneloops were rated at 1,000 cycles, just like the AmazonBasics Standard currently. Makes you wonder if that’s what they are.

Really interesting thread.

Im about half way finished testing ALL my NiMH AA’s. Testing IR and testing them on my current draw tester. On regular eneloop I’ve been getting IR results in line with yours even on ~5yo cells that have been in daily use! (On Eneloop Pros ~3yo not so much).

I probably won’t be posting my data as the tests arnt scientific enough nor the data organized enough to make sense to others but please keep up the great work on your end sir!

Btw the reason I started testing was cause I noticed H1 was no longer brighter than H2 on my Zebralight headlamps using some batteries (even hot off the charger) while others werestill just fine. Mostly it’s the eneloop pros that no longer support full H1 output.

UPDATE Sep 23, 2018

The 8-pack of Eneloop Pro batteries I ordered from Amazon arrived, but they had a manufacture date of Feb 17. This means they sat around for about 19 months before I got them. This was unacceptable to me since I plan to use the batteries for testing, so I returned them for a full refund.

I would like to purchase Eneloop Pros from another seller, but Amazon doesn't disclose the seller on the product page or invoice. I only found out that the seller was Loot Hive for my recent order when I returned the batteries. That means I have to find another source unless I want to try the Amazon listing for Eneloop Pros that promises, "This product in Brand New and super fresh" for $49.75 per 8-pack! (Nope!)

Considering eBay, but I am wary of fakes and old stock. Still looking before I pull the trigger again.


Contacted a prospective eBay seller (see below) but they are selling 2015 Eneloop Pros. Older than the ones from Amazon. Yikes!

Still searching. I may have to live without them for awhile.

FYI, I bought these November 1, 2015:
http://a.co/d/d6Ttn2G

They were made in July 2015, so rather fresh.

Of course, there is no guarantee that what you’ll get will be just as fresh.