Do Eneloop or other LSD cells have a break-in period?

Hi there everyone,

In your experience do Eneloops have a break-in period? I'm not too impressed with the runtime of my Eneloops compared with a mediocre Alkaline cell. But it could be because they're new.

Thanks for the tips!

They usually work pretty well right off the bat. There are some applications where alkalines will perform better than Eneloops though. If a device needs the higher voltage (1.5V vs. 1.2V) of an alkaline (some cameras and other electronics) then you will get a low battery warning pretty quickly on an Eneloop. I have some indoor/outdoor thermometers and remotes that like that higher voltage and they showed low battery the first week I used NiMHs, but they have all stayed on low battery for five months now and I hope they make it all year.

Also there are certain low-drain uses where an alkaline will deliver more power over a prolonged period of time.

But usually an Eneloop will do better than an alkaline. In high-drain applications like a flashlight or an external flash, Eneloops should do pretty well. However, due to the lower voltage they may not be quite as bright, depending on how the driver works.

AA alkalines at low current drains (tens of milliamps) have a 50% higher capacity than Eneloops. At an several amps the Eneloop (An Eneloop will hold its voltage up to about 8 amps) should outlast them by up to an order of magnitude. In the really low modes the alkaline should run longer. That's why I didn't bother with an alkie on high for the R5-A3 though I can easily do one if you want. I'm not keen on disposable cells - just about the only things around here that use them are clocks and a wireless keyboard that came with 3 of them. When they run out it'll be getting Eneloops like everything else that isn't a clock.

Eneloops are the only cells that i know of that doesnt require a break......although i tend to do it anyway. They should last long in a light but not out last an alkie because of its low mah. Whats so good about eneloops there voltage doesn not drop off like an alkie, and the best part is that there rechargeable so free lumens.

You can see the alkaline current vs. capacity issue quite clearly in a heavy draw light like the Trustfire R5-A3.

It is definitely for the brightness at all costs crowd.

On an alkaline with around 3000mAh (at low currents) it ran for less than an hour

whereas a nickel metal hydride cell of 2000mAh capacity lasted for a little more than that on high - at 3x the current.

At low current draws alkalines win - the higher the current the more advantage you see from NiMH

let alone the fact that you buy rechargeables rarely and alkalines rather often.

Around here an Eneloop costs about the same as 2 Duracells.

The Eneloop will be running for years....

And you leave the house knowing your cell is fresh and charged.

I wonder why Don's posts are the only ones that go past the page? Inquiring minds wanna know?

It's a bug in WebKit browsers I think. I really don't think it is a Drupal (What this site runs on) bug.

It is intermittent and as I'm using a gigantic screen I don't always notice that a line has overflowed.

Oh ok. What browser do you use?

Mostly. I have quite a lot of computers running all sorts of things but the commonest is Safari on a Mac and Firefox on everything else. But the giant screen is on a Mac so gets used most.

I've never owned a mac but would like to someday.

I own quite a few (Around twenty I think - I'd have to dig around in the loft to be sure) - I currently have 3 in use (one in bits just now as it has decided not to power up). But then I probably own more computers than lights. I have 3 rooms full of them - mostly now too old to be useful. My favourite toy is a huge old Sun server - its parts make Surefire look very, very cheap. And its noise level means I can't hear the vacuum cleaner running when it is on.

Dang Don! Computers, batts, torches............ must be nice!

It goes without saying I live alone.........

Let's see, Live alone = tons of cool stuff or Live with wife/girlfriend = not a lot.

I'd choose to live alone! Laughing

You can have both worlds though....i know i do.

You're one of the lucky few. :)

I'm jealous. Hold onto it.

Oh i do man......going on 6 years now. Way better then my first marriage i can tell you that.