Hi alternaty, you are correct. The product number is 4mcce or 4mcca (usa) both for the older and newer one. The only way you can see it, is by looking at the 10years vs 5 years claim.
Some sellers might not even now it, and leave the original specs and product pictures of the older version online.
Just make sure you can see they have the 70% after 10 years...which by now all major stores/online stores should have anyhow, because the newest eneloops already have been on the market for 3 years.
That really depends, I personally can't remember any device in my house that can take alkaline batteries, but not rechargeable batteries. Maybe HKJ can give you some examples?
I have one of those cheap fibre optic desk lamps with all the strands that won't run on eneloops. They take 3 x AAA and have no problems with alkalines. What is confusing is that they will run down the alkalines after hours and hours of continuous use, yet won't even turn on with fully charged eneloops.
What I can say is that on my Nitecore EA81 that takes 8 x AAA, the eneloops are just incredible. With alkalines, you just use turbo briefly a couple of times and then the flashlight will only go to high thereafter. With the eneloops, turbo seems to last amazingly long, maybe 5 or 10 times longer or more than the alkalines. I'm really not sure why they are that good in this particular flashlight, but they are. They may last even longer in turbo than what I am saying as I have not charged them for a long time and it is still working.
The voltage of the NiMh (1.2 V) cells is lower than the alkaline (1.5 V). Some devices will not accept the lower voltage. Try them and see what happens with a particular device. And, of course, the discharge patterns are different.
@chibiM, on my Nitecore EA81 that is running 8 x AA eneloops, after charging and using the light for a short while, I tested the battery voltage and they range from 1.424v to 1.415v. Is that within the safe limits to run all eight batteries in one light?
Ideally, what you’d want to do is buy an analyzing charger that allows you to do a discharge test, or something like a ‘break-in’ function (as found on the Maha C9000) and match your closest 8 Eneloops, since that’s a lot of batteries to run in any device, let alone a high current flashlight.
I have the MC3000 but never used it yet for my eneloops. I have to get going on it to see if I can get a closer match. I gave another EA81 to my brother and when I tested just the voltage on those eight batteries that were inside it, the voltage was exactly the same for all of them.
