Rechargeable C Batteries

I need some rechargeable C batteries. Does anyone have any experience with these and can recommend me some.

It’s for a Sangean tough box radio.

Thanks

This company has been the standard for the past 20+ years

I’ve used the Tenergy D cells. Amazon.com

But, to be honest, I hardly ever use the lantern or old Maglite that I bought them for. And I don’t have a charger that will test NiMh, so I have no idea how good they are, but they’ve worked so far.

I have some Tenergy Centuras along with some Soshine low self discharge NiMH’s - both work well. but I prefer the Soshine’s because they have a little higher capacity.

I have 3x motion sensor hall lights that run off 4x C-cells. They are battery eaters, usually requiring charging every 1-2 weeks, max. AA in adapters don’t do all that well.
Been using them a long time so have some history.

By far the best I’ve found….so far….are Amazon Basic C (China): Amazon.com
They were shown to be ~4900mAh at a 2.0A draw after a half dozen cycles to start. Close to spec.
But, they are the newest cells, with only 4 months of use history. So far, so good. I’ll see in a couple years if they hold up.
No idea what they ‘really’ are. Closest exterior match is the Tenergy below.

Next best are Soshine (China) 5500mAh. These appeared to be the best in late 2018 when I bought them. Like you, I found little quantifiable testing.
Initially they appeared to be around 4200-4300mAh @1A draw. Not at all close to spec. 2 years later more like 3900mAh. The cell capacities are also diverging more, so maybe not good quality assurance.

Older are Tenergy Centura (China) 4000mAh. Probably 4 years old. Did not have the tools to test them at the time I got them.
First testing in 7/2019 for around 2600-2900mAh @1A draw. A year later they are more like 2100-2200. Also high divergence. Cheaper, but maybe not too great.

I have some 10+ year old Sanyo (Japan), pale blue color. No markings, no date code. First testing in 2019 was around 2000mAh @1A. Still about the same now. Never great maybe, but they really seem to hang in there. Got them for $0.88/each.

IMO, if the radio is not hard on batteries, I’d get some decent Eneloops + adapter. That would be a better deal and more versatile.

I’ll try the Amazon ones.
Thanks for the information.

I agree with flydiver and just get some C cell adaptors for some rechargeable AAs (preferably eneloops). But those Amazon Basics C cells look good and have a lot more capacity.

They look decent right now. Be interesting to see how they fare for the long haul. C’s and D’s are certainly the ignored batteries in the NiMh world.

I plan on this being my new beach radio this summer so I wanted the extra capacity.
I am curious as about performance as well, if these do well I might try some of the D’s. I have a bunch of eneloops already.

I used to use 4x D’s heavily in scuba lights. They would suck down 4400mAh D’s in an hour+. Used them for like 10 years. They are Still ticking, years later, though getting lame finally. They are relegated to a backup lantern. Haven’t bought D NiMh in a decade.
I tried much higher capacity D of other makes long ago. Yeah, they did have higher capacity. None came close to their specs. None held their capacity as well with less rigorous use.
All of them are in the pre-LSD days.

Best site I found for a real review. Torchy the Battery Boy: NiMh D size Batteries
Soshine and Recyco seem the best contenders.

As much as I hate to say it, you are probably better off with alkalines. Much cheaper and if checked regularly, you won’t have leakage.

I got some of the 3xAA to D adapters. They do seem to work, but having a bunch of OLD D’s, and no pressing need for ‘performance’ or replacement, I’ve never put them to the test.

I have been using the blue Tenergy C cells for over ten years now,still working fine.
-Rick

I went through so many D cell alkalines back in the 80s with my boombox that took 10 of them! Never had any of them leak since I went through them so fast. Wish I had the choice of NiMh back then.

Still have the boombox though.

nice multiband boombox!
i have a few myself.
they are rare.

as for the O.P do not buy the melasta c cells off amazon.
several at 0 volts right out of the box.
replacements were sent and then a few others went to zero.

Those would seem to be a different ‘breed’ than the blue AA, which are pretty poor. I had some D’s, and those were flat awful. Don’t think I got 2 year out of them.
Maybe an older chemistry and factory for those Tenergy C.

Received the radio and batteries today. The batteries were pre-charge so I played it for about an hour. I like the sound and the volume range. I don’t need it to be super loud.I putAmazon ones in and plugged the radio in to charge. No flashing red light yet!

The radio charges the batteries?
Think it’s a smart charger? I’d be concerned if it’s not for LSD cells.

Yea It charges the batteries. Strange but I followed the manual verbatim and it’s is working so far!

I have had some of the D cells fail but so far all of the C cells have been fine. Never used any of the AA’s though.