Long-term test Contour NiMH

If you can find an Angeleyes charger, they’re good for around £20 - that is what the screeds of numbers are generated by. Unfortunately the usual HK suspects don’t seem to stock it. I got mine from KD about six years ago. There is a thread on the DX forums asking them to stock it.

This one appears to be an Angeleyes with a different name on it. IT costs £16.50.
http://www.fasttech.com/products/1421/10001892/1136306-aa-aaa-batteries-charger-capacity-mah-tester-and

7Dayshop used to sell just about the only decent charger Vanson make - the BC1-HU. It is often sold under different names. This one is decent but is only a tiny amount less than the angel eyes.
http://www.7dayshop.com/sanyo-mqn04-e-4-3utgb-overnight-aa-aaa-battery-charger-with-4-x-aa-2000mah?backUrl=L2NoYXJnZXJzLXBvd2VyLWJhdHRlcmllcy9iYXR0ZXJ5LWNoYXJnZXJzLWFuZC10ZXN0ZXJzI2Rpcj1hc2MmbGltaXQ9YWxsJm9yZGVyPXByaWNl

Hi Don, I think I’m going to get one of these Angeleyes/Shan chargers. They have more features for NiMH than the Nitecore i4, such as a clear backlit display and discharge.

I can’t figure out how independent the four bays are though. Can I perform different functions for four cells at once, like charge a pair of AAA’s whilst discharging a pair of AA’s?

I don’t think you can. I’m using mine flat out for discharging just now so can’t check. However, I’m pretty sure you set the mode (Charge Discharge or Refresh) for all four slots. I’ll check the ten or so cubic metres of paper and see if I can find the manual.

Edit: You set the mode for all four slots.

Since I’ve found them at a decent price I think I’ll get another one.

Thanks, Don! This is not a huge deal for me as I prefer to use chargers like this anyway.

They look very like 2nd Gen Eneloops. Also if you have a look at them with a magnifier near the shrink wrap join they have a date code on them in the same type of eneloop laser etched font, on both AAA and AA

On mine 11 . 06 l Q

I’m pretty sure they are 2G eneloops but the testing is to nail this down. The discharge curves will make interesting reading when the wonderful HKJ gets them and tests them.

Must go looking for the date codes. These days I need a magnifier for a lot of things - my days of reading 1 point Flyspeck Sans on motherboards are long gone.

Does that mean 2006?

2011 June.

Marc.

iCell are now selling four of these AA’s together with their charger for the bargain price of £8.19.

I’ve no idea what the charger is like, but I’ve one on the way as a gift for a nephew (to go with the EA4).

These cells were last charged 11 months ago. It'll be a year on the 28th (1-8) and 30th March (9-16). They've spent a long time in the back of the car so have been exposed to temperatures between 30C and -10C. I'll be interested to see how they do after a year of neglect. I just cleared out the car and found them again.

I'll do discharges for their anniversary of charging.

Looking forward to see these results. I haven’t had any feedback about them from my nephew (who I passed the cells on to), so some news would be interesting.

I bought 16 Contour AA in the UK, August 2013, and using various chargers and lights, mostly PIR around the house, and TBH they compare extremely well with my Eneloops (2008).

Similar RT's, apparent capacity, and charge holding ability.

CONTOUR ENERGY CHIBRUAA4 SuperSmart Battery Charger with 4 x World Best Batteries £ 6.99
CONTOUR ENERGY REAA4RTU 4 x AA Pre-Charge Rechargeable Batteries £ 4.49

After a year and twelve days I discharged the first 8. The remaining capacity was between 86 and 91% (Average 88%) which is IMO very impressive. Second set discharged tomorrow morning.

Thanks for the testing Don. I reckon those batteries will be really bored by now sitting around waiting for a discharge test.

Probably. I'd forgotten all about them and just found them when I had to empty the car to collect some furniture. So they'd been sitting all lonely with the rest of the crap in the back of the car.

Discharged all 16 of them now. The lowest charge retention was 82%, the best 91%, average 86.2% or 1824mAh which is pretty good IMO after a year and two weeks.

Thanks for the test Don. Seem to be good LSD cells.

Better than many certainly.

I now officially have too many AAs, 40 Gen 1 Eneloops, 16 Gen 2 Eneloops, 8 Camelion LSDs, 8 Panasonic LSDs, 16 Contour LSD, 12 Vapex LSD (Not very good), I think but there were 20 of them at one point, 4 Hybrios, 8 Lidl LSD and that's just the ones I can remember. The surviving non-LSD cells get used in mice, keyboards and stuff.

I'm surprised to hear you say you now officially have to many AAs. The problem here is you just dont have enough lights to put these batteries into. Best get onto it quickly. No need for any thanks, just glad I could fix your problem.

:P. If more of them took AAs, it'd be better...