Deal Alert - 4 x AA GP Recyko NiMH LSD batteries - $6.25 @ BIC

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143

I thought, if I have a AAA cell with 25% more capacity than a Eneloop, what would be the best use for said cell? Bingo! Put it in a single or double AAA light, for a 25% increase in run-time. Since I currently EDC a Tank007 E09, I’m ready to rock. I can have one in the charger, and one in the light.

However, the GP cells are a bit of a snug fit in the Tank, due to diameter of the cells. I thought they somehow interfered with the ease of the twisty. This interference could be real, or imagined. But, as they say, perception becomes reality. So, for now, I’m back to Duraloops or Eneloops in the Tank. Both are a slightly looser fit.

144

Today I received the two packs of AA.
I opened one and put it in the charger, discharged and recharged:
Out of the box 1st charge
mV mAh mV mAh
1291 1545 1423 2242
1296 1548 1425 2243
1293 1529 1424 2225
1296 1559 1428 2296

These numbers are good for me 8)

145

I don’t have a smart charger yet, but subjectively, the AAs I have tested in my devices seem to be on par with my genuine Eneloops.

146

Ditto.

147

I have just tried discharge-charge test with hobby charger.
First discharge: 1350mah. (no load voltage:1.29V)
Second discharge: 650mah (may be early terminated)
Third discharge 2000mah (good)

Battery seems good, I have 2 different wrapper GP Recyko’s, purchased from local stores.
And their weights are about 28.3 - 28.6g
BIC’s version is 25.8g, and Eneloop glitters is 25.9g

BIC’s version may be fake.

148

Given how inconsistent are AAA values, I wouldnt be surprised BIC’s being fake!
A while ago there was a thread regarding fake Eneloops:

149

I have the same samples you have.

BIC’s one states GREEN GENERATION while the one on top states NEW GENERATION

150

I got my 3 sets of AA cells a few days ago. Charged them up and have done discharge on all.

All were 1940-2028. So that was good.

But I wonder if it was random that I had the first cells I discharged generally had the highest capacity, and that the last set had the lowest. Might be a sign that they do not hold the charge that well... I have to do another discharge test when they have been resting for days or weeks.

btw, I was just using the Shan charger. Nothing super fancy, and no break in cycle on anything...

151

my AA are testing to capacity after several cycles - HOWEVER they get VERY VERY hot under 2a load and very very hot under 500ma charging

152

I got a packed of AAs today, there is 3 differences betwen the ones I got from BIC and my other GP Recykos.

A small image on the BIC ones are different.
The wrapping at the top is clear instead of opaque on the BIC ones.
The button top is fatter (wider) on the BIC ones.

I have them on discharge now then I’ll do a break in cycle.

Edit 1
Out of the packet discharge:
table(table#posts).
|#1|1338|
|#2|1376|
|#3|1348|
|#4|1380|

Looks fine, Ill do a break in cycle on them now.

Edit 2
After break in cycle
table(table#posts).
|#1|2032|
|#2|2031|
|#3|2025|
|#4|2076|

I’ll discharge them again 1 more time and post the results.

Edit 3
500mAh discharge after the break in cycle
table(table#posts).
|#1|2021|
|#2|2018|
|#3|2020|
|#4|2063|

Number 4 seems a tad higher capacity than the others but I am happy with them for the price, they were barely above room temperature during any point of the discharges and charges.

I still have 2 packs of AAA coming but I will make a order for some more AA’s based on my testing.

153

Isn’t that your charger getting hot? Don’t forget it has to dump 10 watt when discharging 4 cells at once.

154

I made an order, but could not get the 9% off code to work… :expressionless:

155

I ordered 2 packs of AA and several of AAA. They arrived a couple of days ago.

Using a C9000, I first did an "out of pack" discharge test at 500mA

I then ran a Refresh/Analyse cycle with charge rate 1000mA and discharge 500mA.

Test results on the AAs as follows

Battery Out of box discharge After Refresh/Analyse
1 1190 1914
2 1309 1924
3 1258 1875
4 11 1818
5 1323 1893
6 1352 1898
7 1333 1936
8 1303 1929

Based on Ezarc's results I may consider doing a "break-in" but for the moment I'm busy checking the AAAs and I don't want to tie up the C9000 for days.

Results on the 16 AAAs so far range from 648mAh to 833mAh (one odd cell at 968) on a Refresh/Analyse cycle with 500mA charge and 300mA discharge.

156

so these cells seem to have quite good mAh, but could be either old stock, or fake recyko’s if i’m reading this thread right?

157

I don’t think fakes have the technology to reach these capacities. If these really are fakes, it would be better for the manufacturer to create own brand and build on it.

I mean seriously, those ebay AA/AAA fakes, sometimes you get under 10mAh and you’re lucky to even get 200-300mAh.

I’d think these are the real ones, but either old stocks, or factory rejects (outside normal average capacity) sold under clearance or something.

158

Edited post #152 with my final results.

159

Remember fake Eneloop thread? DD used to sell fakes, I bought a few, they sucked!
HOWEVER, I never tested their LSD capabilities.
So, IT IS POSSIBLE to manufacture cells with high capacities and sell them as something they are not ;)!

160

Just finished a break-in on the four lowest performing AAAs.

Battery Refresh/Analyse Break-in
1 648 736
2 662 728
3 669 732
4 677 748

The initial R/A was done at 500/300

The break-in was set for a cell capacity of 800mAh

I think the discharge current used in the forming cycle is only about 160mA from memory. Whether this accounts for the slightly higher capacity or whether the break-in has improved them is hard to say.

Still a bit under the 820mAh claimed capacity but definitely better than a lot of the generic ebay crap.

If anyone is interested, I'm thinking I'll put these four aside to test their LSD ability. If I discharge them one at a time.....

1. What current would you like me to discharge them at?

2. What time frame should I keep them? I was thinking about 1 week, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months.

161

I’m interested in seeing the results.

Did you get any AA’s as well?

162

Received mine today, here are their voltages and weight out of the box and Im also including updated information regarding their capacity after one or two charge/discharge cycles:

AA:
Pack 1
1-1,29-1.30V, 25,3g
2-1,29V, 25,8g
3-1,29V, 26,1g
4-1,29V, 25,8g

Pack 2
1-1,29V, 26,0g
2-1,29V, 25,6g
3-1.30V, 25,3g
4-1,27V, 26,2g

AAA:
Pack 1
1-1,29V, 12,9g, 828mAh after first charge/discharge cycle
2-1,29V, 12,4g, 864mAh after first charge/discharge cycle
3-1,29V, 12,8g, 877mAh after first charge/discharge cycle
4-1,29V, 12,8g, 956mAh after first charge/discharge cycle

Pack 2
1-1,29V, 12,2g, 827mAh after first charge/discharge cycle
2-1,29V, 12,8g, 982mAh after first charge/discharge cycle
3-1,29V, 12,4g, 828mAh after first charge/discharge cycle
4-1,29V, 12,2g, 820mAh after charge/discharge/charge cycle odd thing about this that it didnt discharge below 426mAh on SPX936D and stopped while at 1.22v, I tried to continue discharge with C9000, but it showed the same results, it wouldnt discharge it any further than what SPX had already discharged. However, after simply putting this battery into C9000@200mA charge rate it charged up just fine. Im quite confident that I DID charge it before beginning discharge test on it just like with the rest of the batch! Perhaps I did miss something, who knows :smiley: …

Pack 3
1-1,28V, 13,1g
2-1,20V, 12,2g
3-1,27V, 12,8g
4-0,00V, placed into C9000 showed 0,06V at first, charge rate was 125mA and voltage steadily climbing, at 7th minute it was already 1,33V and current charge rate at 197mA according to C9000, Im keeping in charger until its full.

Pack 4
1-1,29V, 12,2g
2-1,28V, 12,8g
3-1,30V, 12,3g
4-1,30V, 12,3g

Pack 5
1-1,29V, 12,8g
2-1,30V, 12,2g
3-1,29V, 12,9g
4-1,29V, 12,8g