We have lately started using LED candles. some on the stairs coming down to the front door outside (4), 2 on the dining table, now three more “fairie light led” type candles for decorative purposes. The Fairie candle brochures says that 3 AAA Alkalines batteries are good for 500 hours.
So that’s now 9 candles, and the idea of throwing away 27 AA Alkalines every 4 months or 6 months just seems like a bad idea, and not good for the landfills.
All the candles have internal timers and run 6 hours each night.
What is the best choice for moving from Alkaline to rechargeable? I would imagine NiMh, but I have not experience with rechargeable AA batteries.
I have replaced about 90% of my alkaline (AlkaLEAK) cells with NiMH cells. I use mostly Eneloop cells, but also have a bunch of other brands. At one point the Amazon Basics were relabeled Eneloops, but they keep changing them. The Ikea cells are pretty good as well. Some say the are also Sanyo/Panasonic (Eneloop) cells. Generally I just look for Japanese cells.
Look for deals, often you can save 20 to 40% by shopping. Get two sets so you can rotate them. Find a good charger for NiMH cells. I have been using the Maha C9000 (I have 4 of them) for years. I think they have a new model out, but I have not tried it. Though reviews look good. Downside is they are 4 bay chargers (4 cells at a time). They also have lots of functionality for charge rate, analysis, break-in, etc. I also have a Maha C808M that charges 8 cells at a time. But I wanted to be able to charge C and D cells. For just AA or AAA cells they have an 8 bay charger called the MH-C980 (new model).
There are lots of chargers out there, The Maha chargers are very good, but pricey. Bur my oldest is around 10 years old.
You can shop chargers, but do look at reviews. Like full reviews with testing data, not Amazon reviews or the like.
Once you get setup, you will be glad you did, and the savings will pay for the change in a fairly short time. Not to mention the reduced environmental impact.
The sanyo is older- panasonic bought them and produces them now.
The 4 cell charger CAN be ok (there are several versions with different barge termination settings) but many others are better/ the link above is THE site for testing and reviewing chargers AND batts in my opinion. I use the SkyRC.
Personally, I worry about the MULTITUDE of counterfeit eneloops unless I trust the source….
Lastly, you should get more use/ hours out of the standard cell in this case if that is a concern. Multiply MAH by the expected charge/ discharge cycles and they win- UNLESS you need the per charge time to be longer and don’t care about cell lifetime.
. I don’t understand that link… it’s just pictures of dozens of chargers, looks like most of them for Lithium Ion. just tell me the one to get… ONLY for charging 4 AA rechargeable batteries. Unless I hear otherwise I’m going to buy the $25 SkyRC NC1500 charger I found on Ali.
Have there been reports of counterfeit Panasonic Eneloop Pro batteries from this shop?
Actually, the more I think about it, why would I buy a product made in Japan, from China? Makes no sense.
On the other hand, it seems the Ikea LADDA 2450 are actually made in Japan, and are $2.50 each, so I think I will go with those. Then recharge once every 3-4 months for years and years to come.
Standard eneloop last forever. As a dad, I have around 60 of them. Some are more than 10 yo and still have ~1500 mAh capacity. I use the Maha charger also. I had a less good experience with eneloop PRO. They really have less charge/discharge cycles to give. Had to toss them in the garbage. Make sure you buy from a renowed place. Il would avoid aliexpress/Ebay/bangood at all price. I’m sure you have some very trusty reseller in US.
try to find two complaints about original 1900/2000/2100 eneloops online . you would think that the whole of the internet is big enough to have 2 complainers about standard eneloop cells ... but they don't exist .that ought to tell you all you need to know .
If you buy almost anything else you will be pleasantly surprised how well they work and test ...then two years later they will be dead or just garbage .....10 years later you'll have tossed 1 out of 50 of the eneloops and you'll keep stacking up the bodies of the others you just had to try .
The Pros have more capacity, but fewer recharge cycles and self discharge faster. They can be better if you intend to charge them then use them immediately for anything that requires the higher capacity.
For anything else the ~2000 mAh cells are the ones to get.
Lots of people speak highly of the Ikea cells, but the ones I got are close to the same as the Pro cells above.
As to the link, if you have a charger that you are interested in, just find it on that page… look for the thumbnail at the top for the kind of charger you want (NiMH) and click the thumbnail for a list of the ones he has tested… or search on the charger model and HJK review.
thanks, I will take that advice and avoid the Pro version, and buy the Ikea LADDA 1900 AA batteries (x 32), and AAA (x 4) just to have. I’ve seen youtube tests within the past two years that shows the LADDA seems to test almost identically to the 4th gen Eneloop 1900, and cost $2.00 each vs. $3.00 for the Eneloops.
there is no review of the SkyRC NC1500. However, there seems to be a negative comment about its high trickle charge of 50mA being a design flaw, and it cost $28 on Amazon USA. So I guess I’ll change my mind on that choice. The Opus BT C2400 is only $2 more, $30, and I don’t seem to have read any similar negative comment. Its sister version, BT C2000, has two smiley faces in the linked review site. The BT C2400 is identical except it lacks the C and D adapters. I note it plugs into the wall, which some I suppose see as a negative, but it doesn’t bother me. I don’t need a charger “in the wild”, so to speak.
Do you have any negative opinions about the Opus BT C2400?
I do all my Eneloop charging with a pair of Panasonic BQ-CC17 units, and can recommend them. They’re often sold together w/ 4 cells. I’ve been using them for ~5+ years. Hi quality, no hassle / trouble-free, totally reliable charging (termination, etc), simple (you used the word “we(?)”, so I mean anyone in the family can use them), well-rated at lygte, and inexpensive for what they offer. They are not fast, but that is not an issue for me. It will tell you (flashing light) when a cell is problematic / ready to be retired (hi internal resistance / out of spec, I believe). You can go more expensive / exotic / complex, etc., but for simply charging NiMH there’s no need unless you need to do other chemistries too or just like that stuff and want a new hobby. I have larger / more capable chargers for my Li ion cells, but only use the above Panasonic for my Eneloops. There’s a ‘sibling’ model to the CC17 (I forget the model #) that is essentially the same only faster, but I don’t need speed.
Yes they work just fine. If you have 7 hours to wait for 4 cells to finish. Sometimes it is nice to be able to test capacity or do a refresh (charge/discharge/charge), or break-in cycle. (some of those flashing light cells can be rescued)
And if you have lots of cells to charge, being able to give them an amp or so saves lots of time. It is all in what you are wanting to do. Sometimes I have 4 four cell chargers and an 8 cell charger all working at the same time. They will do a full charge on all of the cells in under 2.5 hours. Maybe an extreme case, but I can’t deal with waiting another 5 hours to get it done. Horses for courses…
Just being aware of your own requirements going in and picking something that will accomplish them, can save lot of time and money in adding or replacing chargers.
The Opus BT C2400 is a very good battery charger. I use one for all nimh charging now. Flexible and has never missed a termination. Good choice. Also you can power it with 12 volts, car battery, etc. All you need is the appropriate plug/cable.
10-4 on most all of that Mandrake, agreed…especially on that last part:
“*Horses for courses*…
Just being aware of your own requirements going in and picking something that will accomplish them, can save lot of time and money in adding or replacing chargers.”
My requirements (NiMH) are fairly basic compared with yours, and the OP has their own. The only thing I might do differently is to go with that faster-charging version of the same thing. I’m not a “battery afficionado” (as I call them, [and I don’t mean to imply you are one]), and am not interested in advanced testing / diags / cell conditioning to extend life a little, etc., with Eneloops, or finding a new hobby. Life’s too short. But cutting the charge time would be worthwhile - even for me sometimes. I have more advanced equipment for Li ions, and consider tham a ‘different animal’. My use of NiMH is relatively minimal, but keep in mind the OP’s may be much like mine.
BTW, I believe that essentially identical but faster Panasonic charger is the BQ-CC16, which I think has often been packaged w/4 cells like the CC17.
EDIT: I would only add that another feature of the CC16/17 chargers I mention is that they say “Panasonic” on them, which may mean little or nothing to many, but does to me.
Being able to select the charge (and discharge) current and the information provided by the display and test functions is well worth the extra cost for the Opus. It will tell you the health of your batteries.
thanks. just ordered 32 Ladda AA and 8 Ladda AAA, and the Opus BT C2400 charger. Hopefully that will power all my candles and devices for several years to come. The Ladda AA cost $2.00 each vs. about $3.00 for the Eneloop, and I am confident they’re the same 4th Gen battery with different wrapping.
I did order 4 AA 2450 mAh because I’ve got a Convoy T4 on the way that I will keep in the glove box of the car. I figured if I ever need it, I might need the extra 20% capacity.
PS. took a look at recent reviews of Amazon Basics AA rechargeable, and about a third of the reviews are one or two stars, which is horrible. Man, Amazon sure screwed the pooch switching to Chinese batteries… a terrible bait and switch. Plus when I told my wife I’m checking out the Amazons, she said…NFW we’re using Chinese batteries when Japanese are available at not much more $$.
