Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review
(1,703 customer reviews) 1,801 of 1,826 people found the following review helpful
Some new facts about LSD cells you should know...,
January 6, 2007 NLee the Engineer (Nashua, NH) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Sanyo Eneloop AA NiMH Pre-Charged Rechargeable Batteries - 4 Pack (Electronics)
[Updated Oct 24, 2008]
My original review on the Sanyo eneloop NiMH cells was written nearly two years ago. Since then, I have learned a lot more about the characteristics about eneloop and other low-self-discharge cells. So it is time to clear up some inaccurate information I wrote about eneloop's self-discharge rate.
1. I was told that the Sanyo eneloop cells were not 100% fully charged when they leave factory. This makes sense because new cells are fast-charged in the factory to save time. In order to avoid problem with heat and gas built-up, they cannot be charged to 100%. I have tested some eneloop cells that were manufactured 20 months ago, and they still maintained about 70% charge. On the other hand, cells manufactured 6 months ago contain about 75% charge. This confirmed that the discharge rate is much lower than I previously estimated.
2. The self-discharge rate of eneloop (and other LSD cells) is not linear! My own testing showed that a fully...Read more
1,808 of 1,843 people found the following review helpful
LSD is great.... just keep away from heat!,
January 8, 2007 NLee the Engineer (Nashua, NH) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Sanyo Eneloop AA NiMH Pre-Charged Rechargeable Batteries - 8 Pack (Accessory)
[IMPORTANT NOTE]
My original review below was written back in 2007, when the Sanyo eneloop first became available
through Amazon.com. Part of my initial estimation about eneloop's self-discharge rate turns out to be inaccurate. Please see my other Amazon spotlight review for updated information.
[Original Review follows]
According to Sanyo, the new eneloop LSD (low self-discharge) NiMH batteries can maintain 85% of its original charge after 1 year of storage. This claim is slightly misleading, because it is based on simulation test at 20 degree C. At higher temperature, the self-discharge rate is likely to be much higher.
I have tested five of those AA cells (details are given in my review for the eneloop 4-pack). The average energy loss is about 26% after less than 6 months of storage, based on manufacturer date codes. This self-discharge rate is about 3 times higher than what Sanyo claimed. However, it is still 6 times lower than that of...Read more
340 of 347 people found the following review helpful
After all It is not only about milliampere hours,
March 12, 2007 Vlad G (Boston, USA) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Sanyo Eneloop AA NiMH Pre-Charged Rechargeable Batteries - 4 Pack (Electronics)
I received several sets of Eneloops in February and label told they were produced in April - so they sat at warehouse for nine month. I put them into camera and they worked just fine. Kudos Sanyo!
I should also mention that Sanyo includes reusable battery holders with each set of four. These holders do not look very sturdy, but they perfectly usable.
Technically, Sanyo solved the main problem with NiMh technology - frightening self-discharge rate (up to 40% a month for standard cells). By doing this Sanyo reduced cell capacity down to 2000 mAh from today's top line of 2700 mAh.
Simple calculation shows that due to self-discharge a good 2700 mAh battery holds only around 2000 mAh after a month and a half.
So the answer to the question "which battery is better - Eneloop or standard NiMh" - lies in the usage pattern.
If you always keep batteries in your camera in top-notch charged condition, then standard 2700 mAh set is a winner...Read more
