PowerEx 2700 mAh Batteries Dead?

[dtscho]

I've had a set of 12 PowerEx 2700 mAh batteries for a little less than two years. I've been charging them in the Maha MH-C800S eight-cell charger since I've had them. Recently, they don't seem to hold their charge for more than a few hours. For the vast majority of charges, I have used the regular charge mode, instead of the "soft charge" mode, so I'm sure this couldn't have helped. I have tried using the reconditioning mode a few times, but it doesn't seem to be making any difference. Another issue: some of the batteries seem to be done charging much faster than others, which leads me to believe that the ones that are charging quicker haven't really been depleted that much when they're put in the charger.

Does this sound like normal behavior for these batteries? Should I plan on replacing them?

I'm asking because I was hoping to get at least 500 cycles out of these batteries, and there's no way I've charged them nearly that much in just under two years.

Thanks,
Dave

 

[ka3jjz]

Dave I bought a couple of sets of these from Thomas Distributing and have noticed a similar problem. Another one is that the 396 is notorious for giving the low battery voltage warning when there's still lots of juice left in the battery, so I end up discharge/recharging them, and I know that's not very good for NiMH cells to do constantly. That's something I just don't get, frankly

I've already had to discard one or two cells because they refuse to charge - and I'm still using that BC900 charger, which I really don't like much (but right now my funds are badly depleted from some major car repairs and new glasses...). I suspect a QC issue here....73 Mike

 

[LEH]

I recall reading somewhere in one of the forums, probably this one, that the newer high capacity batteries just don't seem to have the service life of earlier lower capacity ones.

I know that some specific brands were mentioned as being notorious for this, I don't recall Powerex being one of them.