Rate Your Batteries!

[KE0GXN]

Don't buy good batteries and a 9 dollar battery charger from WalMart. Get a decent charger like the MaHa power ex wizard one or of their other models. These charge each battery separately and you can charge any combination even one at a time, two three 4 and one I have will do up to 8. They also deep condition the batteries great for use for scanners.

I agree. The Maha Powerex seems like a great quality charger, believe me I have spent the better part of the last 2 weeks researching it among others. The only issue I could find that I don't like about it is the fact it displays DONE before the 2 hour top off charge when charging LSDs like Eneloops..which at the end of the day I may overlook in the grand scheme of things considering it's many pros.

 

[gmclam]

Compare similar capacities

I have tried eneloops, both the white and black pro batteries. I definitely like the powerex 2700 better. I also now have 2800 EBL batteries. Like them much better than eneloops too.

Not sure if you are comparing 2000 mAh Eneloops with 2700 mAh PowerEx; that is you mean they power your scanner longer. They do make 2700 mAh Eneloops.

Or perhaps you mean they last longer like in years. I had 5+ sets of PowerEx 2700s and 2 sets of 2000 Eneloops. The PowerEx have been dead for years and the Eneloops are still going.

I'm sure you didn't mean shelf life. Charge up a set of Eneloops and a set of PowerEx. Then take them off the charger and let them sit on the shelf for a week. Then see which brand powers your scanners longer. Eneloops hands down the winner.

 

[N0RBA]

I use Eneloops white in my scanner and in everything from a kitchen scale to a Streamlight Lantern. I use the black pro in my torches that I carry for work. The white do a good job in the scanner and I guess I've never felt the need to try the pro's in the scanner. I've tried a lot of different brands of batteries in my quest for the best and for me the Eneloops preform well. I just checked my chart and I currently have a total of 60 Eneloops; white, black, AAA's, and AA's. In the four years that I have been using then I have yet to have one go bad. I am sure there are other good brands out there but I am very comfortable Envelops.

 

[N5XTC]

I agree. The Maha Powerex seems like a great quality charger, believe me I have spent the better part of the last 2 weeks researching it among others. The only issue I could find that I don't like about it is the fact it displays DONE before the 2 hour top off charge when charging LSDs like Eneloops..which at the end of the day I may overlook in the grand scheme of things considering it's many pros.

remember to let me know which you end up buying. i am sold on the white eneloops from what i have read. you?

 

[teufler]

I went to EBL brand from Amazon. 2800 mah nickel metal batteries. Largest mah that I found at the time, about 6 months ago.

 

[KE0GXN]

remember to let me know which you end up buying. i am sold on the white eneloops from what i have read. you?

White 2100 cycle Eneloops is what I am going with:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JHKSN6C?keywords=2100 Eneloops&qid=1444167539&ref_=sr_1_5&sr=8-5

Getting close on the charger.

 

[N5XTC]

White 2100 cycle Eneloops is what I am going with:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JHKSN6C?keywords=2100 Eneloops&qid=1444167539&ref_=sr_1_5&sr=8-5

Getting close on the charger.

ok, i will order mine. we are not going with the larger ones? price? curious.

 

[KE0GXN]

ok, i will order mine. we are not going with the larger ones? price? curious.

Well, I just kind of did the math. I do not scan in an extremely busy environment, no big cities near me. The closest medium size city has gone encrypted, they would have been the busiest, but still would not compare to LA, NYC or even Virginia Beach. So, I just couldn't justify the price of the Pro 2550 mahs.

When I do listen, its for 4 or 5 hours tops, maybe a little more on a day off or something. I am not an all day listener. So it just made sense for my application needs to go with more batteries for less the price and still get high quality rechargeable batteries at the same time.

I have also read here and on the CP forums that there is not that "much" difference at the end of the day between the Pros and the 2100 cycle Eneloops as far as lasting longer then the other before needing recharge.

Everybody's mileage may vary depending on how much they scan and or how busy their area is. I just felt 1900 to 2000 mah was enough for my needs versus 2550 or even 2700 mah.

Besides, less mah give me more opportunity to play with the new charger I end up getting.

I plan on buying a 12 pack, rotating only them in my scanner and then having my Uniden and Energizer 2300 mah as back-ups if need be.

It all really depends on what your situation is. If you are an all day listener in a "busy" area, I would definitely go with the Pros which have a higher rated mah. Otherwise, I think you will be fine using the 2100 cycle 1900 mahs.

If you are still unsure, just go over to the CP forum, more info there then you would ever want to know about batteries.

 

[SCPD]

Duracell Green

The ones I want to rate are the Duracell Duralock Green 2400MAH Rechargeable Precharged they lasted less than a year some of them and the other 4 are still ok.I think Im going Eneloop this time.When the duracells work they last all day but 8 of them died and they are all in new radios that get fully charged and uncharged so you go figure....

 

[KE0GXN]

The ones I want to rate are the Duracell Duralock Green Rechargeable Precharged they lasted less than a year some of them and the other 4 are still ok.I think Im going Eneloop this time.When the duracells work they last all day but 8 of them died and they are all in new radios that get fully charged and uncharged so you go figure....

What charger you using? Dumb chargers are "no bueno"...

I have read also that there is a specific model of Duracell that are "supposedly" re-branded Eneloops.

If I get some time I might see if I can find the info on that.

However, everything I have read, pretty much states you can not go wrong with official Eneloops though.

 

[mitbr]

The ones I want to rate are the Duracell Duralock Green 2400MAH Rechargeable Precharged they lasted less than a year some of them and the other 4 are still ok.I think Im going Eneloop this time.When the duracells work they last all day but 8 of them died and they are all in new radios that get fully charged and uncharged so you go figure....

I use the Duracell rechargeables and have for years never had a problem and the 50 or so I have of them are all still working.
They are allot more convenient to buy I buy mine at a local Toys R Us.
Make sure the charger you use charges each cell independently and that you buy only the Duracells made in Japan not he ones made in China.
Tim

 

[mitbr]

What charger you using? Dumb chargers are "no bueno"...

I have read also that there is a specific model of Duracell that are "supposedly" re-branded Eneloops.

If I get some time I might see if I can find the info on that.

However, everything I have read, pretty much states you can not go wrong with official Eneloops though.

I believe the Duracells made in Japan are re branded Eneloops.
Tim

 

[N5XTC]

thanks for the info. it also makes sense, if you have several sets you are rotating, and one goes dead, you put the other in and keep going. i like the multiple sets idea and rotating them like you are saying. my BCD396XT came with 2400 mah and they get me through most days. there are days when i put them to the test (weekends) and they seem to last til their evening recharge.

 

[KE0GXN]

I believe the Duracells made in Japan are re branded Eneloops.
Tim

I believe you are correct. Did some checking over on CP and thats what they are saying over there about the ones made in Japan. They have nicknamed them "Duraloops"

 

[KE0GXN]

thanks for the info. it also makes sense, if you have several sets you are rotating, and one goes dead, you put the other in and keep going. i like the multiple sets idea and rotating them like you are saying. my BCD396XT came with 2400 mah and they get me through most days. there are days when i put them to the test (weekends) and they seem to last til their evening recharge.

Other then a brief stop at Langley AFB when I was in the AF, I have no experience in your area. I am guessing the Hampton area is pretty busy though, so you may want to go with the Pros instead. I know some on here like the Powerex 2700 mah (non-LSD) or or the Powerex Imedion 2400 mah LSD battery.

You can't go wrong with Eneloop Pros either way as long as you are okay with spending the few extra bucks. The more you buy the cheaper it is per battery. If you get some time check out the CP forum. All you have to do is type in whatever battery make you want to research into their search function over there and you will get plenty of info on it. They are some hardcore battery users over there and very informative and detailed too when it comes to their batteries. Most of it is above my head, but I pick up stuff here and there and I found myself to be way more educated on batteries then I ever thought I was. Good stuff over there if you have have the abilty to understand it...lol. I struggle.

*edit*

P.S. Until I ultimately pull the trigger, I may still end up buying some Pros myself along with the 2100 cycle. If I were you I would get both and see which ones work better for your application and if you get any added benefit worth the price for the Pros.

One thing I forgot to factor in is traveling. Depending on how many hours one travels on road trips every so often, I can see the value of having a higher mah battery, especially when traveling through busy areas or visiting busy areas. So I may ultimately end up getting both....I would suggest you do the same; or either way given your area just go with the higher Pros all together. Your listening environment I suspect is a lot busier then mine regardless.

 

[N5XTC]

One thing I forgot to factor in is traveling. Depending on how many hours one travels on road trips every so often, I can see the value of having a higher mah battery, especially when traveling through busy areas or visiting busy areas. So I may ultimately end up getting both....I would suggest you do the same; or either way given your area just go with the higher Pros all together. Your listening environment I suspect is a lot busier then mine regardless.

thanks again for the info, with this you get 4 pro and the charger itself. you dont think this is worthwhile for $25. not an expensive charger, but i bet does the job. what you think? anyone else can chime in as well.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=19X7QHA2G8VGRBNJWX77

 

[KE0GXN]

thanks again for the info, with this you get 4 pro and the charger itself. you dont think this is worthwhile for $25. not an expensive charger, but i bet does the job. what you think? anyone else can chime in as well.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=19X7QHA2G8VGRBNJWX77

Here is a review I found, it seems like a decent charger. (It appears to be the same exact charger except white instead of black.)

Review of Charger Panasonic BQ-CC17

There are some youtube reviews on it too, but I didn't watch them, may check those out if you want.

 

[KE0GXN]

Update

Ran a test on the CORUNS 2300mAh that come stock with the HP-2. With a set that was fully charged (or as near as I can tell, due to currently using a "dumb" wall wart Energizer charger). Over the course of two days, I was able to get 8 hours and 42 minutes of listening time out of them before my low-battery indicator activated on the scanner.

I have started to log what times I will get out of the Energizer 2300mAh I currently have on hand to rotate with as well, to compare with the CORUNs.

Problem with this whole scenario is, I do not have my Maha C9000 yet, so it is unknown what my true starting mAh capacity is and therefore if I am getting true and accurate run times out of the batteries. The Energizer charger is obviously not capable of discharging, conditioning or properly recharging the batteries, like the Maha would.

So my run times are to be taken with a grain a salt. Also, we all know that everyone's listening environment may be different as is transmissions received, etc...causing more battery load then others may experience. I rate my area as not an "extremely" busy area, it is mostly suburban/rural. Obviously big city/metro listeners may experience less run times.

With all of that said and while currently conversing with folks on the CP forum, I have tentatively determined LSD (low self discharge) Eneloop type capabilities may not be the way to go in our application, if run times are what is important to you. In which that case, a HSD (high self discharge) with high capacity (mAh) capabilities may be optimal for us. Again, if run times versus having to constantly recharge is what is important to you. I prefer long run times in between recharges.

Currently now looking at the Powerex 2700mAh batteries as recommended by some CP folks. If I get other recommendations I will post here.

I have not given up on Eneloop all together though. I plan on purchasing a set a Pros regardless, along maybe with some Maha Powerex 2700s. At the end of the day, the quality of Eneloops can not be denied.

I will also add, for those that are unaware, that my quest for battery knowledge has revealed that the Duracell 2400mAh Ion Core AA batteries available at most local stores such as Wal-Mart, Target, etc.. are actually rebranded Enelooop Pros, for a fraction of the price. The guys at CP have tested and vetted this and have aptly nicknamed them "Duraloops." I will also be getting a set of these from my local Wal-Mart to try out as well. Can't beat that price for the performance.

As others have mentioned, another high capacity LSD option are the Amazon Basics Pro, another tested/vetted rebranded Eneloop.

But for now, higher mAh instead of LSD is where my priority is leaning.

I would appreciate, any feedback of the Maha Powerex batteries in our application from anybody here. Good or bad.

Thanks!

 

[gmclam]

Eneloops 100%

When it comes to rating batteries, there are several things to consider. I'm not sure what the OP intended for this thread but I'd expect it is only as they are used to power radios. You'll typically find different batteries for high capacity uses such as lighting that require a heavy demand vs powering radios.
I consider the following:
- Life of the battery (years) before capacity drops
- Shelf life (how long will a charged battery hold a charge on the shelf)
- Capacity (how long will batteries power my device)
- Recharge cycle count (how many times can they be recharged before failure)

Another factor is how well they handle "quick charging". Recharging batteries at a rate such as 1/2 of their capacity.

I'm also not considering situations where batteries are not charged independently.

 

[KE0GXN]

You

When it comes to rating batteries, there are several things to consider. I'm not sure what the OP intended for this thread but I'd expect it is only as they are used to power radios. You'll typically find different batteries for high capacity uses such as lighting that require a heavy demand vs powering radios.
I consider the following:
- Life of the battery (years) before capacity drops
- Shelf life (how long will a charged battery hold a charge on the shelf)
- Capacity (how long will batteries power my device)
- Recharge cycle count (how many times can they be recharged before failure)

Another factor is how well they handle "quick charging". Recharging batteries at a rate such as 1/2 of their capacity.

I'm also not considering situations where batteries are not charged independently.

Good points. My original intention was for folks to rate whatever batteries they used in their radios to better help me decide what I batteries I should use. However, it has now morphed into just an overall battery thread, which is good too.

Everyone has certain considerations I guess, I kind of just care about battery capacity, recharge cycle and battery life. Shelf life not so much, because my batteries will be in constant use.

I agree when it comes to all of the above Eneloops are 100% king! Going to get a set for sure, just may try some HSD high mAh batteries as well for my preference needs.

Independent battery charging is the optimal way to go for sure and everthing I have read indicates Eneloops are great for charging at half their capacity.

Thanks for the feedback!