Harbor Freight rechargables and eneloop, vs others?

[Excitable Boy]

Formulations change, but I suspect that your problem was the charger. I've seen a cheap charger ruin Enloops and I've seen a good charger work great with Enloops, Energizers, and Amazon branded batteries. I own a couple of EBL 12-bay chargers for AA and AAA batteries, and a Nitecore charger for my 18650 and RCR123 batteries. A good charger charges, maintains and does not overcharge batteries.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OT7HSBO

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KBGDK8M

This! The quality of the charger can make a huge difference. I've tried a bunch of batteries and a few chargers over the years and have settled on eneloops and this charger from Nitecore:

https://www.amazon.com/BUNDLE-compatible-batteries-Rechargeable-Lightjunction/dp/B00SNM7CTE/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1469605841&sr=1-2&keywords=Nitecore+digi

It does a great job of conditioning the batteries to get max life out of them and will individually charge just about any of the popular form factor rechargeable from AAA to 18650 in Ni-CAD, Ni-MH and Lion:

It brought some batteries back toile that previous chargers wouldn't charge anymore and I haven't had to retire a battery of any kind since buying it. The 4 AAA USB charger that came in the bundle is cool as not only will it act as a battery pack when charged, but I can recharge AAs in it from my Goal Zero or Brunton portable solar panels.

Costco often has the starter packs with like 8 AA and 4 AAA Envelops with a simple eneloop branded charger for around $30.00 and it usually includes a couple of sleeves that let you use the AAs as C or D cells. It's a great place to start, but you can find envelops all day at good deals on Amazon.

I typically carry a CR123 based light (Fenix or 4 Sevens) when I travel as they are light, compact and a couple spare batteries are easy to carry, but these days, the lights I use around the house everyday (literally) are all running eneloop AAs.

[the86d]

Formulations change, but I suspect that your problem was the charger. I've seen a cheap charger ruin Enloops and I've seen a good charger work great with Enloops, Energizers, and Amazon branded batteries. I own a couple of EBL 12-bay chargers for AA and AAA batteries, and a Nitecore charger for my 18650 and RCR123 batteries. A good charger charges, maintains and does not overcharge batteries.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OT7HSBO

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KBGDK8M

I was using Energizer batts with an Energizer charger.

I have a Nitecore i4 for my eCig, and some flashlight 18650s, and used it to charge some Harbor Freight NiMH batts that are in my smartTV remote, as I do not want any acid in the one remote I have for the thing... which is the main reason to try NiMH again.

$32.99/12=~$2.75 ea for AA Eneloop
$31.45/24=~$1.31 ea for AAA Fujitsu
Much better than packs of 4 for $14-$20 ($3.50-$5.00 each), but with 36 batts that I'd like to keep charged for when the power drops (LED lights and such) and for small electrical devices I'm probably going to have to get a larger charger that accepts more batteries. LED lights worked wonders when the power went out, I think it was last year about this time... the kids could see all around downstairs.

Again, we shall see how they do... as they are all rated for 2000+ charges, per the MFR.

Since you are recommending EBL chargers, how are their batteries?
Their rechargeable batts. seem reasonably priced too.

[sholling]

Since you are recommending EBL chargers, how are their batteries?
Their rechargeable batts. seem reasonably priced too.

I have not tried their batteries.

[SWalt]

I've had the starter eneloop from costco for about 2 yrs now. Haven't had any problems with them recharging. But I'm not a heavy battery user (no kids toys) so maybe they have been recharged 5-6 times in 2 yrs. They seem to almost last as long as regular batteries so actually thought of getting some more. I do got to say the new ones are a step up from the old NiCads. Now those were total crap if you never discharged them completely before recharging.

[Iknownot]

Eneloop

/thread

Ditto. Every other rechargeable battery I have ever tried I have had issues with.

Enloops just work. And they hold their charge.

Don't waste your time with anything else.

[XDJYo]

About 6-7 years ago and after a lot of research, I went with the AA and AAA eneloops. They pull flashlight duty mostly and have been excellent. Have no idea on number of charges.

[WartHog]

Beware counterfeit/fake Eneloops - tons of them out there on Ebay, Amazon, etc. BatteryJunction.com may not have the lowest price but you know you're getting the real thing...

[the86d]

Beware counterfeit/fake Eneloops - tons of them out there on Ebay, Amazon, etc. BatteryJunction.com may not have the lowest price but you know you're getting the real thing...

There is the stamp on the side, and they appear (via multiple checks, I could find for compare) to be legit.

I think I got a counterfeit charger though... in the cheap China plastic with a sticky strip and the tab to hang from a retail spike...

[the86d]

I guess it's time to get some of these for rechargeable organization too:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PBNvEFAhCs

AND AAA's too:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6u4_D9mnMB4

[JAFGO]

I guess it's time to get some of these for rechargeable organization too:

Great idea!

As for HF, I bought a handful once. Junk is all I can say.

Eneloops @ Costco seem to be the best bang for the buck.

[the86d]

It looks like Costco has the same issues with their site I referenced here:

https://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=1222877

Do a search for rice, or rechargeable and the results are very limited...
Do they sell more rechargeable toothbrushes than batteries?

[BuddyBoy]

Buy Eneloops if you like to pay 50% more for the label. Amazon Basics high-capacity NiMH batteries are rebranded Eneloop Pros, but cost 1/3rd less. Just Google "are eneloop pros and amazon basics the same". I've got maybe a couple dozen Eneloop cells and 3x as many Amazon Basics.

In this pic you can see that these Amazon Basics NiMH high capacity precharged (i.e. low self-discharge) batteries are testing out at over their 2400mAh capacity. That's the same as Eneloop Pros, because they are the same. The Eneloops in this pic (previous generation) have 20% lower capacity, but cost the same as the Amazon Basics. Eneloop Pros are $30 for 8, $10 more than 4th generation Eneloops, or the Amazon Basics high-capacity cells.



Low self-discharge cells don't lose their capacity even after months on the shelf. All the premium batteries have been LSD for years now.

My recommendation is a La Crosse charger (BC-700 or better) and Amazon Basics high-capacity NiMH batteries. Unless you have very basic needs, the charger in the Costco bundle is inadequate.

[the86d]

Mortini Riseth... Necromancy.

Are you all still using the chargers mentioned in this thread?

Battery life with those chargers?

[gorn5150]

Amazon basics are the way to go. They are eneloop re branded. I just threw away an eneloop a couple of days ago. It was the first eneloop I've ever had to throw away. I put the date of purchase and sequential numbers on all new rechargeables when I get them. I bought this eneloop in 2007 and it has been used in a device since I bought it.

[MoondogIndustries]

+1 on Amazon (black) Basics.

BTW, Costco has the Eneloop starter bundle featured this month. Saw them in the aisle end-cap today.