Eneloop questions

LaRee · 01-25-2008, 02:15 PM

I received some sanyo eneloop batteries in the mail this week. The insert information says that the batteries are pre-charged and good to go right out of the package up to one year from the manufacturing date that *should* be stamped on the package. I see where the date stamp should be, but can't read it. I think it says 10/07 but can't be sure.

My question is, should I try charging these new batteries before I use them? Is there any harm to charge them before I've used them through a whole cycle? I will be using them in my 540 flash for the fashion shoot tomorrow night.
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/everything-else/18759-fashion-shoot-advice-please-m.html

So please, if you use these eneloop batteries can you give me some advice? I obviously won't have time to run them until they need charging before tomorrow night.

thanks for your help!

Ed in GA · 01-25-2008, 02:25 PM

Originally posted by LaRee

I received some sanyo eneloop batteries in the mail this week. The insert information says that the batteries are pre-charged and good to go right out of the package up to one year from the manufacturing date that *should* be stamped on the package. I see where the date stamp should be, but can't read it. I think it says 10/07 but can't be sure.

My question is, should I try charging these new batteries before I use them? Is there any harm to charge them before I've used them through a whole cycle? I will be using them in my 540 flash for the fashion shoot tomorrow night.
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/everything-else/18759-fashion-shoot-advice-please-m.html

So please, if you use these eneloop batteries can you give me some advice? I obviously won't have time to run them until they need charging before tomorrow night.

thanks for your help!

LaRee, when I bought my Eneloops, I went ahead and gave them a good charging.

I thought it would be best to do that. Then I would know that they were fully charged.

ccallana · 01-25-2008, 05:00 PM

either way - I used mine right out of the box - lasted several hundred shots. It doesn't hurt them to charge them right away either.

wlachan · 01-25-2008, 05:37 PM

No need to charge.

LaRee · 01-25-2008, 06:31 PM

Ok, so it seems either way I *should* be ok. The camera shop that I am shooting for said they'll sneak back into the shop (it'll be closed) if anyone has any emergencies. I just wondered if I would harm the batteries by charging them before using them somehow.
Thank you for the replies

J.Scott · 01-25-2008, 06:33 PM

Quote:

The insert information says that the batteries are pre-charged and good to go right out of the package up to one year from the manufacturing date

There is the answer!

This is not the first or even second time this exact question has been asked. It must be too good to be true for people to question it. I used them right out of the package without charging and got several hundred shots before they started to flag. These are great batteries!

LaRee · 01-25-2008, 07:02 PM

Originally posted by J.Scott

There is the answer!

This is not the first or even second time this exact question has been asked. It must be too good to be true for people to question it. I used them right out of the package without charging and got several hundred shots before they started to flag. These are great batteries!

IF I was certain what the manufacturing date was, I wouldn't have concerns. BUT I don't KNOW the manufacturing date. What I see on the package is not really legible. I wouldn't have asked in the first place if this wasn't an important shoot for me tomorrow night.

thanks

roy · 01-25-2008, 09:33 PM

come on,
just put them in the camera and use them. the package SAYS precharged.. record your starting number and ending number. recharge and do the same to compare the out come. with Hybrids i got 864 out of the package and 1200 shots after a recharge..

Kguru · 01-25-2008, 11:23 PM

If charging nearly-full batteries causes any harm (and I emphasize *if*) it would occur after many many repeated cycles. Just once to ensure full batteries for an event is well worth doing.

joelw135 · 01-28-2008, 09:39 AM

I am asking the same thing, I have a La Crosse BC-900 charger which will allow me to discharge the batteries and then recharge them. Should I do that so I have a full charge?

walter · 01-28-2008, 12:10 PM

I would charge them just to get the extra 10-20% charge, but I think it will also be ok if you use them without additional charging. I top off my eneloops all the time and it hasn't caused any problems. The only way I can imagine this would cause a problem in your situation is if you have a old charger that uses a timer to shut off the charging (this could overcharge the batteries). Most chargers are smart enough to stop charging when the battery is full.

I think the LaCrosse discharge/charge cycle is generally a good thing to do with new batteries, but I rarely bother with AA batteries since it takes a really long time. Make sure you allocate enough time if you are going to do this.

joelw135 · 01-28-2008, 01:33 PM

Originally posted by walter

I would charge them just to get the extra 10-20% charge, but I think it will also be ok if you use them without additional charging. I top off my eneloops all the time and it hasn't caused any problems. The only way I can imagine this would cause a problem in your situation is if you have a old charger that uses a timer to shut off the charging (this could overcharge the batteries). Most chargers are smart enough to stop charging when the battery is full.

I think the LaCrosse discharge/charge cycle is generally a good thing to do with new batteries, but I rarely bother with AA batteries since it takes a really long time. Make sure you allocate enough time if you are going to do this.

I figure if I use the assigned ma rate it should take about 12 hours to discharge and recharge. I am going on a trip, so I will have this done way before I leave. Thanks.

01-25-2008, 02:15 PM	#1
LaRee Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: San Diego Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,225	Eneloop questions I received some sanyo eneloop batteries in the mail this week. The insert information says that the batteries are pre-charged and good to go right out of the package up to one year from the manufacturing date that should be stamped on the package. I see where the date stamp should be, but can't read it. I think it says 10/07 but can't be sure. My question is, should I try charging these new batteries before I use them? Is there any harm to charge them before I've used them through a whole cycle? I will be using them in my 540 flash for the fashion shoot tomorrow night. https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/everything-else/18759-fashion-shoot-advice-please-m.html So please, if you use these eneloop batteries can you give me some advice? I obviously won't have time to run them until they need charging before tomorrow night. thanks for your help!

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01-25-2008, 02:25 PM	#2
Ed in GA Guest	Originally posted by LaRee I received some sanyo eneloop batteries in the mail this week. The insert information says that the batteries are pre-charged and good to go right out of the package up to one year from the manufacturing date that should be stamped on the package. I see where the date stamp should be, but can't read it. I think it says 10/07 but can't be sure. My question is, should I try charging these new batteries before I use them? Is there any harm to charge them before I've used them through a whole cycle? I will be using them in my 540 flash for the fashion shoot tomorrow night. https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/everything-else/18759-fashion-shoot-advice-please-m.html So please, if you use these eneloop batteries can you give me some advice? I obviously won't have time to run them until they need charging before tomorrow night. thanks for your help! LaRee, when I bought my Eneloops, I went ahead and gave them a good charging. I thought it would be best to do that. Then I would know that they were fully charged.

01-25-2008, 05:00 PM	#3
ccallana Inactive Account Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Folsom, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 321	either way - I used mine right out of the box - lasted several hundred shots. It doesn't hurt them to charge them right away either.

01-25-2008, 05:37 PM	#4
wlachan Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Canada Photos: Albums Posts: 2,625	No need to charge.

01-25-2008, 06:31 PM	#5
LaRee Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: San Diego Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,225 Original Poster	Ok, so it seems either way I should be ok. The camera shop that I am shooting for said they'll sneak back into the shop (it'll be closed) if anyone has any emergencies. I just wondered if I would harm the batteries by charging them before using them somehow. Thank you for the replies

01-25-2008, 06:33 PM	#6
J.Scott Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,675	Quote: The insert information says that the batteries are pre-charged and good to go right out of the package up to one year from the manufacturing date There is the answer! This is not the first or even second time this exact question has been asked. It must be too good to be true for people to question it. I used them right out of the package without charging and got several hundred shots before they started to flag. These are great batteries!

01-25-2008, 07:02 PM	#7
LaRee Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: San Diego Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,225 Original Poster	Originally posted by J.Scott There is the answer! This is not the first or even second time this exact question has been asked. It must be too good to be true for people to question it. I used them right out of the package without charging and got several hundred shots before they started to flag. These are great batteries! IF I was certain what the manufacturing date was, I wouldn't have concerns. BUT I don't KNOW the manufacturing date. What I see on the package is not really legible. I wouldn't have asked in the first place if this wasn't an important shoot for me tomorrow night. thanks

01-25-2008, 09:33 PM	#8
roy Inactive Account Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: D/FW area, Tx. Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,710	come on, just put them in the camera and use them. the package SAYS precharged.. record your starting number and ending number. recharge and do the same to compare the out come. with Hybrids i got 864 out of the package and 1200 shots after a recharge..

01-25-2008, 11:23 PM	#9
Kguru Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Perth - WestAust Posts: 602	If charging nearly-full batteries causes any harm (and I emphasize if) it would occur after many many repeated cycles. Just once to ensure full batteries for an event is well worth doing.

01-28-2008, 09:39 AM	#10
joelw135 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Kendall Park, NJ Photos: Gallery Posts: 143	I am asking the same thing, I have a La Crosse BC-900 charger which will allow me to discharge the batteries and then recharge them. Should I do that so I have a full charge?

01-28-2008, 12:10 PM	#11
walter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: California Photos: Gallery Posts: 239	I would charge them just to get the extra 10-20% charge, but I think it will also be ok if you use them without additional charging. I top off my eneloops all the time and it hasn't caused any problems. The only way I can imagine this would cause a problem in your situation is if you have a old charger that uses a timer to shut off the charging (this could overcharge the batteries). Most chargers are smart enough to stop charging when the battery is full. I think the LaCrosse discharge/charge cycle is generally a good thing to do with new batteries, but I rarely bother with AA batteries since it takes a really long time. Make sure you allocate enough time if you are going to do this.

01-28-2008, 01:33 PM	#12
joelw135 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Kendall Park, NJ Photos: Gallery Posts: 143	Originally posted by walter I would charge them just to get the extra 10-20% charge, but I think it will also be ok if you use them without additional charging. I top off my eneloops all the time and it hasn't caused any problems. The only way I can imagine this would cause a problem in your situation is if you have a old charger that uses a timer to shut off the charging (this could overcharge the batteries). Most chargers are smart enough to stop charging when the battery is full. I think the LaCrosse discharge/charge cycle is generally a good thing to do with new batteries, but I rarely bother with AA batteries since it takes a really long time. Make sure you allocate enough time if you are going to do this. I figure if I use the assigned ma rate it should take about 12 hours to discharge and recharge. I am going on a trip, so I will have this done way before I leave. Thanks.