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drabina · 03-05-2008, 12:55 PM

I have Pentax DSLR that accepts AA batteries. About 2-3 years ago I have purchased few sets of rechargeable NiMH batteries from Energizer and another generic brand. They were spec'd at 2300 and 2500 mAh but never really outlasted regular alkaline batteries. But because of the savings I was using them and use them till today. I guess they degrade in charge capacity over time because now they will either hold charge for about 50 shots (25 with flash) or for about a week outside of camera. After that I have to charge them again.

So my question is, how often do you replace your rechargeable battery sets? Is there a better battery that will give me similar shot count as regular alkaline battery?

Thanks.

falconeye · 03-05-2008, 01:04 PM

Get Sanyo Eneloop and batteries will be a non-issue from then on.

Tom M · 03-05-2008, 01:08 PM

6 Volt Battery Hack! You'll Be Amazed!

RBellavance · 03-05-2008, 01:26 PM

If your NiMH rechargeables can't hold their charge longer than that anymore, it's time to replace them. 2-3 years is in the ballpark of what I'd expect if they've been recharged regularly.

Fl_Gulfer · 03-05-2008, 01:38 PM

I been using Sanyo for awhile and realy like them , but I got some Power EX Imedion a few weeks ago and I think they are much better and I can leave them in my case charged and they stay charged, the Sanyo's loose there charge just sitting in my case. The Power EX Imedion's will keep there charge for a year or more. And cost about the same. Just something I thought I'd pass along.

**Lowell Goudge** · 03-05-2008, 02:06 PM

I would tend to agree 2-3 years of use and they tend to degrade, BUT, I have also found if you can really deep cycle them,, and then charge them they sometimes ocme back.

Some of mine are acting up now, after 4 years with my *istD

drabina · 03-05-2008, 02:09 PM

Thanks for the replies. I will buy some Eneloops to replace my aging Energizers.

I have also read somewhere that if you have a set of batteries, the performance might be degraded if you mix older batteries with newer ones (by older I mean with smaller capacity that is degraded over time). I guess saying that setup is as good as the weakest link is true. I guess next time I get more than one set, I will mark them with sharpie or something.

Fl_Gulfer · 03-05-2008, 02:17 PM

Yes don't mix and match batteries, use all the same brand and MaH. and all charged together for the best results.

drabina · 03-05-2008, 02:26 PM

I do not mix and match, but I have more than one set of four AA batteries. I also charge the whole set together. Unfortunately, after 2-3 years it is hard to tell if I never swapped battery from one set to another. So I guess if one battery has 1800mAh left of capacity and the rest of the set is still at 2100mAh, then the set of four will not perform as good as if they all were at 2100mAh. Anyway, the batteries are not that expensive so I will just get few new sets.

ve2vfd · 03-05-2008, 02:31 PM

I have a maha battery conditionner charger and deep cycle my batteries once a month on average... I also number my battery sets with a sharpie so that 4 batteries are always used together.

I also have several "sets of 4" which I rotate in my cameras, flash, ham radio and radio scanner.

I've been able to keep nihm cells working fine 5 years now for my oldest ones...

Pat

**Lowell Goudge** · 03-05-2008, 02:49 PM

Originally posted by ve2vfd

I also number my battery sets with a sharpie so that 4 batteries are always used together.

I also have several "sets of 4" which I rotate in my cameras, flash, ham radio and radio scanner.

I've been able to keep nihm cells working fine 5 years now for my oldest ones...

Pat

I do the same with mine, once a set, always a set.

Also, I have a charger that charges individually, not in strings, this can lead to problems with one bad cell.

Fl_Gulfer · 03-05-2008, 03:01 PM

Here is the place I get my batteries from, They seem to have the best deals.

- MAHA IMEDION AA 2100 mAh Ultra Low Discharge 4 Battery Pa

Fl_Gulfer · 03-05-2008, 04:01 PM

Thanks for making me talk about this Battery stuff, I just went and blew 70 bucks on a recharger. MH-C9000 WizardOne Charger/Analyzer ,
I have to quit coming to this web site before I get divorced.

drabina · 03-05-2008, 06:41 PM

Originally posted by Fl_Gulfer

Thanks for making me talk about this Battery stuff, I just went and blew 70 bucks on a recharger. MH-C9000 WizardOne Charger/Analyzer ,
I have to quit coming to this web site before I get divorced.

I already have two chargers. Bought one at Radio Shack but it was slow at charging (more than 12 hours) so I got one that charges in 8 hours. Now after reading this thread I am thinking of charger/conditioner with some fancy lights and maybe an LCD screen :-) That never ends.

roy · 03-05-2008, 07:57 PM

rayovac HYBRIDS are the same and less expensive. walmart sells them.

03-05-2008, 12:55 PM	#1
drabina Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: NJ Posts: 525	How often do you replace rechargeable batteries? I have Pentax DSLR that accepts AA batteries. About 2-3 years ago I have purchased few sets of rechargeable NiMH batteries from Energizer and another generic brand. They were spec'd at 2300 and 2500 mAh but never really outlasted regular alkaline batteries. But because of the savings I was using them and use them till today. I guess they degrade in charge capacity over time because now they will either hold charge for about 50 shots (25 with flash) or for about a week outside of camera. After that I have to charge them again. So my question is, how often do you replace your rechargeable battery sets? Is there a better battery that will give me similar shot count as regular alkaline battery? Thanks.

03-05-2008, 01:38 PM	#5
Fl_Gulfer Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Florida Gulfer Photos: Albums Posts: 3,054	I been using Sanyo for awhile and realy like them , but I got some Power EX Imedion a few weeks ago and I think they are much better and I can leave them in my case charged and they stay charged, the Sanyo's loose there charge just sitting in my case. The Power EX Imedion's will keep there charge for a year or more. And cost about the same. Just something I thought I'd pass along. Last edited by Fl_Gulfer; 03-05-2008 at 01:43 PM.

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03-05-2008, 01:04 PM	#2
falconeye Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Munich, Alps, Germany Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,871	Get Sanyo Eneloop and batteries will be a non-issue from then on.

03-05-2008, 01:08 PM	#3
Tom M Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Lincoln Park, NJ Photos: Gallery Posts: 780	6 Volt Battery Hack! You'll Be Amazed!

03-05-2008, 01:26 PM	#4
RBellavance Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Near Montréal, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,716	If your NiMH rechargeables can't hold their charge longer than that anymore, it's time to replace them. 2-3 years is in the ballpark of what I'd expect if they've been recharged regularly.

03-05-2008, 02:06 PM	#6
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,892	I would tend to agree 2-3 years of use and they tend to degrade, BUT, I have also found if you can really deep cycle them,, and then charge them they sometimes ocme back. Some of mine are acting up now, after 4 years with my *istD

03-05-2008, 02:09 PM	#7
drabina Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: NJ Posts: 525 Original Poster	Thanks for the replies. I will buy some Eneloops to replace my aging Energizers. I have also read somewhere that if you have a set of batteries, the performance might be degraded if you mix older batteries with newer ones (by older I mean with smaller capacity that is degraded over time). I guess saying that setup is as good as the weakest link is true. I guess next time I get more than one set, I will mark them with sharpie or something.

03-05-2008, 02:17 PM	#8
Fl_Gulfer Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Florida Gulfer Photos: Albums Posts: 3,054	Yes don't mix and match batteries, use all the same brand and MaH. and all charged together for the best results.

03-05-2008, 02:26 PM	#9
drabina Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: NJ Posts: 525 Original Poster	I do not mix and match, but I have more than one set of four AA batteries. I also charge the whole set together. Unfortunately, after 2-3 years it is hard to tell if I never swapped battery from one set to another. So I guess if one battery has 1800mAh left of capacity and the rest of the set is still at 2100mAh, then the set of four will not perform as good as if they all were at 2100mAh. Anyway, the batteries are not that expensive so I will just get few new sets.

03-05-2008, 02:31 PM	#10
ve2vfd Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Montreal, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,433	I have a maha battery conditionner charger and deep cycle my batteries once a month on average... I also number my battery sets with a sharpie so that 4 batteries are always used together. I also have several "sets of 4" which I rotate in my cameras, flash, ham radio and radio scanner. I've been able to keep nihm cells working fine 5 years now for my oldest ones... Pat

03-05-2008, 02:49 PM	#11
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,892	Originally posted by ve2vfd I also number my battery sets with a sharpie so that 4 batteries are always used together. I also have several "sets of 4" which I rotate in my cameras, flash, ham radio and radio scanner. I've been able to keep nihm cells working fine 5 years now for my oldest ones... Pat I do the same with mine, once a set, always a set. Also, I have a charger that charges individually, not in strings, this can lead to problems with one bad cell.

03-05-2008, 03:01 PM	#12
Fl_Gulfer Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Florida Gulfer Photos: Albums Posts: 3,054	Here is the place I get my batteries from, They seem to have the best deals. - MAHA IMEDION AA 2100 mAh Ultra Low Discharge 4 Battery Pa

03-05-2008, 04:01 PM	#13
Fl_Gulfer Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Florida Gulfer Photos: Albums Posts: 3,054	Thanks for making me talk about this Battery stuff, I just went and blew 70 bucks on a recharger. MH-C9000 WizardOne Charger/Analyzer , I have to quit coming to this web site before I get divorced.

03-05-2008, 06:41 PM	#14
drabina Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: NJ Posts: 525 Original Poster	Originally posted by Fl_Gulfer Thanks for making me talk about this Battery stuff, I just went and blew 70 bucks on a recharger. MH-C9000 WizardOne Charger/Analyzer , I have to quit coming to this web site before I get divorced. I already have two chargers. Bought one at Radio Shack but it was slow at charging (more than 12 hours) so I got one that charges in 8 hours. Now after reading this thread I am thinking of charger/conditioner with some fancy lights and maybe an LCD screen :-) That never ends.

03-05-2008, 07:57 PM	#15
roy Inactive Account Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: D/FW area, Tx. Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,710	rayovac HYBRIDS are the same and less expensive. walmart sells them.

How often do you replace rechargeable batteries?

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