[sadsack]

Yes, you are correct UnknownVT, this is for the first set of Eneloop's.
They were removed from the charger & numbered a few hours ago, I unfortunately couldn't keep my eyes open any longer and fell asleep, I've still got to go to bed as I need to be up in three hours.
I'll pop these on charge about 8am, once I see "done" i'll give them the extra 2 hours and come back with the readings.

I have another set of Enerloops, that came with a Sanyo charger, in a sealed plastic container, I have not had a chance to open this pack up yet, but the batteries are sitting inside the charger, as if one was going to charge them (if you know what I mean), Do you think it would cause any harm if left like this, or would it be better if they were removed from the sealed pack?

I'll report back with the charged state tomorrow, (oops I mean today).
All the best, and thank you for your time and patience (and links)
sadsack

[UnknownVT]

I have another set of Enerloops, that came with a Sanyo charger, in a sealed plastic container, I have not had a chance to open this pack up yet, but the batteries are sitting inside the charger, as if one was going to charge them (if you know what I mean), Do you think it would cause any harm if left like this, or would it be better if they were removed from the sealed pack?

A virgin set of eneloops? WoW!

As they've been sitting like that in the charger in the unopened pack since they left packaging/factory -
it probably would make no difference for the few extra hours or days kept that way

However, it would be very interesting to find out the state of charge straight out of the pack.

Please do NOT do anything to them other than to uniquely mark/number them -
then just do a discharge at 0.2C = 400mA, until "Done" - and record he total capacity of each.

This should be very interesting and useful to many here, and elsewhere.

Let us know if and when you do that, and I'll then tell you how to date those batteries....

[sadsack]

Hi UnknownVT,

Well here is the Eneloops after their charge.

Slot 1: ----------- 1768 mAh ---------------- 117 min -------------- 1.45v 10 sec's after finish 1.44v -------------------- end of 2 hrs --------- 1.46v
Slot 2: ----------- 1891 mAh ---------------- 126 min -------------- 1.45v ------------------------------------------------------- end of 2 hrs --------- 1.46v
Slot 3: ----------- 1908 mAh ---------------- 127 min -------------- 1.46v 10 sec's after finish 1.45v -------------------- end of 2 hrs --------- 1.46v
Slot 4: ----------- 1883 mAh ---------------- 124 min -------------- 1.46v 10 sec's after finish 1.45v -------------------- end of 2 hrs --------- 1.46v

What do you think, ? UnknownVT, ------------------ Is the top up supposed to allow 2000mAh or have I got that wrong?

all the best
sadsack

p.s.
nearly forgot, each Battery went into the charger and was started on charge within 15/20 sec's of each being inserted.
Slot 1: which was giving more juice before has now gone the other way, 1h.57m, compared to slot 3: 2h.7m

[UnknownVT]

Well here is the Eneloops after their charge.

Slot 1: ----------- 1768 mAh ---------------- 117 min -------------- 1.45v 10 sec's after finish 1.44v -------------------- end of 2 hrs --------- 1.46v
Slot 2: ----------- 1891 mAh ---------------- 126 min -------------- 1.45v ------------------------------------------------------- end of 2 hrs --------- 1.46v
Slot 3: ----------- 1908 mAh ---------------- 127 min -------------- 1.46v 10 sec's after finish 1.45v -------------------- end of 2 hrs --------- 1.46v
Slot 4: ----------- 1883 mAh ---------------- 124 min -------------- 1.46v 10 sec's after finish 1.45v -------------------- end of 2 hrs --------- 1.46v

What do you think, ? UnknownVT, ------------------ Is the top up supposed to allow 2000mAh or have I got that wrong?

Slot 1: which was giving more juice before has now gone the other way, 1h.57m, compared to slot 3: 2h.7m

These are the totals from the (fast) charge.

The extra 2 hours top-up should add about 10% of the total charge.
However batteries are hardly ever exactly their rated capacity -
eneloops are supposed to be minimum of 1900mAh -
so your figures do look pretty good.

However the real way to tell is to now put them through a discharge cycle
at 0.2C = 400mA (after >1 hour rest)
to see how much actual charge/capacity the batteries have -

wasn't that the whole point of our discussion and exercise?

No, your charger seemed to have slot #1 as the weakest -
look back at your own posted charge readings -

While you're waiting perhaps you could discharge your eneloops from the unopened pack to see how much charge they have out of the pack? (uniquely mark/number them, then use 0.2C = 400mA, and please remember to record the results! )

---

Last edited by UnknownVT; 09-13-2012 at 06:05 AM.

[raider]

@UnknownVT,

silly question but you said "My charging regime is to always discharge at 0.2C = 400mA until done - then let batteries rest overnight then charge at 0.5C = 1000mA until done then allow the eneloops to sit in the charger for another 2 hours for the top-up charge."

What do you mean "let batteries rest overnight"? do u mean after the batteries are discharged at 400mA and said done on the charger, let the batteries sit in the charger until the next day or to take the batteries out, leave them on the table until the next day...

sorry...silly question but...

[sadsack]

Hi Raider,

I took mine out, that way there is no contact being made, .......

[sadsack]

However the real way to tell is to now put them through a discharge cycle at 0.2C = 400mA (after >1 hour rest)

Well, It's been well over an hour so I could do the discharge right now, what do you think?

[raider]

thanks sadsack. I am going to follow suit and try.

[UnknownVT]

What do you mean "let batteries rest overnight"? do u mean after the batteries are discharged at 400mA and said done on the charger, let the batteries sit in the charger until the next day or to take the batteries out, leave them on the table until the next day...

I take the batteries out to "rest" - overnight, only because it suits my shooting day/hours -
but a "rest" of anything >1 hour would do.

[UnknownVT]

Well, It's been well over an hour so I could do the discharge right now, what do you think?

yes, please.

[sadsack]

Discharging right now,

Sorry about the wait UnknownVT,
Also I want to get this first set finished before opening up the "virgin" set, otherwise things will just get complicated at my end.......
I will post the discharged findings once done......

Thanks
sadsack

[UnknownVT]

Discharging right now,
Sorry about the wait UnknownVT,
....
I will post the discharged findings once done...

Great! Thanks for doing this -
and hopefully it'll be informative and re-assuring for you too -
to know the real capacity of your eneloops.

Looking forward to your results -
after the discharge allow at least 1 hour rest
then charge them up at 0.5C = 1000mA and allow for the 2 extra hours top-up charge -
then they ought to be ready for real use/duty.

(while waiting during the rest period -
you might want to discharge that virgin set
uniquely mark/number them
use 0.2C = 400mA discharge current -
and see the long term stored capacity out of the pack)

[sadsack]

Looking forward to your results - after the discharge allow at least 1 hour rest then charge them up at 0.5C = 1000mA and allow for the 2 extra hours top-up charge - then they ought to be ready for real use/duty. (while waiting during the rest period - you might want to discharge that virgin set uniquely mark/number them use 0.2C = 400mA discharge current - and see the long term stored capacity out of the pack)

Will be doing this first thing in the morning UnknownVT, I was hoping to have these discharged by now but its almost 3.30 am and there all averaging 1790 to 1800 discharged, so it's going to be a while yet, I think I'll have to leave them on discharge till the morning .....

I'll Write down the amounts, remove from charger, leave for an hour, then recharge, and I'll up the results later on today.

Night all...
sadsack

[UnknownVT]

I was hoping to have these discharged by now but its almost 3.30 am and there all averaging 1790 to 1800 discharged, so it's going to be a while yet, I think I'll have to leave them on discharge till the morning .....
I'll Write down the amounts, remove from charger, leave for an hour, then recharge, and I'll up the results later on today.

Cool!

Yes, well, discharging at the standard rate of 0.2C = 1/5C
from full charge -
ought to take about 5 hours......

That's why one should only do this from full charge - once - just to see the real capacity -
then only if any battery is suspect.

[sadsack]

Hi all,

Here's the discharged readings from last night: This is from a Fully charged set of Eneloops.

Slot 1: ------ 1827 mAh --------------- 300 min (5h) ------------------ 1.14v (after 5 min 1.15v)
Slot 2: ------ 1849 mAh --------------- 305 min (5h.5m) -------------- 1.13v (after 5 min 1.14v)
Slot 3: ------ 1841 mAh --------------- 301 min (5h.1m) -------------- 1.14v (after 5 min 1.15v)
Slot 4: ------ 1828 mAh --------------- 302 min (5h.2m) -------------- 1.14v (after 5 min 1.15v)

Here's the Recharge Readings this morning: (Same batteries in same slots)

Slot 1: ------ 1764 mAh --------------- 117 min (1h.57m) ------------- 1.44v (after 5 min 1.44v) (after 1hr Ex 1.47v) (after 2hr Ex 1.46v)
Slot 2: ------ 1887 mAh --------------- 125 min (2h.5m) --------------- 1.46v (after 5 min 1.45v) (after 1hr Ex 1.46v) (after 2hr Ex 1.47v)
Slot 3: ------ 1903 mAh --------------- 126 min (2h.6m) --------------- 1.46v (after 5 min 1.45v) (after 1hr Ex 1.46v) (after 2hr Ex 1.47v)
Slot 4: ------ 1883 mAh --------------- 125 min (2h.5m) --------------- 1.45v (after 5 min 1.45v) (after 1hr Ex 1.46v) (after 2hr Ex 1.47v)

Ex = Extra 2 hours after Initial ending period: I.E. Slot 1: 117 min (1h.57 min) + 2 hr = (3h.57min)

Chat soon
sadsack