Re-chargable batteries.

[CraigStu]

20-25 yrs ago I got into the rechargeable batteries for flashlights etc. After 5 yrs I gave up on them mainly because they lasted maybe 50% as long as a regular non rechargeable. But once again I am tired of buying C's, AAs, and AAAs. Do any of you use rechargeables? Do they have decent life compared to a standard battery? Any recommendations on brand?

 

[Max]

After losing seemingly my millionth flashlight to ##*@! duracells I switched to Panasonic Eneloop lithium rechargeables about 5 years ago. I love them - they last at least as long in use, don’t self discharge much if at all, and they are easy to recharge. Buy from a reliable place though as there are many cheap fakes out there.

Edited to add a link:

How to know if your ENELOOPS are fake or real ~by ChibiM

Watch THIS to see whether YOUR eneloops are counterfeits. Follow this list and distinguish the reals from the fakes. Not sure? Ask me!

eneloop101.com

 

[vwpieces]

In AA or AAA it's Eneloop or Amazon Basics.
Once you get into C or D size it's a **** shoot on finding quality cells.

For flashlight get something that uses 18650 lithium cells and nest time your charger won't accept your power tool battery, open it up and scavenge the good cells. Likely there is only one bad cell in the pack. Lots of info online.

 

[brownbagg]

i just want a battery that doesnt leak and destroy my tools

 

[slow]

The leaking is why I have bought Eneloop for all of the AA and AAA items in my house. I bought flashlights that can use 18650 batteries. I purchased a charger and some good Samsung cells from 18650batterystore.com a few years ago with great results. (there are lots of fake/mislabeled 18650 batteries as well, which is why I made sure to go to a legit supplier.

 

[niget2002]

Buy the lithium batteries. They're more expensive, but they don't leak.

I've also bought a lot of the eneloop batteries. The hardest part was teaching the family which batteries to "not" throw away.

 

[toyotadriver]

Another user of Eneloop batteries. Don’t get the high capacity ones…just the standard white ones. Be careful buying them from Amazon….there are some fakes out there.

 

[Pen & Wrench]

Get a lithium battery powered flashlight similar to the DeWalt, but honestly, whatever platform you use, get the flashlight that uses the same batteries as your cordless tools. I have 3 DeWalt Flashlights, with LED bulbs, and they never give me any trouble, and the batteries last a very long time in between charges. And o.f course, there's the flashlight on most of our phones.

 

[kbeefy]

Rechargeables have came a long way.

You might consider upgrading some of your higher used items to something with an onboard lithium battery instead of replaceable cells. Modern lithium and brushless tech have made alot of things very useable in cordless form.

 

[BombShelter]

I have a ton of flashlights, Walkmans and boomboxes and other stuff that uses AAA, AA, C and D batteries. I'd be broke if I used regular throw-aways. I use Eneloops and Ikea LADDA's which only come in AAA and AA. Supposedly the "Made in Japan" Ladda's are AKA Eneloops and much cheaper with several amp hour available. Last year I got some close-outs for $1 a package and the USB chargers were also $1.

I've bought the cartridge C and D adapters, Eneloop's D Adapter only takes one battery so I got on Ebay and got the holders that take three batteries.

I remember buying those big-pack of throw-away batteries years ago, I must have spent at least a hundred every year, so glad to not have to do that any more.

 

[Kuma601]

As above if your devices can use the AAA or AA, the Ikea Laddas are rebadged Eneloops and the AA 2450 or AAA 900 are the Eneloop Pro versions. Significant savings over the branded Eneloops.

I bought some of the first gen Sanyo Eneloops when in Japan on their release. Those batteries lasted about 12 years. I may still have one or two in use but their capacity has dropped over time. (Panasonic makes some good batteries.) I have some Panasonic 1950's that are about 10 years old now...still going at their rated 1950-1980 mAh capacity.

I use a MAHA C9000 charger (discontinued) which has been excellent. The successor is the MAHA C9000 Pro at $65.

 

[CraigStu]

For the garage I have several flashlights that fit on my drill batteries. This is for flashlights etc. Being a shooter I have a few sights etc that use the CR2, 1/3n etc. They work fine but I figure that it is better to have batteries that I can get just about anywhere so AA,AAA,and c are what i want rechargables for. I willlook at the eneloops for sure.

 

[bigenos]

We switched to rechargable NiMH AA and AAA batteries about 5 years ago. We still buy lithium non-rechargable for some things, but I'm happy with the rechargeables overall. Remotes, flashlights (I take the dogs out in the dark to throw the ball for them a couple times a day). Even christmas decorations like wreaths and other lights get them.

I've bought energizers from the store and Powerowl from Amazon and they've been good. I've heard eneloops are the best, though.

My charger *****, probably worth it to get a good one, especially if it can resurrect a completely discharged cell. I have to do it the old fashioned way by loading it into the charger with a fully charged one and let it bring it back. Takes a day or so, and then it'll charge properly.

 

[908Jim]

+1 for Eneloop batteries. You can usually get a 4 pack with the BQ-CC17 charger for around $18 on amazon to get you started.

Eneloop batteries handle high current loads (like LED flashlights) better than alkaline batteries anyway.

As above if your devices can use the AAA or AA, the Ikea Laddas are rebadged Eneloops and the AA 2450 or AAA 900 are the Eneloop Pro versions. Significant savings over the branded Eneloops.

I bought some of the first gen Sanyo Eneloops when in Japan on their release. Those batteries lasted about 12 years. I may still have one or two in use but their capacity has dropped over time. (Panasonic makes some good batteries.) I have some Panasonic 1950's that are about 10 years old now...still going at their rated 1950-1980 mAh capacity.

I use a MAHA C9000 charger (discontinued) which has been excellent. The successor is the MAHA C9000 Pro at $65.

I do not think the Current Ladda's are rebadged eneloops anymore, last I saw they were made in China rather than Japan.

 

[tez929rr]

In AA or AAA it's Eneloop or Amazon Basics.
Once you get into C or D size it's a **** shoot on finding quality cells.

For flashlight get something that uses 18650 lithium cells and nest time your charger won't accept your power tool battery, open it up and scavenge the good cells. Likely there is only one bad cell in the pack. Lots of info online.

I also use Eneloops and some Amazon basics I have added. I have a few LED Maglites and with adapters the Eneloop AA’s work fine. They also noticeably reduce the weight of the three and four d cell lights.

 

[brianh]

Enloops are great, I have been using NIMH for over 20 years I still have 1600mh rayovacs that still charge, the older ones had a pretty high self discharge rate.

 

[ATC]

Much easier for me to just keep Energizer alkalines on hand. I wrote off Duraleaks a few years ago.
I bought a couple packs of Energizer lithiums a couple years ago, but at today's prices of $3 per battery, they are f-ing insane and I will not buy anymore.
18650's are stupid. I've had a few things that take them. They cannot be purchased locally, and it's a **** shoot online for them between china fakes and ones that show up dead on arrival...

We haven't done rechargeables in 25+ years or so. They sucked so bad back then that I've written them off ever since.

But other than a couple pen lights (AA & AAA), a few rarely-used headlamps (AAA), and your standard TV remotes, Xbox controllers, and smoke detectors....I'm not a heavy user of batteries.

 

[gahrajmahal]

My favorite type of flashlight

POWERCAP LED Hats & Beanies

Looking for a hat with light? Shop POWERCAP's rechargeable LED cap collection. Hands-free lighting for camping, hunting, fishing & more. Shop today!

www.panthervision.com

And o.f course, there's the flashlight on most of our phones.

When working on a construction site most of the other trades whip out their phone while I carry a legit flashlight. Most of them have cracked screens having dropped it many times. My phone required me to purchase the phone myself. I ain‘t using no $800 phone as a flashlight

 

[rayra]

eneloop. Accept no substitutes. They hold their charge for a very long time in storage. The Amazon Basics brand don't last very long. Even in the higher capacities.

 

[Boilerhouse]

For my flashlight, I was given a rechargeable Fennix 12 years ago. it gets used 2 to 3 times a week, and a charge will easily last over a month.
I use rechargeable AA's for my ancient el cheapo camera, which gets used A LOT. Batteries happen to be Japanese made Energizers. Battery life is 5 years and will provide more charges than I will ever need.

 

[arrowhead]

Why are rechargables only 1.2v? I bought $55 worth of AA rechargables and a chrager for my game camera and it won't work because of low voltage. I had no idea they weren't 1.5v

 

[tez929rr]

Why are rechargables only 1.2v? I bought $55 worth of AA rechargables and a chrager for my game camera and it won't work because of low voltage. I had no idea they weren't 1.5v

I just put several of the Eneloops I have on the meter - all read 1.7 to 1.8 volts and some of them haven’t been charged for months.

 

[PCustoms]

After losing seemingly my millionth flashlight to ##*@! duracells I switched to Panasonic Eneloop lithium rechargeables about 5 years ago. I love them - they last at least as long in use, don’t self discharge much if at all, and they are easy to recharge. Buy from a reliable place though as there are many cheap fakes out there.
[/URL]

You sure they are lithium?

That aside, I use eneloops and Amazon premiums extensively. Extremely low self discharge and seem to keep my power hungry gps going for a few days. Typically I keep a set in my lights, a set in my GPS and then at least one spare set on me.

 

[Max]

You sure they are lithium?

That aside, I use eneloops and Amazon premiums extensively. Extremely low self discharge and seem to keep my power hungry gps going for a few days. Typically I keep a set in my lights, a set in my GPS and then at least one spare set on me.

You are right - I misspoke. Eneloop are Ni-MH.

 

[ZRX61]

A timely thread. Was gonna go buy some rechargables at Walgreens today, saw this & ordered Eneloops from Amazon