Recommended brand of Aa rechargable batteries

[Llongfordrailway]

Hello all,

I'm currently experiencing difficulty with quick loss of power and short running time with my current brand of batteries, I'm using these batteries off eBay which are imported from china: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/8x-3000mah-NiMH-AA-Rechargeable-HR6-Battery-Plastic-case-H508-/351078075821?pt=UK_ConsumerElectronics_Batteries_SM&hash=item51bde24dad
:-\

I can hear the sniggering now!!!

Any recommendations on a battery brand which will give me longish runs with sustained power? I'm not looking for a miracle here but anything has got to be better than my current experience!

Regards

Daniel

 

[tramcar trev]

For a start I don't believe that 3Ah from an AA NiMh battery is believable, I have seen some branded ones at 2.9Ah and still don't believe it.... No I'm not sniggering at all....I found that if I buy 18650 5ah cells via ebay they come in at around 2.5ah so I complain and get a refund so I have a virtual free supply of 18650 batteries.... Or buy branded batteries that are fake and you can get a refund on those too...
Is the problem that you are not getting the stated capacity or they will not hold a charge? I found Varta "professional" nimh's have a good shelf life and usually are around the stated capacity...
Eneloop Pro are also good....

 

[ge_rik]

I've found Hobbyking LSD (Low Self Discharge) batteries to be good value and really do hold their charge when not in use - unlike the normal NiMh batteries

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__25023__Turnigy_AA_LSD_2400mAh_Low_Self_Discharge_ready_to_use_.html

Rik
PS - They also guarantee their batteries' capacity

Quote
"We guarantee our cells are true to their capacity!
Sadly battery marketing is an evil game, with overstated capacity being the industry norm. Generally speaking, battery factories will suggest vendors to overstate the capacity by at least 30%, marking 1800mAh cells with 2300mAh labels or more!
While this might work for toy stores, such marketing tactics wouldnt survive 1 week in our store with customer feedbacks and reviews, and thats why we guarantee our TURNIGY 2400mAh NiMH cells to be at least 2400mAh!"

And their delivery is very quick (unlike China)

 

[tramcar trev]

Trevs' correct. A well known BRANDED battery is always a safe bet.
LIDL sell NiMH AA batts and others but I suspect them as well........they have to be made in China to sell a PP3 rechargeable at £2.99.

I suspect if the LIDL batteries don't meet spec then a refund could be got... Hard to find batteries not made in China, getting quality ones is the trick...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qM6gcAMrvm8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFGSiIJ2FTI

http://www.metaefficient.com/rechargeable-batteries/highest-capacity-rechargeable-aa-batteries.html

 

[Neil Robinson]

I have found the following U.K. supplier good value and very helpful.

http://www.componentshop.co.uk/

 

[bobg]

I have used on occasion 'Small Battery Company' Have no complaints about what has been supplied. I use them for button cells as well.

 

[Tony Walsham]

Sanyo Eneloop.
I repeat. Sanyo Eneloop.
With the proviso that you limit current draw to no more than 1 amp or the battery life span will be shortened.

 

[stockers]

These seem to work very well - and last. They say they are 1300 but so what - they are rechargeable. I have loads - TV remove. Massoth Navigator, torch, kids game controllers etc.
Do the job and seem to last

http://www.screwfix.com/p/no-nonsense-rechargeable-batteries-aa-1300mah-pack-of-4/80088

 

[Railway42]

If you want the best, it is probably Ansmann or Duracell 2 and 3 year Guaranteed. Duracell also from Screwfix at £10.20

 

[ebay mike]

I've been using the Sonic ones from Lidl (that appear not to be popular from the comments above). Six I my NQ 2-6-2 tank seem to last for ages - far superior to those I bought from Maplins some time ago.

 

[The Devonian]

I have always found this UK retailer very helpful, with good advice if needed and as will be seen he does have batteries of all types and some dedicated to large scale railway locos.

http://www.strikalite.co.uk/

 

[garrymartin]

Tesco's own brand ! I don't know who makes these for Tesco but the perform well enough in terms of holding their charge and length of running time.

 

[Keith RhB]

I've had great luck with the Sanyo Eneloops too--instead of having to charge my navigators before each use from drain down, now a few times all summer is all I've had to do--changed things completely for me.

Keith

 

[ge_rik]

I've had great luck with the Sanyo Eneloops too--instead of having to charge my navigators before each use from drain down, now a few times all summer is all I've had to do--changed things completely for me.
Keith

I have to agree that LSD NiMh batteries such as the Eneloops are a heck of a lot better than the standard ones. Most times I'd come to use one of my NiMh battery powered locos to find it needed charging which was a pain before I got the LSD versions which hold their charge really well. I've only started using LSDs this year but I have heard they will hold up to 80% of their charge for a year which is similar to Li-ion but without the anxieties.

Rik

 

[GAP]

I use a tagged NiMh battery that I get from a trade supplier (helps to be in the trade) that seems to hold their charge quite well.

Prior to any running session I just charge my locos and away I go.

I have an aversion to battery holders because the more mechanical connections there are the more failure points that are introduced which is why I prefer soldered connections.

I stuff my cells into any available space to make the battery this helps when working with limited space, probably a hangover from my life of working on aircraft electrical systems where space to put things is a premium ( see pictures of how I did an old Roundhouse "Big Hustler&quot.

 

[Llongfordrailway]

Thanks for all of the helpful replies! Sanyo eneloop it is for me. Seen a pack of 4 on amazon for £7.50 so I'll stock up.

Thanks for all of the helpful replies.

Regards

Daniel

 

[beavercreek]

Is this correct?......
If you use the rechargeable LSD batteries in locos that pull more that about 1amp, then they will not have a long life?
So, if true, they really are only useful for smallest locos (with sub 1amp motors) and probably without sound and definitely not with smoke.......

Forget twin motored locos or Aristocraft or USA Trains!

 

[Tony Walsham]

Essentially yes. It is true.
I successfully use very low cost 4.8 volt 1600 mah NiMh battery packs (A$12 ea pack) wired in series. 2 x packs for all Thomas and Friends locos. 3 x packs for most other low current draw locos locos.
You can get a rough idea of how much current is being drawn by how long the loco(s) will run for starting out fully charged.
I have a customer in Brisbane with those particular batteries in a Bachmann "Connie) with MyLocoSound. He gets at least 2 hours hauling a 6 car train on a flat layout indicating all up the draw is well under 1 amp.
If you don't believe me about reducing the life span as in the number of recharges capable with any AA batteries consult Sanyo.

Use SubC SCR batteries for heavy draw or high capacity Li-Ion packs.

 

[spoz]

I now use the AA Eneloops, too; but before I came across those I was using branded NiMHs, normally Everyreadys. Had a loco with batteries about three years old start failing to hold a charge; dead battery thought I, too many charge cycles. Opened it up to replace to find that one battery had effectively"blown its top" and its chemical innards were all over the holder. The other two batteries in the installation (for an IP engineering Fenor) were fine, and still holding above 1.2V each. So even "names" don't necessarily indicate predictable and consistent quality these days... I don't know enough about battery behaviour to know whether that indicated a battery which actually was at the bottom of the acceptable QC distribution, or whether I might have done something to cause it but I must admit to being a bit worried about somethign similar happening in situations where the leakage could to more than just damage the holder

Like the others I've found Eneloops to be the go and have not yet had any problems with them (oldest a bit over 2 1/2 years, and I would estimate around 200 cycles). However, so far unfortunately I haven't been able to find any in AAA, which I need for a couple of applications, although apparently they do make them, so I'm still stuck with Mr. Eveready there......

 

[beavercreek]

Apparently the Eneloop 'Pro' cells are able to handle high current draw.
Also, apparently, Eneloop C cells are 3 AAA cells in a cylindrical holder.......