- Brand Name: Sanyo
- Model: SEC-MQN064N
- Item Package Quantity: 1
Product DetailsSize: 4 Pack AA with Charger
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Product Description
Size: 4 Pack AA with Charger
From the Manufacturer
The new SEC-MQN064N 4-AA eneloop battery pack with AC charger pack utilizes SANYO’s advanced rechargeable battery technology allowing them to be recharged up to 1500 times, 33% more than any eneloop battery!
They deliver excellent power performance. They come pre-charged and can be used immediately out of the package. These eneloop cells also have increased storage life and better extreme temperature performance than the original eneloop batteries.
- Compact charging kit with SANYO eneloop 2,000 mAh, low self discharge rechargeable AA batteries
- Maintain 75 percent of their charge after 3 years of storage
- Can be recharged up to 1,500 times
- Pre-charged and ready to use right out of the package
- Work in extreme temperatures down to ?캟
- Provide long lasting power at a cost of only 4¢ per recharge
- Pre-Charged using power generated from solar energy
- No memory effect – batteries can be recharged when fully, or partially drained
- AC charger is designed for charging 2 or 4 pcs. AA or AAA Ni-MH batteries
INCREDIBLY LONG STORAGE LIFE
SANYO 1500 cycle rechargeable eneloop Ni-MH batteries maintain up to 75% of their charge after three years of storage compared to conventional rechargeable batteries which often have 0% charge after only 2 years of non-use.
Charge Once and Use Years Later
eneloop batteries offer exceptional shelf life so you can use your rechargeable batteries when and where you need them most. The AC charger is designed for charging either 2 or 4 pcs. AA or AAA eneloop or other Ni-MH batteries. It can charge four AA rechargeable eneloop batteries in 7 hours or charge four AAA rechargeable eneloop batteries in 6 hours.
KEEPS YOUR DEVICES POWERED IN 밇XTREME?COLD WEATHER
Keep your portable players, cameras, flashlights and other devices powered in th e winter. eneloop 1500 cycle and XX batteries deliver exceptional performance at extreme low temperatures, down to ?캟.
ENELOOP...CLEAN ENERGY FROM THE FACTORY TO YOUR DEVICE
SANYO’s "Clean Energy Loop" initiative has become a reality. All eneloop 1500 cycle and XX batteries are charged at the factory in Japan using power generated from solar energy.
PURCHASE GENUINE SANYO eneloop BATTERIES |
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WHEN IS 1.2V BETTER THAN 1.5?
eneloop꿂onsistently High Voltage Level
The initial voltage level of a battery provides no indication of how long the battery will last or how much power it can deliver. Alkaline battery cells rapidly drop below 1.5V soon after they are put into use and the voltage continues to steadily decline over time.
Since alkaline cells are non-rechargeable, they must be discarded and then replaced. SANYO’s eneloop batteries deliver best-in-class Ni-MH high capacity power and are rechargeable up to 1500 times. Devices like cameras flash units and wireless game controllers can easily draw more than 1000mA of current; rapidly depleting alkaline batteries.
eneloop batteries maintain a consistently high voltage level keeping your devices operating for a longer period of time. When you use eneloop Ni-MH rechargeable batteries, you will realize that “1.2V” can indeed be better than “1.5V”.
WHY ARE ALKALINE BATTERIES 1.5V?
Regular disposable AA and AAA batteries are considered Primary Cells, and are most widely recognized as conventional “alkaline” batteries. There are two electrodes inside each cell; one is made of Zinc, known as the anode (the negative terminal) and the other is made of Manganese Dioxide, known as the cathode (the positive terminal). The electrodes are surrounded by an alkaline electrolyte, the chemical from which alkaline batteries get their name.
Battery chemistry of an alkaline battery generates 1.5V. As the chemical reaction fades, so does the power of the alkaline battery cell. This is why the voltage from alkaline batteries drops off shortly after the battery is put into use and the power continues to fade over time.
WHY ARE NI-MH RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES 1.2V?
Ni-MH rechargeable batteries have two electrodes inside the cell: Nickel and Mercury Hydride. Battery chemistry of an Ni-MH rechargeable battery generates 1.2V. While alkaline batteries experience rapid drops in voltage Ni-MH rechargeable batteries maintain the same voltage throughout most of the entire charge.
The chemical makeup of Ni-MH batteries eliminates the “memory effect”, which means the cells can be recharged at any time without having to be fully discharged.
eneloop batteries have continued to raise the performance bar in Ni-MH rechargeable technology. eneloop has increased “low self discharge” performance on Ni- MH rechargeable batteries which allows eneloop cells to store power for longer periods of time.
WHAT MAKES ENELOOP THE BEST RECHARGEABLE BATTERY
The new SANYO eneloop battery incorporates a highly-durable super-lattice alloy which lessens the deterioration of this important alloy material. This super-lattice alloy increases the electrical capacity of the battery chemistry through lower internal resistance and delivers a long lasting, stable voltage output.
A new strong, thin outer case has also been added to the eneloop battery design in order to improve the internal cell space efficiency. The new case optimizes the balance of the components and when combined with other improvements have led to an increase in the number of times that eneloop batteries can be recharged.
eneloop = LOWER COST OF OWNERSHIP
Wireless game controllers incorporate power-hungry features such as built-in speakers, gyroscopes and motion sensors. Consider the hidden cost of ownership in operating two wireless game controllers.
Let뭩 make the following assumptions:
- You play video games one hour per day or 365 hours per year, using two remote/wireless controllers.
- A pair of batteries (either alkaline or eneloop) will provide you with roughly 20 hours of game-play usage time.
- In the first year, you will need 18.25 pairs of batteries per controller (either new alkaline or recharged eneloops).
- You will consume 73 alkaline battery cells in one year (for two controllers) compared to only 4 eneloop cells which can be recharged 1500 times ($0.04 per cell).
- Four AA Alkaline batteries will cost roughly $5.49 MSRP.
- Four AA eneloop batteries with an AC charger will cost $21.99 MSRP.
Now let’s look at the annual cost of ownership in only the first few years and then extend it out to ten years (at that point, you probably won’t be playing on the same game system). It is quite obvious that eneloop more than pays for itself in just the first year of ownership!
| TOTAL ANNUAL COST PER YEAR | |||||||
Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | Year 10 | 10 Year Total | |
 | $24.75 Includes Charger | $2.92 | $2.92 | $2.92 | $2.92 | $2.92 | $51.03 |
 | $100.19 | $100.19 | $100.19 | $100.19 | $100.19 | $100.19 | $1,001.93 |
*Usage assumptions & cost calculations listed below. |
RECHARGEABLE BATTERY POWER YOU CAN RELY ON WHEN YOU NEED IT MOST!
eneloop batteries deliver dependable power allowing you to maximize your music, gaming, computer, photography and other experiences. eneloop batteries can be used to power these and many more devices.NEW 1500 CYCLE VS. ORIGINAL 1000 CYCLE ENELOOP
The new 1500 cycle eneloop delivers four important new features
- 500 extra charging cycles - The new eneloop is rechargeable up to 1500 times
- 33% improved low self-discharge - The new 1500 cycle battery maintains 75% of its charge for up to 3 years when not in use. The original version maintained 75% of its charge for up to 2 years when not in use.
- Improved low temperature performance - The new 1500 cycle battery can be used in environments down to -4 degrees F. The original eneloop can be used in temperatures as low as 14 degrees F.
- Each battery cell is pre-charged using solar energy when it leaves the factory in Japan.
Genuine SANYO eneloop Batteries
SANYO has three authentic 뱒tyles?of packaging: 1. The 1500 cycle batteries which are in a blue/green cardboard blister design with a earth image screened on the package. 2. The 1000 cycle batteries are in a blue and orange cardboard blister pack. 3. The eneloop XX batteries are in a black cardboard blister package. Products sold in plastic bags or flexible foil style packages are not authorized for sale by SANYO in the U.S. and may not contain authentic SANYO batteries.
How to tell the difference between the 뱊ew 1500" and the 뱋riginal 1000?eneloop batteries
It is easy to distinguish between the 1500 and 1000 cycle eneloop batteries. The 1500 battery has a gray top (in the Green/Blue package pictured) and the 1000 (in the Blue/Orange package pictured) has a white top.
| eneloop Battery Specifications | |||||
Product Name |  "1500 Cycle" | "1000 Cycle" |  eneloop XX | ||
Technology | Ni-MH rechargeable battery | Ni-MH rechargeable battery | Ni-MH rechargeable battery | ||
Applications | all-purpose | all-purpose | high power consumption devices | ||
Recharges / Discharging Cycles | up to 1500 | up to 1000 | up to 500 | ||
Low self-discharge / Storage Capacity | Maintains 75% of its charge after 3 years of non-use | Maintains 75% of its charge after 2 years of non-use | Maintains 75% of its charge after 1 year of non-use | ||
Low Temperature Capacity | -4 degrees F | +14 degrees F | -4 degrees F | ||
Size | AA | AAA | AA | AAA | AA |
Model number | SEC-HR3U4BPN (4 Pack) | SEC-HR4U4BPN (4 Pack) | SEC-HR3UTG-4BP (4 Pack) | SEC-HR4UTG-4BP (4 Pack) | 4HR-3UWX |
SEC-HR3U8BPN (8 Pack) | -- | SEC-HR3UTG-8BP (8 Pack) | -- | -- | |
SEC-HR3U16SPN (16 Pack) | -- | -- | -- | -- | |
Voltage | 1.2 V | 1.2 V | 1.2 V | 1.2 V | 1.2 V |
Typ. Capacity | 2000 mAh | 800 mAh | 2000 mAh | 800 mAh | 2500 mAh |
Min. Capacity | 1900 mAh | 750 mAh | 1900 mAh | 750 mAh | 2400 mAh |
eneloop꿚HE BIRTH OF A NEW TECHNOLOGY
For more than 35 years, SANYO has been a leading manufacturer of battery technology. In 2005 SANYO set out to develop a new type of rechargeable battery that would literally change the way people live, work and play. The result was eneloop, a rechargeable battery created with a very simple idea in mind: provide a common energy source that can be reused over and over again. This 뱇ooping energy?became eneloop. Today, eneloop battery cells are recognized by millions of consumers worldwide as the industry뭩 premier rechargeable battery.
eneloop’s “signature features” include ready to use rechargeable power with the ability to maintain 75% of their charge for up to 3 years (when not in use), can be recharged up to 1500 times, they have no “memory effect” and outstanding performance even in extremely low temperatures (down to -4 degrees F).
Americans deposit 8 billion disposable batteries into landfills each year! eneloop batteries can be recharged up to 1,500 times, which means that the purchase and use of a single eneloop cell can keep many hundreds of batteries from entering landfills! They can also be recycled free of charge at any of the 50,000+ Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC) recycling centers near you.
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*Usage Assumptions
Two Wii® remote controls
1 hour usage per remote, per day, per year
*20 hour avg. battery life per remote
$5.49 MSRP - 4 pack AA akaline
$21.99 MSRP - eneloop 4 pack AA + charger
©Wii® is a registered trademark of Nintendo
eneloop Recharge Cost Assumptions and Calculations
0.144 Kilowatts @ 8 hours per 4 batteries
4 AA --- 1,500 recharges each
1,500 cycles x 8 hours each = 12,000 hours of AC power
0.144 KW x 12,000 hours = 1,728 KWH
1,728 KWH x $0.12 = $207.36
Initial product cost = $21.99 (4AA eneloop + 4 position charger)
Total cost of product and recharging = ($207.36 + $21.99) = $229.35
Total number of recharge cycles = (4 batteries x 1,500 each) = 6,000 recharges
Cost of recharge = ($229.35/6,000) = $0.038 (3.8?PER RECHARGE)
NOTE: Cost of electricity is based on 2010 national US average energy costs @ $0.12 per KWH
1 hour usage per remote, per day, per year
*20 hour avg. battery life per remote
$5.49 MSRP - 4 pack AA akaline
$21.99 MSRP - eneloop 4 pack AA + charger
©Wii® is a registered trademark of Nintendo
eneloop Recharge Cost Assumptions and Calculations
0.144 Kilowatts @ 8 hours per 4 batteries
4 AA --- 1,500 recharges each
1,500 cycles x 8 hours each = 12,000 hours of AC power
0.144 KW x 12,000 hours = 1,728 KWH
1,728 KWH x $0.12 = $207.36
Initial product cost = $21.99 (4AA eneloop + 4 position charger)
Total cost of product and recharging = ($207.36 + $21.99) = $229.35
Total number of recharge cycles = (4 batteries x 1,500 each) = 6,000 recharges
Cost of recharge = ($229.35/6,000) = $0.038 (3.8?PER RECHARGE)
NOTE: Cost of electricity is based on 2010 national US average energy costs @ $0.12 per KWH
Product Description
The new SEC-MQN064N 4-AA eneloop with AC charger pack utilizes SANYO's advanced rechargeable battery technology allowing them to last longer than ever before! They provide excellent performance-to-cost advantages over both conventional alkaline and other rechargeable batteries. Unlike disposable batteries which can only be used only once and are wasteful to the environment, the new eneloop batteries can be recharged up to 1500 times. They also maintain 75% of their charge up to 3 years when not in use. The come pre-charged and can be used immediately out of the pack, eneloop batteries deliver reliable battery performance when you need it the most!
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1,982 of 2,016 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Those are genuine second-generation eneloop cells - as far as I can tell
April 20, 2011
Size Name:8 Pack AA
I have done extensive testing on the original eneloop rechargeable batteries since early 2007, shortly after they were introduced in the US. I have also tested the blue second-generation eneloop cells from the Costco eneloop package back in 2010. But this is the first time I have seen second-gen eneloop in white wrappings being sold in the US. With so much talk about counterfeit eneloop going around, I was understandably cautious when I purchased those SANYO NEW 1500 eneloop 8 Pack AA Ni-MH Pre-Charged Rechargeable Batteries.
I tested four of those cells, using my old La Crosse BC-900 Battery Charger.
- Right out of the package, their average remaining charge is 1568mAh, or nearly 80% of the rated capacity of 2000mAh. The spread is also very small, from 1558 to 1577mAh. This proves that they are indeed low-self-discharge type. (Date code on my cells says "11-01", or Jan 2011)
- After one recharge/discharge cycle, their average capacity improved to 2115mAh
- After two more recharge/discharge cycles, their average capacity leveled off at 2133mAh, or more than 6% higher than the rated capacity.
The above results are very consistent with what I have previously observed, while testing second-gen eneloop cells in the Costco package. Therefore I'm convinced that those are indeed genuine second-gen Sanyo eneloop cells. (See the scans I uploaded to Customer Images section, if you need to distinguish between old and new eneloop cells)
On the other hand, currently the prices of those new eneloop cells are about 25-50% higher than that of the original eneloop cells. So one may question: do the new eneloop cells offer sufficient improvement over the old, to justify the price different? Let's compare the following factors:
- Cycle Life: The 2nd-gen eneloop claims to "recharge up to 1500 cycles", while the original only claims 1000 cycles. This 50% improvement looks great on paper, but note that if you recharge your eneloop cells twice every week, it will take 10 years to reach 1000 cycles. So in real life, most average users will never notice the difference.
- Self-Discharge Rate: The new eneloop cells claim to "maintain 75% charge after 3 years", while the original only claims "80% after 2 years". Again, in real life most people will never notice the difference.
- Capacity: First-gen eneloop AA cells have "Typ 2000mAh, Min 1900mAh" printed on them, while 2nd-gen eneloop AA cells only say "Min 1900mAh". But in fact they have the same capacity rating of 2000mAh (typical) according to official Sanyo web site. My measured capacity numbers are actually around 2100mAh for both versions.
BOTTOM LINE:
Both the new and old eneloop cells are excellent products. You can safely mix and match them in any application, and probably nobody can tell the difference in the next 10 years. But in case you can't decide which version is a better value... Just flip a coin and pick one - you can't lose either way!
[Update on July 31, 2011]
Long term self-discharge data: I have tested a pair of new eneloop AA cells after 104 days sitting on the shelf (the batteries, not me). The average remaining charge is 88.7%. This charge-retention rate is slightly better than that of the original eneloop, but the difference is within margin of error for my experiment.
[Update on May 8, 2012]
Nowadays the 2nd-gen eneloop cells are generally priced lower than the original. So you should definitely get the newer version.
[Update on Apr 7, 2013]
Long-term self-discharge rate update: I just tested a set of 2nd-gen eneloop AA cells after two years in storage. They retained 1685mAh, or 84% of rated capacity. This is no difference from the claimed charge retention rate of 3rd-gen enellop (which says 85% after two years). See my following review on 3rd-gen eneloop:
http://www.amazon.com/review/R1Z4N7MRAH0BMX/
I tested four of those cells, using my old La Crosse BC-900 Battery Charger.
- Right out of the package, their average remaining charge is 1568mAh, or nearly 80% of the rated capacity of 2000mAh. The spread is also very small, from 1558 to 1577mAh. This proves that they are indeed low-self-discharge type. (Date code on my cells says "11-01", or Jan 2011)
- After one recharge/discharge cycle, their average capacity improved to 2115mAh
- After two more recharge/discharge cycles, their average capacity leveled off at 2133mAh, or more than 6% higher than the rated capacity.
The above results are very consistent with what I have previously observed, while testing second-gen eneloop cells in the Costco package. Therefore I'm convinced that those are indeed genuine second-gen Sanyo eneloop cells. (See the scans I uploaded to Customer Images section, if you need to distinguish between old and new eneloop cells)
On the other hand, currently the prices of those new eneloop cells are about 25-50% higher than that of the original eneloop cells. So one may question: do the new eneloop cells offer sufficient improvement over the old, to justify the price different? Let's compare the following factors:
- Cycle Life: The 2nd-gen eneloop claims to "recharge up to 1500 cycles", while the original only claims 1000 cycles. This 50% improvement looks great on paper, but note that if you recharge your eneloop cells twice every week, it will take 10 years to reach 1000 cycles. So in real life, most average users will never notice the difference.
- Self-Discharge Rate: The new eneloop cells claim to "maintain 75% charge after 3 years", while the original only claims "80% after 2 years". Again, in real life most people will never notice the difference.
- Capacity: First-gen eneloop AA cells have "Typ 2000mAh, Min 1900mAh" printed on them, while 2nd-gen eneloop AA cells only say "Min 1900mAh". But in fact they have the same capacity rating of 2000mAh (typical) according to official Sanyo web site. My measured capacity numbers are actually around 2100mAh for both versions.
BOTTOM LINE:
Both the new and old eneloop cells are excellent products. You can safely mix and match them in any application, and probably nobody can tell the difference in the next 10 years. But in case you can't decide which version is a better value... Just flip a coin and pick one - you can't lose either way!
[Update on July 31, 2011]
Long term self-discharge data: I have tested a pair of new eneloop AA cells after 104 days sitting on the shelf (the batteries, not me). The average remaining charge is 88.7%. This charge-retention rate is slightly better than that of the original eneloop, but the difference is within margin of error for my experiment.
[Update on May 8, 2012]
Nowadays the 2nd-gen eneloop cells are generally priced lower than the original. So you should definitely get the newer version.
[Update on Apr 7, 2013]
Long-term self-discharge rate update: I just tested a set of 2nd-gen eneloop AA cells after two years in storage. They retained 1685mAh, or 84% of rated capacity. This is no difference from the claimed charge retention rate of 3rd-gen enellop (which says 85% after two years). See my following review on 3rd-gen eneloop:
http://www.amazon.com/review/R1Z4N7MRAH0BMX/
357 of 368 people found the following review helpful
Size Name:4 pack AA
I have been using Sanyo eneloop low-self-discharge NiMH batteries since beginning of 2007, and I'm completely satisfied with them. One thing I noticed is that newcomers to the rechargeable battery arena often have similar questions/confusions about eneloop. So here is my list of eneloop Frequently Asked Questions. This list is work in progress.
[Q1] My Sanyo eneloop AA batteries say '1900mAh' on them. Are they counterfeits?
[A] All eneloop AA cells (both original and second-gen versions) are rated for "Typ 2000mAh, Min 1900mAh" according to Sanyo. The confusing part is that 2nd-gen eneloop AA cell only has "Min 1900mAh" printed on it, even though the actual measured capacity is close to 2100mAh.
Simialrily, eneloop AAA cells are rated for "Typ 800mAh, Min 750mAh".
[Q2] Date code on my new eneloop cells says '10 01' (Jan 2010). Should I exchange them for newer batteries?
[A] Relax! Unlike ordinary NiMH cells, Sanyo eneloop are still perfectly good even after 5 years in storage. Once you recharge them, they will return to 100% capacity again.
[Q3] What is the difference between 'Pre-Charged', 'Hybrid', 'Stay-Charged', 'Active Charged', 'Ready to Use' and 'Ready to Go'?
[A] Those are all marketing terms for Low-Self-Discharge (LSD) NiMH batteries. Sanyo first used the term 'Pre-Charged' for Sanyo eneloop back in 2006. Rayovac used 'Hybrid', and so on.
[Q4] I just received some new eneloop batteries. Do I need to recharge them before use?
[A] You can use them right out of the package. However, eneloop cells are only charge up to ~75% when they left factory. So you can use a Smart charger to 'top-off' their charges. Do NOT do this with a Dumb charger because it will badly over-charge them.
[Q5] I thought I have to drain my batteries completely before recharging them?
[A] This is only necessary if you are using a timer-based dumb charger. With a smart charger, you can top-off your batteries anytime.
[Q6] Can I use other brands of chargers to recharge Sanyo eneloop batteries?
[A] Sanyo eneloop batteries can be recharged using any good-quality Smart charger designed for NiMH cells. But for longer battery lifespan, avoid ultra-fast (15- or 30-minute) chargers and Dumb (overnight) slow chargers
[Q7] What is the difference between 'Smart' and 'Dumb' chargers?
[A] A Smart charger monitors the voltage profile of each cell individually during charging, and stops when a charge-termination signal (negative delta-Voltage) is detected. This is the only way to avoid over-charging. A Dumb charge relies on safety timer to stop charging, or has no termination mechanism at all. This usually results in over-charging which is bad for battery lifespan.
[Q8] Should I stick to the Sanyo MQN06 charger packaged with most Sanyo packages?
[A] The MQN06 is semi-smart but has two issues: it charges in pairs (monitors the combined voltage of two cells), and the charging current is only 300mA. That means it take about 7 hour to recharge a pair of eneloop AA cells. A better choice is the Sony Cycle Energy BCG34HLD.
[ Note: Charge time (hour) = Capacity (mAh) / Current (mA) ]
[Q9] What is the best charging speed for Sanyo eneloop?
[A] Choose a charger that gives you charge time between 2-5 hours. That means charging current of 500-1000mA for AA, 200-500mA for AAA.
[Q10] Isn't it true the best charging speed for NiMH and LSD-NiMH battery is the slowest?
[A] That is only true when using a dumb charger which blindly charges for 12-15 hours, so the current has to be below 0.1C (200mA for a 2000mAh cell) to avoid over-heating. For a smart charger, the current needs to be at least 0.2C to ensure proper termination.
[Q11] I always keep a set of ordinary NiMH batteries in the charger to keep them freshly charged. So why do I need LSD cells?
[A] You don't need to do that with LSD cells. Just charge up a spare set ahead of time and keep them in your drawer. Swap them in whenever needed, just as how you use disposable cells.
[Q12] Why should I buy those 2000mAh Sanyo eneloop instead of ordinary NiMH batteries that are rated 2500mAh or higher?
[A] All rechargeable NiMH AA cells rated 2500mAh or higher are susceptible to Rapid-self-discharge problem. Beware of off-brand batteries that claim '2900mAh' or higher. Most of them can't even deliver 2000mAh.
[Q13] Can I use eneloop in places with extremely hot weather?
[A] As a rule of thumb, every 10 degree C rise in temperature causes the battery's self-discharge rate to double. So although your eneloop cells can still function correctly, their shelf life will be reduced at high ambient temperature.
[Q14] Should I store unused eneloop batteries in the refrigerator to extend their shelf life?
[A] For ordinary NiMH cells, storing them in lower temperature greatly reduces their self-discharge rate so you can get longer shelf life. For eneloop cells it is hardly worth the trouble, because they can be stored for years at room temperature.
[Q15] Can I use eneloop batteries in cordless phones?
[A] Yes - as long as your phones (such as Panasonic DECT 6.0 cordless phones) are using individual AAA cells, instead of battery packs with special connectors.
[Q16] Do rechargeable batteries only go bad after they meet the number of charging cycles, or their lifespan is limited by time also?
[A] Capacity of a NiMH cell gradually deteriorates with number of discharge cycles. The 'lifespan' claimed by manufacturer is the number of deep-discharge cycles before capacity drops to 50%. This is done under tightly controlled test conditions, so in real life your result may vary.
[Q17] When rechargeable batteries go bad, do they also spill chemicals (like alkaline cells) or just won't hold a charge?
[A] Good-quality NiMH cells do not spill electrolyte as they gradually deteriorate. The only chance this can happen is when they are (a) severely over-charged at a high current, or (b) severely over-discharged, or (c) exposed to extreme heat.
[Q18] My baby swing calls for 4 D sized batteries. Do eneloop D spacers work well?
[A] You can use those in a pinch, but expect to replace/recharge your AA cells a lot more frequently than before. This is because the energy stored in an alkaline D cell is about 7-10 times greater than that in eneloop AA cell. See my following review for other options: SANYO Eneloop Spacer Packs with 2 AA with 2 D-Size Spacers
[Q19] My La Crosse BC-700 Battery Charger reports some eneloop batteries as 'null'. Are they defective?
[A] If a battery is over-discharged and its voltage drops below 0.5V, the La Crosse charger cannot detect it and so the display says 'null'. Charge your 'null' battery in a dumb charger for a few minutes, then the La Crosse charger will recognize it.
[Q20] I read on Wikipedia that there is an Eneloop 3rd generation battery (HR-4UTGB.) Are they worth getting over second generation?
[A] Panasonic (who bought Sanyo in 2009) claims that lifespan of 3rd-gen eneloop cells has been upgraded from 1500 to 1800 cycles. But keep in mind that even if you recharge your cells twice every week, it will take you nearly 15 years to use up 1500 cycles from your 2nd-gen eneloop cells.
[Q1] My Sanyo eneloop AA batteries say '1900mAh' on them. Are they counterfeits?
[A] All eneloop AA cells (both original and second-gen versions) are rated for "Typ 2000mAh, Min 1900mAh" according to Sanyo. The confusing part is that 2nd-gen eneloop AA cell only has "Min 1900mAh" printed on it, even though the actual measured capacity is close to 2100mAh.
Simialrily, eneloop AAA cells are rated for "Typ 800mAh, Min 750mAh".
[Q2] Date code on my new eneloop cells says '10 01' (Jan 2010). Should I exchange them for newer batteries?
[A] Relax! Unlike ordinary NiMH cells, Sanyo eneloop are still perfectly good even after 5 years in storage. Once you recharge them, they will return to 100% capacity again.
[Q3] What is the difference between 'Pre-Charged', 'Hybrid', 'Stay-Charged', 'Active Charged', 'Ready to Use' and 'Ready to Go'?
[A] Those are all marketing terms for Low-Self-Discharge (LSD) NiMH batteries. Sanyo first used the term 'Pre-Charged' for Sanyo eneloop back in 2006. Rayovac used 'Hybrid', and so on.
[Q4] I just received some new eneloop batteries. Do I need to recharge them before use?
[A] You can use them right out of the package. However, eneloop cells are only charge up to ~75% when they left factory. So you can use a Smart charger to 'top-off' their charges. Do NOT do this with a Dumb charger because it will badly over-charge them.
[Q5] I thought I have to drain my batteries completely before recharging them?
[A] This is only necessary if you are using a timer-based dumb charger. With a smart charger, you can top-off your batteries anytime.
[Q6] Can I use other brands of chargers to recharge Sanyo eneloop batteries?
[A] Sanyo eneloop batteries can be recharged using any good-quality Smart charger designed for NiMH cells. But for longer battery lifespan, avoid ultra-fast (15- or 30-minute) chargers and Dumb (overnight) slow chargers
[Q7] What is the difference between 'Smart' and 'Dumb' chargers?
[A] A Smart charger monitors the voltage profile of each cell individually during charging, and stops when a charge-termination signal (negative delta-Voltage) is detected. This is the only way to avoid over-charging. A Dumb charge relies on safety timer to stop charging, or has no termination mechanism at all. This usually results in over-charging which is bad for battery lifespan.
[Q8] Should I stick to the Sanyo MQN06 charger packaged with most Sanyo packages?
[A] The MQN06 is semi-smart but has two issues: it charges in pairs (monitors the combined voltage of two cells), and the charging current is only 300mA. That means it take about 7 hour to recharge a pair of eneloop AA cells. A better choice is the Sony Cycle Energy BCG34HLD.
[ Note: Charge time (hour) = Capacity (mAh) / Current (mA) ]
[Q9] What is the best charging speed for Sanyo eneloop?
[A] Choose a charger that gives you charge time between 2-5 hours. That means charging current of 500-1000mA for AA, 200-500mA for AAA.
[Q10] Isn't it true the best charging speed for NiMH and LSD-NiMH battery is the slowest?
[A] That is only true when using a dumb charger which blindly charges for 12-15 hours, so the current has to be below 0.1C (200mA for a 2000mAh cell) to avoid over-heating. For a smart charger, the current needs to be at least 0.2C to ensure proper termination.
[Q11] I always keep a set of ordinary NiMH batteries in the charger to keep them freshly charged. So why do I need LSD cells?
[A] You don't need to do that with LSD cells. Just charge up a spare set ahead of time and keep them in your drawer. Swap them in whenever needed, just as how you use disposable cells.
[Q12] Why should I buy those 2000mAh Sanyo eneloop instead of ordinary NiMH batteries that are rated 2500mAh or higher?
[A] All rechargeable NiMH AA cells rated 2500mAh or higher are susceptible to Rapid-self-discharge problem. Beware of off-brand batteries that claim '2900mAh' or higher. Most of them can't even deliver 2000mAh.
[Q13] Can I use eneloop in places with extremely hot weather?
[A] As a rule of thumb, every 10 degree C rise in temperature causes the battery's self-discharge rate to double. So although your eneloop cells can still function correctly, their shelf life will be reduced at high ambient temperature.
[Q14] Should I store unused eneloop batteries in the refrigerator to extend their shelf life?
[A] For ordinary NiMH cells, storing them in lower temperature greatly reduces their self-discharge rate so you can get longer shelf life. For eneloop cells it is hardly worth the trouble, because they can be stored for years at room temperature.
[Q15] Can I use eneloop batteries in cordless phones?
[A] Yes - as long as your phones (such as Panasonic DECT 6.0 cordless phones) are using individual AAA cells, instead of battery packs with special connectors.
[Q16] Do rechargeable batteries only go bad after they meet the number of charging cycles, or their lifespan is limited by time also?
[A] Capacity of a NiMH cell gradually deteriorates with number of discharge cycles. The 'lifespan' claimed by manufacturer is the number of deep-discharge cycles before capacity drops to 50%. This is done under tightly controlled test conditions, so in real life your result may vary.
[Q17] When rechargeable batteries go bad, do they also spill chemicals (like alkaline cells) or just won't hold a charge?
[A] Good-quality NiMH cells do not spill electrolyte as they gradually deteriorate. The only chance this can happen is when they are (a) severely over-charged at a high current, or (b) severely over-discharged, or (c) exposed to extreme heat.
[Q18] My baby swing calls for 4 D sized batteries. Do eneloop D spacers work well?
[A] You can use those in a pinch, but expect to replace/recharge your AA cells a lot more frequently than before. This is because the energy stored in an alkaline D cell is about 7-10 times greater than that in eneloop AA cell. See my following review for other options: SANYO Eneloop Spacer Packs with 2 AA with 2 D-Size Spacers
[Q19] My La Crosse BC-700 Battery Charger reports some eneloop batteries as 'null'. Are they defective?
[A] If a battery is over-discharged and its voltage drops below 0.5V, the La Crosse charger cannot detect it and so the display says 'null'. Charge your 'null' battery in a dumb charger for a few minutes, then the La Crosse charger will recognize it.
[Q20] I read on Wikipedia that there is an Eneloop 3rd generation battery (HR-4UTGB.) Are they worth getting over second generation?
[A] Panasonic (who bought Sanyo in 2009) claims that lifespan of 3rd-gen eneloop cells has been upgraded from 1500 to 1800 cycles. But keep in mind that even if you recharge your cells twice every week, it will take you nearly 15 years to use up 1500 cycles from your 2nd-gen eneloop cells.
390 of 411 people found the following review helpful
Size Name:4 pack AAA
This package (Sanyo SEC-HR4U4BPN) contains four second-generation eneloop AAA rechargeable batteries. I have tested those cells using my old La Crosse BC-900 Advanced Battery Charger. Here are my findings:
- Right out of the package, the average remaining charge is 640mAh, or 80% of the rated capacity (800mAh)
- After the first recharge cycle, the average capacity increased to 839mAh.
- After two more recharge/discharge cycles, the average capacity leveled off at 843mAh, or 5% higher than rated capacity.
The above is very consistent with the results I obtained last year, while testing 2nd-gen eneloop AAA cells from the Costco package. Therefore I have no doubt that those batteries are genuine. Date code embossed on them says "10-12", which means Dec 2010 (see my upload in the "Customer Images" section, if you need to know where to find the date code).
According to Sanyo press releases, those 2nd-generation eneloop cells offer several benefits over the original eneloop:
- Can be recharged "up to 1500 cycles" (vs. "1000 cycles" for the original)
- Can hold "75% charge after 3 years" (vs. "80% after 2 years")
- Works down to -20 degree C (vs. -10 degree C)
In real life, however, it is nearly impossible for the average user to experience those benefits. Note the even if you recharge your cells twice every week, it will take nearly ten years to reach 1000 cycles. Furthermore, the advertised self-discharge rates for new and old eneloop cells are actually the same during first two years.
As to the capacity: original eneloop AAA cells have "Typ. 800mAh, Min. 750mAh" printed on them. The new eneloop AAA cells only say "Min. 750mAh". This has created confusions for some people, who thought the new version has lower capacity. But according to Sanyo web site, capacity of the new AAA is also 800mAh typical. My own test results, however, have shown that measured capacity of the original eneloop is around 4% higher than rated, whereas capacity of the new eneloop is about 5% higher than rated. Again, the difference is so small that most users will never notice it.
BOTTOM LINE:
Second-generation eneloop cells do offer some improvements over the original, but the actual benefit is very hard to verify in real life. In my case, the price I paid for this new eneloop AAA package is only 10% higher than that of the old one, so I consider it a good deal. If the price difference is much greater, then you have to decide whether it is worthwhile to pay extra for those perceived benefits.
[Update on May 31, 2011]
Prices for the new eneloop AAA have came down further during the past month, so now it is an even better deal. But just in case you are looking for greater bargains, you may want to consider the GP ReCkyo Pre-Charged AAA cells. They are priced lower than Sanyo eneloop, and have slightly higher capacity (rated 850mAh, measured 880mAh).
[Update on July 31, 2011]
Long term self-discharge data: I have tested a pair of new eneloop AAA cells after 92 days sitting on the shelf (the batteries, not me). The average remaining charge is 89.4%. This charge-retention rate is slightly better than that of the original eneloop, but the difference is within margin of error for my experiment.
[Update on July 3, 2012]
Amazon again combined multiple Sanyo eneloop products (many AA/AAA packages and different chargers) into a single product page. This makes it very difficult for people to find reviews for a specific product. In particular, my "Sanyo eneloop FAQ" was previously attached to the product page of Sanyo eneloop 4 Pack AA, but now it can only be found by following this link:
http://www.amazon.com/review/R9VPVQ0UO2MKH
- Right out of the package, the average remaining charge is 640mAh, or 80% of the rated capacity (800mAh)
- After the first recharge cycle, the average capacity increased to 839mAh.
- After two more recharge/discharge cycles, the average capacity leveled off at 843mAh, or 5% higher than rated capacity.
The above is very consistent with the results I obtained last year, while testing 2nd-gen eneloop AAA cells from the Costco package. Therefore I have no doubt that those batteries are genuine. Date code embossed on them says "10-12", which means Dec 2010 (see my upload in the "Customer Images" section, if you need to know where to find the date code).
According to Sanyo press releases, those 2nd-generation eneloop cells offer several benefits over the original eneloop:
- Can be recharged "up to 1500 cycles" (vs. "1000 cycles" for the original)
- Can hold "75% charge after 3 years" (vs. "80% after 2 years")
- Works down to -20 degree C (vs. -10 degree C)
In real life, however, it is nearly impossible for the average user to experience those benefits. Note the even if you recharge your cells twice every week, it will take nearly ten years to reach 1000 cycles. Furthermore, the advertised self-discharge rates for new and old eneloop cells are actually the same during first two years.
As to the capacity: original eneloop AAA cells have "Typ. 800mAh, Min. 750mAh" printed on them. The new eneloop AAA cells only say "Min. 750mAh". This has created confusions for some people, who thought the new version has lower capacity. But according to Sanyo web site, capacity of the new AAA is also 800mAh typical. My own test results, however, have shown that measured capacity of the original eneloop is around 4% higher than rated, whereas capacity of the new eneloop is about 5% higher than rated. Again, the difference is so small that most users will never notice it.
BOTTOM LINE:
Second-generation eneloop cells do offer some improvements over the original, but the actual benefit is very hard to verify in real life. In my case, the price I paid for this new eneloop AAA package is only 10% higher than that of the old one, so I consider it a good deal. If the price difference is much greater, then you have to decide whether it is worthwhile to pay extra for those perceived benefits.
[Update on May 31, 2011]
Prices for the new eneloop AAA have came down further during the past month, so now it is an even better deal. But just in case you are looking for greater bargains, you may want to consider the GP ReCkyo Pre-Charged AAA cells. They are priced lower than Sanyo eneloop, and have slightly higher capacity (rated 850mAh, measured 880mAh).
[Update on July 31, 2011]
Long term self-discharge data: I have tested a pair of new eneloop AAA cells after 92 days sitting on the shelf (the batteries, not me). The average remaining charge is 89.4%. This charge-retention rate is slightly better than that of the original eneloop, but the difference is within margin of error for my experiment.
[Update on July 3, 2012]
Amazon again combined multiple Sanyo eneloop products (many AA/AAA packages and different chargers) into a single product page. This makes it very difficult for people to find reviews for a specific product. In particular, my "Sanyo eneloop FAQ" was previously attached to the product page of Sanyo eneloop 4 Pack AA, but now it can only be found by following this link:
http://www.amazon.com/review/R9VPVQ0UO2MKH
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