Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets - Rechargeable battery recommendation

Last year I purchased a Lacrosse charger. Highly recommended.

I have some Energizer rechargables that I have had for awhile but haven't been cycled all that many times. I did a refresh on four cells and when done they had exceeded the capacity of 2500 mAh. Yet they that didn't last more than about 90 minutes before they went dead. I have a Bauch and Mueller Ixon IQ headlight. It is suppose to run 5 hours at maximum output. Great light, BTW.

Is there a recommended brand? A poor brand could be my issue. But when the charger indicated >2500mAh I thought this was a good sign independent of the brand.

Energizer 2500 mAh are famous for being one of the worst batteries ever produced. They self discharge extremely fast.

I've had very good luck with Maha Powerex 2700 mAh cells. http://www.thomas-distributing.com/maha_2700_rechargeable_batteries.php

Thanks Ziemas,

I was hoping to charge and carry a spare set with me but if they self discharge it would be like having a flat spare tire (references an automobile).

I am assuming the Maha Powerex not only last while in use but also don't self-discharge.

Again, thanks.

Here is a runtime comparison of various NiMH batteries.
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=79302

I'm sure there are other threads at that forum that list Low Self Discharge batteries. Eneloops are probably the best known and best rated.

Thanks Ziemas,

I was hoping to charge and carry a spare set with me but if they self discharge it would be like having a flat spare tire (references an automobile).

I am assuming the Maha Powerex not only last while in use but also don't self-discharge.

Again, thanks.

They have a very low self-discharge, if you use them within a month of charging they'll be just fine. If you are looking for something to stash in your bag and forget, look at the Eneloop.

I have Sanyo 2700s (not Eneloops) and can't get them to charge past 2,550 with a Powerex MH-C9000 and doing the Break-in mode.

Here is a link that compares the different batteries out there. http://www.rechargeable-battery-review.com/battery-tests.html

I have Sanyo 2700s (not Eneloops) and can't get them to charge past 2,550 with a Powerex MH-C9000 and doing the Break-in mode.

That's totally normal and within specs.

The lowest self-discharge type of battery are Alkaline. You can buy rechargable versions made by Pure Energy or Rayovac. The disadvantage of this type is lower number of recharge cycles, but still at least 25 which is more than enough to justify the extra cost.

http://www.cpfwiki.com/Wiki/index.php/Batteries#Rechargable_Alkaline

I had to look around for these but did find them at Walmart.

The lowest self-discharge type of battery are Alkaline. You can buy rechargable versions made by Pure Energy or Rayovac. The disadvantage of this type is lower number of recharge cycles, but still at least 25 which is more than enough to justify the extra cost.

http://www.cpfwiki.com/Wiki/index.php/Batteries#Rechargable_Alkaline

I had to look around for these but did find them at Walmart.

I think you're going to find that those don't hold enough energy for high drain applications such as lighting. There is a reason that Ni-Mh is universally used.......if you are worried about self-discharge, look at some Low Self Discharge Ni-Mh cells such as the Eneloop.

Where do you get Eneloop? I've never heard of them.

Where do you get Eneloop? I've never heard of them.

Last time I was in the States Costco had them. Target might have had them too, I don't remember. In any event, there are many brands of LSD batteries, Eneloop just happens to be one of the better ones.

To clarify, Eneloop is a Sanyo model. Costco sometimes has them, or Thomas Distributing and other mail-order outlets have them. Highly recommended, although their capacity is slightly lower than non LSD - 2000 mAh for the AA. But it's real capacity and low self discharge.