If I understand the question, no high capacity cells dont work like LSDs and there are no high capacity LSD cells. Hi Caps will have more power than an LSD for a week or 2 after charging; various user tests on good, fresh cells actually show LSDs dont cross over until more than 30 days out. As they wear though, that margin will shrink.

Another advantage of LSDs is that they tend to be 'better' constructed. In order to make hi cap cells (> 2100 in AA), they use a thinner separator. This makes them more prone to damage from dropping, poor charging and they age faster. It also argues against chasing the largest mAh claim on the label such as 2700, 2850, 3000 etc - that capacity comes at the cost of durability which can be an issue in bike lights (bumps, spills etc).

How you use them has another impact on perceived performance. 'Low' capacity cells including LSDs tend to do better in high drain applications like flashlights than hi cap cells especially if they are old. An LSD wont beat a healthy hi cap like the Sanyo 2500 fresh off the charger though.

Sounds odd. Most AA based things are 4.8V or 6V, so that to go to lithium you need a regulated pack. You are also sort of comparing apples and oranges (or a Huffy to a Cannondale). $4 wont buy an 18650 cell comparable in quality to an Eneloop; its more like $9-$13 ea. Oh, and the cheap lithium is not likely to have th same service life as a good AA. I sympathize though: I love the energy density of the 18650.


Not for nothing, but Eneloops are not the only LSD cells out there. They are great, but the Imedion is higher capacity (for real, not just on the label) with the same characteristics and same price.