Battery capacity - claimed versus real

[bernieq]

Thanks, Ent, for the research, albeit on a small sample. It accords, mostly, with what I've experienced with my GPS - in order of time to discharge : Sanyo, Varta, Eveready and Duracell - however, the best I've experienced has been with a Chinese brand "Pure Energy".

BTW,

Just wish that the type 2000 hogwash would die a natural death.

I suspect the hogwash "typ. 2000 mAh, min 1900 mAh" actually means : typical 2000 mAh, minimum 1900 mAh.
It's saying that these batteries will have a capacity of at least 1900 mAh and will usually have a capacity close to 2000 mAh.

[Strider]

I suspect the hogwash "typ. 2000 mAh, min 1900 mAh" actually means : typical 2000 mAh, minimum 1900 mAh.
It's saying that these batteries will have a capacity of at least 1900 mAh and will usually have a capacity close to 2000 mAh.

Spot on.

[Ent]

Thanks, Ent, for the research, albeit on a small sample. It accords, mostly, with what I've experienced with my GPS - in order of time to discharge : Sanyo, Varta, Eveready and Duracell - however, the best I've experienced has been with a Chinese brand "Pure Energy".

BTW,

Just wish that the type 2000 hogwash would die a natural death.

I suspect the hogwash "typ. 2000 mAh, min 1900 mAh" actually means : typical 2000 mAh, minimum 1900 mAh.
It's saying that these batteries will have a capacity of at least 1900 mAh and will usually have a capacity close to 2000 mAh.

Sadly none of the tested batteries reached the 2000 mAH, rating. And more than a few failed the minimum rating so not even one made the typical claim.

Short of knowing the internal details of the say the Energizer I would be tempted to say that the 2300 is likely the same 2500 re-labeled as they are needing to be more honest probably as the result of consumers now being able to test the claims. Battery age is a worry and my best recommendation is buy just as many you need and cycle them frequently with a decent charger. What I also found was the Sanyo batteries stood up well to rapid drain after time while the Energizers could not handle the power draw of the 300 lumen Spark 300 headlamp that I had.

The worst batteries outside cheap non name ones are the Duracell. More than a few are leaking with none to be trusted. Also found that their alkalines terrible with one AA almost killing my Zebralight when it leaked and an other destroying a lovely little AAA Leatherman tourch. And to prove the point their Lithiums flunked out as well in the cold. Energizer ones in my Garmin 62S GPS achieved much on expectation but the Duracells went from four bars to two in an hour as the cold got to them. From now on my rechargeables will be Sanyo with other battery chemistry being either Panasonic or Energizer. Never will touch a Duracell again as they simply leak and fail to met their claimed performance. I tend to think that Duracell is just a marketing company that flogs batteries with marking spin while Sanyo and Panasonic are serious research and development focused companies.

After the recent nine day OLT I re-ran the batteries I used through the tester and achieved the following results.

Sanyo Eneloop [2000] 1861,1606, 1777, 1878, 1879, 1929
Sanyo [2700] 2164, 2152, 2253, 2107, 2315, 2256
Sanyo [2500] 2331, 2398, 2328, 2386

I used them in the GPS for one day and then the Spark 300 at night and this worked well. The [2700] ones are rather long in the tooth but can be trusted to hold up for ten hours in the GPS. I on the Arm River Track garbage run, in one night killed the eight Energizer batteries that I took in, as they could not handle the high current draw and the cold meant they went flat in storage.

Cheers

[Strider]

The worst batteries outside cheap non name ones are the Duracell.

Apparently the white-topped Duracell NiMH's are rebranded Eneloops ("Duraloops").

[Ent]

The worst batteries outside cheap non name ones are the Duracell.

Apparently the white-topped Duracell NiMH's are rebranded Eneloops ("Duraloops").

So am I correct the Duracell just rebrands batteries and is not a developer and manufacturer of batteries?

[Strider]

The worst batteries outside cheap non name ones are the Duracell.

Apparently the white-topped Duracell NiMH's are rebranded Eneloops ("Duraloops").

So am I correct the Duracell just rebrands batteries and is not a developer and manufacturer of batteries?

Note my use of the word "apparently". It is suspected, though not confirmed.

[Franco]

Just spotted the new Eneloop line up.
Now the AA and AAA come in three types.
http://www.eneloop.info/eneloop-product ... eries.html

BTW, Duracell has seven factories around the world making batteries.
Four are in the US.
The one in Cleveland (about 600 employees) makes C and D batteries , the La Grange in Georgia (400,000 square feet) does the AAA and 9v
From memory I have seen comments before about Duracell re-branding the Eneloops.
Not at all unusual that one maker includes products from another in their line up.
Panasonic also sold re-badged Eneloops before they bought Sanyo.

[Strider]

Just spotted the new Eneloop line up.
Now the AA and AAA come in three types.
http://www.eneloop.info/eneloop-product ... eries.html

Has been the case for quite a while now. You're out of touch

[Franco]

The Eneloop info was posted on another forum today and that made me think about the Duracell bit.
I meant to post about Duracell before but forgot all about it.