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Research Topic: Which Battery Will Do?

Last updated:	Overview & Terms 8 March 2012		Single Use 25 August 2011		Rechargeable 29 May 2009		Battery Analyser 13 March 2012		Recommended Batteries for Particular Uses 21 February 2012		Battery Shopping 5 May 2012
Original article by Ian Mander, 22 July 2002			Single Use Test 6 November 2007		Rechargeable Test 13 March 2012		Test Procedure 4 June 2011		When Battery Testing Goes Bad - Consumer Magazine 27 November 2011		More Info & Links 29 February 2012
					LSD Shootout 11 March 2012

On this page: Low self discharge NiMH | High capacity NiMH | Primary batteries | Button and coin cells | Battery Holders | Chargers

Shopping for batteries and chargers

Low self discharge (LSD) cells

Sanyo Eneloop cells are available in New Zealand from PB Technologies (link opens a search for "eneloop"). 4-packs of either AA or AAA cells are NZ$22.89 (cash price), and a two pack of AAs with a charger is NZ$28.75 (note that the charger charges pairs of cells). Because of the present exchange rate online purchases from overseas web sites may be good value (such as these AA cells or these AAA cells from DealExtreme), although fake Eneloops have turned up at some shops (including DealExtreme).

Sadly Dick Smith Electronics has sold out of Eneloops and it's a great pity they didn't recognise their value. Their replacement - a DSE-branded low self discharge cell - are more expensive than PB Tech's Eneloops, and look like a relabeled version of a certain brand of poor quality cell. I don't recommend them. Stick with Eneloops or one of the other top brands. Update Dec 2010: DSE have given up on their house brand and returned to stocking Eneloops! Not the best prices but it's excellent that they have them again.

Note that the second generation Eneloop (which should be the version sold by everyone now) is rated good for 1,500 cycles (up from 1,000 cycles) and still having 75% of its capacity after three years (85% after 1 year for the first version). Eneloops are widely regarded as having the lowest self discharge amongst all the low self discharge cells available.

GS Yuasa EniTime is a newer arrival on the LSD scene, but GS Yuasa has been around for many years. DealExtreme has some GS Yuasa LSD cells which are quite inexpensive - perhaps suspiciously so for the AAA: Enitime AA 2,100 mAh (US$12.80, ~NZ$17) and Enitime AAA 800 mAh (US$8.30, ~NZ$11). Users have mostly reported OK results so they're probably genuine, although their LSD ability isn't the best - initial self discharge (20% loss in the first month) is faster than other LSD cells but settles down to a slower rate after a while.

Higher capacity cells with LSD properties are also available. However, there is a trade off between capacity and other attributes. Cells with the lowest self discharge and the longest cycle lifes are around 2,000-2,100 mAh only. Higher capacity LSD cells have a higher rate of self discharge and do not last as many cycles. For example, the Sanyo XX AA cell is rated at 2500 mAh, and to have 75% charge after 1 year and last up to 500 cycles. The Sanyo Eneloop AA is rated at 2000 mAh, and to have 90% charge after 6 months or 75% charge after 3 years and last up to 1500 cycles. For ordinary day to day use I recommend the Eneloop even though it has less capacity.

International Outdoor Store sells the Sanyo XX (US$21.99, ~NZ$29) and also the very colourful Eneloop Glitter 8 pack (US$39.99, ~NZ$52), along with ordinary AA and AAA Eneloops.

New Zealand battery retailer Ian Jenkins at Ecobatteries sells other brands of higher capacity cells with LSD properties, notably the Yuasa Enitime 2,500 mAh and the Maha Imedion 2,400 mAh. His own testing at a constant 1 amp discharge has shown them to have 2,255 mAh and 2,133 mAh respectively.

High capacity NiMH cells (non-LSD)

No high capacity batteries have a particularly long service life, and the advantages and convenience that LSD cells like Eneloops offer along with their very long service life make them much more attractive in my opinion. However, your own needs may mean the higher capacities some cells offer are worth the downsides.

The Maha Powerex brand is available in a 2,700 mAh version at a pretty good price in New Zealand from Ian Jenkins at Ecobatteries. They or the Sanyo 2,700 mAh are probably the best high capacity cells available.

I strongly recommend that people do not buy Energizer NiMH cells. They simply don't have the quality to provide faithful service.

Primary (single use) batteries

GP Digi1 (NiZn) is now sold out from Dick Smith Electronics. This is a great shame - they were good batteries that used the NiZn chemistry, which has a slightly higher voltage than zinc-carbon. That extra voltage was sometimes exactly what was needed.

Car alarm remote controls commonly use small 12 volt batteries:

• 23A - also known as A23, GP23A, MN21, V23GA, ANSI-1181A, 8LR932, 8LR23. These last two names come from the very small alkaline cells that are used to make the 23A batteries; eight LR932 cells. A 23A battery has about 50 mAh capacity and measures 10.3 mm diameter by 28.9 mm long.
• 27A or this one (I haven't bought from that store) or here - also known as A27, GP27A, MN27, L828, 8LR50. A 27A battery has about 22 mAh capacity and measures 7.7 mm diameter by 28 mm long.

Button and coin cells

These are available inexpensively online, if you don't mind waiting for international shipping. Silver oxide cells have more capacity than alkaline cells and are also more expensive. These cells are listed by size, diameter first. Often a thicker or thinner cell will fit. The W on the end of an SR number (eg, SR626SW) means it's specifically designed for watch use. Zinc air cells are most often used for hearing aids.

alkaline button cells | lithium coin cells | zinc air (hearing aid) button cells

* Not in stock, actual time until shipped uncertain (normally about a week).

Battery Holders

Battery	Holders
AA	2*AA switched 3*AA switched 4*AA switched 6*AA unswitched
AAA	2*AAA switched 3*AAA switched 4*AAA switched
18650	1*18650 2*18650 3*18650 4*18650

Chargers

Ecobatteries also sells the excellent Maha MH-C9000 analyser/charger for a good price, and several other models of Maha charger.

International customers may want to try Thomas Distributing, where I bought my original MH-C9000, although their shipping prices for non-US customers are quite high.

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Last updated:	Overview & Terms 8 March 2012		Single Use 25 August 2011		Rechargeable 29 May 2009		Battery Analyser 13 March 2012		Recommended Batteries for Particular Uses 21 February 2012		Battery Shopping 5 May 2012
Original article by Ian Mander, 22 July 2002			Single Use Test 6 November 2007		Rechargeable Test 13 March 2012		Test Procedure 4 June 2011		When Battery Testing Goes Bad - Consumer Magazine 27 November 2011		More Info & Links 29 February 2012
					LSD Shootout 11 March 2012

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