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Gear / Technical Help => Remote Power => Topic started by: huskerdu on February 22, 2018, 08:59:27 AM

Title: Are Ikea's $7 Rechargeable Batteries Actually Pricey Eneloop Pro AAs in Disguise
Post by: huskerdu on February 22, 2018, 08:59:27 AM
https://gizmodo.com/are-ikeas-7-rechargeable-batteries-actually-pricey-ene-1823204061 (https://gizmodo.com/are-ikeas-7-rechargeable-batteries-actually-pricey-ene-1823204061)
Title: Re: Are Ikea's $7 Rechargeable Batteries Actually Pricey Eneloop Pro AAs in Disguise
Post by: lsd2525 on February 22, 2018, 09:44:03 AM
https://gizmodo.com/are-ikeas-7-rechargeable-batteries-actually-pricey-ene-1823204061 (https://gizmodo.com/are-ikeas-7-rechargeable-batteries-actually-pricey-ene-1823204061)

There was a thread on here about these a while back. I actually bought 8 AA's. They were precharged, and on the 1st set I got probably 12-14 recording on the M10 and they aren't dead yet.
Title: Re: Are Ikea's $7 Rechargeable Batteries Actually Pricey Eneloop Pro AAs in Disguise
Post by: robeti on February 22, 2018, 11:06:20 AM
Good to know! Thanks!
Will go to Ikea soon and pick up a few of these.
Title: Re: Are Ikea's $7 Rechargeable Batteries Actually Pricey Eneloop Pro AAs in Disguise
Post by: heathen on February 22, 2018, 11:34:52 AM
Note they have two different types (I think one is white and the other is brown, but the packaging may be similar).

Also I believe this is the thread in question: http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=183894.0
Title: Re: Are Ikea's $7 Rechargeable Batteries Actually Pricey Eneloop Pro AAs in Disguise
Post by: ilduclo on February 22, 2018, 11:36:48 AM
hmmm, maybe that's why my Duracells have lasted so long. "Made in Japan". They are pushing 8 years old, use them in my bicycle lights and in my recorders.  :bigsmile:

hmm, looking at their on line listings, only 900mah for white label, 1000 for the tan ones, next ones are 2450's though

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70303876/

not available on line  :angry3:
Title: Re: Are Ikea's $7 Rechargeable Batteries Actually Pricey Eneloop Pro AAs in Disguise
Post by: voltronic on February 22, 2018, 08:41:32 PM
I bought several packs of the 2450s last time I was at IKEA and can confirm they are high quality.  I haven't used them in a recorder or preamp, but in an XBOX360 controller (for my RetroPie gaming setup) which sucks batteries like nobody's business.

Also, instead of the STORHÖGEN (http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00303648/) charger ($34.95), I bought two of the VINNINGE (http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70303635/) ($2.99).  Very small and compact, and charges from any USB source.  I'd never need to charge more than 4 AAs at a time anyway.
Title: Re: Are Ikea's $7 Rechargeable Batteries Actually Pricey Eneloop Pro AAs in Disguise
Post by: sos on February 23, 2018, 09:29:09 AM
hmm, looking at their on line listings, only 900mah for white label, 1000 for the tan ones, next ones are 2450's though


Just to be clear:

           tan           white         Eneloop Pro (B&H)
AAA  500mAh     900mAh      950mAh ($13.39/4)

AA   1000mAh   2450mAh    2550mAh ($16.97/4)

       ($3.99/4)  ($6.99/4)

Title: Re: Are Ikea's $7 Rechargeable Batteries Actually Pricey Eneloop Pro AAs in Disguise
Post by: ts on February 24, 2018, 08:16:06 AM
hmm, looking at their on line listings, only 900mah for white label, 1000 for the tan ones, next ones are 2450's though


Just to be clear:

           tan           white         Eneloop Pro (B&H)
AAA  500mAh     900mAh      950mAh ($13.39/4)

AA   1000mAh   2450mAh    2550mAh ($16.97/4)

       ($3.99/4)  ($6.99/4)

All my Eneloop Pros are 2450. Purchased within the last year.  :hmmm:
Title: Re: Are Ikea's $7 Rechargeable Batteries Actually Pricey Eneloop Pro AAs in Disguise
Post by: sos on February 24, 2018, 08:45:41 PM
All my Eneloop Pros are 2450. Purchased within the last year.  :hmmm:

Yep, indeed they are. The 2,550 figure is prominently visible on Eneloop's packaging, with the words "up to (2550) mAh". A closer look on the batteries themselves reveals "min (2450) mAh". Pretty safe to say, I've bought my last set of Eneloops...
Title: Re: Are Ikea's $7 Rechargeable Batteries Actually Pricey Eneloop Pro AAs in Disguise
Post by: ts on February 25, 2018, 12:27:57 PM
Same here. I have plenty of Eneloops that say 2450 on the battery. I have one set of Ikeas that also say 2450 and I’m pleased with the results in my Mix Pre 6 and PMD 706. A little over 5 hours with 24/48 2 channels.
Title: Re: Are Ikea's $7 Rechargeable Batteries Actually Pricey Eneloop Pro AAs in Disguise
Post by: dactylus on March 14, 2018, 02:51:54 PM

I've been using the Ikea LADDA AA 2450's in my Oade CM PMD661 for the last 3-4 months.  Two channels of phantom powered Milab goodness...  The run time on a freshly charged set of 4 these batteries has been around 4.5 hours.

https://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70303876/


I'm using a Maha MH-C801D charger to recharge the Ikea AAA and AA LADDA's.  The same charger that I use for the Eneloop Pro AA's.

https://www.amazon.com/Powerex-Maha-MH-C801D-Eight-Charger/dp/B003OU51LG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1521053193&sr=8-1&keywords=maha+MH-C801D

Title: Re: Are Ikea's $7 Rechargeable Batteries Actually Pricey Eneloop Pro AAs in Disguise
Post by: IMPigpen on March 14, 2018, 03:16:45 PM
Was down by the only IKEA here in MA last Monday, and thanks to the thread on here picked up some of the Ladda 2450 AA and 900 AAA since my sons toys are always eating through batteries and I can use the AA in my recorder as backup to the 5V external!   

Picked up the LADDA charger for $13 too.  Charges 4 AA or AAA at a time with a wall wart.

https://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40241309/ (https://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40241309/)
Title: Re: Are Ikea's $7 Rechargeable Batteries Actually Pricey Eneloop Pro AAs in Disguise
Post by: lsd2525 on March 15, 2018, 11:04:20 AM
Question about the LAADA recharger and the batteries. This is the first set of rechargeable batteries I've owned. They were precharged when they came from Ikea. Do I need to discharge the fully before I charge them back up again? I'd like to have a full charge for this weekend, but don't know if I can fully discharge them by then. I know this was an issue on older batteries - how's about these? Thanks in advance
Title: Re: Are Ikea's $7 Rechargeable Batteries Actually Pricey Eneloop Pro AAs in Disguise
Post by: Gutbucket on March 15, 2018, 11:08:32 AM
^No need to discharge fully prior to recharge.  NiMH does not have a "memory effect" like NiCad chemistry cells.
Title: Re: Are Ikea's $7 Rechargeable Batteries Actually Pricey Eneloop Pro AAs in Disguise
Post by: TheMetalist on March 15, 2018, 11:36:16 AM
I picked up a set of Ladda 2450 and a Ladda 4x charger. When fully loaded my analog battery tester says the batteries are Low on power, not Good. Used them for the first time yesterday with my Sony M10 and after two hours the power was down to half. Is this normal? Not what I expected.

Title: Re: Are Ikea's $7 Rechargeable Batteries Actually Pricey Eneloop Pro AAs in Disguise
Post by: lsd2525 on March 15, 2018, 11:42:40 AM
^No need to discharge fully prior to recharge.  NiMH does not have a "memory effect" like NiCad chemistry cells.

 :cheers: Thanks! So much different info out there, I just wasn't sure.
Title: Re: Are Ikea's $7 Rechargeable Batteries Actually Pricey Eneloop Pro AAs in Disguise
Post by: lsd2525 on March 15, 2018, 11:45:01 AM
I picked up a set of Ladda 2450 and a Ladda 4x charger. When fully loaded my analog battery tester says the batteries are Low on power, not Good. Used them for the first time yesterday with my Sony M10 and after two hours the power was down to half. Is this normal? Not what I expected.

Did you change your battery type on the M10? There is a setting in the menu to tell it what kind of batteries you are using to get an accurate reading. My first set got 12-14 actual recording time and they still had a bar or 2 left.
Title: Re: Are Ikea's $7 Rechargeable Batteries Actually Pricey Eneloop Pro AAs in Disguise
Post by: Gutbucket on March 15, 2018, 11:56:27 AM
I picked up a set of Ladda 2450 and a Ladda 4x charger. When fully loaded my analog battery tester says the batteries are Low on power, not Good. Used them for the first time yesterday with my Sony M10 and after two hours the power was down to half. Is this normal? Not what I expected.

Nominal voltage for NiMH is 1.2V compared to 1.5V for alkaline cells.  So a battery tester set for or intended for alkaline cells will indicate low voltage, and any built-in charge indicator in whatever device you use them in instead of alkaline cells needs to be set for NiMH in order for the metering to be correctly calibrated.  As lad2525 notes, you'll want to change the battery type setting in your recorder's setup menu.
Title: Re: Are Ikea's $7 Rechargeable Batteries Actually Pricey Eneloop Pro AAs in Disguise
Post by: nak700s on March 15, 2018, 12:41:53 PM
https://gizmodo.com/are-ikeas-7-rechargeable-batteries-actually-pricey-ene-1823204061 (https://gizmodo.com/are-ikeas-7-rechargeable-batteries-actually-pricey-ene-1823204061)

There was a thread on here about these a while back. I actually bought 8 AA's. They were precharged, and on the 1st set I got probably 12-14 recording on the M10 and they aren't dead yet.

An M-10 will run for approximately 50 hours on a pair of good alkaline batteries like Duracell, Energizer, Kirkland, etc.  Personally, I will run shows until I lose count of how many I've done until the battery indicator is down to the last bar...and will change them out of fear, even though I know I can do another show or two!  I've never used a deck that is better on battery power consumption!
Title: Re: Are Ikea's $7 Rechargeable Batteries Actually Pricey Eneloop Pro AAs in Disguise
Post by: TheMetalist on March 15, 2018, 02:52:48 PM
Did you change your battery type on the M10? There is a setting in the menu to tell it what kind of batteries you are using to get an accurate reading. My first set got 12-14 actual recording time and they still had a bar or 2 left.
Nominal voltage for NiMH is 1.2V compared to 1.5V for alkaline cells.  So a battery tester set for or intended for alkaline cells will indicate low voltage, and any built-in charge indicator in whatever device you use them in instead of alkaline cells needs to be set for NiMH in order for the metering to be correctly calibrated.  As lad2525 notes, you'll want to change the battery type setting in your recorder's setup menu.

Thank you very much guys! Didn't know that. I checked my M10 and yes, it was set for Alkaline instead of NiMH.  :coolguy:

One question though. Is it a bad idea to charge the batteries often? Will it reduce their life span?
Title: Re: Are Ikea's $7 Rechargeable Batteries Actually Pricey Eneloop Pro AAs in Disguise
Post by: Gutbucket on March 15, 2018, 03:40:30 PM
You don't want to overcharge them, so just avoid charging them if they are already fully topped up.  Unless I've run them completely down, I just recharge them a day or so prior to use.

Supposedly maximum life is achieved when they are stored (long term) about half-charged at around 40F.
Title: Re: Are Ikea's $7 Rechargeable Batteries Actually Pricey Eneloop Pro AAs in Disguise
Post by: TheMetalist on March 15, 2018, 04:08:18 PM
You don't want to overcharge them, so just avoid charging them if they are already fully topped up.  Unless I've run them completely down, I just recharge them a day or so prior to use.

Supposedly maximum life is achieved when they are stored (long term) about half-charged at around 40F.

Ok. Thank you. I'll keep that in mind.  8)