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Gear / Technical Help => Remote Power => Topic started by: rastasean on October 31, 2016, 11:51:52 AM

Title: recommend AA rechargeable to purchase
Post by: rastasean on October 31, 2016, 11:51:52 AM
Hi All,

Been too long since I've done any serious recording, unfortunately.

I have a few AA rechargeable batteries, but some may be dead and can't be revived by the la crosse charger I have. What's popular these days with yall? There's a frys nearby so I'll price shop between them and amazon.

I vaguely remember the sony M10 not doing as well with rechargeable as non-rechargeable. Is that correct or am I mis-remembering?

thanks!
Title: Re: recommend AA rechargeable to purchase
Post by: dnsacks on October 31, 2016, 12:50:28 PM
my m10 runs great on rechargables (10+ Hours per charge) -- so that's not an issue

You should be good with any name brand LSD (low self-discharge) nimh battery -- I use duracell and everready lsd nimh with great success -- the "gold standard" is the eneloop brand by panasonic.

Title: Re: recommend AA rechargeable to purchase
Post by: rastasean on October 31, 2016, 02:48:01 PM
You should be good with any name brand LSD (low self-discharge) nimh battery -- I use duracell and everready lsd nimh with great success -- the "gold standard" is the eneloop brand by panasonic.

What milliamp do you use with duracell and everready?

I'll also check out the panasonic ones!
Title: Re: recommend AA rechargeable to purchase
Post by: dnsacks on October 31, 2016, 06:20:41 PM
don't know off the top of my head -- likely 2,200 MAH or so, whatever they had in stock (and on special) at my local grocery store.  Will follow-up when I get home

To be candid, although I run both the "regular" white Eneloops, the high capacity black eneloops and several different batches of energizer/duracell LSD NIMH batteries, all have behaved similarly for me when used/charged in my lacrosse charger.  In fact, since I replaced my pre LSD NIMH batteries a few years ago, I haven't seen a need to discharge/condition any of my current crop and find them all to behave similarly (i.e. they all provide more power/run time than alkaline batteries and all hold their charge quite well for a month or so post-charge)
Title: Re: recommend AA rechargeable to purchase
Post by: willndmb on November 03, 2016, 10:07:36 PM
I too use Duracell, also believe they are like 21/2200

Work great
Title: Re: recommend AA rechargeable to purchase
Post by: F.O.Bean on November 04, 2016, 07:19:46 AM
I have had GREAT success with the 2,300mah Energizer AA's! Been using them for MANY years, and they normally last around 5 years or so with my Powerex MHC-9000 HQ AA/AAA Charger :) You can find them ANYWHERE, usually Wal-Mart for me!

I also LOVE Tenergy brand batteries! They make a high-capacity AA that's rather cheap online! I use their 9v & 9.6v NIMH batteries as well! Here's a link!
http://www.all-battery.com/8pcsTenergyPremiumAA2500mAhNiMH_Rechargeable_BatteriesPlus2AAHolders-90431.aspx
Title: Re: recommend AA rechargeable to purchase
Post by: down2earthlandscaper on November 05, 2016, 05:34:17 PM
Regarding rechargeable batteries vs. alkaline: I'm taking a Mix-Pre D out for the first time tonight and am wondering about battery life (regular vs. rechargeable) I have some white Panasonic enloops (never used them so don't know how they perform) and also plenty of new regular alkaline batteries. I'll be running P48 mics
Title: Re: recommend AA rechargeable to purchase
Post by: rastasean on November 06, 2016, 01:29:42 AM
I picked up two 4 packs of energizer AA2300 mAh.

That's a very good sale price, Bean!
Title: Re: recommend AA rechargeable to purchase
Post by: rastasean on November 06, 2016, 01:30:35 AM
Regarding rechargeable batteries vs. alkaline: I'm taking a Mix-Pre D out for the first time tonight and am wondering about battery life (regular vs. rechargeable) I have some white Panasonic enloops (never used them so don't know how they perform) and also plenty of new regular alkaline batteries. I'll be running P48 mics

let us know what you use and how it goes!
Title: Re: recommend AA rechargeable to purchase
Post by: dnsacks on November 06, 2016, 02:09:33 PM
Regarding rechargeable batteries vs. alkaline: I'm taking a Mix-Pre D out for the first time tonight and am wondering about battery life (regular vs. rechargeable) I have some white Panasonic enloops (never used them so don't know how they perform) and also plenty of new regular alkaline batteries. I'll be running P48 mics

IMO, it always pays to do a dry run -- set the rig up, record the radio, etc. and see how long it goes until you get low battery warnings -- recharge batteries and retry a few times to get comfortable and you should have a good idea of what you need.  Interestingly, the eneloops and other nimh batteries generally have a higher capacity than alkaline batteries.  However, since NIMH run at a lower voltage than alkalines, you need to make sure the device voltage cutoff/warning isn't kicking in too early.
Title: Re: recommend AA rechargeable to purchase
Post by: rigpimp on November 23, 2016, 09:24:42 AM
Eneloops run in all of my gear unless it is ProCell 9v in my Sonosax(s) or an external battery pack of some kind
Title: Re: recommend AA rechargeable to purchase
Post by: F.O.Bean on November 23, 2016, 08:22:55 PM
Regarding rechargeable batteries vs. alkaline: I'm taking a Mix-Pre D out for the first time tonight and am wondering about battery life (regular vs. rechargeable) I have some white Panasonic enloops (never used them so don't know how they perform) and also plenty of new regular alkaline batteries. I'll be running P48 mics

IMO, it always pays to do a dry run -- set the rig up, record the radio, etc. and see how long it goes until you get low battery warnings -- recharge batteries and retry a few times to get comfortable and you should have a good idea of what you need.  Interestingly, the eneloops and other nimh batteries generally have a higher capacity than alkaline batteries.  However, since NIMH run at a lower voltage than alkalines, you need to make sure the device voltage cutoff/warning isn't kicking in too early.

100% agreed! If you DO NOT do a "dry run", you'll never know exactly how long your rig will run! Cycle those new batteries at least a handful of times, and then a few test runs, and you should be good to go ;)
Title: Re: recommend AA rechargeable to purchase
Post by: spyder9 on December 04, 2016, 09:30:54 PM
Panasonic Eneloop Pro

The best in the world, imo.


https://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=1148532&gclid=CNDm-KqA3NACFZM2gQodR-UL-g&Q=&ap=y&m=Y&c3api=1876%2C92051677562%2C&is=REG&A=details
Title: Re: recommend AA rechargeable to purchase
Post by: rigpimp on December 05, 2016, 10:54:33 AM
With only 500 recharges have you noticed any of these crapping out yet?  I did not know Pro's existed.

Panasonic Eneloop Pro

The best in the world, imo.


https://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=1148532&gclid=CNDm-KqA3NACFZM2gQodR-UL-g&Q=&ap=y&m=Y&c3api=1876%2C92051677562%2C&is=REG&A=details
Title: Re: recommend AA rechargeable to purchase
Post by: Jerseyboy on February 07, 2017, 08:39:46 AM
When did Panasonic take over the Eneloop brand?  I have many AA's that were manufactured by Sanyo/Eneloop that are still performing as good as new. I've been using them in my R09hr for years. I just recently put three of them to work in a Tascam DR40 using Phantom power 48 with DPA4099s. They held up for about 2 hours of recording & one hour of playback on my ride home.
Title: Re: recommend AA rechargeable to purchase
Post by: rigpimp on February 07, 2017, 10:38:17 AM
When did Panasonic take over the Eneloop brand?  I have many AA's that were manufactured by Sanyo/Eneloop that are still performing as good as new. I've been using them in my R09hr for years. I just recently put three of them to work in a Tascam DR40 using Phantom power 48 with DPA4099s. They held up for about 2 hours of recording & one hour of playback on my ride home.

Six years ago?

https://www.cnet.com/news/panasonic-finally-buys-up-all-of-sanyo/
Title: Re: recommend AA rechargeable to purchase
Post by: Gutbucket on February 07, 2017, 10:45:35 AM
Eneloop Pro offers a bit more capacity and current capability at the expense of a reduced recharge cycle count.  If that is appropriate or not depends on your application. You'd probably need to replace them every 3 years or so anyway, so the reduced cycle count of the Pro's may not be a factor. But for a low power draw M10 the standard white Eneloops are entirely sufficient and appropriate. 

I just replaced a bunch of my old Maha Imedion NiMH LSD AA's with 8 new Maha Powerex precharged NiMH AA's (same NiMH LSD line, new name, slightly higher 2600mAhr capacity).  The first four went into the Maha charger just this morning set to break-in mode, which takes about 3 days.  I'll then know the true capacity of each cell and can us that data to match these up into pairs for best longevity and performance.  I've been very pleased with all of my Maha LSD NiMH batteries over the years and also use Powerex precharged 9.6V LSD NiMH in my 9V preamps.

Once the break-in of these new cells is complete I'll report back with the as measured real-world capacity.
Title: Re: recommend AA rechargeable to purchase
Post by: F.O.Bean on February 12, 2017, 12:06:39 AM
I LOVE my Maha Powerex MHC-9000 WizardOne AA/AAA Charger, and it has DEFINITELY extended the life of my NIMH AA's/AAA's to around 5 years or so now :) My MHC-9000 is well over a decade old by now and has been 100% completely reliable and rock solid, and I don't see why it won't last another 10+ years :) I highly recommend spending the $50 if you want a really nice and HQ charger that you'll probably only need to buy once!!!

Here's a link to it at B+H & Adorama!
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/883794-REG/Powerex_mh_c9000_0000gs_MH_C9000_WizardOne_Charger_Analyzer_for.html/?c3api=3679%2Cbing%2C2763659972%2C1105202454774

https://www.adorama.com/bymhc9000.html?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=%5bSHOPPING%5d%20Branded%20%5bADL%5d%20%5bPLA%5d&utm_term=1100504394605&utm_content=Batteries%20%26%20Power
Title: Re: recommend AA rechargeable to purchase
Post by: Gutbucket on February 13, 2017, 02:55:29 PM
The Maha Powerex MHC-9000 is a very good charger.  It's what I use.  However, although I haven't used it I'd recommend people check out the Lacrosse BC700, which is about the same cost as the Maha (or BC1000, which just ups the MAX charge current but costs more. The BC700 is otherwise identical and entirely sufficient), as it seems a bit simpler to navigate through the functions with less button pushing yet otherwise seems equivalent to the Maha.

Break in mode has now been completed for the first four of eight Maha Powerex Precharged AA's I recently received.  As mentioned these are marked as having 2600mAh nominal capacity.  Results are:

Battery 1 = 2562
Battery 2 = 2552
Battery 3 = 2561
Battery 3 = 2537

These are true capacity numbers based on discharge monitoring phase of the break-in mode.  I'll do the same for the next four, then for best performance and longevity I'll use those results to match the batch of eight into pairs based on closest similar capacities.
Title: Re: recommend AA rechargeable to purchase
Post by: F.O.Bean on February 13, 2017, 11:41:45 PM
The Maha Powerex MHC-9000 is a very good charger.  It's what I use.  However, although I haven't used it I'd recommend people check out the Lacrosse BC700, which is about the same cost as the Maha (or BC1000, which just ups the MAX charge current but costs more. The BC700 is otherwise identical and entirely sufficient), as it seems a bit simpler to navigate through the functions with less button pushing yet otherwise seems equivalent to the Maha.

Break in mode has now been completed for the first four of eight Maha Powerex Precharged AA's I recently received.  As mentioned these are marked as having 2600mAh nominal capacity.  Results are:

Battery 1 = 2562
Battery 2 = 2552
Battery 3 = 2561
Battery 3 = 2537

These are true capacity numbers based on discharge monitoring phase of the break-in mode.  I'll do the same for the next four, then for best performance and longevity I'll use those results to match the batch of eight into pairs based on closest similar capacities.


That "Break-In" mode is what makes my batteries last so long! I do that to ALL of my brand new AA/AAA's. I also do that to ALL of my AA's/AAA's about ONCE a year, just to keep them in the best shape possible! I LOVE knowing EXACTLY how much juice is in each battery! Well, the MHC-9000 does just that!

"Break-In" your batteries when you buy them new, as well as about ONCE a year to keep them fresh, and your AA/AAA NIMH's will last 5+ years too ;) I also do the "Refresh & Analyze" every 6 months or so to keep them in the best shape!

The MHC-9000 is worth EVERY penny IMO! It gives me TOTAL peace of mind, as I know EXACTLY how much juice is in each battery! The MHC-9000 also identifies any BAD batteries very quickly, and lets you know when it's time to THROW AWAY/RECYCLE that particular battery!
Title: Re: recommend AA rechargeable to purchase
Post by: Gutbucket on February 14, 2017, 09:35:56 AM
Yep.

One drawback about Break-In Mode is that it takes about 3 days to complete.  That's because it goes through multiple charge / discharge cycles, measuring capacity upon each discharge.  The extra cycles help form the batteries to fully maximize their capacity, a process which otherwise happens naturally over the first several use cycles.  Doing it this way maximizes them from the start, does so in an optimal way, and measures the true capacity upon completion.

Refresh & Analyze does basically the same thing with less cycles, so it reaches completion much quicker, and is appropriate for occasional on-going maintenance.  It also reports the true measured capacity.  As long as the batteries remain in regular use you shouldn't need to use Break-In Mode for occasional on-going maintenance, but if they have been sitting for many months unused or have otherwise become suspect, it's the most appropriate choice.

Discharge Mode also reports true capacity, but will not charge the battery first (making it not particularly useful to me).  The other charge modes display charger output mAh upon completion - basically the amount of juice the battery took to charge, which dos not reflect the total capacity of the battery.  Total capacity can only be determined via a measured discharge cycle.

And for anyone comparing chargers, AFAIK the Lacrosse BC700 offers equivalent Break-In, Refresh & Analyze, and Charge modes.