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Rechargeable batteries


Rik (ESA)
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Hi all,

 

Sorry if there is a topic on this already, but a quick search didn't find anything.

 

I'm looking for people's recommendations on the best rechargeable AA batteries and charger, please.

 

I use a sennheiser wireless iem and a line 6 g75, if that makes any difference to offerings!

 

Many thanks in advance,

 

Rick

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I've been using rechargeables for years and have tried several brands. I can tell you that the best AAs by far are made by Eneloop. The professional version is worth the extra IMO, especially for wireless mic use. IKEA sell the Pro version under their own brand (also mail order). Although IKEA  don't admit that they're Eneloops, several specialist websites have tested them as such.

 

I can't say that I've been very happy with my chargers over the years and therefore can't recommend one. The really good ones are quite expensive.

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I have a lot of rechargeables*, not only the gigging stuff but also I have outdoor wildlife cameras. Over the last month I tested all the batteries I had as I had suspicions on some of them. Doing that I threw away 2 silver duracells (very old), 4 energizers, 1 ikea, and a couple of lidl batteries, again old.

I marked the batteries as to how much charge they had. Anything below 1400 I threw away, 14-1800 marked with brown for internal house things, 18-22 marked with blue, and the 22+ marked with red. most of them are red.

The ones that have surprised me the most are the coloured batteries I bought from lidl, for £5 for 4. I have quite a few of those. as I said I threw 2 away, I have 14 left I think, they are all red. The 3 ikea batteries that are remaining are higher than specified (they say 2480 and two are over 26). My new duracels are all good but I got them a few weeks ago when I threw a lot out. The duracels and the lidls (and ikeas) work a week in the trail camera.

 

* Just counted 56 AAs, 12 AAAs, but there are probably some I am missing in gigging stuff.

Edited by Woodinblack
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I’ve always felt GP were a good make but that’s not based on any science on my part. I may have read a Which? review at some point. 
 

Anyway whatever make you get, use the slowest ‘intelligent’ charger you can find. Fast charging is terrible for batteries. You do need one with proper end-of-charge detection though, not just a super cheap one that goes for a fixed time then stops. 

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+1 for the black pro eneloops. Also Fujitsu 'black' pro type but can't see them available atm.

For charge and test the BL7000 charger in the link below has facilities to charge / test / refresh . May be successful in bringing some 'worn out' cells back to being more useable.

https://www.batterylogic.co.uk/nimh-aa-rechargeable-battery.asp

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Another vote for the Lidl batteries, I bought a couple of 12 packs of the coloured ones (2,300mAh, ready charged) a few years ago after having good results with some older versions too. Most of them are a few years old now with the oldest maybe 10 years old. I probably lose at most a couple a year that won't charge, but basically they go on forever, a few are rolled out at Christmas only to power lights and they are all good too even after sitting unused for 11 months, the rest are in pretty constant use and have been recharged hundreds of times.

 

I also have a Lidl intelligent charger that does what it says on the tin, the only thing is that if I completely flatten them (usually by leaving my Zoom B10N on overnight) it detects the batteries as duds. I have an old fashioned trickle charger and 5 mins in that gives enough charge for the intelligent charger to identify them as good. Once charged they are back to behaving normally.

 

At gigs they run the B1 a Zoom H4N recorder and my Line6 wireless transmitter plus my Trantec in ears receiver and all run for longer than the length of the gig, I carry spares but have never needed them. 

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On 19/08/2021 at 16:47, stevie said:

I've been using rechargeables for years and have tried several brands. I can tell you that the best AAs by far are made by Eneloop. The professional version is worth the extra IMO, especially for wireless mic use. IKEA sell the Pro version under their own brand (also mail order). Although IKEA  don't admit that they're Eneloops, several specialist websites have tested them as such.

 

I can't say that I've been very happy with my chargers over the years and therefore can't recommend one. The really good ones are quite expensive.

I have about 20 of the IKEA ones both in AA and AAA size and have never had a problem. Don't buy the IKEA charger though it takes ages.

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On 29/08/2021 at 10:08, rmorris said:

+1 for the black pro eneloops. Also Fujitsu 'black' pro type but can't see them available atm.

For charge and test the BL7000 charger in the link below has facilities to charge / test / refresh . May be successful in bringing some 'worn out' cells back to being more useable.

https://www.batterylogic.co.uk/nimh-aa-rechargeable-battery.asp

 

I've bit the bullet and bought this charger along with 4 of the black Eneloop batteries.  Hoping I might get some life back into my other batteries but happy if I just get 4 good batteries for my radio gear!  

 

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another eneloop user here, Sennheiser G4 mic. One charge lasts at least 2 gigs for me, and that will be nearly 5 hours of use (turned off in the break)

I have this charger

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Eneloop-Panasonic-K-KJ18MCC40E-battery-charger-white/dp/B07QM9TDMG/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=panasonic+aa+eneloop+and+charger&qid=1630493837&sr=8-6

 

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