Tenergy AA/AAA capacity ratings?

Has anybody here used the Tenergy (All-Battery.com being the largest supplier)
AA or AAA NiMH batteries? Has anybody tested the actual capacity of these
things using the IEC standard for this [in partucilar, as implemented in the
Maha Powerex MH-C9000 (0G* model)?

I bought a set of four of the 2600mAh batteries and found the following; 1752,
1806, 1824 and 1948 mAh capacity ratings using this method (break-in on the
C9000 charger). All tests were started with the batteries fresh as shipped
from All-Battery. Further, all shows no charge capacity when tested with my
ZTS MBT-1 Pulse Load Multi-Battery Tester.

These numbers seem absurd, frankly, a case of false advertising. I admittedly
have a small sample, only four AA batteries, but there is no sign that they
come from the same batch. I have read a few reviews of quality and a few
reviews of lower than expected capacity. Still, 700-800mAh less than the
labeling suggests is simply wrong. My Maha Imedion batteries are showing
between 2220 and 2290 mAh consistantly and they are labeled at 2100mAh. You
obviously get what you pay for. But, more importantly, you should get what
you are paying for. I bought those Tenergy batteries with the expectation of
2600mAh and I understand that variance might show these batteres as low as
2400mAh or so .... but 1800-1900mAh? That is instane and a clearly falsely
labeled battery.

Again, I emphasize that I only have four batteries to judge from. Further, I
bought their low self discharge 2300mAh batteries [3 packs of 4 batteries] and
I am still in the process of determining the capacity ... but I should know
soon, but what I saw during the discharge process looked like they would at
least be approaching 2100mAh, which is much more what I would expect on the
low-end.

Anyway, the jury is still out. Does anybody else have experience with these
batteries and can indicate what kind of capacity they have seen with them?

I guess this has turned out to be more of a hobby than a useful addition to my
home as I have more batteries now than I have devices to use them ;-)

 

Hello Thomas.

Tenergy Li-Ion 2600 mAh cells has less capacity than 2000mAh.

Tenergys CR123 is pretty good.

A lot more people than you had problems with Tenergy AA 2600 mAh Ni-MH
cells, they perform not well.

The best AA Ni-MH cell is probably MAHA Powerex 2700 mAh. Very little
selfdischarging and pretty much the same capacity that advertised.

Anders

 

CA State AG should be contacted if this is consistant.

Seems like it is pretty tough to make a poor one use lithium battery, eh?

I have more coming so that I have a statistical sample. If they all
consistantly function poorly, I will be drafting a letter to the California
Attourney General about this business of falsely advertising their product
[and thus taking away good business from competitors].

The 2700mAh has plenty of self-discharge [although not bad for a regular high
capacity NiMH battery]. I am a big fan of the Maha Imedion batteries as they
are rated at 2100mAh and typically run from 2220-2290mAh in my testing and
have been the best low-self-discharge batteries I have used to date.

Thanks for your response.

 

Hello Thomas.

Yes Maha Imedion have better capacity than Sanyo Eneloop but only when
discharging at moderate current (less than 3A), with 3A and more Sanyo
Eneloop perform better.

I am testing some Imedion cells and soon, 15/3 and 18/3 comes the 3
months selfdischarge test.
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=182914&highlight=imedion

Anders

 

That is all fine and dandy, but at a 3A draw, assuming the batteries are not
damaged by this, one should probably be using high capacity batteries instead
of low self discharge batteries for their applications, eh? I suppose there
are cases where such use might be useful, but in general ...

I can't believe that a 3A draw from a single AA NiMH cell would not be a
damaging draw in any event; at least, for more than a burst.

 

Hello Thomas.

Yes, 3A and more is much for a AA cell.

It was just a comparison between Sanyo Eneloop and Maha Imedion.

Some of us on CPF use AA cells in flashlight that is draining the
cells very much.
Eneloop can deliver much current, that is why I told you the
difference, Eneloops earlier tested at 8A with good results:
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=149804&highlight=eneloop+study

But for the ordinary user of AA cells this isn't to much to bother of.

Anders

 

Thomas T. Veldhouse wrote:

Sanyo seem quite comfortable about drawing 4A from an AA
eneloop. See the discharge characteristic spec at:
http://www.eneloop.info/uploads/media/Datasheet_-_HR-3UTG_01.pdf

John