Rabu, 22 Agustus 2012

should i buy Moonrays 97126 350mAh NiCd AAA Rechargeable Solar Batteries, reviews

Keep Moonrays' solar-powered lights (and any other device that uses AAA batteries) in top-notch working order with help from this 97126 four-pack of AAA batteries. High-capacity, long-lasting, and reliable, the 350mAh nickel-cadmium (NiCd) rechargeable batteries are designed specifically for use with solar-powered lights as they can handle the constant charging and discharging typical of solar lamps. Quick to recharge, the batteries also offer low internal resistance, long circulation life, and steadfast stamina.
A subsidiary of the powerhouse duo of Coleman Cable and Woods Industries, Moonrays offers a wide range of products including attractive landscape and home lighting sources, which combine a modern aesthetic with advanced technology to beautify and simplify the lighting of homes, cabins, condos, vacation residences, and more. A line of intricate, nature-inspired garden accents also sets Moonrays apart from its competition, with everything from simple path lamps to ornate stake lights creating enchanting focal points in gardens small and large alike. The solar-powered products offer energy-efficient and cost-saving alternatives to traditional lighting sources, making them smart and savvy choices for earth-conscious consumers.There is simply no reason why anyone should buy those NiCd (Nickel Cadmium) rechargeable cells for solar rechargeable light applications. For similar price, you can find NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride) cells such as the Rayovac Rechargeable AAA, which offer the following advantages:

- Higher capacity: NiMH AAA cells are typically 800-1000mAh, compared of just 350mAh for those NiCd cells.
- No memory effect: NiMH cells are less likely to suffer from reduced capacity when they are partially charged and discharged (such as in a solar light application).
- Environmentally Friendly: NiMH cells do not contain Cadmium, a highly toxic heavy metal. Expired NiCd cells must be disposed in special battery recycle bins, but most people don't bother to do that. So those cells end up buried in landfill or, worse yet, incinerated. (*)

The only advantage NiCd cell has over NiMH is lower internal resistance, which allows it to provide very high peak current in short bursts. That's why NiCd cells are still used in cordless power tools and RC race cars. But in the case of solar rechargeable lights, the battery current is delievered slowly over 8-12 hours. So NiMH cells, with much higher capacity, are far superior as replacement batteries.

(*)FOOTNOTE:
As of Sep 2008, imports of NiCd rechargeable batteries were banned for all EU countries (thanks to a 2006 Battery Directive). Prices of NiCd cells plummeted as a result. It is sad to see that the U.S. is now being used as the largest dumping ground (literally) for those outdated products.
The batteries themselves are probably fine. The problem is that the ones I received had already expired and didn't work. I bought 6 packs of batteries and Amazon replaced them for free, but those, too, had already expired. The end result for me was a lot of hassle and I still don't have any usable solar batteries. Anybody know where I can get some? The AAA NiCd seems particularly hard to find compared to the AA size.
I recieved my solar batteries quickly but they were dead as a doorknob. Never charged up at all. Worthless. Very unhappy with product. Not worth returning buy the time i pay for shipping! I have several solar powered lanterns at my house that either would not light or were dim. I ordered the solar batteries from Amazon and the lanterns are again working like new. Bought this product to replace rechargeable NiCd batteries in an emergency light (the ones that come on when the power goes out). The light uses LED bulbs so they were still good but the battery was failing. I thought about buying a new light but couldn't find them at the local store so I bought these batteries to try it out. It has worked very well so far (about 1 month), the light now shines quite brightly, so I'm quite happy with the purchase. I know these batteries were intended for solar lights, but they had the exact same specs as the existing batteries (350mah / 1.2v), so I was confident it would work. The batteries themselves are probably fine. The problem is that the ones I received had already expired and didn't work. I bought 6 packs of batteries and Amazon replaced them for free, but those, too, had already expired. The end result for me was a lot of hassle and I still don't have any usable solar batteries. Anybody know where I can get some? The AAA NiCd seems particularly hard to find compared to the AA size. There is simply no reason why anyone should buy those NiCd (Nickel Cadmium) rechargeable cells for solar rechargeable light applications. For similar price, you can find NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride) cells such as the  which offer the following advantages:

- Higher capacity: NiMH AAA cells are typically 800-1000mAh, compared of just 350mAh for those NiCd cells.
- No memory effect: NiMH cells are less likely to suffer from reduced capacity when they are partially charged and discharged (such as in a solar light application).
- Environmentally Friendly: NiMH cells do not contain Cadmium, a highly toxic heavy metal. Expired NiCd cells must be disposed in special battery recycle bins, but most people don't bother to do that. So those cells end up buried in landfill or, worse yet, incinerated. (*)

The only advantage NiCd cell has over NiMH is lower internal resistance, which allows it to provide very high peak current in short bursts. That's why NiCd cells are still used in cordless power tools and RC race cars. But in the case of solar rechargeable lights, the battery current is delievered slowly over 8-12 hours. So NiMH cells, with much higher capacity, are far superior as replacement batteries.

(*)FOOTNOTE:
As of Sep 2008, imports of NiCd rechargeable batteries were banned for all EU countries (thanks to a 2006 Battery Directive). Prices of NiCd cells plummeted as a result. It is sad to see that the U.S. is now being used as the largest dumping ground (literally) for those outdated products.The batteries came quickly, that is within the time frame projected, and they work and are still working with the solar powered units we bought them for. The originals, that came with the solar powered units either didn't work from the start or within a week they no longer would work, not holding a charge. These batteries have now been in a month and they are still working, working, and working! Thanks!

Selasa, 21 Agustus 2012

should i buy Moonrays 97125 Rechargeable NiCd AA Batteries reviews

Enjoy an uninterrupted glow from solar-powered motion lights, lawn ornaments, pathway lamps, and other fixtures with help from Moonrays' 97125 set of four rechargeable 600 mAh NiCd AA batteries. Because the batteries harness their power from the sun, they provide a long-lasting, exceptionally efficient source of energy--one that reduces costs and eliminates both the hassles and hazards of electric cords and cumbersome wiring. Furthermore, the compact batteries store easily in a drawer for use as needed, and they can be used to power many of Moonrays' beautiful lawn, garden, and home lighting fixtures (sold separately).
With more than 75 years of experience by parent companies in the wire and cable products field, Moonrays' extensive line of outdoor lighting carries a fine tradition of excellence, skill, and know-how. The company's solar-powered products require no wiring or electricity, making them energy-efficient and cost-saving alternatives to traditional lighting sources. From enchanting and whimsical garden accents to attractive landscape and home lighting options, Moonrays strives to provide their customers with visually pleasing and socially responsible ways to customize, secure, and invest in their outdoor spaces. Furthermore, they combine a modern aesthetic with advanced technology to beautify and simplify the lighting of residences, cabins, outbuildings, and vacation homes.the beginning to switch out batteries in half of the lamps with the other battery types because I had read the other review for this battery pack.

Honestly, I found these work better through the night over a longer period of time. Sometimes I wake up very early in the morning for work, and have noticed that the lamps with these batteries have lasted longer and brighter into the morning. It has been a couple months since i got the lamps and will definitely purchase these batteries again.

I decided to do a little research on Wikipedia to find the reason.

These Moonrays batteries are Nicd, on the page it says "The primary trade-off with NiCd batteries is their higher cost"
But the advantage it says is

"the NiCd battery has a lower self-discharge rate (for example, 10% per month for a NiCd, versus 30% per month for a traditional NiMH under identical conditions"

that means that over time, these batteries will hold their charge longer than others.

The other type of rechargeable batteries are the NiMH batteries, and their page also says
"NiMH cells historically had a somewhat higher self-discharge rate (equivalent to internal leakage) than NiCd cells. This is not a problem in the short term, but makes them unsuitable for many light-duty uses where the battery would normally be expected to last many months or years."NLee the Engineer: I'm an ELECTRICAL Engineer. You missed the most important consideration: NiMH batteries should only be recharged in a highly controlled environment such as in your iPod, digital camera with a NiMH charger, NOT DIRECTLY BY A SOLAR PANEL ! Solar panels should either have their own charge controller or use batteries that withstand routine overcharging. NiMH BATTERIES WILL *EASILY* BE DESTROYED BY OVERCHARGING. NiCd batteries fair somewhat better.

ALL RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES SHOULD BE RECHARGED WITH A RECHARGER whether it's powered by a solar panel or from an AC wall jack.
There is simply no reason why anyone should buy those NiCd (Nickel Cadmium) rechargeable cells for solar rechargeable light applications. For about the same price, you can easily find NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride) cells which offer the following advantages:

- Higher capacity: NiMH AA cells are typically 2000-2700mAh, compared of just 600mAh for those NiCd cells.
- No memory effect: NiMH cells are less likely to suffer from reduced capacity when they are partially charged and discharged.
- Environmentally Friendly: NiMH cells do not contain Cadmium, a highly toxic heavy metal. Expired NiCd cells must be disposed in special battery recycle bins, but most people don't bother to do that. So those cells end up buried in landfill or, worse yet, incinerated. (*)

The only advantage NiCd cell has over NiMH is lower internal resistance, which allows it to provide very high peak current in short bursts. That's why NiCd cells are still used in cordless power tools and RC race cars. But in the case of solar rechargeable lights, the battery current is delievered slowly over 8-12 hours. So NiMH cells, with much higher capacity, are far superior as replacement batteries.

(*)UPDATE:
As of Sep 2008, imports of NiCd rechargeable batteries were banned for all EU countries (thanks to a 2006 Battery Directive). Prices of NiCd cells plummeted as a result. It is sad to see that the U.S. is now being used as the largest dumping ground (literally) for those outdated products.

[Update#2 on Nov 29, 2010]
Some people claim that NiMH cell cannot be used in Solar charger because it needs higher voltage to recharge. This is COMPLETELY FALSE based on my own measured data, shown in the Customer Images section. Note that both NiCd and NiMH cells have nearly identical voltage profiles (adjusted for time scale) during slow-charging.

[Update#3 on May 17, 2012]
It should be noted that the same company is now selling Moonrays 97143 AA NiMh Pre-charged 1500mAh Rechargeable Batteries for Solar Lights. So there goes the claim that "you can only use NiCd for solar lights"!

Senin, 20 Agustus 2012

should i buy Duracell Rechargeables StayCharged AAA Batteries, reviews

- The name of this product has been changed to As far as I can tell, those are the same batteries previously marketed as 'Pre-Charged'. In other parts of the world, those are also marketed as 'Active Charge'. They are stlll available in either 'white top' (made in Japan) and 'black top' (made in China) versions.

- Amazon has combined the AA and AAA versions of those Duracell batteries into the same product page. So now I look like a fool who says the same things twice. Oh well...

[Previous update on Dec 24, 2008]
I was only half-right when I boldly proclaimed that "Duracell Pre Charged AA are rebranded Sanyo eneloop cells" in my original review. It turns out that the first batch of Duracell AA cells I bought from Amazon are made in Japan, and those are identical to eneloop (both mechanically and electrically). But lately I bought some more Duracell AA from a warehouse club. Those are made in China, and they are identical to the Rayovac Hybrid.

[Original review follows]

Judging from similarity of technical specifications and physical shapes of (+) and (-) terminals, I am convinced that the  is actuallyunderneath a different wrapper. Therefore all the good things you heard about eneloop apply to Duracell 'Pre Charged', too.

My own testing has shown that the capacity of eneloop AA cell is slightly above the claimed 2000mAh, and it is able to retain at least 85% of its charge after 5 months in storage. The starts with slightly higher capacity at 2100mAh, but it 'only' retains 80% capacity after 5 months. For all practical applications, both are equally good. Just pick whichever brand (Sanyo, Rayovac, or Duracell) is on-sale, and you can't go wrong.

One small problem with the Duracell 'Pre Charged' cell is that: it looked too similar to the well-known 'Copper Top' alkaline cell. So there is a good chance that people may mistaken it for a disposable cell. Personally, I prefer the distinctive-looking white case of the eneloop cell. I use these batteries for a laser pointer, as a toy for my cat! I shine the light around for her to chase (like a bug!) and have used it for hours per day. Before I bought the duracell, I went through batteries like crazy but these batteries are truly long lasting. You won't be disappointed. I go through a lot of throw away batteries, which add up in $$$ over time rather quickly. I decided to make a large one-time investment and purchase rechargeable batteries and chargers. I bought these plus the Duracell charger and Ray-O-Vac Charger and Ray-O-Vac batteries and have no regrets over the purchase. These batteries work as advertised and arrived promptly. As advertised, they arrive charged and they hold their charge well while waiting to be put to use. They charge quickly and can charge in any charger, not just the Duracell one. A great investment I will use over and over again. This is a product I can recommend without hesitation. Please do buy rechargeable batteries over single use batteries! You'll help save some resources and money by buying rechargeable batteries like these. We must all do our part, and this is a small step towards being a little more environmentally conscious. I bought a four pack of the AA Duracell rechargeable batteries from Amazon and used them for three months. They would barely hold a charge in that time and in March, three of the four batteries exploded in my charger deeming it (and the batteries) completely uselessHave had these batteries about 2 months. Use them in a digital camera. The low self discharge works well; these batteries keep enough charge sitting in the camera for weeks at a time. With a previous set of cheap made in China rechargeable batteries, the batteries would usually be dead when I went to use the camera. After 1 use I ran these Duracells through a test cycle using a Lacrosse BC-500 charger and they uniformly read 2.1 Ah capacity. Mine were made in Japan (good). I love these batteries. Ive had several for rc cars and trucks. They hold a great charge and stay charged just as advertised. I charged them on Friday and Thursday of the following week they were ready to go. Your normal recharges and loses it charge after a day or so. So I recommend these and you wont go wrong. My Apple Magic Trackpad was chewing through two double AA batteries every month. It will take more than a year to earn the investment back, but I get the immediate feel of not putting used batteries in the trash or, better still, the wasted time of "properly disposing" of the batteries. Go green!Since the voltage is only 1.2V (not 1.4V or 1.5V) when they are fully charged, they are not suitable fo all devices. I was hoping to save money using these in my Turtle Beach headset but they have to be charged too often. I went back to using Energizer Lithium batteries. Yes, they are expesive but, they will last me a month before I have to replace them. These batteries had to be recharged 2 or 3 times a week. I have two ancient MP3 players, one I generally use for exercising and one to listen to while out shopping, different stuff on both. Anyway, they're the kind that run on a single AAA battery and I use them a lot so I was eating up a ton of batteries, but still one every 8 hours or so of play in two devices adds up. I switched to these and they work great.

I use these frequently with my since it can recharge one or two batteries at the same time. They seem to hold a charge pretty well over extended periods. I haven't tried up to a year, but they definitely worked 3 or 4 months later, unlike the awful luck I've had with Energizer rechargeables.

The only thing I'd like to see is a little cheaper cost, since you can buy some other brands that seem to work as well for a lower cost, but overall I'm quite pleased.

Minggu, 19 Agustus 2012

should i buy Energizer C2 Rechargeable, Size C, 2-Count reviews

Like most so-called C-size NiMH batteries this is actually an AA-size battery with a hollow shell around it to fit devices that require C-size. Its life is *very* short in devices that make heavy current demands. True C-size NiMH batteries will have a capacity of at least 4500mAh (these Energizer units are only 2500 mAh, like the AA that they really are). For example the Tenergy NiMH C batteries are true C-size NiMH with a capacity of 5000 mAh.

The "fake C" units like the Eveready may or may not be suitable for your purpose -- just be aware of what you're getting. 2500mAH - compare this rating with ordinary AA Nimh rechargeables. You'll see a lot of AA's equal and even higher than 2500mAh. No wonder they are very light and HOLLOW. Easy to break because of the empty space inside.

This is one of the first size C Nimh rechargeables that I have bought and seen on the market. You can do as well with AA's using C & D spacers.The life for these Energizer "C" batteries is very short, mostly due to the fact that they are just 2500Mah AA's in a C casing. I bought a few a these years ago when there were no other alternatives and they were very disappointing. No matter what you put them in they will not last long. I can't figure out how they receive any positive reviews at all. These batteries don't last long, at all. I bought them for a flashlight and I'm very disappointed in the batteries ability to stay charged. They spend more time being charged than being used. I don't advise anyone to purchase this product. My Duracell AA and Energizer AA batteries last a lot longer than these C batteries. Maybe all C batteries are useless, I don't know, but these are practically useless.If you're expecting these batteries to be similar to the throw-aways you'd find in any store, think again. These hold much less of a charge--it's basically a AA battery in a hollow shell. You'll see how light they are when you get them and hold them, and I guarantee you'll be as disappointed as I am in just how short of a time they last. I expected much more from Energizer. Llegó a tiempo y en buen estado, cumple con las expectativas y es un excelente producto, esta funcionando muy bien These are just cheap quality AA rechargeable batteries wrapped in a C size battery. Once you feel how light these batteries are you'll know something is not right. They hold a horrible charge so they spend more time on the charger than they do in my flashlight. Any device requiring C cell batteries need's the capacity of a C cell for a reason. These batteries are a gimmick plain and simple. To sell a AA battery encased in a C housing is ridiculous. People buy these batteries for flash lights and other safety type devices and in my opinion the C2 cells are completely inadequate for most devices they will be installed in. If you put these batteries into something you need during storms, night time flat tires on your car, or during other safety type situations be aware they will not last long at all. These batteries are a jokeThe life for these Energizer "C" batteries is very short, mostly due to the fact that they are just 2500Mah AA's in a C casing. I bought a few a these years ago when there were no other alternatives and they were very disappointing. No matter what you put them in they will not last long. I can't figure out how they receive any positive reviews at all. These are for C-size Batteries I already use--I expect those to be totally worn soon(they are 10-years old). I chose the Energizer Name--specifically--as a great product. The photo shows the e2 model batteries and the package I received doesn't say e2 anywhere. Hopefully they will work with the charger I purchased. Also the package came from a different supplier than was listed. put a couple of these batteries in my Mag flashlight about a year ago. I put it in the bottom of the junk drawer, and pretty much ignored them.

A couple of days ago, I needed a good-sized flashlight, so I pulled this one out. I turned it on, without much faith that it would have still held a charge. Yes! A really bright light was still available.

I'm sure a disposable alkaline battery would have done the same, but these were the Energizer rechargeable batteries.These are good batteries. I use a 2 c-cell flashlight for work everyday. I have 3 sets of these that I rotate. I've had these batteries for over 6 years. Other two-packs that I have bought contained two packages of two-batteries (or whatever is shown in the photo). This is just two batteries in total. Like most so-called C-size NiMH batteries this is actually an AA-size battery with a hollow shell around it to fit devices that require C-size. Its life is *very* short in devices that make heavy current demands. True C-size NiMH batteries will have a capacity of at least 4500mAh (these Energizer units are only 2500 mAh, like the AA that they really are). For example the Tenergy NiMH C batteries are true C-size NiMH with a capacity of 5000 mAh.

The "fake C" units like the Eveready may or may not be suitable for your purpose -- just be aware of what you're getting. 2500mAH - compare this rating with ordinary AA Nimh rechargeables. You'll see a lot of AA's equal and even higher than 2500mAh. No wonder they are very light and HOLLOW. Easy to break because of the empty space inside.

This is one of the first size C Nimh rechargeables that I have bought and seen on the market. You can do as well with AA's using C & D spacers.

Sabtu, 18 Agustus 2012

should i buy Duracell Coppertop Batteries reviews

Coppertop batteries have been engineered to deliver just the right level of power for most of your household needs. Plus, guaranteed fresh for 7 years. Many of the devices you use in your home are powered most efficiently by Duracell Coppertop batteries, including: Toys, Clocks and Radios, Remote Controls, Smoke Alarms, and Flashlights I'm pretty used to buying batteries online and finding they had been made long before I ordered them (had some CR123 with experations the next month from another vendor). In at least my case, my batteries from this vendor show a production date of 3/30/10...and I ordered them on April 18th. You can't get any younger batteries (exp is Mar2016). I'll be checking this distrbutor out for the rest of my battery needs. I got these about three weeks ago, and still haven't used them up yet. So many batteries. Awesome. So far, they've lasted about four times as long in my Canon digital point-and-shoot than my Energizer rechargeables. And they're on track to outperform the regular Energizers in my Xbox controllers. I think I'm a coppertop convert. The price is pretty good, too--probably not the absolute cheapest, but these are real Duracells (not knockoffs) that are far from their expiration date. The 4 batteries arrived in 4 small ziplocs rather than in sealed Duracell packaging as shown in the picture. I have no idea if they are new or used. These batteries were purchased on Amazon along with a new Coleman LED lantern, as a gift for my mom. They were put into the lantern, they did work, but the next morning there was battery acid all around the base and in the lantern. I do not know what would be the cause of this, nor the expiration on the batteries, they were sent to my mom in a different state than where I live. There was a time when I thought Duracell batteries were among the best. That is no longer the case. I just pulled another AAA dated Mar 2015 that was leaking out of a devise. The battery case had ruptured. I have seen a number of these ruptured cases over the many years we purchased Duracell (we still have a few left for use only in inexpensive devises) I'm not sure when the problem started and I noticed some time ago that Proctor and Gamble now owns Duracell. We have not patronized Proctor and Gamble for over twenty five years so Duracell is no longer our battery for two reasons.

If you are looking for a good AAA, AA, C, or D battery, may I suggest Kirkland or Panasonic. I do not know who manufactures either.

A note on Energizer and possibly other batteries. About twelve years ago I started noticing that when Energizer batteries failed, for instance, in sets of four, that in a majority of cases, only one battery was actually bad. The others were usually within a few tenths of a volt of new (1.5-1.6 volts). I started mentally keeping track of these failures and I believe I was seeing about one in fifteen to twenty that were failing prematurely. I wish I'd had the time to do a statistically valid experiment, I did not. What a marketing scheme that would be if some number of batteries were produced with less quality control than others or........ Most people replace four (or all) batteries when (they) go bad, not checking them as I do. I believe the picture becomes clear. If you find what I did, add a comment here.

Check all the batteries when replacing them. It's possible to save a significant amount of personal resources in today's battery powered less than thinking throw-away societies.

Buy tools, etc., that plug in or better yet, are manual. Save the insane cost of some plastic bandwagon gym. AA batteries apparently repackaged into plastic case, showing expiration date of 2017, few tested cells show good voltage available, prompt shipping, good deal for standard Duracell coppertops made in China. Ordered 20pk of Duracell AA from Brooklyn Battery Works, so far the batteries seem ok but it's only been a week. I was not happy that they arrived in a small white box that WAS NOT ORIGINAL PACKAGING. The box had "20PK AA" written on it in pen... Probably won't be buying from these guys again. 20 Duracell batteries for less than $10 in today's times are you kidding me?? I got these and this price is what my local supermarkets charge for a pack of 8!!! If you need to stock up and want a great price and don't mind waiting a week for delivery this is it!!!!Used them in lights for the Ruby Mountain Relay, an overnight running relay. The lights we purchased required D batteries. They worked greatAs a few other reviewers have noted, these batteries arrived in post production packaging. Either they could be from a larger container, or they could be used. I'll try to remember to update this with the results after trying some of them out.

Jumat, 17 Agustus 2012

should i buy Duracell Coppertop Batteries reviews

I'm pretty used to buying batteries online and finding they had been made long before I ordered them (had some CR123 with experations the next month from another vendor). In at least my case, my batteries from this vendor show a production date of 3/30/10...and I ordered them on April 18th. You can't get any younger batteries (exp is Mar2016). I'll be checking this distrbutor out for the rest of my battery needs. I got these about three weeks ago, and still haven't used them up yet. So many batteries. Awesome. So far, they've lasted about four times as long in my Canon digital point-and-shoot than my Energizer rechargeables. And they're on track to outperform the regular Energizers in my Xbox controllers. I think I'm a coppertop convert. The price is pretty good, too--probably not the absolute cheapest, but these are real Duracells (not knockoffs) that are far from their expiration date.
The 4 batteries arrived in 4 small ziplocs rather than in sealed Duracell packaging as shown in the picture. I have no idea if they are new or used.
These batteries were purchased on Amazon along with a new Coleman LED lantern, as a gift for my mom. They were put into the lantern, they did work, but the next morning there was battery acid all around the base and in the lantern. I do not know what would be the cause of this, nor the expiration on the batteries, they were sent to my mom in a different state than where I live. 1 box with 2 boxes inside clearly the original Duracell boxes. Have not used batteries but all looks just like from the store. Unfortunately no expiration date. There was a time when I thought Duracell batteries were among the best. That is no longer the case. I just pulled another AAA dated Mar 2015 that was leaking out of a devise. The battery case had ruptured. I have seen a number of these ruptured cases over the many years we purchased Duracell (we still have a few left for use only in inexpensive devises) I'm not sure when the problem started and I noticed some time ago that Proctor and Gamble now owns Duracell. We have not patronized Proctor and Gamble for over twenty five years so Duracell is no longer our battery for two reasons.

If you are looking for a good AAA, AA, C, or D battery, may I suggest Kirkland or Panasonic. I do not know who manufactures either.

A note on Energizer and possibly other batteries. About twelve years ago I started noticing that when Energizer batteries failed, for instance, in sets of four, that in a majority of cases, only one battery was actually bad. The others were usually within a few tenths of a volt of new (1.5-1.6 volts). I started mentally keeping track of these failures and I believe I was seeing about one in fifteen to twenty that were failing prematurely. I wish I'd had the time to do a statistically valid experiment, I did not. What a marketing scheme that would be if some number of batteries were produced with less quality control than others or........ Most people replace four (or all) batteries when (they) go bad, not checking them as I do. I believe the picture becomes clear. If you find what I did, add a comment here.

Check all the batteries when replacing them. It's possible to save a significant amount of personal resources in today's battery powered less than thinking throw-away societies.

Buy tools, etc., that plug in or better yet, are manual. Save the insane cost of some plastic bandwagon gym. AA batteries apparently repackaged into plastic case, showing expiration date of 2017, few tested cells show good voltage available, prompt shipping, good deal for standard Duracell coppertops made in China. Ordered 20pk of Duracell AA from Brooklyn Battery Works, so far the batteries seem ok but it's only been a week. I was not happy that they arrived in a small white box that WAS NOT ORIGINAL PACKAGING. The box had "20PK AA" written on it in pen... Probably won't be buying from these guys again. 20 Duracell batteries for less than $10 in today's times are you kidding me?? I got these and this price is what my local supermarkets charge for a pack of 8!!! If you need to stock up and want a great price and don't mind waiting a week for delivery this is it!!!! Used them in lights for the Ruby Mountain Relay, an overnight running relay. The lights we purchased required D batteries. They worked great. As a few other reviewers have noted, these batteries arrived in post production packaging. Either they could be from a larger container, or they could be used. I'll try to remember to update this with the results after trying some of them out. These AAA batteries have a shelf life up to 2015 (about 3 years). Those you buy in the store have a 7 year guaranteed shelf life. I'll use these within 3 years, so it isn't a big deal to me, but it might be to someone so I thought I'd mention it. Price is good compared to those in the store, so it's kind of an even trade off. Batteries were purchased in June 2012, but product received had expiration date of Feb 2012. Also they did not arrive in the advertised packaging, so am not sure if they are genuine. Could be good deal but make sure you check the dates when you receive the product. I thought the date on the bottom was the expiration date which it is not it is the manufacturing date, the exp date is on the skinny side.
These are good batteries.I purchased two packs of 9 volt batteries for my home smoke detectors. Unfortunately the batteries have a 03/2012 date stamped on the end of them and I received them in 07/2012. Quite old. Hopefully they'll last for a little while. I guess this is one of those cases of, "You get what you pay for". These were some good batteries. Pretty cheap for the quantity of them. The only thing I don't like is that some of the batteries seem to run out pretty quickly. Still, for the price, it can't be beat. Some of my battery-operated devices were getting weary and in need of a helping hand. Replacing their power source really perked them up and we're all happy now.Thought I was getting a deal with these but turn out they seem to last easily 50% less longer in my headlamp then their HomeDepot bought brothers. Disappointed!

Kamis, 16 Agustus 2012

should i buy Duracell Mobile Charger With 2AA reviews

The Duracell Mobile Charger (CEF23) is an extremely versatile charger. It actually has two operating modes, as selected by the MODE button:

1. As an AA/AAA NiMH battery charger, or
2. As an USB charger for USB-powered devices.

In battery-charger mode, the unit is a smart charger that accepts 1-4 AA/AAA cells in any combinations. The charger can be powered by either 100-240V universal AC input, or 12V DC input. This means you can also operate it from your vehicle's cigarette lighter adapter. Note that the car adapter is included in the

The charging current is 550mA for each AA/AAA cell. So it takes about 4 hours to full charge up the included 2000mAh low-self-discharge cells (which are the Duracell-equivalent of Sanyo eneloop). I consider this a good compromise between shorter charging time and longer battery lifespan. Once charging is done, the current is reduced to 25mA (actually 0-50mA pulsed at 50% duty cycle) in trickle charge mode.

One really nice feature of this charger is that it has four individual battery status indicator lights. The status light for each cell turns RED when charging, GREEN when the cell is fully charged. It will even blink if you accidentally inserted an alkaline cell.

In USB charger mode, the unit generates a regulated 5-volt supply at its USB socket. You can then connect an USB-powered device (such as IPOD charger) to this unit. Input power for this USB charger can be from one of the following sources:
1. From 100-240V universal AC input,
2. From 12V DC input (car adapter), or
3. From four AA/AAA NiMH cells in the battery compartment.

The third way is the most interesting, because in case of emergency, you can even use 4 alkaline cells to power this USB charger, in order to charge up your cell phone's battery.

I must say that this charger is really well designed. It is a great bargain even if all you need is a simple battery charger. The USB charger mode is just an extra bonus.

[Update on Oct 7, 2010]:
Duracell has discontinued the excellent CEF23 charger (at least in the US) last year. So prices for the remaining inventory have skyrocketed. The replacement produc only charges in pairs, and does not contain an USB charger.
- If you just need an inexpensive 2-cell charger that can handle individual cell, consider th
- If you need a good 4-cell charger that can operate from 12V cigarette lighter adapter, consider the
- If you need an advanced charger that can operate from 12V CLA, consider the
- If you need a good 4-cell charger that can operate from 12V CLA _and_ can power an USB port using internal batteries... Sorry! Your best hope is to look for an international version of CEF23, such as the  (AU=Australia)

[Update on Dec 1, 2010]
Just in case anyone is still interested in this charger: I recently found out that its USB port is capable of supplying 1000mA output current - even though the spec says 500mA only. I discovered this by accident when using it as a portable recharger for myI've done a lot of research on batteries and chargers, and I have to say I'm impressed with this charger. I am a photographer, and my fancy flashes are only as good as the batteries they use. Other reviews have already stated the high points: gentle charge rate (550 mA is great); individual charging of batteries (absolutely vital); intelligent shutoff (does not overcharge). On top of these, it runs off of 12V and any AC wall power in the world (120-240V), and it charges USB devices. It also will charge a USB device off of 4 charged batteries. It's a dream come true.

One thing to note: You cannot charge batteries AND charge a USB device at the same time. You have to pick one or the other. But this is a very minor issue for something so functional, portable, and inexpensive.

Assuming it doesn't die in two months, this is the best consumer charger that is widely available. (I also have the Maha C-9000, which I love, but is not for the faint of heart. The Maha C401FS is also very good.)

If you're even considering buying one of those 15-minute chargers, PLEASE don't. It will destroy your batteries by cooking them at a high temperature. Buy this one, instead. Just get an extra set of batteries to swap out while the others are charging, if you need the quick turnaround. First, a note on what's included: 2AA, 2AAA, a charger, and a car adaptor. It does not come with a usb cable. You can see the customer photos I uploaded.

As noted by others, these batteries are "highly similar" if not identical to Eneloops. So the batteries are great.

For AA, I like the charger included in this kit more than the one in this  for two reasons:

1. Each slot has its own individual indicator so you know which battery is done. Equally importantly, you can detect bad batteries in a set. Say you always use four as a set but one suddenly finishes charging a lot earlier than the other three, it's time for testing. (For testing, I use

2. It charges faster, at 550mA, so the 2000mAh AA batteries charge in about four hours.

Unfortunately 500mA is also how it charges AAA batteries. Contrast this to the Eneloop charger in the kit above: 300mA for AA and 160mA for AAA. We see that the Eneloop charger is a lot more gentle for AAA. (I won't charge my AAA in this Duracell charger.) There are three virtues in this Duracell charger:

1. It can charge any AA and AAA combination of batteries, unlike inferior chargers that must charge in pairs.

2. This is a smart charger that will stop charging once the correct voltage has been reached, thus preventing over-charging.

3. Because of the built-in USB port, it can also become a charger of small electronics such as MP3 players, digital cameras, cellphones, etc.

CEF23DX4N is the U.S. version which comes with 2 AA and 2 AAA rechargeable batteries. It costs $39.99. Its plug is foldable, but even in the retracted position, it still protrudes considerably from the base of the charger unit to make placing it evenly on a flat surface not possible. The U.S. version also comes with a car adapter cable.

CEF23AU is the Australian version which comes with 4 AA rechargeable batteries. It costs $18.89. The capacity of each AA battery is 2000 mAh.

The difference is in the shape of the plug, but a small converter is included with CEF23AU, so you can plug it into any 120V U.S. wall socket.

The U.S. version is less bulky than the Australian version with the converter attached, but I bought the Australian version because of its less than half of the U.S. version price.

In both country versions, the electrical plug base is detachable to make the whole unit more manageable when used as a USB charger.

Because of the substantial charger plug protrusion, I'd suggest plugging it in a wall socket (where the two plug blades are vertically oriented), rather than a horizontal power strip, so that the plug will stay in place while the batteries are being charged. As a bit of a technological nomad, I am always on the lookout for quality gear that'll lighten my load. When I realized that my old AA charger was just eating my batteries, overcharging them and shortening their life, I immediately started out the search for a "smart" charger -- one that would charge my batteries without destroying them.

I searched high and low, but there was nothing currently on the market that I particularly liked. Sure, they were compact, and inexpensive, but none of them seemed to be very sturdy, or to have any redeeming features beyond "battery charger."

It was then that I discovered this Duracell charger. It had just recently been discontinued, but folks around the internet were raving about it. I managed, through searching, to find a seller that still carried the CEF23DX4N charger, and immediately pounced on it, and I'm glad I did.

This charger is one of the best devices I've owned. Not only does it charge AA and AAA batteries, stopping when they're fully charged, and using a healthy charge profile for them, but it has a USB port on the bottom of it for charging whatever USB-chargeable device you have. In addition to the flip-down plug on the back (no prongs sticking out in my bag, and no losing detachable things) it has a socket for the included 12v cigarette lighter charger. There aren't many places you can't use this device, with both 12v and 120vAC input (might be 100-250v operating range, haven't looked in a while.)

The real clincher-feature for me though, was the second function of the USB port. With four fully charged AAs installed, you can plug a device into the USB port, and press a button on the charger, and it'll use the juice from the batteries plugged into it to supply the USB port, turning the charger into a portable USB battery pack as well!

The build quality is robust, it's well designed, attractive, and made of quality materials. The included batteries are excellent as well, and this charger will charge any brand of NiMH battery that I've thrown at it (the ones that are "pre charged" rechargeable are the ones to shop for)

There are a few disadvantages to this though, but the good far outweighs the bad. Here's what I've found so far:

1) Charge batteries, OR USB device. One or the other, it won't charge both simultaneously.
2) USB port only seems to supply 500mA power, which is fine and good, just makes for slow charging. I'll take that over nothing at all.
3) Unit is a little chubby. It's wide and thick, and there's a bulge on the back the prongs fold in to. A lot bigger than the el-cheapo chargers I'd been using before.
4) 12v cable is a pain in the butt to deal with. This is the nature of the beast, but I wish they would've included some way to snap the cigarette lighter adapter into the case of the charger itself. As big as it is, there was probably some extra room inside to do so.

Overall though, this is a fantastic charger, and if you can still find them available, go for one. I'm sad that these were discontinued by Duracell, and hope they bring something similar, but improved, back in the future. I'm very happy with this charger. I needed something that can charge odd numbers of cells (typical for many LED flashlights these days) - this charger does independent cell charging, as opposed to charging cells only in pairs, so handles this need well.

I've verified its ability to charge a cell phone from four AA cells - a useful feature that makes this double as a generic USB device charger for either AC or as a mobile recharger. So this can save buying a second charger for your phone for work, for instance.

I don't understand Durcell's business decision to cease sales of this in the U.S.A. Now the only CEF23-DX4N CHARGERS for sale in the U.S. are at very elevated prices. They are still sold in Canada, at very decent prices. I really don't see the point in having the product in one North american country but not another. This being said I bought this at one of these elevated price points and am still happy I got the charger. But it would have been $20 cheaper had I bought it when they were commonly on sale in the U.S.A. And Duracell's chargers currently being marketed in the U.S. are all mediocre. Except for this, the CEF23DX4N, there is no good reason to buy a Duracell charger - there are many better choices. This is, by far, the best charger you can buy. It can charge you batteries from a power outlet or a car adapter. The power connector is the US type, but surprisingly there's an "eject" button on the back of the charger and you can remove the plug. You'll probably be able to buy another type of plug and also the unit gets thinner when you remove it. With charged batteries inside, this unit can also charge USB devices, since it comes with an USB port. Very handy!

The charger can hold 4 AA or 4 AAA batteries. The best thing is that each slot is independent from the others. This is a major advantage over other chargers, that need batteries to be charged on pair (or even the whole 4 at the same time). Every slot has it's own charge led to indicate when charge is complete. It was great for me because I bought a and it uses 3 AAA batteries. So I always had to charge 3 at a time.

It also does come with some rechargeable batteries that are pretty good. I can also recomend , they are awesome and last even longer. A whole day of GPS logging with 1 set of those. Worth the money!

If I could give you one advice, it would be to take care with the power outlet you choose to use. When I was in an old hotel in USA, some wall power outlets were somehow loose and since this charger is a little bulk (and heavy when loaded with 4 batteries) it looked like it could fall off the power outlet. The best option in this case is to use a power extension cord and leave the charger over a flat surface.