Eneloop batteries get C and D-sized, still not bigger than yo mama

Ever seen a toy robot low on batteries? It's sad, sadder than the shredded flesh and bone caked between its servos. Unfortunately, modern gear chews through disposable batteries faster than the time it takes to make a hippie cry. Enter Sanyo, which today finally announces its new rechargeable C and D-sized Eneloop batteries. This ain't the same, sad Ni-MH rechargeable tech found in yo mama's pager battery -- you know, the one that beeps and makes people think she's backing up... Oh! Eneloops come pre-charged, maintain that charge in the drawer, and can be recharged a thousand times without any of that lame memory effect. Available initially on September 12th in Japan before breaking out for global distribution.

[Via I4U]

[allislost @ Aug 8th 2008 6:22AM]

How dare YOU!!!

I want engadget to stop making fun of my mom. I take this site and my commenting very seriously.

[rock99rock @ Aug 8th 2008 10:02AM]

Whajoo say 'bout mah momma?!

[billy bob thorton @ Aug 9th 2008 11:30AM]

doesn't anyone buy Rayovac Hybrids? I swear retail battery sales are controlled and manipulated by Energizer and Duracell.

The Rayovac's are vastly superior to any rechargeable I have ever used. They work just like the one's in this article, meaning they hold their charge over time. The only problem is they are very hard to find at a physical store and buying online defeats the benefits due to high shipping charges.

I found a small stockpile in Sears and bought all of them. I use them mainly for Nikon strobes. I also use them in my wireless mouse which now does not have to be recharged every month or less, more like 3 months now.

[hiko36 @ Aug 8th 2008 6:39AM]

Is this seriously what Engadget reporting has come down to? I miss Ryan :-(

[ahdok @ Aug 8th 2008 7:00AM]

To be fair, it's kind of hard to say interesting things about batteries.

[Ghen @ Aug 8th 2008 7:21AM]

And thats why batteries should stay off the site unless they are harnessing fission or are solar powered at night.

[TRAFFICBLOWS @ Aug 8th 2008 7:49AM]

whatever bitches! i have a kid at home and appreciate any better techs to keep me from changing toy batteries so often!


5700 mAH for the Eneloooop D-cells is good, but not as high as the 10,000 mAH of Tenergy Ni-MH batteries.

[Robert Oschler @ Aug 8th 2008 11:21AM]

@TRAFFICBLOWS,

Have you heard of Juice Batteries? Their D cells are 7000mah. Even better, they have AA batteries that are rechargeable Alkalines (not NiMH), so they are rated at 1.5 volts instead of 1.2 volts. Also, like other Alkalines, they hold their charge when not in use. Just search eBay for them.

[Patrick Austin @ Aug 8th 2008 9:42AM]

Eneloops are the greatest thing on earth and work exactly as advertised. I'm not overstating when I say they completely changed how I use my photography gear. Before a gig, I used to spend a day or two topping off all my batteries for flashes. It was a huge pain, and it was hard to keep track of which had been charged when. Now, it's literally just take 'em off the shelf and throw 'em in my camera bag. When I get home, I top off whichever I used and put them back on the shelf. Awesome product. Also really, really good for the LED flashlight on my keychain that eats batteries when it gets used, but doesn't get used very often.

C and D's mean vast quantities of uice for portable radios and maglites. These type of rarely-used-but-critical-when-you-need-them devices have been stuck with crappy old-tech batteries for a looooong time because traditional NiMh batteries were dead when you got around to using them. I'd almost say C and D's are a better use of this tech than AA's and AAA's.

[anonymousaversa @ Aug 8th 2008 9:19AM]

Hiko, you make it seem like this is supposed to be dateline NBC - this is a tech blog! I actually laughed when I read this post.I'm sure Block would be proud.

[Will @ Aug 8th 2008 9:58AM]

@TRAFFICBLOWS: The benefit of these (and other low self discharge NiMH batteries) is that they don't discharge themselves over time. They might not be ideal for high draw items like digital cameras, but if you have something that doesn't use much power (ie your TV remote) they're a much better substitute for alkalines than "normal" nickel metal hydrides.

[BIlly G @ Aug 8th 2008 10:37AM]

Honestly, hearing about these batteries is a lot more interesting to me than hearing about the release of some random mid-range Samsung cellphone that will be obsolete in 6 months, or a peculiar but otherwise completely useless under-performing (and probably unavailable) Korean mp3 player slash dictionary.

[UltimateTOR @ Aug 8th 2008 6:43AM]

Well size C and D are still bigger than any fanboy's girlfriends training bra.

[phanbouy fan @ Aug 8th 2008 9:36AM]

you mean bigger than phanbouy's girlfriend's training bra

they are going to the moving up ceremony together they will be cute when they are all dressed up in the school gym

[maff @ Aug 8th 2008 6:51AM]

just buy some C or D sized adaptors and use the AA Eneloop's, cheaper that way

[Tony C @ Aug 8th 2008 10:53AM]

Cheaper, sure, but you get a helluva lot less capacity.

[Joachim Bengtsson @ Aug 8th 2008 6:59AM]

/me ssh's to Thomas Ricker's jailbroken iPhone and rm -rf /Applications/Jokes.app/Yo\ Momma.jokes

[nDee @ Aug 8th 2008 7:00AM]

Damn, why am I buying Energizer one-offs?

[GTJ @ Aug 8th 2008 7:07AM]

I never got my 'free' C and D sized adapters from Eneloop - now I think I know why. I have not a place to buy the adapters anywhere.

[Gene Hotz @ Aug 8th 2008 10:46AM]

I don't know if they're still available but you used to be able to get them from batteries.com

[ahdok @ Aug 8th 2008 7:00AM]

How do you say something interesting about batteries?

[dervheid @ Aug 8th 2008 7:02AM]

"maintain that charge in the drawer"

'bout time too.

Let's just see how well that statement holds up when these get into the real world.

BTW, maff!
If you do choose to use the AA's in C/D adaptors, I'd expect them to maybe get a little bit hot, and suffer a much reduced lifespan accordingly.

[Demitri Martin @ Aug 8th 2008 5:53PM]

Customer: Do you have B batteries?

Saleperson: Sure which kkkk-kind?


Customer: I would like 2 C batteries please.

Saleperson: ...Then look at them stupid!


Dutch Tourist Customer: Hai do you have D batteries for D vibrators....?

[notYou @ Aug 8th 2008 7:31AM]

Now if only they could improve the storage density of their eneloop products. AA Eneloops still max at 2100mah while standard nimhs amax out at 2800-ish (some claim more, but I haven't seen that bear out in real-world tests).

[Tony C @ Aug 8th 2008 10:56AM]

Your "standard" NiMH batteries don't have the shelf life of Eneloops. Sure, some may come pre-charged too, but crack open that package or pull one out to use in a year and it'll need some recharging.

[JZK @ Aug 8th 2008 7:39AM]

I got the 'travel kit' and, actually, it rocks. My kids play the ipod everynight at bedtime and now i don't burn thru disposable AA batteries for the little tubular speaker (can't remember the make) that clips on the top of it. I've probably saved about 20 batteries so far. I love these new batteries.

[Cas @ Aug 8th 2008 7:50AM]

"With the new C- and D-size eneloop, SANYO provides an increase in capacity and longer power supply for C- and D-sized eneloop of 1.6 times and 3 times (respectively) compared to AA eneloop and ‘spacers’."

From the actual press release: http://www.sanyo.com/news/2008/08/08-2en.html

This kind of low discharge NiMh have been around for a while but the increase in storage capacity for the C and D should have be highlighted.

[jay @ Aug 8th 2008 8:18AM]

so the sleeves are gone? how sad... that was a pretty cool thing... and yes this is a big tech deal....

[john @ Aug 8th 2008 8:23AM]

I've had a few sets of AAs for a while, works great with the wii remote. The best feature is that they lose little power when unused for long periods of time meaning when you left your camera in the drawer for 2 months and you need to take picture right away it will still have a good charge. Low internal discharge batteries are starting to become popular and other brands are starting to make them, my guess is over time they will replace current rechargeable batteries.

I hardly see why this is covered not to mention confirming the thinkpad x200 tablet pc twice. I guess in slow times you have to scrap the bottom of the barrel.

[Schwinn @ Aug 8th 2008 8:39AM]

Memory effect? Please. Buy a better charger!
http://www.batteryuniversity.com/parttwo-33.htm

[Kris S. @ Aug 8th 2008 8:50AM]

I love eneloops.

[Mojo_Yugen @ Aug 8th 2008 10:00AM]

So do you have to use the Eneloop chargers with these or will a regular one do the trick?

[Gene Hotz @ Aug 8th 2008 10:49AM]

I've used a regular charger with no ill effects.

[Scott Hardy @ Aug 8th 2008 10:05AM]

Wow, very cool. I've been staying away from rechargeable batteries for years due to lackluster performance. I'll pick up a set of the Eneloops. That way I'm not filling up the landfills with batteries for my bose headphones and 18 remote controls that act as backup to my Harmony One.

Thanks for the positive review on them JZK!

Scott
http://www.topclassactions.com

[MBN @ Aug 8th 2008 10:39AM]

That's too bad you've stayed away from rechargeables. The 800-1100 mAH batteries of yore pale in comparison to 2800 Ni-MH batteries of today.

[MBN @ Aug 8th 2008 10:39AM]

I'm skeptical. I've tried two other brands of these types of new low loss batteries, and have been disappointed. They last only slightly longer than standard Ni-MH.

[mrpoo @ Aug 8th 2008 11:05AM]

Eneloops and their ilk have lower capacity than "normal" discharge NiMH, but the chemistry is different and thus they discharge a little differently. In many applications you should not expect them to last longer than a normal NiMH, but if you leave them in a drawer for 2 months they still work where the normal ones will be dead. For remote controls, etc., these things are a no-brainer. For things like camera flashes that are used regularly, they don't always make sense versus higher capacity rechargeables.

[sfditty @ Aug 8th 2008 12:18PM]

Ricker's mama's so hairy, Bigfoot takes pictures of her! Thanks to his reliable new Eneloop batteries...

[Evan Brom @ Aug 8th 2008 12:34PM]

I saw these last week at my costco. I cant believe a AA has enough juice to do the job of a D

[mrpoo @ Aug 8th 2008 12:50PM]

It doesn't. One AA has about 1/3 the juice of a D. Voltage is the same, a D cell will just run 3 times longer.

[toyotaboy @ Aug 8th 2008 1:20PM]

this system is stupid, putting small AA's inside D size cases? Great, so instead of getting 10,000mah I get only 2,000mah? what is the point?

[TRAFFICBLOWS @ Aug 8th 2008 5:12PM]

That's an option... but not the only option!

You can buy "real" Cs and Ds for realistic power.

[Mark @ Aug 8th 2008 1:09PM]

I was just contemplating buying some of these at Costco the other day (Eneloop? who's that?)... I held off as I wasn't quite sure of Sanyo's name in the battery market.

[fred @ Aug 8th 2008 1:13PM]

more than 3 times longer.
adaptors just like putting an adaptor on a alkaline AA. just makes it so you can use it at all, nothings free;)
if something uses D's, it probably needs real d.

[lens42 @ Aug 8th 2008 7:11PM]

The average person still doesn't understand the difference between these (Eneloop) and regular NiMH. Low self discharge is a huge feature. I have not purchased a thow--away AA alkaline battery in the last year. Just get a dozen or so Eneloops and a charger, then make sure that every battery powered thing you get runs on AAs: Flashlights, remotes (I would not buy a TV that uses AAAs in the remote), game controllers, digital cameras, etc. I have two bins labeled "good" and "bad" and my family to puts dead batteries in the "bad" bin, and takes from the "good". Since the cells can now sit in the good bin for a year and still stay charged, this strategy now works where it was not possible in the past because the cells would be half dead by the time you grabbed one out of the "good' box.

[Hooterman @ Aug 9th 2008 1:23AM]

You make your TV buying decisions on the size of batteries that go in the remote?

[legios @ Aug 8th 2008 7:54PM]

Rayovac Hybrids have been out for at least a year and seem to have the same tech as these eneloops. The hybrids are cheaper than the Energizer rechargeables, work right out of the package, hold their charge longer, and work longer in high drain devices.

I've been steadily replacing all my batteries with these hybrids...The difference between them and the energizers is simply incredible...especially in my digital camera and my xbox360 controllers.

Anyway, they've been out for a long time...so I don't get the excitement about the eneloops. C'mon Engadget, you're supposed to be cutting edge.

[tekdroid @ Aug 9th 2008 6:17AM]

Eneloops come pre-charged, maintain that charge in the drawer...
-------
1) They maintain most of their charge better than other Ni-MH, but they also have less mAH than other Ni-MH to start with. ie. Eneloop AAs come with 2000mAH, while other non-Eneloop (including Sanyo's own other ranges) often come with 2500mAH+ capacity.

2) The charge they lose is dependent on temperature. The higher the temp gets the more they self-discharge, so higher heat environments will discharge them more. I found them to discharge more than what they Sanyo claim, even under their tested temps, though still better than non-Eneloops.

3) The other great advantage is these batteries have no problem working in the cold, unlike regular Ni-MH. Their claim of "up to" 1,000 charges is just that: UP TO. It doesn't speak a thing about remaining capacity at that lifetime. Mostly hype, I would expect.

Ever since they released their Eneloops I wondered when they would release their own C and D cells along with charger. Good to see they have, though it's still not on their Eneloop site.
http://www.eneloop.info

[randyharris @ Sep 18th 2008 7:02PM]

FWIW - I contacted Sanyo yesterday regarding availability of the C and D cells in the USA. The rep told me that they were Japan only and that Sanyo had no current plans to bring them to the USA.

I hope this isn't correct, I'm waiting to buy a mondo AAA, AA, C, and D mega pack from Costco or Amazon.