And the unfortunate Kodak liquidation continues . . .

The question is, how well do these hold up in power-thirsty devices? I'm tempted to buy some...

My new flashlight recommends NiMH batteries, making this rather tempting....

Ah.

I see the pre-charged Comment now...

I guess these are indeed Hybrid batteries, the good kind!

They should really make this a big selling point in packaging and promotion that these are Hybrid batteries. Many consumers still have a bad taste in their mouth from rechargeable batteries of the past, the kind that you charge then sit aside only to find that when you need to use them weeks later they are dead! Hybrid batteries like these will hold their charge for weeks, months, even years at a time depending on their quality.

Sanyo Eneloop brand Hybrid batteries have always been hailed as the best of the best, but I have had good luck with other brands as well.

I have a Kodak that uses these batteries and they hold up reasonably well.

As for the chargers I was looking into the 1 hour charger by itself and found it listed for $17.99 by itself with no batteries so this is a very good deal.

(Which sort of makes up for the most recent set of woot-off's....)

Any photographers using these in speedlights? Curious to know recycle time, shelf life and overall usage. The fact that it comes with 3 chargers is a huge plus too.

Would the 1-hour charger work fine with Eneloops?

From the description:

- Regularly checks battery voltage and turns on when needed to maintain full charge
- Auto on/off saves electricity
Each charger charges (2) or (4) AA NiMH batteries, or (2) or (4) AAA NiMH batteries
- Includes pre-charged batteries that are ready to use

It's often debated whether Kodak's "pre-charged" batteries are Low Self-Discharged (LSD) batteries like Eneloops. If they are LSD, then this is a great deal. If they're just normal 2100mAh NiMH batteries, then the deal is just okay.

My guess is that they are LSD, since normal NiMH batteries don't stay charged on store shelves even if they've been pre-charged leaving the factory. They will be depleted within months.

But if they are LSD, then the feature which automatically charges the battery isn't very useful. In fact, you can argue that constant auto-recharging harms the battery.

I'm going to place my bet on these being LSD and order a bunch. I just need the batteries and not the charger since I already have a hi-tech LaCrosse charger and don't need/want auto-recharging.

rom wrote:Would the 1-hour charger work fine with Eneloops?

No reason why they wouldn't, but remember quick charging (charging at a higher amperage) decreases the lifespan of your batteries. You should only use 1-hour charging when needed.

Also what sdc100 says.
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rom wrote:Would the 1-hour charger work fine with Eneloops?

All chargers that work with NiMH batteries will work with LSD NiMH batteries like Eneloops. Also, read my other post about these "pre-charged" batteries. My guess is that these Kodak batteries are basically Eneloops (first generation ones).

While the charger will work, keep in mind that fast charging traumatizes the battery, potentially shortening its useful lifespan. That's why intelligent chargers like the LaCrosse defaults at 200mA, taking about a day to charge each AA batteries. The gentle low charging protects the chemicals. If I need speed, I choose the 1000mA setting. And if I'm in a BIG hurry, I use a 15 mins Duracell charger that gets so hot that it has a built-in fan just an inch from each battery.

theguruguys wrote:Ah.

I see the pre-charged Comment now...

I guess these are indeed Hybrid batteries, the good kind!

They should really make this a big selling point in packaging and promotion that these are Hybrid batteries. Many consumers still have a bad taste in their mouth from rechargeable batteries of the past, the kind that you charge then sit aside only to find that when you need to use them weeks later they are dead! Hybrid batteries like these will hold their charge for weeks, months, even years at a time depending on their quality.

Sanyo Eneloop brand Hybrid batteries have always been hailed as the best of the best, but I have had good luck with other brands as well.

I agree. Kodak should highlight the LSD aspect if they are indeed LSD. Big marketing mistake!

LSD Duracells (with the white top) have been proven to be identical to the original Eneloops, except rebranded with the Duracell name. And they're usually cheaper. I bought my Duracells for the price of normal NiMH cells.

Note that the newest Eneloops use a new formula which supposedly doubles the number of recharge cycles.

sdc100 wrote:From the description:

My guess is that they are LSD, since normal NiMH batteries don't stay charged on store shelves even if they've been pre-charged leaving the factory. They will be depleted within months.

It seems you are right. Basing from this listing's reviews on Amazon, it seems at par or better than Eneloops.

One reviewer has "confirmed that it's a rebranded GP ReCyko+ Pre-Charged Batteries.

Another Amazon review

The charger alone is $14 on Amazon. Including the batteries this is a good price.

Based on some quick research and observations:

These are are NiMH, low self discharge batteries (basically like Eneloops). They are well reviewed on Amazon, and someone has stated (I couldn't confirm) that they are re-branded GP Recyko+ batteries (which are also good pre-charged NiMH, comparable in quality to eneloop and other similar batteries).

The capacity is rated at 2100 (minimum 2000) and one tester claimed that they were running at around 2200, which is fantastic for pre-charged type NiMH.

This is a good deal, even if it was just for the batteries alone with no chargers. Quality low self-discharge batteries usually run about $10+ for 4. This is $25 (shipped) for 12, plus the chargers.

I would recommend NOT using the "quick" charger on these batteries, as it will shorten the lifespan of the batteries, but if you're in a hurry I suppose that's the trade off.

If you have a LaCrosse or other similar intelligent battery charger/refresher, even better.

dan7398 wrote:My new flashlight recommends NiMH batteries, making this rather tempting....

If these are Low Self-Discharge (LSD), then they're perfect for flashlights and other devices you don't use often. The problem with normal NiMH batteries is that the power drains even without use. So a freshly charged flashlight will be dead in a few months, despite not being touched. For that reason, I would NOT recommend using regular NiMH batteries in emergency or seldomly-used devices.

papapearce wrote:The question is, how well do these hold up in power-thirsty devices? I'm tempted to buy some...

No better or worse than any ordinary NiMH battery. The big difference (if these are LSD) is that these will stay charged longer without use.

One thing to keep in mind is that these are just 2100mAh, which is somewhat low. Some AA NiMH batteries can hold 2800 or even 2900mAh so you might want to look elsewhere if you don't need LSD.

rom wrote:Would the 1-hour charger work fine with Eneloops?

Yes, Eneloops can be used with any charger that charges NiMH batteries. But unless you're in a hurry, it's best to charge slowly so as to protect the lifespan of your Eneloops.

By the way, I swear by pre-charged (low self discharge) batteries. The regular old NiMH batteries frustrated the hell out of me by being dead after a month, even if you didn't use them. These batteries are more like regular alkaline in that you can have them in your camera or other device for several months and still get some good use out of them. It makes them great for things like a wireless mouse or a camera that you don't use every day but you want it to be ready when you need it.

Back before I had some pre-charged, I would constantly have to recharge NiMH batteries that I never even USED because they self discharged before I got a chance to use them.

The fact that the capacity is slightly less (2100 vs. say 2600) is almost irrelevant. A "regular" NiMH with 2600 capacity will probably be down around 2000 after a couple weeks on self discharge alone.

mikepanic wrote:Any photographers using these in speedlights? Curious to know recycle time, shelf life and overall usage. The fact that it comes with 3 chargers is a huge plus too.

They have the same usage profile as normal NiMH batteries. If you use your flash frequently, i.e. daily, there's no reason to use expensive LSD NiMHs. You will do just as well with cheaper generic NiMHs, like the ones they have in cordless phones.

You might want to look into NiZn batteries, which reached the market a few years ago. They cost about the same as ordinary NiMHs, and have same unfortunate self-discharge problem. But they're favored by photographers for one reason: unlike NiMH batteries, which are rated at 1.2V, NiZn batteries are rated for 1.6V -- which is even higher than alkaline's 1.5V.

Photographers say that the flash recharges much faster due to the higher voltage. Others, though, warn that the faster recharge rate may damage the flash.

Another possible advantage of NiZn batteries is that the higher initial voltage may also mean a longer useful life before recharging. That's because it'll take longer for it to drop from 1.6V to an unusable level than from 1.2V.

A warning: NiZn batteries need its own specialized charger. You can NOT charge them in a normal NiMH charger.

bakntime wrote:The fact that the capacity is slightly less (2100 vs. say 2600) is almost irrelevant. A "regular" NiMH with 2600 capacity will probably be down around 2000 after a couple weeks on self discharge alone.

That's true only in devices that you seldomly use, i.e. flashlights and emergency radios. For device you use daily though, i.e. cordless phones and remote controls, the higher capacity means longer times between charging. Or in the case of the phone, longer talk time. Another example are tools. I have an electric screwdriver and drill that uses AA batteries. When I'm working on a large project, I need them to last the entire day and 2100mAh may not cut it.

mikepanic wrote:Any photographers using these in speedlights? Curious to know recycle time, shelf life and overall usage. The fact that it comes with 3 chargers is a huge plus too.

Wondering the same thing for my Youngnuo YN560. I was really considering the Eneloops but I heard the AA kit with the charger isn't those "smart ones" and it only charges in pairs so I was going for the Sony Cycle Energy. I was actually going to Costco tomorrow to see if they still have the Eneloops for sale there still, so I guess I need to research tonight before I get the Kodaks.

Also, anyone know how much recharge cycles these can go for?

@sdc100: I've read about the NiZn also for flashes, but I fear it would harm my already delicate Youngnuo. Plus I've read the charger it bundles with isn't that great too.

Edit: So this charges in pairs too.. But the fact that you'll get two chargers (not considering the fast charger) is rather tempting.

Edit 2: Does anyone have an idea exactly what model numbers the batteries are?

In for 3.

sdc100 wrote:No better or worse than any ordinary NiMH battery. The big difference (if these are LSD) is that these will stay charged longer without use.

One thing to keep in mind is that these are just 2100mAh, which is somewhat low. Some AA NiMH batteries can hold 2800 or even 2900mAh so you might want to look elsewhere if you don't need LSD.

Thanks for the response. I've been looking for some good rechargeable batteries for a few months now, mostly for use in my Turtle Beach PX5 gaming headset. With normal name-brand Alkaline batteries (it takes 2 AA), I would get roughly 12-15 hours of regular use, and about 7-10 with bluetooth turned on at the same time.

However, my wife bought a huge pack of cheap alkaline batteries (seriously, a few sheets of paper weigh more than a single battery), and when using those I'll get maybe 2-4 hours without BT.

Turtle Beach says the PX5 will operate with 2 AA rechargeable NiMH batteries, however, I often go a few weeks without touching them so low self-discharge cells would be nice. The only issue I can see is that when I do use the headset it's often for a substantial duration of time, so high capacity is needed as well.

I guess in the end, you can't have your cake and eat it too, but since this does come with 12 batteries (that I HOPE are LSD) and a quick-charge kit, I suppose I can still take the cake and lick the batter :p

These are great low self-dischage NiMH batteries which are comparable to Sanyo's original Eneloops. Measured current capacity on these tends to slightly exceed spec. At this price, the chargers are essentially like a free bonus. The batteries alone are worth the selling price.

The one hour charger is best used for those times when you need your batteries to be charged quickly. Use the standard chargers in favor of the one hour charger when possible for the greatest number of actual recharge cycles and longest overall battery life. The one hour charger (like all fast chargers) will with repeated use have at least some detrimental effect on total usable battery charge cycles and overall battery life.

In for three. Will be giving some of these away for gifts during the approaching faster than you think Xmas season...if I don't wind up giving them away sooner during hurricane season.

Nice Woot!

papapearce wrote:I guess in the end, you can't have your cake and eat it too, but since this does come with 12 batteries (that I HOPE are LSD) and a quick-charge kit, I suppose I can still take the cake and lick the batter :p

These are definitely LSD batteries. By definition, all NiMH batteries that come "pre-charged" are LSD batteries. No worries, mate. No worries. Go ahead and lick that batter.

sdc100 wrote:That's true only in devices that you seldomly use, i.e. flashlights and emergency radios. For device you use daily though, i.e. cordless phones and remote controls, the higher capacity means longer times between charging. Or in the case of the phone, longer talk time. Another example are tools. I have an electric screwdriver and drill that uses AA batteries. When I'm working on a large project, I need them to last the entire day and 2100mAh may not cut it.

But if your electric screwdriver is high current, regular NiMH batteries might not supply as much current as you need nor last as long.

I do hope they are LSD batteries. I don't need any more regular NiMH batteries that barely last half as long in high current situation.

How many hours does the std charger take to charge these batteries? I have a 1,4 and 2x8 hr charger. Don't want any more ultra slow chargers. Or more specifically what is the current capability of the chargers.

I use most of these batteries for my scuba equipment, whether it is 10w LED torch (1.2v * 4 * 2A give me just about 1 hr of burn time), backup torch, or camera plus external strobes. The think I hate the most is to open the housing up to change the batteries, with each opening the case having the possibility of having lint trapped between the o-ring and having the housing flood the next time I go down (which happened to me just last time). These LSD seem to last 50-100% longer than regular NiMH. Sometimes when I have too many batteries being charged and have to revert to regular NiMH, I will tend to turn the LCD off and not shoot unless it is something unique, and when shooting, do 2/3 as many shots as usual.

joshobra wrote:Also, anyone know how much recharge cycles these can go for?.

Edit 2: Does anyone have an idea exactly what model numbers the batteries are?

Using the ORIGINAL Eneloops as a reference, these have 1000 recycles. The newest Eneloops are rated for 1500 cycles. For me, the 500 additional cycles are meaningless and not worth the extra cost. Considering that I recharge my batteries once a week at most, 1000 cycles means 19 years of service! I'll lose my batteries long before that. And my remote control batteries are only charged monthly, which means a whopping 83 years of service... So who needs the new Eneloops with 1500 cycles???

As far as I know, Kodak only sells one model of pre-charged batteries. Actually, I don't think they even sell AAA batteries because those aren't used in cameras. As such, you probably don't need a model number to search for info.

Well after 72 batteries, what's another 12?

joshobra wrote:Wondering the same thing for my Youngnuo YN560. I was really considering the Eneloops but I heard the AA kit with the charger isn't those "smart ones" and it only charges in pairs so I was going for the Sony Cycle Energy. I was actually going to Costco tomorrow to see if they still have the Eneloops for sale there still, so I guess I need to research tonight before I get the Kodaks.

@sdc100: I've read about the NiZn also for flashes, but I fear it would harm my already delicate Youngnuo. Plus I've read the charger it bundles with isn't that great too.

Edit: So this charges in pairs too.. But the fact that you'll get two chargers (not considering the fast charger) is rather tempting.

At this price, you should probably grab them just for the batteries and worry about the charger later. One search on eBay and you'd see that even questionable unknown Chinese brands (i.e. Enelong) cost more -- and they don't come with chargers. My guess is that these will sell out by 2p ET so don't wait too long.

As for chargers, I'd suggest getting a separate high quality intelligent charger, i.e. a LaCrosse or Maha PowerEx. Search Amazon for reviews. Not only will they intelligently charge your batteries , but they can also analyze and "refresh" them. The LaCrosse, for example, can tell you your batteries true capacity. And if your batteries no longer hold a charge well, it can deep discharge/recharge multiple times until the battery reaches its maximum capacity. This refresh function can take several days. Multiple charging rates allow you to slow charge (200mAh) to protect the battery, or to fast charge to save time (1000mAh).

As for the PowerGenix NiZn charger that comes with the batteries, it's nothing special. There are no real options to select.

papapearce wrote:Thanks for the response. I've been looking for some good rechargeable batteries for a few months now, mostly for use in my Turtle Beach PX5 gaming headset. With normal name-brand Alkaline batteries (it takes 2 AA), I would get roughly 12-15 hours of regular use, and about 7-10 with bluetooth turned on at the same time.

However, my wife bought a huge pack of cheap alkaline batteries (seriously, a few sheets of paper weigh more than a single battery), and when using those I'll get maybe 2-4 hours without BT.

Turtle Beach says the PX5 will operate with 2 AA rechargeable NiMH batteries, however, I often go a few weeks without touching them so low self-discharge cells would be nice. The only issue I can see is that when I do use the headset it's often for a substantial duration of time, so high capacity is needed as well.

I guess in the end, you can't have your cake and eat it too, but since this does come with 12 batteries (that I HOPE are LSD) and a quick-charge kit, I suppose I can still take the cake and lick the batter :p

If you trust batteries from questionable unknown Chinese companies, a search on eBay shows that LSD batteries goes up to 3000mAh. I'm skeptical though and have had bad experiences with eBay battery purchases.

Since you get 12 batteries in this set, simply keep 10 always charged while you use two in your headphones. Then you probably won't notice the low 2100mAh ...although it'll probably be annoying to suddenly have to change batteries amidst an exciting fight.

Can these be used with a solar charger, like in a landscape light?

Kodak's pdfs for SC4 and SC1HR are at: Kodak Support.
Charging time w/SC4, 2100mAh is listed as 1.1hr. I don't see any ref to SLD.
For the price of the batteries alone, I'm in for 1.

Looks to be a great deal. I love great deals. Now do I buy one great deal,two or maybe three great deals? I am a flashlight junkie,with three great deals I could power up most of my flashlights at the same time and I would be visible to the Mars Rover at night. What to do,what to do?

http://store.kodak.com/store/ekconsus/en_US/pd/1_Hour_Smart_Charger_SC1HR/baseProductID.222954600/productID.222954700

freshman question: Can you use these in Wii controls or do you need something more powerful and longer lasting?

ThunderThighs wrote:I went with three - Christmas presents.

If I buy two deals my wife will just roll her eyes a few times. If I buy three I will have get the old "we need to talk about ....." comment and that always scares me.

The deal is done,bought two. Let the eye rolling begin.

Can it handle 220V input ?