These are NOT NiMH cells.

radi0j0hn wrote:These are NOT NiMH cells.

Correct

Includes 8-position battery charger with 4 AA & 4 AAA rechargeable alkaline batteries

Bought this and the batteries are junk. If you fully charge the batteries and leave them in the charger, but unplug the charger they drain to nothing in a day or two. I had 3 batteries leak on me onto the charger. Batteries don't hold a charge very long. With my Xbox controller they last 4-5 hours of play time fully charged. In my remote control they lasted a few weeks. I would highly recommend staying away from these products.

This is probably *not* going to count as a quality post but here it goes anyway.

If this sounds too good to be true, it is.

These are "rechargeable alkalines", good only for "shallow" draw devices (remotes/flashlights) and if you wait until they are dead to recharge them, they will quickly loose their ability to hold a charge.

Don't take my word for it, read it here:

http://www.amazon.com/review/R3AEXU90P7A670

I almost bought them but not after reading this.

86 comments last woot, also $19.99 last month:
http://tech.woot.com/forums/viewpost.aspx?postid=5172940

Yes or No please with an explanation as necessary.

So Eneloops are totally different and not even the same thing despite the fact that they are both batteries?

That said, would the charger be a worthwhile investment (For Charging Eneloops) and maybe the included (iGo) batteries could go in remote controls?

Would this charger work as good as or better than the standard Eneloop 4 battery charger?

What is the minimum number of batteries that you can charge? Do you have to charge 4 at a time or can you do just 1 or 2 or 3?

I have the 4 battery version of this charger that I got from a previous Woot. I use the rechargeable alkaline batteries for my electronic deadbolt locks and my lawn sprinkler timers; both low draw devices. They work well and I haven't had any problems with the batteries or the charger.

For me size matters, at least in the application I use them for. I bought a number of these batteries and chargers a few months ago and they have worked fairly well for me because they are just a bit smaller in circumference than NIMH batteries and about the size of regular alkaline.

This size factor is important to me because the motion/sound activated lights I use them for are from China and all have battery spaces that are too tight for four of the regular NIMH rechargeable batteries. You can squeeze them in but at some point one or more will pop right out. Regular alkalines fit but are out of the question since they would have to be replaced often.

These batteries work in the lights I have and although they have to be recharged more often than Eneloops at least they fit. The charger that comes with these batteries is the only one that can be used. A regular NIMH charger will not work for these batteries. The charger itself is okay but takes a long time to charge the batteries. Do not let them drain completely, which is a non factor for NIMH batteries, which by the way, can be recharged using this charger. Remember that point - that you can not charge these batteries in another charger but you can use the charger to recharge normal NIMH batteries. I have a good charger for my NIMH batteries so I don't need these other than for the IGo batteries. A nice feature of this charger is that it will charge any number of batteries whereas many NIMH chargers require at least two batteries at once.

If you have tight spaces to fill in your battery compartment I would recommend them, if not, go with Eneloops.

I have both the 4 slot and 8 slot chargers. The 8 slot specifies that you can't mix technologies (Alkaline and NiMH) at the same time, I don't remember that restriction with the 4 slot charger.

Of course, in both you can use any number of slots, no need to pair them. Charging 1 battery is fine.

The flashlight I wanted to use the AAAs in turns out to have too tight a tolerance, these batteries are too fat to fit.

But then the primary reason I bought these is for NiMH charging. I'd rather wait a day for a charge then destroy the batteries with a rapid charge.

OK, it needs to be said.

These batteries have a significant advantage that overshadows their downfalls (don't like deep discharges; low capacity).

They are 1.5 volts. Not 1.25 like NiMH and other rechargables (Eneloop, or anything else you find called "rechargeable" - all NiMH). And they exhibit all the good behaviors of alkaline batteries: they can sit in a drawer for years and if they're fully charged, they'll be fully charged when you need them.

What does that prove? Well, they are useful in everything that a regular rechargeable ISN'T useful for: remotes, flashlights, thermostats, wireless keyboards/mice, rarely-used game controllers... those all are designed for non-rechargeable batteries because they operate around 3.0 volts, not 2.5 like what NiMH rechargeables do. NiMH also exhibits self-discharge at a much higher rate than alkaline. So if you let them sit in a drawer, they'll be dead.

That's why I've got a stock of both - NiMH for the cameras and... eh... that's about it. And I've got a bunch of iGo alkalines - these same batteries (but a 4-position charger) - for everything else. They work beautifully, and I occasionally swap batteries in the devices whenever I think about it to keep them from falling completely dead.

Despite their disadvantages, they're very useful in ways NiMH traditional rechargeables don't. I couldn't care less about the "non-toxic" or "green" effects... but they're just technologically superior in some ways than NiMHs are.

Five bucks off....that alone doeesn't make this much of a deal. Add in the $5 shipping...even less so.

Where is the Woot I made hundreds of purchases from?

Does anyone know what the mAh rating is on the batterys

I have bought both the AA &AAA. I use rhem in clocks remotes flashlights. My mom is always using the flaslights and i just periodically remove and recharge. I am sure these have saved me some cash more important i am not running out of the most commonly used sizes

Don't buy these, i did last time they had them on sale and this guy is correct. They lose their ability to hold charge within weeks. Gt Duracells they are much better as rechargeables

Bought these a while ago, - found out that they ruined my nice $50 battery charger I had, when I accidentally used another charger to charge these batteries (the other charger almost caught on fire).

I have the iGo batteries from like 2 woots back, the ones where you got 16 batteries and 2x 4xcharger without the LCD.

Great for some things, terrible for other.

Camera flash for my DSLR - great. might burn through all 16 in a 6hr shoot but otherwise great

Actual Flip camera? youre gonna get 15mins outta them, and thats fresh off the charger.

aojle wrote:I have both the 4 slot and 8 slot chargers. The 8 slot specifies that you can't mix technologies (Alkaline and NiMH) at the same time, I don't remember that restriction with the 4 slot charger.

Of course, in both you can use any number of slots, no need to pair them. Charging 1 battery is fine.

The flashlight I wanted to use the AAAs in turns out to have too tight a tolerance, these batteries are too fat to fit.

But then the primary reason I bought these is for NiMH charging. I'd rather wait a day for a charge then destroy the batteries with a rapid charge.

As for the AAA being too fat.... I found that they have TWO labels on them. I carefully peeled one label off and the one underneath looks the same. I guess quality control was asleep. You have to peel carefully so you don't peel BOTH labels off. but they will fit afterwards. Or you can write the manufacturer. They said they would replace them.

lestaxes wrote:Bought these a while ago, - found out that they ruined my nice $50 battery charger I had, when I accidentally used another charger to charge these batteries (the other charger almost caught on fire).

DUHH, Read the instuctions, It says "Charge ONLY in Igo chargers"

smartheart wrote:Five bucks off....that alone doeesn't make this much of a deal. Add in the $5 shipping...even less so.

Where is the Woot I made hundreds of purchases from?

The 24.99 list is for the charger and 8 batteries. So $5 off and 8 MORE batteries (free). that sounds better.

Will this charger work on 240 vac like they have in Europe?

There's a lot of comments on the quality of the batteries, but how good is this charger? How well does it charge other rechargeable batteries that are not of the same brand?

Falcon4 wrote:OK, it needs to be said.

These batteries have a significant advantage that overshadows their downfalls (don't like deep discharges; low capacity).

They are 1.5 volts. Not 1.25 like NiMH and other rechargables (Eneloop, or anything else you find called "rechargeable" - all NiMH). And they exhibit all the good behaviors of alkaline batteries: they can sit in a drawer for years and if they're fully charged, they'll be fully charged when you need them.

What does that prove? Well, they are useful in everything that a regular rechargeable ISN'T useful for: remotes, flashlights, thermostats, wireless keyboards/mice, rarely-used game controllers... those all are designed for non-rechargeable batteries because they operate around 3.0 volts, not 2.5 like what NiMH rechargeables do. NiMH also exhibits self-discharge at a much higher rate than alkaline. So if you let them sit in a drawer, they'll be dead.

That's why I've got a stock of both - NiMH for the cameras and... eh... that's about it. And I've got a bunch of iGo alkalines - these same batteries (but a 4-position charger) - for everything else. They work beautifully, and I occasionally swap batteries in the devices whenever I think about it to keep them from falling completely dead.

Despite their disadvantages, they're very useful in ways NiMH traditional rechargeables don't. I couldn't care less about the "non-toxic" or "green" effects... but they're just technologically superior in some ways than NiMHs are.

Then this needs to be said, too:

Alkaline batteries do start off at a higher voltage, but that voltage declines steadily as the battery discharges, while NiMH batteries maintain a relatively constant voltage while discharging. This means that for over half the time the NiMH battery is actually putting out higher voltage.

Second, current low self-discharge NiMH batteries keep their charge for a long time and can last years per charge in low-drain devices like remote controls.

craigthom wrote:Then this needs to be said, too:

Alkaline batteries do start off at a higher voltage, but that voltage declines steadily as the battery discharges, while NiMH batteries maintain a relatively constant voltage while discharging. This means that for over half the time the NiMH battery is actually putting out higher voltage.

Second, current low self-discharge NiMH batteries keep their charge for a long time and can last years per charge in low-drain devices like remote controls.

All that means is "well... NiMH are almost that good... they're passable now!". Rechargeable alkaline still have those advantages, but NiMH are merely "passable" as them. Still, point stands!

Seems to me, the charger is worth it alone for the ability to charge single NiMH batteries at a time instead of in pairs like other 'smart chargers' (like the eneloop charger) do. More often than not, I need 3 AA's for a headlamp or some other device, leaving me with an odd number to try and re-charge. The ability to charge 8 different individual batteries at different rates of dis-charge to me is rad! Not to mention it shows you each batteries individual charge meter! Way cooler than my beloved Eneloop charger!
On a side note... Has anyone tried re-charging standard alkaline batteries with this charger? Just curious.

Falcon4 wrote:All that means is "well... NiMH are almost that good... they're passable now!". Rechargeable alkaline still have those advantages, but NiMH are merely "passable" as them. Still, point stands!

I think you missed the part about NiMH batteries having a higher output voltage most of the time. That's better, not "almost as good".

I bought one of these with the 4 battery chargers on a woot a while back (January)and find the batteries very useful for my wireless mice & keyboards. They are OK in led flashlights as well. I have avoided ues in heavy draw items, so am very satisfied. I have yet to have one die on me, and so plan to get one of these for the upgraded charger and AAA batteries (hooray).

Got the AA only set on a Woot-Off some time back (can't remember which one, I go into a "WOOT! Frenzy during the Woot-Offs and it is all a blur) and have regretted not having waited for one with the AAA's ever since - I have the doubles in remotes and in my camera and have been VERY pleased so far! But my smaller remotes for my streaming media players take triples, and I have 3 of them....this will help me out a lot, even at the "only $5.00" discount added back in for shipping. HEY - when your device goes dead, you change the batteries. I don't care AT ALL if the device goes dead a month or two earlier than it would have with a different set or type of battery - it's all of ....what...30 seconds of my life that I'll never get back spent changing the batteries and putting them in the charger. 9 times out of 10 I'll find out the batteries are falling off while watching TV in the first place.....not exactly "quality time" I'm losing there. In for a few, got some media-happy family that will be getting a set for Christmas as well.

I have had 5 out of 8 AAA iGo batteries leak and 1 completely died and will not recharge. Not good batteries.

In the Darwinian world of retail merchandising, this kind of cell was introduced by one of the MAJOR brands more than 10 years ago and failed.

I was sent a set and a charger for review at the time. They said they could be charged "up to" 25 times, but each charge cycle held a little less power.

It was a pathetic attempt to wring the last bit of sales out of a dying technology.

NiMH cells were coming on strong, and if a tweak of existing alkaline cells to make the "recharge" could work, then the companies could go a bit slower about ramping up fabs for the newer technology.

Do you see these on the store shelves? No. You see NiMH cells, which keep getting better? Yes.

Another factor (to the delight of the big names) was that people continued to buy single-use cells, often because recharging was too much of hassle for them.

So the whole "alkalines are going down the tubes" scare that may have prompted this absurd experiment probably was for naught.

Agreed. They are the worst rechargable batteries I've EVER owned. In my case, my batteries are no more than 4 months old. In that time, they have runed one of my La Crosse chargers and my Apple Bluetooth keyboard with battery (acid?) leakage and expansion. I had to drill out one of the batteries from the keyboard, but even after drilling a hole in the 2nd battery, it was still so expanded that it would not come out.

I contacted support, and they said because I didn't use their charger, there was no warranty. I'm sorry, but a $.50 charger vs. a $30 La Crosse charger, that's a bunch of crap. So for my $20 in battery cost, it's now cost me $100 in ruined products. I've been using but Eneloop and Duracell rechargables for years and I've NEVER had this problem.

acrazygerman wrote:Bought this and the batteries are junk. If you fully charge the batteries and leave them in the charger, but unplug the charger they drain to nothing in a day or two. I had 3 batteries leak on me onto the charger. Batteries don't hold a charge very long. With my Xbox controller they last 4-5 hours of play time fully charged. In my remote control they lasted a few weeks. I would highly recommend staying away from these products.

These batteries are junk.

They are the worst rechargable batteries I've EVER owned. In my case, my batteries are no more than 4 months old. In that time, they have runed one of my La Crosse chargers and my Apple Bluetooth keyboard with battery (acid?) leakage and expansion. I had to drill out one of the batteries from the keyboard, but even after drilling a hole in the 2nd battery, it was still so expanded that it would not come out.

I contacted support, and they said because I didn't use their charger, there was no warranty. I'm sorry, but a $.50 charger vs. a $30 La Crosse charger, that's a bunch of crap. So for my $20 in battery cost, it's now cost me $100 in ruined products. I've been using but Eneloop and Duracell rechargables for years and I've NEVER had this problem.

Ah, user error. Just like the last time woot offered these, 90% of the negative reviews are caused by the use of the product rather than the product themselves.

"What do you mean kerosene ruined my engine block!? It's flammable just like gasoline and I demand my car work with it just the same!"

And if anyone cares, other than the three I used for my light puzzle, I still have no idea where I put these 'cause they still haven't died out. The charger has been breathing new life into my NiMH batteries though.

Piece of junk.......I bought it a few weeks ago, the batteries do not hold a charge

willoneal wrote:These batteries are junk.

They are the worst rechargable batteries I've EVER owned. In my case, my batteries are no more than 4 months old. In that time, they have runed one of my La Crosse chargers and my Apple Bluetooth keyboard with battery (acid?) leakage and expansion. I had to drill out one of the batteries from the keyboard, but even after drilling a hole in the 2nd battery, it was still so expanded that it would not come out.

I contacted support, and they said because I didn't use their charger, there was no warranty. I'm sorry, but a $.50 charger vs. a $30 La Crosse charger, that's a bunch of crap. So for my $20 in battery cost, it's now cost me $100 in ruined products. I've been using but Eneloop and Duracell rechargables for years and I've NEVER had this problem.

I am not aware of a La Crosse charger that works with rechargeable alkaline batteries. I think you ruined the charger yourself.

"90% of the negative reviews are caused by the use of the product rather than the product themselves."

Perhaps you mean the misuse of the product?

Got these last time.
Great for items that sit a lot, but you want them to work when you want them - electric screwdrivers; flashlights; emergency radio; remote control.
The charger works great.
I use NiMH, like the Kodak batteries offered here sometimes, for things like solar lights, cameras.
Just remember: Don't charge these in any other charger!

I bought some of these last summer. They are awful. Do not waste your money. Take the cash and go to ammie instead and buy some Eneloops and a decent charger (not the eneloop one) that charges separately and not in pairs.

Read all the other bad reviews from previous sales and read the wiki page on rechargeable alkalines.

willoneal wrote:Agreed. They are the worst rechargable batteries I've EVER owned. In my case, my batteries are no more than 4 months old. In that time, they have runed one of my La Crosse chargers and my Apple Bluetooth keyboard with battery (acid?) leakage and expansion.

Every time some... (trying to find a nicer word than "complete freaking Pinky")... Unintelligent Consumer... writes a post here about how these batteries "ruined their charger", I want to apologize to iGo for the LEVEL OF HUMAN STUPIDITY they are faced with in their consumers.

The batteries. LOUDLY and OBVIOUSLY. Very clearly state that you are ONLY SUPPOSED TO USE iGo chargers with these. And they VERY CLEARLY say they're a distinct alkaline chemistry that is NOT supposed to be used in other chargers.

I wish it burned down your house so you might've learned a lesson... instead of bringing your ignorance here and parading around as if it's iGo's fault your charger got ruined.
(OK, not *really* wish your house burned down, that's kinda harsh. But seriously, coming around writing reviews because you couldn't spend 2 seconds even LOOKING at the battery label that says "CHARGE ONLY IN IGO CHARGER"? Darwin award would be fitting!)

By the way, I also have that same charger. With the capacity gauge on it, right? Yeah. I'm smart enough to know which batteries go in which freakin' charger...

craigthom wrote:I am not aware of a La Crosse charger that works with rechargeable alkaline batteries. I think you ruined the charger yourself.

Agreed. Every La Crosse charger I've come across charges NiCd and NiMH. Mine comes with a strongly worded warning not to attempt to charge alkaline batteries with it.

Even so, I'll stick with reasonably cheap NiMH batteries with more than 1000 charge/discharge cycles. Rechargeable alkaline batteries are a false economy.