Energizer NH15BP-4 Rechargeable AA Battery 4 Pack
by Energizer Batteries
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Energizer NH15BP-4 Rechargeable AA Battery 4 Pack
Customer Review: Horrible
Summary: 2 Stars
Either my battery recharger doesn't like these batteries (it seems to like other) or these batteries are horrible and can't hold a charge.Customer Review: Not ready for prime time!
Summary: 2 Stars
Didn't know that I had to charge these batteries before using them. Good thing I purchased a battery charger at the same time!Customer Review: Not very durable
Summary: 2 Stars
I own one set of Olympus and one of Kodak rechargeable batteries. They are more durable than this Energyzer.Customer Review: Shockingly high self-discharge rate!
Summary: 1 Stars
All rechargeable battery manufacturers love to boast about their product's current capacity (mAh). But there is a dirty little secret that they don't want you to hear: self-discharge rate. Simply put: a fully charged NiCd or NiMH cell will gradually lose its stored energy over time. Technical papers I have researched typically put the self-discharge rate at 10-20% per month for NiCd cells, and 20-30% per month for NiMH cells. This kind of self-discharge rate is usually acceptable in applications such as digital cameras.
I bought 8 of those Energizer 2500mAh rechargeable NiMH batteries over one year ago. At first, I was very happy about the large current capacity offered by those batteries. But within a few months, I started to notice that they die very quickly in my digital camera. In fact, a set of Sony 2300mAh NiMH batteries I bought one year earlier seems to last much longer when used in the same camera.
I recently did some controlled experiments (using the LaCrosse BC-900 AlphaPower Battery Charger) and found out what's wrong: The Energizer NiMH batteries have very high self-discharge rate. After fully charging all 8 cells and left them on the shelf for one week, five of them lost over 30% of their charge, and the other three lost about 20%. In comparison, the set of older Sony batteries only lost around 10% over the same one-week period.
So what this really means is: if I charge up those Energizer 2500mAh batteries and leave them in my camera for three weeks, they will become totally exhausted. I found this kind of self-discharge rate completely unacceptable, therefore I strongly advise against buying those batteries.
[Update on April 9, 2007]
I have hardly used those Energizer 2500mAh cells in the last few month. Now they have deteriorated even further. Five of them can't even hold their charges for more then a day.
Instead of the Energizer 2500mAh cells, I recommend buying the Rayovac "Hybrid" 2100mAh cells. They have very low self-discharge rate (see my review on "RAYO 4PK AA") and are cheaper than the better-known Sanyo eneloop 2000mAh cells. Kodak also sells a "Pre-Charged" NiMH cell with exactly the same spec as the Rayovac Hybrid.
The bottom line: Low-Self-Discharge NiMH cells are your best choices. There is absolutely no point in taking chances with older generation 2500-2700mAh NiMH cells now.
[Update on Oct 20, 2010]
The product image of Energizer Rechargeable AA has changed. It no longer advertises '2500mAh'. I went to my local W*mart to check out the actual batteries. All Energizer rechargable AA cells are now 2300mAh. Evidentially, Energizer has 'rollled back' battery technology to 2004. This is actually a good move because the lower capacity cells do not suffer from hideous self-discharge rate. Contrary to popular belief, a 2300mAh cell is not any less capable in delivering high power than a 2500mAh cell. Just that the run time will be about 8% shorter.
Customer Review: Lasts a day at best
Summary: 1 Stars
NiMH rechargeable batteries from two generations ago had capacities around 2000 mAh and they were pretty decent. There was chemistry change around the 2005 timeframe that allowed for higher capacities such as these Energizer 2450 mAh batteries, but that came with a major tradeoff. Yes you can get the higher capacity, but they would discharge at a much much higher rate just sitting there. Charge them and in a few weeks they'd be dead again. The previous generation might have lasted 2 months before going completely dead.
These Energizers are simply the worse of the worst for self-discharging. They weren't so great brand new, and after being in service for a bit mine are down to where they will self-discharge in about a day. No joke. They're useful if and only if you're going to know 8 hours ahead of time when you'll be using them, quickly pop them out and shove them into your device, and then use that device in such a way that they'll be drained within a couple hours.
Instead, there's is a new generation of NiMH batteries called Low Self-Discharge. They have sneaky packaging like Duracell Precharged. They also show a lower NiMH rating on the package, so you might look at them and laugh as I did the first time I saw one in the store. "Precharged? Who cares? Look, it has 80% of the capacity of these Energizers..." Well, don't believe the lack of hype. They've managed to solve the number one issue with rechargeable batteries, yet don't communicate fact that effectively enough on the packaging.
Instead, these new LSD batteries hold the charge almost as well as alkaline batteries. This unstated fact entirely changes how you can use rechargeables. It used to be that you would change the batteries immediately before using them. Now, you simply use them in your device. When you pull them, charge them back up and then toss them in the drawer to be used again next time. If you have kids with toys, then you know how how important it is to have batteries at the ready, and the new LSD batteries actually fit the bill. If you use these in a digital camera or flash, charge them and leave them in the camera. They'll be ready to go when you're ready to use the device.
In short order... avoid these Energizers and buy one of the following instead....
Duracell Precharged
Kodak Precharged
Rayovac Hybrid
Sanyo Eneloop
Rigorous testing by verified nerds shows that they each perform within a few percentage points of each other, so just get whatever is on sale. The Kodaks and especially Duracells can be found in local stores.