01Sep Battery testing.
For battery testing we have the Sanyo Eneloop XX 2500mAh (thanks Alek), the Eneloop 2000mAh, the Powerex 2700mAh, and just for the heck of it a cheap ($8) set of Energizer 2000mAh batteries from the local store. The plan for testing is to charge each set of batteries fresh and put them in a speedlite. Then set the intervalometer to 10 seconds and count the number of flashes on each set of batteries until the flash stops firing.
To test the longevity of the charge on each battery set, I plan to charge all of them and let them set for 2 weeks then try the same test again. That’s about all I can think of for testing, but I’m open to input if any of you have any other recommendations. I don’t do a lot of battery testing so let me know if there are any other tests you’d like me to run. Hopefully I’ll have the first round of tests done sometime next week. I’ll keep you posted.
September 1st, 2012 at 9:38 pm
I am curious to see how each battery holds up in an LED light let’s lets take the Z96 for example!!
September 2nd, 2012 at 12:51 am
That would be an awesome test. I am a still photographer and use my speedlights a lot but I never tested deeply my batteries.
I currently have the Normal Eneloops, The XX Eneloops (almost a XXX Batery ;-), the Powerex 2700 and the Imedion 2400 which is and equivalent of the XX Eneloop but on the makers of the Powerex 2700.
I believe (based on my use) the XX’s will come at first, the Imedion second and the Powerex on second place and the Eneloops on third and the Energizer on fourth.
The charge also vary depends what charger I’m using. I have both from the same brand (the makers of the Powerex)
The 8-Cell Maha Powerex MH-C801D (similar to what you posted couple weeks ago) and the 4-cell Maha Powerex Wizard One MH-C9000.
When I charge my batteries on the C801D on slow charge at the end of the cycle the batteries feel hot but the charge is significantly higer than the same battery charged on the MH-9000 (which, BTW is the most advance charger in the market)
I usually charge my batteries the day a the day before of my photoshoots, and I notices even with “low discharge” batteries like the XX or Imedion they loose a little charge (noticeable on my digital battery tester) in one or two days.
Eneloop claim that the XX or the regular Eneloops hold 75% of the charge after a year, well that is very hard to check, but my point is if we usually charge our batteries before use, may be don’t make sense spend the extra $$$ on low discharge batteries like the Eneloops or Imedion.
In that case the winner will be the Powerex 2700.
September 2nd, 2012 at 2:56 am
could you also test them inside a freezer?
September 2nd, 2012 at 3:28 pm
just curious, what charger will you be using?
September 3rd, 2012 at 9:05 am
Powerex C800S.
September 6th, 2012 at 7:28 am
One of the Eneloop selling points is that they are already pre-charged and ready to go out of the package. I wouldn’t mind seeing the test done without pre-charging the Sanyo’s first, and then again after a full charge.