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When Eneloop batteries were first introduced in 2005, they claimed to last 1,000 charges. That sounded unbelievable, but Eneloop batteries held up to their end of the bargain.
Since then, the manufacturer has tweaked the battery’s cycle life and improved it significantly. You can now get up to 2,100 charges from the same batteries.
That’s 2100 fewer batteries you have to buy—talk about value for money. Besides the long rechargeable cycle life, let’s talk about what else you can expect from Eneloop batteries.
Eneloop Rechargeable Batteries Come in 4 Different Types
Eneloop rechargeable batteries come in different sizes. Although they all have the same basic chemistry, they have various capacities depending on the battery size.
Eneloop AA Batteries
Eneloop AA batteries look like standard AA batteries. They’re 50 mm in length and 15 mm in thickness.
They have a capacity of about 1900 mAh (milliampere hours), which means the batteries give you 1,900 milliamperes of current for 1 hour.
The nominal voltage of Eneloop AAs is 1.2 V, and it takes just over 3 hours to bring Eneloop AA batteries to full charge.
Eneloop AAA Size Batteries
Eneloop AAA batteries are 10.5 mm in diameter and 44.5 mm long. They typically have a lower capacity than AA Eneloop batteries of about 750 mAh.
The batteries have a nominal voltage of 1.2 V, and AAA Eneloop batteries recharge in just over 2 hours.
Eneloop Lite Cells
Eneloop lite batteries are about 30% lighter in weight than other Eneloop batteries. They’re designed for use in low drain devices like remote controls and video game controllers.
The Eneloop lite AA batteries have a capacity of 1,000 mAh, while the AAA version functions at a capacity of 600 mAh.
Eneloop Pro
The Pro version of the Eneloop gives the highest capacity (2,500mAh), making it suited for high output devices like LED lights, professional cameras, and gaming devices.
Eneloop Pro cells give a steady output of voltage. For instance, with Eneloop pro cells, you can repeatedly use the camera’s flash up to 800 times without the battery giving out.
| Eneloop battery size | Capacity(mAh) | Voltage(V) |
| AA | 1,900/2,000 | 1.2 |
| AAA | 750 | 1.2 |
| Lite AA | 1,000 | 1.2 |
| Lite AAA | 600 | 1.2 |
| Pro | 2,500 | 1.2 |
Eneloop Cells Are Stable and Sustainable
High Mechanical Stability
Eneloop cells use Nickel-metal hydride chemistry with hydrogen stored in a metal alloy (metal hydride) as the positive electrode.
The chemical reaction during the charge and discharge reaction involve nickel oxide hydroxide electrode exchanging one proton.
The reaction entails only a slight change in the battery size, making them highly stable mechanically, giving the battery its long cycle life.
Stable Electrolyte
The Eneloop battery uses an aqueous solution of potassium hydroxide as the electrolyte. Potassium hydroxide is very high in conductivity, and the solution doesn’t go into the discharge and recharge reactions of the nickel-metal hydride chemistry.
The electrolyte, therefore, retains its concentration at an almost constant rate throughout each charging and recharging cycle. As a result, the performance of the cell doesn’t change over the battery’s life.
This means Eneloop batteries give you top of the range performance on the 2,000th charge, just as they did when you first bought them.
Plus, the battery’s casing keeps the electrolyte from freezing, allowing Eneloop cells to maintain their performance even at temperatures as low as -20°C.
Sustainable
Statistics show that over 15 billion primary batteries are thrown away annually around the world.
That’s 15 billion pollutants that will end up in landfills to corrode and start leaking into the soil. All the chemicals will soak into the ground and contaminate the water.
Eneloop rechargeable batteries help save the environment. One battery will last for many years and thousands of charges.
Plus, the manufacturers use solar power to charge the batteries, making them suitable for a sustainable lifestyle.
Eneloop Rechargeable Batteries Last Long
Eneloop batteries are designed to lose their charge slowly. The cathode is made from a superlattice alloy that slows down the cathode’s deterioration, reducing the batteries’ internal resistance and self-discharge.
This allows Eneloop batteries to hold on to their capacity for longer even when they aren’t in use.
Eneloop batteries retain 90% of their capacity after one year in storage and will still give out current at 80% after three years of not using them.
Even after 10 years in storage, they’ll still work at about 70% capacity.
The low rate of self-discharge makes the batteries ready to use whenever you buy them.
When you buy ordinary rechargeable batteries, you need to charge them before your first use.
But not with Eneloop batteries. They are ready to use, so they’ll save you the hassle of a first charge.
Steady Voltage
When it comes to voltage, Eneloop batteries have a lower voltage (1.2 V) than alkaline batteries (1.5 V), but their voltage is more stable.
Traditional alkaline batteries tend to give a gradually lower voltage over the life of the battery. Eneloop batteries, however, maintain the same voltage output even in high energy drain devices like digital cameras.
The voltage will only go below critical just before they are empty. This means you won’t experience any problems with the performance of your device right until the batteries give out.
Frequently Asked Questions About Eneloop Rechargeable Batteries
Can I Recharge Eneloop Batteries in Any Charger?
Any Nickel-metal hydride battery charger will work for Eneloop batteries. However, it’s best to buy a smart charger for your AA and AAA batteries.
A smart charger will tell you when the battery is fully charged. It will also cut off to stop the battery from overcharging so you won’t damage the battery or affect the battery’s cycle life.
It’s advisable not to use ultra-fast chargers like 15-minute battery chargers. Ultra-fast charger charge batteries at an extremely high current which is about three times the recommended maximum current for charging Eneloop cells.
Moreover, the heat produced by these chargers reduces the cycle life of your batteries.
Also, stay away from dumb chargers. Dumb chargers don’t cut off when the battery is full, so you are likely to overcharge the batteries, which can damage them.
Where Should I Store My Eneloop Batteries?
Store Eneloop batteries in a cool, dry place. The cells lose their capacity in hot temperatures, so avoid putting your batteries in a hot place (like near the stove or windows).
If you are not using your Eneloop cells immediately after you buy them, keep them in their original packaging so they won’t come into contact with any other materials.
Avoid storing your loose batteries in metal containers or inside a drawer with metal objects like nails and coins. The metal can make the batteries start conducting electricity, which will affect how they work.
Also, keep the batteries away from humid or wet places like the fridge.
Get Your Eneloop Rechargeable Battery
Eneloop cells are a worthwhile investment; you can count on them to give you reliable power for a long time.
Head over to Battery Specialists to buy your AA and AAA Eneloop cells today. We have a wide range of Eneloop batteries in stock for your household or bulk needs.
Get your ready-to-use, long-lasting Eneloop cells today
