Any rechargeable battery experts out there???

[jo-jo]

I bought amazon brand rechargeable batteries (AAA and AA) . They are thicker than normal batteries. Some items they fit fine, other stuff, they don't. I've failed finding a chart where the diameter of the batteries are listed. Anyone know who makes skinny rechargeable batteries?

 

[Imzadi]

I bought amazon brand rechargeable batteries (AAA and AA) . They are thicker than normal batteries. Some items they fit fine, other stuff, they don't. I've failed finding a chart where the diameter of the batteries are listed. Anyone know who makes skinny rechargeable batteries?

I bought Amazon brand rechargeable batteries few times. I have not noticed any difference in the thickness. Are you sure you bought American batteries? Maybe ones made for different countries are slightly different? Can you return them?

If not, you might get battery adapters for the AAA batteries to make them fit into AA spaces:

https://www.amazon.com/LAMPVPATH-Battery-Adapter-Converter-adapter/

Or you might try Duracell rechargeables. They seem slim to me. But, I only have the AAAs and I do use the AA adapters when I need extra AA batteries in addition the the Amazon ones.

 

[bcla]

Where are they made? If they say "Made in Japan" then they're some of the best available. How are they thicker though? I've gone some rechargeable that are somewhat larger than alkaline, which I'm guessing is to maximize the capacity. They're also heavier.

Size is allowed to vary within some tight tolerances. The diameter is allowed to be between 13.5 to 14.5 mm. However, the main problem with Amazon branded batteries is that they have multiple suppliers where it's impossible for the buyer to specify which supplier. They generally don't care as long as it's within the allowed specification range.

 

[jo-jo]

They are made in china.

They fit the old Wii controllers, the twinkle light sets, they don't.

I was hoping not to have to try to buy this brand and that brand, cause the cost adds up. I was hoping someone had been through this and knew which are thinner or a chart/link which tracked the diameter.

 

[Imzadi]

Did you skim though the Amazon reviews? Maybe other people said the same thing and listed alternatives they got instead.

 

[SteveH]

I only buy the eneloop batteries, mostly at Costco, but I've bought off Amazon too. I've had zero bad batteries, all fit perfectly and lasted for years.

 

[hertamaniac]

I would consider myself very knowledgeable on rechargeable batteries (since that was my career before retiring early).

Different manufacturers grade their batteries on different parameters. Usually, they will sort them based on a test of energy (or capacity) of the cell. Lower energy batteries will be sold as a more economical battery and brand.

If the quality of the construction is suspect (such as a wound cell with perhaps extra separator), they will also get sorted into a lower grade. Naturally, that also would fall under a more economical battery and brand.

I suspect you may have purchased a lower grade battery that either is on the edge of meeting the specification or passed through the quality control that exceeded the specification (in terms of diameter).

 

[TippyThomas]

The rechargeable batteries I purchase on Amazon, they are the Amazon brand, are always a bit snug compared to my regular batteries. I always assumed it was just something that happened in the production of the rechargeable type. They have always fit in the devices I use them for but they are always a bit more snug.

 

[jo-jo]

The rechargeable batteries I purchase on Amazon, they are the Amazon brand, are always a bit snug compared to my regular batteries. I always assumed it was just something that happened in the production of the rechargeable type. They have always fit in the devices I use them for but they are always a bit more snug.

Yes, these are amazon brand. Holding them up to a "regular" battery, you can see the amazon are fatter. I thought I would keep a few duracells on hand in case of a power outage and the rechargeables are spent, but it looks like I'll still need to use some regular batteries for a few items.

 

[Imzadi]

I only buy the eneloop batteries, mostly at Costco, but I've bought off Amazon too. I've had zero bad batteries, all fit perfectly and lasted for years.

I have the Eneloops too. I really like them. The newest generation of them claim to hold a charge for about 5 years. We really won't know that until 5 years from now. However, we had a blackout a couple years ago in my area due to a power transformer fire. (Or something like that.)

I have a couple, full spectrum, Ottlite portable lamps that I use for crafting when I need to be clear on the colors. I hadn't used them in a year or so and the batteries were still in them. I was certain the Eneloops batteries would be weak. They powered up just fine and lasted all night as though they had been recently fully charged. So, I swear by them now for my emergency batteries. They usually have high ratings on Amazon and other stores too.

but it looks like I'll still need to use some regular batteries for a few items.

I've found I will always need regular batteries for some things. My computer mouse for one. There always seems to be a millisecond lag if I use any rechargeable in them. This has been consistent with several different mice and different brands of rechargeables.

 

[bcla]

Long story, but there’s really only one Japanese manufacturer of NiMH batteries in standard sizes like AA - FDK. Eneloop is now a brand owned by Panasonic, which buys from FDK. They had to sell the battery manufacturing business years ago because of antitrust issues when they bought Sanyo.

 

[hertamaniac]

These batteries were manufactured in China correct? I am curious are they Ni-Cd or NiMH? They both have approximately the same nominal voltage (1.2).

China used to manufacture wound cells using Ni-Cd due to cost and limited disposal regulations regarding the cadmium.

 

[hertamaniac]

Yes, these are amazon brand. Holding them up to a "regular" battery, you can see the amazon are fatter. I thought I would keep a few duracells on hand in case of a power outage and the rechargeables are spent, but it looks like I'll still need to use some regular batteries for a few items.

Sometimes to achieve the same rated capacity (energy), they have thicker anode/electrode material when pasting.

As they roll up the cells, like your AA/AAA, they have to use more material to meet the Ah (capacity) requirement. Believe it or not, sometimes it costs more to calendar roll the battery material (to make it thinner) than it is to just use extra material to get the energy.

 

[jo-jo]

These batteries were manufactured in China correct? I am curious are they Ni-Cd or NiMH? They both have approximately the same nominal voltage (1.2).

China used to manufacture wound cells using Ni-Cd due to cost and limited disposal regulations regarding the cadmium.

AmazonBasics AA High-Capacity Ni-MH Rechargeable Batteries (2400 mAh)

Yes , make in China.

 

[hertamaniac]

AmazonBasics AA High-Capacity Ni-MH Rechargeable Batteries (2400 mAh)

Yes , make in China.

I suspect these are rewrapped Fujitsu cells. Here is a link that remarks about the rewrapped cells and even mentions AmazonBasics and the commonality with Fujitsu.

I used the Amazon item model number to cross-reference.

https://eneloop101.com/batteries/rewrapped-batteries/

 

[bcla]

AmazonBasics AA High-Capacity Ni-MH Rechargeable Batteries (2400 mAh)

Yes , make in China.

There are tons of discussions on which AmazonBasics NiMH batteries are from what supplier. Here's an article that mentions one source is FDK Twicell (Fujitsu). This is mostly about their alkaline batteries (made in Indonesia), but it does get the heart about how difficult it is to find out who makes what.

https://onezero.medium.com/unraveli...n-behind-an-amazonbasics-battery-e7b9ead4d72e

https://www.slrlounge.com/panasonic-eneloop-vs-ikea-ladda-are-they-the-same/​

Why is being made in Japan so significant? The original Eneloop Batteries were designed and developed by a battery factory in Takasaki, Japan. That factory and the Eneloop brand were both owned by Sanyo, but in 2009 things changed. Panasonic bought the Eneloop brand, while Fujitsu, as part of its FDK subsidiary, owned the factory and all the IP associated with the manufacture of LSD batteries​

​

In other words, there is only one factory currently in Japan that can make Low Self-Discharge nickel-metal hydride batteries (LSD Ni-MH) and that is FDK. FDK is an OEM manufacturer for other brands, Like Amazon, Fujitsu, Panasonic, and IKEA.​

 

[jo-jo]

I suspect these are rewrapped Fujitsu cells. Here is a link that remarks about the rewrapped cells and even mentions AmazonBasics and the commonality with Fujitsu.

I used the Amazon item model number to cross-reference.

https://eneloop101.com/batteries/rewrapped-batteries/

The batteries I have have a green body, not just a green stripe on the end.

 

[hertamaniac]

The batteries I have have a green body, not just a green stripe on the end.

The rewrapping can be made to whatever the customer desires. Not to mention, the potential of changing the wrap can happen as OEM changes hands or as the customer want to differentiate cell designs.

Since Fujitsu owns FDK (FDK is a consolidated subsidiary), I think Amazon has purchased the wrapping of these cells. If you look, the Amazon item number is not the exact same as Fujitsu as they added "AMZN" to tail-end of their code.

There have also been reports about manufacturing location(s) being incorrect on the rewrapping. It is quite possible, your batteries were manufactured in Japan and were mislabeled.

 

[bcla]

The rewrapping can be made to whatever the customer desires. Not to mention, the potential of changing the wrap can happen as OEM changes hands or as the customer want to differentiate cell designs.

Since Fujitsu owns FDK (FDK is a consolidated subsidiary), I think Amazon has purchased the wrapping of these cells. If you look, the Amazon item number is not the exact same as Fujitsu as they added "AMZN" to tail-end of their code.

There have also been reports about manufacturing location(s) being incorrect on the rewrapping. It is quite possible, your batteries were manufactured in Japan and were mislabeled.

There are several ways to order them. I believe the ones that Panasonic buys they just give the graphics to FDK and they're printed up complete with the wrap label. I also like to sort groupings, pairs, etc. using their date codes.

I don't believe they've changed the standard 2000 mAh construction since maybe 2014. But it's a very good design, so I'm not sure what they could really do to improve it.

 

[hertamaniac]

There are several ways to order them. I believe the ones that Panasonic buys they just give the graphics to FDK and they're printed up complete with the wrap label. I also like to sort groupings, pairs, etc. using their date codes.

I don't believe they've changed the standard 2000 mAh construction since maybe 2014. But it's a very good design, so I'm not sure what they could really do to improve it.

We designed our cells using NiMH exclusively (thermally stable and doesn't have the exothermic potential of Li-ion), but in large format (45Ah to 85Ah). As a domestic manufacturer, we had to go through Asia for sourcing some of the base materials for cell construction. There was also licensing from Ovonics who most major NiMH battery manufacturers needed to pay a usage fee. Needless to say, Ovonics/BASF knew me very well and wanted to know what markets I was in.

With that being said, cell improvement often comes via materials development. Electrolyte, separator and even carbon nano-tubes are some areas that can increase energy and/or power densities.

Of course, we're talking here about a low-end economical, commodity battery that can be purchased easily online. It's apples and oranges.