[Elecraft] Source of NiMH cells?

Thu Jun 27 18:13:06 EDT 2013

Yes, it isn't very pleasant to think about that failure rate.  I think
Rayovac took their manufacturing to a Chinese ODM a few years ago.
Having worked in the ODM space a few years, I can appreciate the
trouble they would face with quality control.  They'll probably take
the ODM down with them though.  Battery makers are large scale
operations.

I had a pack built with those Sanyo industrial NMH AAs (qty 11).  At
39WH, it's quite a pack.  I kept the AA form factor to minimize weight
for backpacking.  D cells weigh about 170g, but AAs are around 26g.

73,
matt W6NIA

On Thu, 27 Jun 2013 14:55:35 -0700 (PDT), you wrote:

>Matt,
>
>That would explain why, on the Yahoo Group, we were seeing complaints of a cell or two out of eight, failing right out of the box!!!  I was amazed at that.
>
>FYI, All Electronics sells a Tenergy cell that is a D size cell with a capacity of 10,000 maH:
>
>http://www.allelectronics.com/make-a-store/item/NMH-D/NIMH-RECHARGEABLE-D-CELL-10-000MAH/1.html
>
>
>I don't have one, but they do not appear to be AA cells in a D size sleeve...not with that capacity!  They won't fit in a KX3, but I had thought I might build a tube of these as an external battery pack.  Unfortunately, I don't think it would be much less expensive than a similar size pack of LiFePo cells.  I wouldn't have to buy the balanced charger, but would have to make up a constant current charger myself...or else charge with a variable voltage power supply while manually adjusting the voltage to keep the current relatively constant.  Makes the newer lithium technology look better and better.  
>
>
>Now, if I could just get myself to trust Lithium technology enough to charge them in my living room...
>
>
>Mark
>KE6BB
>(Hoping someone can convince me).
>
>
>
>
>________________________________
> From: Matt Zilmer <mzilmer at verizon.net>
>To: Mark Petiford <rv6amark at yahoo.com> 
>Cc: Elecraft Reflector <elecraft at mailman.qth.net> 
>Sent: Thursday, June 27, 2013 2:29 PM
>Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Source of NiMH cells?
> 
>
>Hi Mark,
>
>You caught me in the middle a battery research project (day job) and I
>found some dirt on Rayovac -literally-:ALK and NiMH both.  Pretty
>severe manufacturing issues, though the details about the
>contamination weren't spelled out.  No CPSC issues though, so they're
>still in business.
>
>It got so bad that Rayovac has to put a banner on all retail blister
>packs:  "Lasts As Long As Duracell" or some such.
>
>Everyone seems pretty pleased with the Eneloops, so that's good.  I
>used them on the KX3 for a while, then ran a few tests and ended up
>with Tenergy Premium.  To each his own!
>
>73,
>matt W6NIA
>
>On Thu, 27 Jun 2013 14:13:40 -0700 (PDT), you wrote:
>
>>Correct, Matt.  I am actually running Panasonic HHR210AAB cells right now, which appear to be Enelooops with a different jacket, based on my research.  We used them in my work, but only recharged them a few times, so I was able to get them cheap, and they work well.  I have a lot of experience with Eneloop 2000 maH cells at home...probably a more severe environment than my work!  They seem to be very forgiving so long as you don't discharge them below 0.9 volts per cell.
>>
>>I think early this year, we were seeing a lot of out of the box "infant mortality" with the Rayovac rechargeable NiMH cells.  Not sure if that is still a problem.
>>
>>Mark
>>KE6BB
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>________________________________
>> From: Matt Zilmer <mzilmer at verizon.net>
>>To: Mark Petiford <rv6amark at yahoo.com> 
>>Cc: Rose <elecraftcovers at gmail.com>; Elecraft Reflector <elecraft at mailman.qth.net> 
>>Sent: Thursday, June 27, 2013 12:51 PM
>>Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Source of NiMH cells?
>> 
>>
>>Just to be clear, there are Sanyo's Eneloops out there at retail, but
>>also a line of Sanyo commercial cells generally sold only as OEM
>>product.  I had a 14.8V pack built from the latter: 39 WH - so good
>>for several days of KX3 CW ops.
>>
>>73,
>>matt W6NIA
>>
>>On Thu, 27 Jun 2013 12:43:07 -0700, you wrote:
>>
>>>The Sanyo's are also known as Eneloops.  Be sure to get 2000mah or higher capacity cells.  
>>>
>>>Mark
>>>KE6BB
>>>
>>>Sent from my iThingie.
>>>
>>>On Jun 27, 2013, at 11:56 AM, Matt Zilmer <mzilmer at verizon.net> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Sanyo, Tenergy, Powerex, Imedion, Panasonic, etc.
>>>> 
>>>> matt W6NIA
>>>> 
>>>> On Thu, 27 Jun 2013 18:51:22 +0000, you wrote:
>>>> 
>>>>> I'm guilty of not paying much attention to reflector
>>>>> chatter concerning batteries, as I didn't expect to
>>>>> need any. (:-)
>>>>> 
>>>>> Now I have a new KX3 (S/N 4437) and find I need
>>>>> a set to keep the clock running when it's off 12V.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Who's a good source?
>>>>> 
>>>>> 73!
>>>>> 
>>>>> Ken - K0PP
>>>>> kengkopp at gmail.com
>>>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>>>> Elecraft mailing list
>>>>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>>>>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>>>>> Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>>>>> 
>>>>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>>>>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>>> Elecraft mailing list
>>>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>>>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>>>> Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>>>> 
>>>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>>>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>>______________________________________________________________
>>Elecraft mailing list
>>Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>>Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>>Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>>
>>This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>>Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html