Rechargeable Batteries.

[grfox92]

Batteries have gotten stupid expensive. With 4 kids, toys, hunting gear we seem to always be out of Batteries and always dropping another $60 on disposables. That's a pound of powder, or a box and a half of bullets.

It's 2025 now and I'd have to think there are some good rechargeable options out there, but have never heard anyone using them or discuss it.

Amazon Basics has rechargeable Nimh batteries for damn near the price of Rayovac or Energizer disposable. There seem to be some lithium batteries on Amazon but it seems to be a mix and mach if no name brands I've never heard of. So not sure.

Is anyone using rechargeable batteries? What brands have you tried and have they lasted? What should I know?

Sent from my SM-S931U using Tapatalk

 

[Chris in TN]

I started buying Sanyo Eneloops in 2011 for work use. I ruined one or two over the years (by letting them get wet and rust) and lost the rest, or at least I think they're all gone now, from that original purchase, and eventually the Eneloop brand was sold to Panasonic and I think I still have some of those and I still have several Sanyo and Panasonic 4-cell chargers but for several years now I have been buying the Amazon Basics AA and AAA designs.

I haven't used them at work in many years (I don't do what I needed them for anymore) but I use tons of them in trail cameras and kids' toys and whatever else uses batteries.

There are a very few devices that only work with disposables. Can't think of any off the top of my head but I know they exist. And once in a while you'll get a device where the battery compartment is physically oh-so-slightly smaller than 'perfect' and the rechargeables tend to be oh-so-slightly bigger than disposables and they'll fit tightly. They'll work, they'll just be tight. I have trail cameras like that and my old TruPulse 360b rangefinder is like that. They'll work, but they're tight.

Other than that, I would fully endorse the basic Amazon Basics brand, and I just buy the standard capacity, whatever that is. I forget. But anytime I need to clear the $25 price hurdle to get free shipping from Amazon I just add a pack of batteries to my order and I've ended up with a pretty good pile of them, with zero bad cells, and I've been using those since 2018.

 

[dirtytough]

Eneloops. Really really good rechargeable’s. I’ve used a lot of different ones and these are the best I’ve used.

 

[Weldor]

Had good luck with Energizer 2300 mah nihm AA, about 5 years old still going strong. Charge them in the Garmin battery charger that came with my old GPS. Had a 6 pack, lost one.

 

[ElDiablito]

I started with Eneloops 15 years ago but now use Amazon Basics AA standard and hi cap. I have several hundred the I use in game cams year-round. Great batteries.

 

[grfox92]

I started with Eneloops 15 years ago but now use Amazon Basics AA standard and hi cap. I have several hundred the I use in game cams year-round. Great batteries.

Would you say they last as long as a store bought disposable in the game cams?

Sent from my SM-S931U using Tapatalk

 

[ElDiablito]

Would you say they last as long as a store bought disposable in the game cams?

Sent from my SM-S931U using Tapatalk

Good question. Ive been using NiCads for so long I don’t remember. I do use lithiums occasionally and they last a long time. My 128 gb cards usually fill up before the batteries die on me.

The key is to use low power consumption cams.

Edit: clarification - cards fill before my NiCads die.

 

[sandhillhunter]

I use to have and use the eneloops but got away from them for a while.

I just got a new set of AA and AAA’s.

One of the things I like about them is that like Energizer Lithium batteries (which are also expensive), you can leave them in things you don’t use often and they won’t deteriorate and leak.

Plus I really hate throwing batteries- both regular and lithium- in the trash. I haven’t found another option for recycling them.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[kpk]

I've used eneloops and energizer for a long time. I've had a few energizer eventually die but they've definitely paid for themselves many times over.

 

[wapitibob]

I bought older versions of these in 2022. They last longer than standards in my stuff.

Amazon.com: EBL 2300mAh Ni-MH AA Rechargeable Batteries (16 Pack) and Rechargeable AA AAA Battery Charger with 2 USB Charging Ports : Health & Household

Buy EBL 2300mAh Ni-MH AA Rechargeable Batteries (16 Pack) and Rechargeable AA AAA Battery Charger with 2 USB Charging Ports: AAA - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

 

[ColPenguin]

I have had bad luck with Amazon basics batteries.

For rechargeable AA and AAA, have had good luck with Tenergy for both duration of charge, and number of charges over their lfie. Last few times I have bulk ordered from Battery Junction.

 

[Chris in TN]

I have had bad luck with Amazon basics batteries.

For rechargeable AA and AAA, have head good luck with Tenergy for both duration of charge, and number of charges over their lfie. Last few times I have bulk ordered from Battery Junction.

Just curious, have you tried to contact Amazon CS about them?

I’ve used Tenergy branded cr123s with good luck but not their rechargeables.

 

[ColPenguin]

Just curious, have you tried to contact Amazon CS about them?

I’ve used Tenergy branded cr123s with good luck but not their rechargeables.

I didn't really bother. Just stopped using them after that first batch.

 

[grfox92]

Just curious, have you tried to contact Amazon CS about them?

I’ve used Tenergy branded cr123s with good luck but not their rechargeables.

The only thing I have ever heard about the Amazon rechargeable is that the cr123s are excellent.

Sent from my SM-S931U using Tapatalk

 

[CarterHunt]

I've hard a hard time getting Nimh batteries to fully recharge. Looking into rechargeable lithium batteries if anyone has any recommendations specifically for those.

 

[Chris in TN]

I've hard a hard time getting Nimh batteries to fully recharge. Looking into rechargeable lithium batteries if anyone has any recommendations specifically for those.

What charger are you using and how are you measuring them in their charged state?

 

[ihookem]

I only use the Eneloops . I bought some in Sept. 2013 and are still in my trail cams. I have not noticed them degrading at all. You HAVE to have a good charger . One that charges each one seperetely . If you dont , the one battery that might be almost dead will not get charged when the half full battery gets fully charged. I am sure I recharged them over 100 times.