JCB Recharge 2400mAh AA Batteries (HR6) - 4 Pack

These are AA rechargeable cells from JCB, supplied four to a pack and rated at 2400mAh. The chemistry is nickel metal hydride, the NiMH that the AA size code HR6 denotes, and like every NiMH cell each one carries a nominal 1.2V rather than the 1.5V of a single-use alkaline. The retail pack states up to 500 charges and that the cells arrive charged and ready to use, so a set can go straight into a device before it ever meets a charger. Capacity is the number worth comparing when you choose between rechargeable AAs: the higher the milliamp hour rating, the longer a cell runs between charges in the same piece of equipment.

Rechargeable cells earn their keep in anything that empties a battery quickly: game controllers, wireless mice and keyboards, flashguns, remote control toys, torches and children's electronics. They suit equipment you reach for often rather than a wall clock left alone for three years, since NiMH cells give up a little charge while they sit unused. The 1.2V nominal figure sometimes worries people, but most gear built for AA cells runs on it without complaint; a few devices with a fussy low voltage cut-off will simply read lower on their own battery meter.

One unit of this listing is a pack of four cells, and the minimum order is 10, sold in multiples of 10, which suits a workshop, a hire fleet or a school store cupboard where cells go out by the handful. No charger comes with them, so any standard NiMH charger that takes AA cells will do the job, and charging four at a time keeps the set matched. We stock the JCB Recharge 1200mAh AA in the same four pack for lighter duty kit, and JCB alkaline cells in AAA, D and 9V where a single-use battery still makes more sense.

Will these run a device that asks for 1.5V alkaline AA batteries?

Almost always, yes. A NiMH AA is 1.2V nominal and is the standard rechargeable equivalent of an alkaline AA, though a device with a low voltage cut-off may show a lower reading on its own battery indicator.

How many times can I recharge them?

The retail pack states up to 500 charges. Real life depends on how deeply you run them down and how often you cycle them, so treat 500 as the pack figure rather than a promise for every cell.

Do I need to charge them before the first use?

The pack states that they arrive charged and ready to use, so you can fit them straight away. If they have been stored for a while, a full charge before first use gets the best run time.

What does the 2400mAh figure actually tell me?

It is the capacity printed on the pack, in milliamp hours. Compared with a lower capacity AA of the same chemistry, a 2400mAh cell holds more energy and runs longer in the same device between charges.

Is a charger included in the pack?

No, this listing is four cells only. Any standard charger that accepts NiMH AA cells will recharge them, and charging all four together keeps the set at a similar state of charge.

Can I mix these with older cells in the same device?

Better not to. Use four cells of the same type, capacity and age together, because a tired cell in the set drags down the run time and recharges unevenly.