Description
The eneloop Pro is Panasonic's high capacity rechargeable cell, and this listing is the AA size supplied four cells to a pack. Each one is nickel metal hydride, and the retail pack rates them at a minimum of 2500mAh, which the pack calls high capacity. They come pre-charged, so the first set can go into a device on the day it arrives. The pack also states a recharge life of up to 500 times, and that after a year sitting in a drawer roughly 85% of the charge is still there.
A NiMH cell runs at a nominal 1.2V rather than the 1.5V of an alkaline, and it holds that voltage flatter as it drains. That behaviour suits equipment that draws hard and in bursts: camera flashguns, radio microphones, LED torches, handheld game controllers, wireless mice and keyboards, and the sort of children's toys that eat a set of disposables in a weekend. A few older devices read 1.2V as a low battery even when the cell is full, so if you own anything that behaves oddly on rechargeables, keep disposables for that one item and use these everywhere else.
Charging is the one thing not in the box: these take a NiMH charger, and we list the Panasonic eneloop BQ-CC63U, which handles eight AA or AAA cells at a time. Four cells covers most equipment, since so much of it is built around pairs or sets of four, and a second pack gives you one set in use and one on charge. Alongside this listing we also stock the standard eneloop AA and the eneloop AAA, both in four packs, so a household running several devices can match sizes without changing charger. Cells here are sold as a pack of four, with a minimum order of one pack.
Specification
| Size |
AA |
| Chemistry |
Nickel metal hydride (NiMH), rechargeable |
| Voltage |
1.2V nominal |
| Codes |
HR6 |
| Pack quantity |
4 cells |
| Sold as |
Pack of 4 cells |
| Minimum order |
1, sold in multiples of 1 |
Frequently Asked
Do these arrive charged, or do I need to charge them first?
The pack states they are pre-charged and ready to use, so a set can go straight into a device. If they have been stored a while, a full charge before first use gets the most out of them.
Will they run a device that asks for 1.5V AA batteries?
NiMH cells are 1.2V nominal, and most AA equipment runs on them without trouble. A few devices with a simple voltage check may show a low battery warning even on a full cell.
What charger do these need?
Any charger made for NiMH AA cells. We list the Panasonic eneloop BQ-CC63U, which takes up to eight AA or AAA cells at a time, so two packs can go on together.
How many times can each cell be recharged?
The retail pack states a recharge life of up to 500 times. Real figures depend on how hard the device works the cell and how often it is run flat.
How many cells do I receive, and can I mix them with disposables?
You receive four AA cells in one pack, and the minimum order is one pack. Chemistries sit at different voltages and drain at different rates, so run a device on one matched set rather than a mixture.