Simple runtime battery tests.

[alpg88]

I was always wondered which alkaleak was better than the other, As much as we hate them here, most still use them, so maybe it will give someone a half useful info.

The test is done using a hobby charger, I discharged fresh cells at 100ma to 1.2v, which is pretty much end of useful voltage, and it is enough to see how cells compare. I compare alkaline AA and 1.5 li ion.
First one is ACe store brand AA ( which I like cuz I never seen them leak under normal conditions).
Ace ran 458 min, until 1.2v.
Duracell optimum 522min.
Energizer max 605 mi.
I'm not posting pictures of these, cuz everyone knows what they look like.

A no name 1.5v li ion ran 618min at steady 1.44v then dropped to 1.03.

I'm running test on 2 other 1.5v li ion right now, one is EBL, other is a no name, both of them keep steady 1.44v as well, they all probably use same circuit, thus same voltage under load of 100ma.

Will be adding results as I test.

 

[alpg88]

Very interesting results, I made a mistake, it was not EBL, it was another no name cell, I mean they have names but I never heard them before, but anyway.
blue cell ran for 1305 min, and showed capacity of 2177 mah, it did not drop voltage, it simply cut off at 1.44v
black cell ran for 1166 min, and showed capacity 1954 mah, it also cut off at 1.44v, which supports my opinion that circuits are the same.

When I measured alkaline cells i did not look at capacity, cuz I ran them to only 1.2v at 100ma, while manufacturers rated them at lower current and all the way to 1v or even lower, but energy used for the test was for ace 763 for duracell 870, I did not write down numbers for energizer and green li ion cell, but they were both around 1000. that is why I think they rated them at very low current to 1 or less, cuz this is the only way to get rated capacity, their actual useful capacity is a lot lower, unless we are talking clocks and remote controls, or anything that draws very little. I suspect in flashlights with draw of over 1A it is even lower. The green li ion however showed full capacity, of around 1000mah. Half of what other 2 showed

Next is xtar rated 2500mah, it is on the charger, it also shows steady 1.44v

 

[aznsx]

Thanx for posting this, and I wish others here would post more such info they may have. I try to share what I get when appropriate.

My 1.5V needs are truly minimal at most, so I'm not 'typical', and I know you're not taking requests, but......

I hope some time when you've tested most of what you planned, if you feel like taking a walk on the wild side and adding one more, I would personally find it most interesting if you'd throw an L91 into the mix just for a comparative datapoint for reference under same test conditions for context.

Thanks again!

 

[alpg88]

The XTAR test is done, very disappointing, 989 min 1648 mah, it was rated at 2500mah, very far off. and the load was only 100ma. I'm gonna charge 2 other cells and test them again, maybe it is a defective cell, hopefully other 2 show close to rated results. And those batteries were not used a lot, maybe a dozen of cycles....

Put 2 in a charger to discharge, to shorten the experiment I set current to 500ma, the voltage on one cell fluctuating 1.25-1.26, another stays at 1.33v, initially both were at 1.44 , and it only been 20 min. At first I tried 1a load, but they both tripped the protection and shut off in about 3 sec. will see how it goes, but disappointment is not the word, does not look I'll be buying xtar batteries anymore.

 

[alpg88]

At 500ma load xtar did better than at 100ma, but still no where close to 2500

 

[dc38]

At 500ma load xtar did better than at 100ma, but still no where close to 2500

View attachment 95686

I did a charge/test cycle on my Xtar Vx4...I believe the default discharge rate is 300mA. Maybe there's a charger bias, but the VX4 showed my 2700mAh cells at 2561 and 2552, respectively

 

[alpg88]

Just put in another pair, at same 500ma, both dropped to 1.31v immediately, they do not hold 1.5v, will see how these 2 will behave. from the start, charger showed over 9v which dropped fast to 1,31, it took few tries for one cell, cuz charger was rejecting it.
Test is finished, still not close to 2500. 1877mah, 2003mah,

 

[jon_slider]

I discharged fresh cells at 100ma to 1.2v, which is pretty much end of useful voltage,

I used an Xtar VX2 Pro, which discharges at 300mA, to do an Eneloop discharge test to 1.19V, which gave 1625mAh. Continuing the test until the Xtar VX2 Pro stopped discharging at 0.99V produced 1904mAh. That is an additional 17% capacity when fully discharging the 1900mAh Eneloop.

I also did a discharge test of an Xtar 2450mAh AA 1.5V LiIon, the result was 2384mAh, just 2.7% lower that stated capacity:

Discharge tests: battery on left has started recharging at 466mA, middle is on discharge cycle at 300mA, right is at end of discharge, just before switching to charge.

 

[alpg88]

1.19v is way to soon to terminate for eneloop. they still have energy, I'm running xtar 2500 test again, same ones I tested the first time, out of 4 I tested 3 showed almost identical capacity, pretty consistent.,
When you tested xtar did your held constant 1.5V, or at least 1.44V or they also dropped to 1.3v

 

[sbslider]

1.19v is way to soon to terminate for eneloop. they still have energy, I'm running xtar 2500 test again, same ones I tested the first time, out of 4 I tested 3 showed almost identical capacity, pretty consistent.,
When you tested xtar did your held constant 1.5V, or at least 1.44V or they also dropped to 1.3v

Which XTAR cells are you testing? testing at 100mA is likely more realistic for these little guys, but I would compare to how XTAR tests them.

 

[jon_slider]

I would compare to how XTAR tests them

Xtar discharge rate is 300mA:

1.19v is way to soon to terminate for eneloop. they still have energy

agree

When you tested xtar did your held constant 1.5V, or at least 1.44V or they also dropped to 1.3v

I can not answer your question because my Xtar VX2 Pro does not report the Voltage of AA 1.5V LiIon. The Voltage part of the screen just shows dashes, regardless whether it is during discharge or charge.

This screen shows blank Voltage after charging has started at 466mA. The charge rate is selected automatically by the charger:

 

[alpg88]

Which XTAR cells are you testing? testing at 100mA is likely more realistic for these little guys, but I would compare to how XTAR tests them.

2500mah 4150mwa. with no usb port, I charge then with xtar bc8, (could it undercharge cells?) I tested them at 100ma as well, they actually showed worse results at 100 than at 500,

If my chargers was at fault it would underrate all cells, but no name cells showed same or better results.

I'll try charging no name cells that did good before, with bc8 charger and see if it makes a difference, maybe it terminates charge too soon, will see

 

[alpg88]

Even more interesting results after testing this no name cell, at 500ma, charged with bc8 xtar charger. I'm not sure if it even adds up mathematically, 3500mhw, real tested capacity 2264mah. it showed better result at 500ma than at 100, I'd never expect this from a unknow cell bought over a year ago on amazon.
I use hitek x4 hobby charger for tests. so far it worked great, never noticed any issues with it, on any of 4 separate channels,

 

[alpg88]

I hope some time when you've tested most of what you planned, if you feel like taking a walk on the wild side and adding one more, I would personally find it most interesting if you'd throw an L91 into the mix just for a comparative datapoint for reference under same test conditions for context.

Thanks again!

tested energizer ultimate lithium, and Rayovac lithium, at 300ma to 1V
channel 3 is rayovac

 

[aznsx]

tested energizer ultimate lithium, and Rayovac lithium, at 300ma to 1V
channel 3 is rayovac

Thank you!

 

[Kestrel]

I wonder how much thought went into naming the 'phallus' one.

 

[alpg88]

Can't say, but their batteries outperform xtar, at least xtar 2500 series that I have.

Now I'm testing primary lithium from EBL, and and from a company I've never heard before. WENJOOP. actually PALLUS I've never heard of before either, but they turned out to be decent cells, so who knows.

 

[alpg88]

EBL is channel 3.