eneloop Starter Kit in Blue Case (Power Pack 1st Gen) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)If I were Santa Claus, I would give one Sanyo Eneloop Battery Charging Kit to every family in America!
We all know that using rechargeable NiMH batteries (instead of alkaline cells) is good for the environment and the pocket book. But why do most family still buy (and throw away) dozens of alkaline cells every year? The main reason is that most traditional NiMH cells are undependable and inconvenient to use. They may completely self-discharge within a few weeks or even a few days, so you always have to recharge them just before use. The other problem is with battery chargers. Most low-cost slow charger are 'dumb' and can over-charge your cells. Rapid ("15-minute") chargers are particularly bad for battery cycle life, so your cells may go dead after just 50 cycles, instead of 500 cycles as advertised.
With this Eneloop Battery Charging Pack, there is no more excuse! You can now use those rechargeable cells just the way you use alkaline cells (except you don't throw them away, of course). This is because:
1. Those cells come pre-charged and are ready to use - right out of the package.
2. You can choose to top-off those cells anytime with the included MQN05 smart charger - there is no risk of over-charging.
3. Once charged, those cells can retain 80% of their charge even after 6-12 months in storage. That means you can keep a set as backup in your drawer, ready for use anytime.
The only minor complaint I have is with the charger. It only works with 110V AC, so it should not be used as a travel charger. It is also relatively slow because, at 300mA charging current, it takes 7 hours to fully recharge four 2000mAh AA cells. But since you can charge up those cells well in advance (instead of just before use), speed is not a serious limitation.
As you discover more applications for rechargeable batteries, you may want to pick up additional low-self-discharge cells, such as the Sanyo eneloop 4 Pack AA or Rayovac Hybrid 4 pack AA. I have tested both brands and found them to be equally good. If you need a faster and more advanced charger, then the La Crosse Technology BC-900 AlphaPower Battery Charger is probably your best choice. Make sure Santa knows what you want for Christmas!
[Update on Dec 2, 2007]
Those eneloop cells in the package I bought have date code of '0609', which I interpret as '2006 Sept'. I tested four AA cells using my BC-900 and MH-C9000. Their remaining capacities were around 70-73% of full capacity after 14 months of storage!
(In comparison, most Energizer 2500mAh cells I tested lost 30% of their charge within one week)
Possible reasons why those cells are not at 85% as Sanyo has claimed:
1. They were not fully charged when they leave the factory (which presumably uses fast-charging method and hence cannot achieve 100% capacity)
2. They may have been stored at temperature higher than 20 degree C (which is the storage temperature assumed in Sanyo's simulation).
[Update on Nov 18, 2008]
I still recommend the Sanyo eneloop, but the present price of this package is completely out of line. So it is better to check out the Sanyo Eneloop Power Pack, which is sometimes available at a lower cost. If you don't need the C- and D-cell adapters, consider buying the AA/AAA batteries separately, then add a better charger (such as the Duracell Mobile Charger).
[Update on July 26, 2010]
There is a NEW eneloop package available now. It features second-generation eneloop cells, but with the same old MQN06 charger that charges in pairs only:
Sanyo Eneloop Ni-MH Charger and 8 Rechargeable AA and 4 Rechargeable AAA Batteries

Click Here to see more reviews about: eneloop Starter Kit in Blue Case (Power Pack 1st Gen)

8 AA, 2AAA, 2C and 2D adapters1 MQN06 four slot charger and Blue Tote Case!1st Generation eneloop Starter Kit in Blue Case - (SEC-N10SETGEN) Combining all of your battery needs into a convenient kit - that is the idea behind SANYO's eneloop Starter Kit. This Power Pack comes equipped with a four position charger, eight AA eneloop batteries, two AAA eneloop batteries, two eneloop C spacers and two eneloop D spacers, which makes this the perfect "battery store for your drawer." - Model# Sanyo SEC-N10SETGEN - eneloop Starter Kit-Pre-charged NiMH rechargeable battery kit - Economical: 1 eneloop = 1000 alkaline batteries -Worry-Free: eneloop works in any device that uses AA, AAA, C or D batteries -Convenient: eneloop batteries are pre-charged and ready to use when you are Battery Charger Features: -(Worldwide Voltage) - Charges both AA and AAA NiMh rechargeable batteries -Foldaway plug; No cords or wall adapters needed -Multi-color LED charge indicator lights. World Wide Voltage ready!*note blue case is not covered under warranty this is a shipping container! - 1st Generation eneloops

Click here for more information about eneloop Starter Kit in Blue Case (Power Pack 1st Gen)