Update on testing the Tenergy batteries.
Last night I posted a warning based on the initial charge/discharge cycles of a brand new set of these batteries. My report was incorrect. Well, the observations were correct, but these cells need to be charged a number of times (another poster said 3-4 times) before they reach full capacity. I was surprised that the first charge yielded only 1400maH or so, but the second charge/discharge cycle gave 2.01, 2.04, 2.96 and 2.08 AH (at 1 amp charge/0.5 amps discharge) from the 4 cells I left on the LaCrosse overnight. The third discharge cycle is in progress right now, and I will report the results on that later today.
Additionally to the LaCrosse, I am using two Maha MH-C204F charger/dischargers and one Maha NH-C401FS chargers to speed the testing of the entire batch of batteries.
But at the moment they are looking good. I will certainly be keeping mine, as they have reached the ballpark for what I expect these days from nimh cells. As a point of comparison, I have four Energizer 2300ma NH15-AA (made in Japan) which represent the best I have seen, delivering an average 2.2 AH (which I suspect the Tynergy cells will rival when they have been cycled some more). A set of four Lenmar NH23 2300 maH cells (made in China) tested at around 2.1 AH. The datasheet (above) claims that this type of cell should give between 2.07 and 2.3 AH at the 500ma discharge rate.
Most of the other cells I have floating around give nowhere near their rated capacity, although the Sanyo 2100 maH do measure in at just over their 2000maH 'minimum' rating.
I will update this message later in the day, after the third and fourth discharge cycles, as I am pretty sure the batteries will improve even more. Tomorrow the cells in the Maha chargers will become ready for test, too. I haven't yet seen any quality control problems yet in the 8 Tenergy cells I have been playing with.