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It’s common to see NiMH rechargeable batteries that have a total life of around 500 charge cycles. That’s good, as one battery replaces 500 alkaline batteries; but the GP ReCyko Pro 2000mAh AA go further. These batteries have a lifetime of 1500 cycles: that’s more than double the GP ReCyko Charge 10 (when slow-charged). Although the charger is nominally for the Charge 10 batteries, it’s also capable of charging any AA or AAA NiMH rechargeables, so you can use it with any current (or future) rechargeable units you buy. Next, I measured the capacity of the batteries using a high-drain test (600mA +/-20%, with a cut-off voltage of 0.94V). Initially, the charge was 2795mAh, which is a good deal higher than the rated capacity of the batteries. Charge 10 uses a unique charging algorithm which optimises the charging current so that the batteries are charged in the fastest possible time, depending on the individual battery type, condition, and temperature. This is done in a safe way and with an innovative cross-flow cooling fan that distributes cool air evenly and quietly to avoid overheating. When it comes to standard NiMH rechargeable batteries, there are three things that you need to consider: the total number of charge cycles, their capacity, and how long they stay charged for. The Duracell Rechargeable AA 2500mAh performs well on all fronts, starting with a high overall capacity of 2500mAh.
I then measured the initial capacity of the batteries, which came in at 2218mAh when tested with a high drain of 600mA (+/- 20%). That’s higher than the rated capacity by a decent amount. With a starting voltage of 1.4V, these batteries were above the lower limit of 1.2V for rechargeable batteries. Capacity is decent. Rated at 2000mAh, we found that these batteries managed an initial result of 2218mAh, and that didn’t change over the full 50 cycles that we put the batteries through. That’s enough power to take on the most powerful jobs, although if you really need more power, the Ansmann Digital AA HR6 2850mAh may be better. Charge 10 comes with an integrated AC adapter solution that makes it less bulky and easy to store or travel with. Its unique low noise fan keeps batteries cool and charging quiet, and it delivers up to 10 amperes of charging input. The Eneloop AA batteries are built to do pretty much everything that alkaline batteries can do, so are perfect replacement in some situations.This kind of emits heat, and therefore you can hear the hiss from the built-in fan when charging. The charging current is stated at 1.5-10 amps, while ReCyko Pro works with 2 amps charging current. First, I drained the batteries and then fast-charged them for 10 minutes. I measured the tested capacity at 1769mAh using a high load of 600mAh (+/- 20%), with the test stopping when the batteries reach 0.94V. The results here were spot on the rated capacity. Built on innovative charging technology, it can recharge batteries in just 10 minutes*! But the charger is only half the story. The magic lies in the combination of both Charge 10 charger and Charge 10 rechargeable batteries - designed for everyday life, they will outperform expectations on both high or low drain devices. If you use the GP ReCyko 2600mAh AA in low-drain devices, such as remote controls, the natural capacity loss will mean that you’ll end up charging these more often than some rival batteries. What that means is that these units are best used relatively fresh in demanding items. Performance
Based on internal test by GP of the average percentage of battery capacity charged after a 10-minute charge as of May 2021. Calculated from 5 simultaneous charges of 4pcs of new Charge 10 1700mAh AA batteries to 90%+ of capacity at 20°C, followed by battery discharge according to IEC 61951-2. Incredibly, they’ll also hold 70% of their charge for ten years, so you can use them in low-drain devices, such as remote controls without fear that they’ll just discharge naturally. That’s also good news if you want batteries that you can charge and have ready to go. That’s great for convenience, but be aware that fast charging does reduce battery life: fast charging gets you only 250 cycles, while slow charging extends life to 700 cycles. We recommend fast charging only when you absolutely have to.
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If you buy in bulk, these batteries are excellent value, so make a good choice if you need a lot of high-power batteries. If you need more flexibility, the GP ReCyko Pro 2000mAh AA may be better. These batteries also aren’t so good at retaining charge, with GP quoting them at retaining up to 50% of their capacity after one year. Longer-lasting batteries will typically keep up to 80% or more of their charge. For their flexibility and longevity, the GP ReCyko Pro 2000mAh AA are the best overall rechargeable batteries that we have tested. When it comes to cameras, rechargeable batteries can cut down on unnecessary bulk for photographers and tend to be a more reliable option when it comes to capturing memories. Shop with GP to discover your photographer essential batteries. No only that, but these batteries are designed to hold their charge: up to 70% after five years. This is excellent news, meaning you can charge these batteries so that they’re ready to go and use them at your leisure. In addition, they work well in low-discharge devices, such as remote controls: you should see similar battery life here as you do with non-rechargeable batteries.
To see how well the GP Recyko Charge 10 AA batteries worked, I used an Ansmann Energy XC3000 to measure capacity and voltage. Rechargeable batteries such as these should have a nominal starting voltage of 1.2V, although I measured these at a higher 1.35V, which is good. Capacity is decent, too, with the ReCyko Pro rated at 2000mAh. That’s sufficient power to cope with most tasks, although those who want higher-capacity batteries should consider the Ansmann Digital AA HR6 2850mAh. Performance Each battery is rated at 1700mAh, and can be charged using the fast or Eco options. With fast charging, 10 minutes is all you need to get to 90% capacity; on Eco mode, charging takes longer, but you can get to the full capacity. The Charge 10 batteries deliver 1700 mAh. (Photo: Lasse Svendsen) Charges in ten minutes at half the price Next, I measured initial capacity, using a high drain test (600mA +/-20%). Initially, the GP ReCyko 2600mAh AA showed a capacity of 2805mAh, which is considerably higher than the quoted drain. That’s impressive.As part of the Recyko brand of high-performing and sustainable rechargeable battery and charger products, it has become easier than ever to reduce the consumption of single-use batteries. Charge 10 is the next phase in this evolution of new sustainable rechargeables. That said, the batteries are rated to last for only up to 300 charge cycles, which is 100 fewer than the Duracell Rechargeable AA 2500mAh batteries and 400 cycles shorter than the GP ReCyko Charge 10 batteries (assuming the slow-charging method is used). The speed of fast charging depends on the battery and its capacity. Ordinary rechargeable batteries usually take three to four hours to charge if charged in eco mode, which slows down to avoid reducing battery life and capacity. True lightning charging can halve the charging time – GP says down to 80 minutes – but it was difficult to achieve in our test. All these single-use batteries require more of the world's natural resources to produce, and as discussed above, this is unnecessary in today’s modern world.
The truth is rechargeable batteries are a better option all-round. Today we charge our phones, toothbrushes, computers and even cars. We are well versed in recharging all manner of electronic devices, yet we still seem to neglect one area – our batteries. Durability is also excellent, with the batteries rated to last for 1000 charges, around double that of standard rechargeable batteries. These will hold 60% of their charge over a year, which is a slightly bigger drop than much of the competition, so you’re better charging the Ansmann Digital AA HR6 2850mAh and using them fresh.
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That’s a huge amount of power and makes these batteries suitable for the most demanding tasks, such as demanding toys or super-bright torches.
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