eneloop: a helpful guide book for customer usage

Please make use of eneloop keeping in a safe place.

The number of dry batteries sold in one year in Japan is about 2.1 billion.*1

eneloop is not only rechargeable, but it is also recyclable. This makes eneloop an excellent choice from both an environmental and economic point of view.
What is eneloop? Economic Benefits of eneloop P.3 P.4 P.5

eneloop represents a lifestyle change!

Low Self-Discharge Battery

eneloop can be used in the same range of applications as disposable batteries and has a significantly longer runtime.*2
eneloop versus Dry-Cell Batteries High-Power Battery Wide Range of Applications eneloop Q&A P.6 P.7 P.9&10 P.11-18

Change the future of the environment by changing your battery.

High Performance in Low-Temperature Conditions P.8

*1 Machinery Statistics, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (data on sales of alkali-manganese dry batteries, manganese dry batteries, and other dry batteries in 2007). *2 The details of the recommended application look at P7.

What is eneloop?
It is a new battery that can be used as easily as a dry-cell battery, and reused simply by recharging it. eneloop is the new battery that might just change your life style.

Economic benefits of eneloop

Because you can recharge eneloop up to 1,000 times, the cost per use is only 4 yen. The average cost per recharge of only 0.2 yen makes it far more economical than using disposable batteries.
Dry-Cell Batteries

Advantages of
Rechargeable Batteries

Advantages of
Dry-cell Batteries

Reusable, recyclable, and durable.

Can be used right after purchasing, and can be stored for a long period of time.

Recharge

The cost for one-time use is only 4 yen.

The advantages of the rechargeable battery and the dry-cell battery are combined into one

eneloop is rechargeable 1,000 times, which represents a huge economic advantage

1: A guide-line for battery life based on JIS c 8708 2007 (7.4.1.1) 2: For HR3UTG, calculation was made according to the price of charger + price of battery + electricity cost + 1000 cycles. 3: Calculation made when one HR-3UG battery was charged on our charger NC-TG3.

Low Self-Discharge Battery

Sanyo eneloop batteries represent a solution to the problem of excessive self-discharge.
How much energy still remains? *2
After 2 Years
About

eneloop versus Dry-Cell Batteries

Advantage of eneloop

eneloop supplies constant voltage from beginning to end.

Things That Must Be Taken into Account

Other Batteries

After 2 Years
About

Unlike dry-cell batteries, the initial voltage of eneloop is low. eneloop may not function in equipment that requires batteries with higher voltage. Also, eneloop may function when used in flashlights but may provide only a dim light, in contrast to a higher voltage battery.
Change in voltage compared with dry-cell batteries
(under a continuous discharge at 500mA, 25 deg.C)
Sanyo Alkali/Manganese Battery Battery Voltage

Because self-discharge is controlled, you can use eneloop right after purchasing.
(all batteries have been charged before shipping) applications which is used for a long period of time can also be used. eneloop is an ideal battery for both high-current and low-current applications. eneloop can be used as a spare battery in emergencies.

eneloop is ready-to-use even 2 years after purchasing *3

*2: Result of a test made by leaving the battery at an ambient temperature of 20 deg. C (self discharging condition: 740mA (EV=1.0V). A comparison made with our nickel hydride battery (2500mAn). *3: Avoid leaving the battery in high temperature areas or areas which are excessively humid. Also, we recommend that your eneloop batteries be charged every year.

Rate of Discharging (mAh)

eneloop can be used for a long time at a constant voltage

High Power Battery

A digital camera can take Approximately 4.4 times more shots.

High Performance in Low-Temperature Conditions

eneloop Works Even in Temperatures as Low as 10 deg.C! * Discharging Characteristics at 0 deg.C
Discharge Voltage (V)

Number of Shots a Digital Camera can take

(at 500mA continuous discharge)

Sanyo Alkali/Manganese Battery

About Times* More Powerful

About

High Power
About Shots Shots

long runtime Discharging time(min)

Sanyo Dry-Cell Battery

Digital camera can take up to 500 shots

*Testing Condition at HR-3UTG. When used Sanyo digital camera DSC-S4. When the camera turns on for 20 seconds, and 3 to 4 time flashes at every shot. This may change depending on the equipment and other conditions and number of shots made. This is a comparison made with Sanyo Alkali dry cell battery(LR6B)

Superior discharge at low temperatures!

Shows great performance in outdoor use such as skiiing etc.
*operation time will be shorter than that of normal temparature.

Wide Range of Applications (eneloop can be used in various applications)

The table below compares the runtimes of an eneloop rechargeable battery and a dry-cell battery.
High Current Flash Light Medium Current *2 4-Wheel Drive Car Low Current *3 Digital Camera Flash Gun Dry-Cell Shaver
Motor-Driven Brush Electric Toothbrush Stereo Radio Cassette Recorder

Continuous Shoot Time Dry-cell Battery About 0.5 to 1 hour

Continuous Flash Time Dry-cell Battery About 1 to 2 hours

Continuous Use Time Dry-cell Battery About 1.5 to 2.5 hours

Continuous Use Time Dry-cell Battery About 1.5 to 2.5 hours

Continuous Run Time Dry-cell Battery About 1 to 2 hours

Continuous Use Time Dry-cell Battery About 3 to 4 hours

Continuous Play Time Dry-cell Battery About 4 to 5 hours

About 2 to 3 hours MP3 Player

About 1.5 to 2 hours IC Recorder

About 3 to 4 hours Game Equipment

About 3 to 4 hours CD Player

About 2 to 3 hours Radio Tranceiver

(special small power type)

About 3 to 5 hours Clock

About 5 to 6 hours Remote Controller

Continuous Play Time Dry-cell Battery About 5 to 6 hours

Continuous ON Time Dry-cell Battery About 10 to 12 hours

Continuous ON Time Dry-cell Battery About 18 to 20 hours

Continuous Play Time Dry-cell Battery About 20 to 30 hours

*4 Continuous ON Time Dry-cell Battery About 40 to 60 hours

Battery ON Time Dry-cell Battery*5 About 1 to 5 years

ON Time Dry-cell Battery About 1 to 5 years

About 6 to 7 hours

About 10 to 12 hours

About 18 to 20 hours

About 20 to 30 hours

About 40 to 60 hours

About 1 to 2 years

About 1 to 3 years

The above specifications are based on the theoretical capacity of the battery and the consumption power rate of the equipment. It may vary greatly depending on the conditions of use, models used, ambient temperature and the condition of the equipment used. For eneloop, runtime is measured beginning from a fully charged state. Performance time may be shorter if the battery has been left unused for a period of time after being fully charged. The data in the table are approximations, and runtime specifications may be different when eneloop is used with applications not included in the table. Dry-cell battery: AA Alkaline/Manganese dry-cell battery used. eneloop: AA Nickel Metal Hydrogen battery used. For MP3 player and IC recorder, AAA batteries were used.

*1: For digital camera, Sanyos DSC-S4 was used. One shot was taken every 20 seconds (flash ON every third time) *2: For flash lamp, two AA batteries were used. *3: For stereo radio-cassette recorder, 4 AA batteries were used. *4: For transmission, reception, and waiting times, a ratio of 1 transmission, 1 reception, to 8 waiting time was used. *5: Manganese dry-cell batteries are recommended for use in some remote controls and clocks. In some cases, both Manganese and Alkaline batteries were used.

Do you want to know more about eneloop?

Size Difference with Dry-Cell Batteries eneloops size is based on IEC (International Electrochemical Commission) standards. Some dry-cell batteries are smaller than eneloop. When you are trying to insert eneloop into such equipment, you may find the casing tight, or sometimes you may not be able to fit them at all. Do not force the battery as you may Hight damage eneloops outer casing. In such cases, never use eneloop batteries. eneloop is suitable for most equipment.
Size of dry-cell battery.*1 Size of eneloop. *2 Size of Sanyo battery. *2
*1 JIS C8511. *2 Actual measured value.

Can eneloop be charged up to 1,000 times? This is an estimate based on test results for battery life according to IEC standards (number of times after charging/discharging). The number may vary, however, depending on how the batteries were used. The number of times a battery may be used decreases as battery life draws to an end. Whats the difference between 1.5V and 1.2V? Battery voltage is determined by the materials used in the battery. Nickel Hydride batteries are categorized as 1.2V batteries. 1.5V is a nominal voltage that is slightly lower than that of the working voltage on actual equipment. Though the Nickel Hydride battery is 1.2V, the actual working voltage on equipment is slightly higher than 1.2V. Therefore, Nickel Hydride batteries are capable of the same performance as dry-cell batteries in virtually every piece of equipment with the aforementioned voltage. Using a dry-cell battery instead of a Nickel Hydride battery is only necessary in exceptional cases.

Diameter

What is the Difference Between the Recommended Usable Period and the Manufacturing Period? Recommended Usable Period means that strong performance is guaranteed if you use the battery only within this period. This limitation does not apply to eneloop because Nickel-Hydride batteries like eneloop can be used at any time if they are electrically charged. The Manufacturing Period is printed on eneloop battery packaging. eneloop batteries are shipped fully charged. (If the indicated period is within that two years, you can use them right after purchasing.)

What is Memory Effect? If Ni-Cd batteries and Nickel-Metal-Hydride batteries are repeatedly charged before the stored energy is used up, the battery memorizes its altered, decreased life cycle. When you use it the next time, the voltage decreases immediately. Sometimes this causes the equipment to shut down. This is called the memory effect. The voltage of eneloop is higher than that of conventional NickelMetal-Hydride batteries, and even if the battery is charged excessively, sufficient voltage is maintained, no memory effect occurs, and you can recharge the battery according to your needs. What about Connecting Two or More Batteries? Do not use eneloop with batteries of different capacities or different manufacturers. Connecting eneloop with older batteries is no problem unless they are virtually dead. (We recommend that eneloop be fully charged before use.) To ensure satisfactory performance, we recommend using batteries with the same capacities.

My Equipment Does Not Work. Why? It may be due to the following reasons: Cause 1 The battery may not be charged.
eneloop is a rechargeable battery. Once it is used for the first time, it must be recharged before it is used again. Use our charger for this operation.

Cause 2 The terminals may not be clean. Touching the battery with your fingers may leave dust or dirt
on the surface of positive and negative terminals. This causes the electrical resistance on the surface of the electrode to increase, which affects battery performance. If this happens, clean the terminals with a dry towel.

Cause 3 Over-discharge. If eneloop batteries are used in low-current applications, there

may be a voltage cutoff point below which eneloop cannot power the application (e.g. a flashlight). When the eneloops voltage falls below the cutoff point, the flashlight will go out, but eneloop batteries will continue to discharge, as the circuit is not broken. Consequently, a film will develop on the terminals due to inactive electric current, and the eneloop battery will become inactive. To fix the problem, drain the batteries in a high-current application (e.g. a digital camera) until the battery is empty, and then recharge it. Repeat this operation 2 to 3 times. If an application still does not function, it may be that the eneloop battery charger is broken and failed to recharge the batteries, or the customer simply forgot to recharge them when they thought they did. Also, when eneloop is placed in some application.

Can eneloop Be Used in Underwater Lamps? No. Do not use it in equipment that must be air-tight. Such applications do not have a function to stop the discharge of electricity, and when more than one battery is used, it may cause the batteries to over-discharge. This in turn can trigger the generation of hydrogen gas inside of the battery, and since air-tight equipment is designed to prevent gas from being diffused, the contaminated gas may cause an explosion when the equipment is switched on. My Battery Gets Hot. Is It OK? Nickel-Hydride batteries like eneloop sometimes get as hot as 50 deg.C (hot when touched), but it is not abnormal. Our eneloop charger has a temperature protective circuit in case of a temperature rise. After charging is complete, wait until the battery cools off before using it. If the battery gets abnormally hot, it may be because it is a dysfunctional battery. In this case, call an electronics shop or the nearest Sanyo service store.

Where is the Best Place to Store My eneloop Batteries? Do not store them in humid or sunlit areas. Do not expose them to high temperatures. It is recommended to store them at normal room temperature. If stored fully charged, it is possible to use them for approximately two years. Depending on how they are stored, to ensure that they can be used for a long time, it is recommended that they be charged at least once every year. Do not store or keep them close to metallic items such as key chains, necklaces, money, and cell phones, as this may cause electrical shortage. Also, when storing eneloop batteries in a metal box, do not put them adjacent to each other or other metallic items. (eneloop should not even be placed next to gum wrappers). Is it Possible to Charge eneloop with Other Manufacturers Chargers? No, we do not recommend it. Neither the construction nor the characteristics of both battery and charger are the same. Accordingly, we do not recommend that other manufacturers batteries be charged with Sanyo chargers.

Your Input is Welcome When Selecting an Appropriate Charger Items such as those listed below should be considered: What is the size of my battery, and how many of them can be charged at the same time? Charging speed. Does the charging lamp show that charging is complete? Is it compact? Can it be used in overseas countries (given the differences in voltage). Is it Possible to Use eneloop in Overseas Countries? Yes, if your charger has a function called Auto Voltage which is applicable to any voltage between 100 and 240V. You will likely need a plug adapter for your charger in these countries.

What is a Spacer? A spacer is a piece of equipment that enables smaller batteries to power applications that normally require size D and C batteries. In this way, eneloop size AA batteries can power an application that requires much larger batteries. Spacers have no relation to the battery s capacity. Spacers can be used with most applications. However, in some applications spacers do not reach the contact point of the battery holder. In such cases, do not use the spacer, and use size D and C batteries instead. Of course, spacers are recommended for use only when no size D or C batteries are available, as they obviously cannot provide the same amount of power. The runtime of batteries used in conjunction with spacers varies depending on the application. In a flashlight, the runtime is about 1/4 to 1/5 of the runtime accorded by a size D Alkaline battery, or 1/2 to 1/3 the runtime of a size C. Finally, we also have another lineup of Ni-MH batteries besides eneloop that can be used in this spacer.
Just plug the eneloop into the adaptor and you can use it in your equipment. Of course the adaptors only adapt the mechanical dimensions of the eneloop.
(length and diameter and obviously not its electrical characteristics. The voltage and the capacity remains unchaged to the eneloop AA specification).

Tips for using eneloop

eneloop lasts longer if stored in low temperatures, but one must take care to prevent any part of the condensation. Leaving eneloop in an application may result in the battery discharging. If an application will not be used for a long period of time, remove the battery from the equipment.