Has your MP3 player ever quit on you in the middle of a long journey or your GPS device suddenly lost it’s power leaving you without direction? With so many portable devices in our modern lives, running out of portable power can be a very frustrating and inconvenient experience.

Enter the next generation of rechargeable battery. Marketed by Sanyo as Eneloop, Uniross as Hybrio and Panasonic as Infinium this new generation come ready charged straight out of the pack and once recharged have the ability to hold that charge for up to one year.

The technical term for these batteries is LSD (low self-discharge) Ni-MH (nickel metal hydride). Introduced in November 2005 they are gaining in popularity and gradually replacing standard Ni-MH batteries. Standard Ni-MH batteries will self discharge over a relatively short time usually 3-6 months. LSD batteries work by using a new separator that is saturated with deionized water. These batteries retain between 70 to 85% of their capacity after one year when stored at 20 °C (68 °F). This is a significant improvement which benefits the consumer for both value and convenience while also giving a helping hand to the environment by reducing the number of wasted charge cycles.

LSD Ni-MH batteries are a very good choice for photography and other high drain applications. The added benefit of low self-discharge, is that they are more suitable for infrequent use or low-current devices. They can potentially last up to one year between charge cycles which is much better than a standard Ni-MH battery. They can therefore also be used for electrical clocks, remote controls, etc whereas standard Ni-MH batteries are usually unsuitable for these low drain applications due to their high rate of self discharge.

Prices of LSD batteries have recently fallen closer towards that of standard Ni-MH making them an easier purchase for consumers and a major plus point is they can be charged with normal widely available Ni-MH battery chargers. However capacities of LSD batteries tend to be around the 2000 mAh range as opposed to the ultra high capacity of some normal NiMH batteries at 2700 mAh.

Low self-discharge NiMH batteries also typically have a significantly lower internal resistance than traditional NiMH batteries. This results in several positive effects especially for high-drain devices. The voltage is more stable which can have a positive effect on life span in electronic devices, which typically have a cut-off voltage per battery that is not much lower than NiMH’s nominal voltage. There is reduced heat buildup when the battery is quickly charged or discharged and they LSD batteries provide overall higher efficiency.

LSD rechargeable batteries are now commonly available in 1.2V AA, A-A-A, C, D & 9V PP3 sizes, ensuring that whatever your application there is a battery to suit your needs.

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Tags: Batteries, Discharge, Eneloop, Future, Hybrio, Infinium, Rechargeable