On 5/19/2025 22:19, radellaf via groups.io wrote:

500 or 2100 cycles? ?That's advertising.

Yep, over a decade ago.? I imagine, if the batteries didn't meet it, I'd think Panasonic would be losing their butts replacing a bad product at a 10X failure rate.? Even the "first generation" Eneloops didn't have numbers as abysmal as some have claimed here, twenty years ago.

By any chance, did someone confuse the Eneloop charge cycles with 1970's NiDd's?? Now THOSE were junk, I wouldn't even claim 50 cycles for those, 25, maybe.

As I said, I'm only about 75 weeks/cycles into a few dozen without problems.? I'm not sure if/when they should be "reconditioned", probably when I notice some sort of issue, but nothing has stood out.

As for why I chose that particular NiMH, it was after reading nothing but positive comments in the radio forums for about 15 years, and the Pro model, for the high capacity, and current, which my applications require.

Another thing to consider, for those that have had them fail, if any. What kind of charger was used, and how were the batteries treated? Murdered after every charge, then allowed to bake for hours or days, by the wrong type of NiMH charger, or a charger for an entirely different battery chemistry, charge rate, or voltage? The Eneloops are the most expensive AA cells I've ever owned, so I bought the matching charger/reconditioner.

We'll see how it goes.

Kurt

On May 19, 2025, at 19:46, Facility 406 <facility_406@...> wrote:

?On 5/19/2025 08:18, Nick Rylatt via groups.io wrote:

Please elaborate on your complaints.? I have two OEM battery boxes and never had a problem with either of them.? I use 2000 mAh Eneloops, both Sanyo and Panasonic.? The belt clip has always been attached and I also use a leather case all the time.? Look in the archives for information about the leather case.

No problem, give me a couple of days.

Does the list allow pics?

If so, pics would REALLY help show the issues I ran into.

I'll have to check into the leather case.

One MAJOR problem I have, is the keypad only lasting a few weeks. ?I have a half dozen on-hand, because the numbers keep rubbing off. ?Turns out, the seatbelt in my truck lays right across the face.

If the FT-60 had the button info on the body, like the -50, it'd be a non-issue. ?The -50 had it's own issue with the power button failing once or twice a year, as well. ?Somewhere I have a stash of those.

Another trick is to swap the FT-50 VFO/step knob to the -60, since the -60 knob is so high it blocks the power/volume knob.

Kurt

Yes, I looked up Faraday tape. One website has inspired some ideas for a
new and improved tin foil hat <hi hi>.? 73, Nick, AA3T


On 5/19/2025 11:18 AM, Facility 406 via groups.io wrote:
>> I have repaired the insulation on the metallic Eneloop cell case with
>> Scotch tape (cellophane tape).
>
> Another, in my opinion, much better, much stronger, with better
> insulating properties, and less prone to scuffing, would be Kapton
> tape. ?Also very thin, and used in automotive, aerospace, and general
> electronics industries for insulation, isolation, and protection.
>
> Here is a random listing pulled from the web as an example:
>
>
>
> The sellers spiel around the middle of the page provides info on the
> general qualities of the material.? Plenty of resources online, but
> that page gives the gist of the material, and shows different sizes.
>
> For additional excitement, look up Faraday Tape!
>
> Kurt
>
>
>
>
>
>
--
Sent from laptop

I have repaired the insulation on the metallic Eneloop cell case with Scotch tape (cellophane tape).

Another, in my opinion, much better, much stronger, with better insulating properties, and less prone to scuffing, would be Kapton tape. ?Also very thin, and used in automotive, aerospace, and general electronics industries for insulation, isolation, and protection.

Here is a random listing pulled from the web as an example:



The sellers spiel around the middle of the page provides info on the general qualities of the material.? Plenty of resources online, but that page gives the gist of the material, and shows different sizes.

For additional excitement, look up Faraday Tape!

Kurt

I have repaired the insulation on the metallic Eneloop cell case with Scotch tape (cellophane tape).

Another, in my opinion, much better, much stronger, with better insulating properties, and less prone to scuffing, would be Kapton tape. ?Also very thin, and used in automotive, aerospace, and general electronics industries for insulation, isolation, and protection.

Here is a random listing pulled from the web as an example:



The sellers spiel around the middle of the page provides info on the general qualities of the material.? Plenty of resources online, but that page gives the gist of the material, and shows different sizes.

For additional excitement, look up Faraday Tape!

Kurt

My Yaesu FT-60 AA adapter works fine with ordinary AA primary alkalines or Eneloop NiMH rechargeables.

Link?

The OEM battery box has two major, and unresolvable design flaws which prevent the radio from being used either, always clipped on a belt, or, always held in the hand.

There was a 3rd design flaw, that actually prevented it from being installed on an FT-60, but a knife fixed that.

Kurt

Hi Kurt,

The Eneloop cells come in 3 grades, Pro (black), Standard (white) and Light (don't know colour). They are all NiMH chemistry.
My Yaesu FT-60 AA adapter works fine with ordinary AA primary alkalines or Eneloop NiMH rechargeables.

Cheers...Bob VK2ZRE


On 19/05/2025 10:18 am, Facility 406 wrote:

Just as a matter of interest, I would suggest using Eneloop Standard batteries instead of the Pro series.
The Standard series have a Charge Retention of around 10 YEARS whilst the Pros only stay charged for around 1 YEAR.

By standard, do you mean non-rechargeable lithium batteries, which claim to hold a charge for at least a decade?

I use those as well, for some things, but my field application, and radio usage, would mean 13 6-packs per week, at ~$25 per pack (slightly less online), for a cost of $325/week, or $16,900 per year, opposed to the initial cost of about $400 for the Pros and chargers (spread out over a year), with an estimated service life, based on the claim of 500 charges, or, roughly 9 years, 10 months of use, a savings of about 165 thousand dollars in the same time frame over non-rechargeables.

I still have to swap batteries once a week, but I think I've saved a few bucks.

The Pros were chosen after extensive research, part of which I'll go into later.

As for using the FNA-25 AA pack, it was a total clusterf--k which lasted less than one minute to know the design is a complete failure, and I'll never know how Eneloop Pro works compared to the OEM FNB-83.

I'll write that up as well, and offer the case, free of charge, to whomever wishes to whack it with a hammer, drop a deuce on it, then send it to Yaesu, postage due....

Or, just stare at it for a few seconds (something Yaesu clearly never did), then corner the global market by designing one good AA case for the FT-60.

Kurt

Just as a matter of interest, I would suggest using Eneloop Standard batteries instead of the Pro series.
The Standard series have a Charge Retention of around 10 YEARS whilst the Pros only stay charged for around 1 YEAR.

By standard, do you mean non-rechargeable lithium batteries, which claim to hold a charge for at least a decade?

I use those as well, for some things, but my field application, and radio usage, would mean 13 6-packs per week, at ~$25 per pack (slightly less online), for a cost of $325/week, or $16,900 per year, opposed to the initial cost of about $400 for the Pros and chargers (spread out over a year), with an estimated service life, based on the claim of 500 charges, or, roughly 9 years, 10 months of use, a savings of about 165 thousand dollars in the same time frame over non-rechargeables.

I still have to swap batteries once a week, but I think I've saved a few bucks.

The Pros were chosen after extensive research, part of which I'll go into later.

As for using the FNA-25 AA pack, it was a total clusterf--k which lasted less than one minute to know the design is a complete failure, and I'll never know how Eneloop Pro works compared to the OEM FNB-83.

I'll write that up as well, and offer the case, free of charge, to whomever wishes to whack it with a hammer, drop a deuce on it, then send it to Yaesu, postage due....

Or, just stare at it for a few seconds (something Yaesu clearly never did), then corner the global market by designing one good AA case for the FT-60.

Kurt

I bought a new 6-pack:



Just to put into the FBA-25 case.? The rating is 1,100mAh over the stock OEM FNB-83.

Received Eneloop Pro AA's yesterday, once my FNB-83 depletes, I'll charge/top off the Panasonic cells, place them in the Yaesu battery box, then do what I can to document usability.? I don't transmit much at all, so for the time being, it'll just be receive time compared to a new FNB-83.

Kurt