# Rotating rechargeable batteries in radios that use three **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 17, 2014, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rotating-rechargeable-batteries-in-radios-that-use-three/688658 "2014-05-17T22:51:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2014, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rotating-rechargeable-batteries-in-radios-that-use-three/688658/21 "2014-05-21T12:28:35Z")
> [@Learjeff](#): > > I meant to mention above: most NiMH & NiCad batteries do best if they’re not left charged. They want to be stored uncharged. That’s why I don’t get way ahead of the demand, and keep just enough in the CHARGED box to handle the likely demand. However, some newer batteries like those Sanyos come charged, and perhaps they’re different in this regard. I don’t believe it is true that they are best stored at 0 % charge. The reason they come that way was because of self discharge, they will get there on their own soon enough. What you don’t want to do is leave them continuously charging at 100%. The breakthru that allows the ones that come precharged was ones with a much lower self discharge rate. > [@](#): > > While we’re on the subject … I had a set of batteries marked at 2400 mAH. They seemed fine, but eventually got old. When I went to replace them, the best I found (of the same brand, Energizer) were 1200 mAH. Did they just get more honest, or is there a new standard, or did I get crappier batteries? (With the charger, I’d be able to get a clue, though the rating depends on the discharge profile so it’s not totally objective. But it’s better than believing the marketing!) You got crappier batteries. With the charger mentioned in post #3 you can find out the mAh and I have found the rated capacity is pretty close to actual. My WAG as to why Energizer went to 1200 mAh is at one time, mainly when digital cameras took AA,AAA’s people really started using rechargables in force, and their was quite a but of effort to increase capacity to compete. Batteries went from 1200 to 1500 to 1800, to 2500 + in a short amount of time. With the Li-ion specialized batteries now the battery of choice for devices people are no longer looking or using Nimh much if at all anymore and the manufactures feel that they no longer have to compete on that anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Learjeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/94ad74/32.png) [@Learjeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Learjeff)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2014, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rotating-rechargeable-batteries-in-radios-that-use-three/688658/22 "2014-05-21T16:32:25Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > I don’t believe it is true that they are best stored at 0 % charge. The reason they come that way was because of self discharge, they will get there on their own soon enough. What you don’t want to do is leave them continuously charging at 100%. The breakthru that allows the ones that come precharged was ones with a much lower self discharge rate. I’ll have to check, but I remember reading that; I think it was from a battery manufacturer. > [@](#): > > You got crappier batteries. With the charger mentioned in post #3 you can find out the mAh and I have found the rated capacity is pretty close to actual. > > My WAG as to why Energizer went to 1200 mAh is at one time, mainly when digital cameras took AA,AAA’s people really started using rechargables in force, and their was quite a but of effort to increase capacity to compete. Batteries went from 1200 to 1500 to 1800, to 2500 + in a short amount of time. With the Li-ion specialized batteries now the battery of choice for devices people are no longer looking or using Nimh much if at all anymore and the manufactures feel that they no longer have to compete on that anymore. Thanks! That makes sense. I had considered the possibility that it was just matter of market forces, but hadn’t considered the newer specialized batteries, and that we no longer use NiMH’s in our cameras etc. I’m looking forward to being able to measure. Also, I’ll probably make a habit of buying batteries online with full specs rather than limiting myself to what local stores happen to stock. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rotating-rechargeable-batteries-in-radios-that-use-three/688658.md?page=1)