Futaba TX batteries?
10-30-2022, 08:15 PM
#2
Better to go with an NiMH low self discharge cells commonly called "Eneloops". The direct replacement for your old NiCDs are 2000 mah cells, you can use your existing chargers and they work really well.
You can buy custom built ready to install packs from various vendors in the USA. While you'll occasionally see guys talk about putting in LiPO's, they were NOT recommended by Futaba and are a pain to charge. Some of the newer tx's use LiFE's but the pack shape is not the same so I've never seen a tx pack in an LiFE chemistry in a form factor that is compatible with your tx's.
You can buy custom built ready to install packs from various vendors in the USA. While you'll occasionally see guys talk about putting in LiPO's, they were NOT recommended by Futaba and are a pain to charge. Some of the newer tx's use LiFE's but the pack shape is not the same so I've never seen a tx pack in an LiFE chemistry in a form factor that is compatible with your tx's.
Last edited by Zeeb; 10-30-2022 at 08:18 PM.
11-04-2022, 08:00 PM
#4
My Feedback: (3)
11-04-2022, 09:51 PM
#5
My Feedback: (3)
Not to argue with you but I think a majority have actually switched over to LiFe batteries and the frequency is far more often than "occasionally" these days. Lipo's are fast sold out too for transmitters on every ad I ever see.
Futaba used to get a nose bleed about everything, but yesterday, they didn't recommend Eneloop, they recommended the distributor "Batteries America" in the support thread yesterday. "Good people."
They're not making it more complicated than it really is.
LiFe batteries. For 2022.
These old discontinued out of warranty radios have more tolerance for input voltage than anyone has speculated since Futaba didn't test LiFe batteries back in the day.
Fact is the benefits outweigh the fables and wives tales. It's safe, has a longer shelf life, maintains its voltage during storage, and in an electric motor / lipo world, who doesn't know how to use a charger with a balance plug?
It fits, easily. Newer batteries are smaller now. Live a little. Nothing wrong with it. I had to shim my battery so it wouldn't rattle around in my Futaba radio. Any nimh / nicad is outdated battery technology from decades ago. Most radio damage occurs from leaking nicad batteries left in a radio for years, or reversing polarity. That's it.
Futaba used to get a nose bleed about everything, but yesterday, they didn't recommend Eneloop, they recommended the distributor "Batteries America" in the support thread yesterday. "Good people."
They're not making it more complicated than it really is.
LiFe batteries. For 2022.
These old discontinued out of warranty radios have more tolerance for input voltage than anyone has speculated since Futaba didn't test LiFe batteries back in the day.
Fact is the benefits outweigh the fables and wives tales. It's safe, has a longer shelf life, maintains its voltage during storage, and in an electric motor / lipo world, who doesn't know how to use a charger with a balance plug?
It fits, easily. Newer batteries are smaller now. Live a little. Nothing wrong with it. I had to shim my battery so it wouldn't rattle around in my Futaba radio. Any nimh / nicad is outdated battery technology from decades ago. Most radio damage occurs from leaking nicad batteries left in a radio for years, or reversing polarity. That's it.
The following users liked this post:
RCoffroadracer (01-26-2023)
11-05-2022, 12:36 PM
#6
Sorry but should you replace the factory batteries with LiFe chemistry batteries. those have a higher self discharge rate than Eneloops by quite a margin. The only thing better would be genuine A123 chemistry with the "Nano Phosphate" technology which is patented. The real down side to both, is that the original chargers cannot be used by either chemistry and require that the batteries be removed from the tx to charge rather than just plug into a wall charger.
11-05-2022, 03:19 PM
#7
My Feedback: (3)
Yup, being modelers, removing a battery to charge it, can be a challenge. LOL
To each his own, but it's just not a "bad" solution for older radios,
it's personal preference and subjective to how someone enjoys their hobby, in different ways.
I chose this method and discharge rates never interrupted one flying day of mine.
To each his own, but it's just not a "bad" solution for older radios,
it's personal preference and subjective to how someone enjoys their hobby, in different ways.
I chose this method and discharge rates never interrupted one flying day of mine.
11-06-2022, 05:18 AM
#8
My Feedback: (3)
For those intimidated by modern technology, there is a good deal on these 2000mah nimh transmitter batteries.
It's been my experience these last as long as a good 1000 mah battery.
Sticker on the battery is meaningless, but $14.95 shipped inside the USA?
It's been my experience these last as long as a good 1000 mah battery.
Sticker on the battery is meaningless, but $14.95 shipped inside the USA?
11-06-2022, 07:33 PM
#9
Not big on buying Chinese assembled packs. While the cells themselves are most likely from China, some ot the better ones come from Korea. The advantage of dealing with a USA supplier is Warranty if any difficulties arise. There are a couple of vendors I really like;
https://batteriesamerica.com/collect...atteries-ni-mh
https://nobsbatteries.com/
These guys test all their cells and good cells cost more to begin with, thus the price difference between the one J330 linked and the prices shown on these two websites, Both companies have been in business for a number of years and have excellent reputations.
So here's the question; the tx battery is probably the most critical component of the RC setup followed by the rx battery, who are you going to trust??????
https://batteriesamerica.com/collect...atteries-ni-mh
https://nobsbatteries.com/
These guys test all their cells and good cells cost more to begin with, thus the price difference between the one J330 linked and the prices shown on these two websites, Both companies have been in business for a number of years and have excellent reputations.
So here's the question; the tx battery is probably the most critical component of the RC setup followed by the rx battery, who are you going to trust??????
Last edited by Zeeb; 11-06-2022 at 07:35 PM.
11-07-2022, 02:56 PM
#10
My Feedback: (3)
I picked up my iPhone (made in China) and attempted to contact both "suppliers/assembling plants" and only Batteries America answered their phone and seems to be the only one of the two links that is legit. Batteries America said your statement is not found anywhere on the website and not their practice. 800-308-4805. "We only use a voltmeter to confirm the cells are connected when making battery packs, no cycling test is performed. More returns are the result of customers treating a nimh 2000mah battery as a nicad, using a nicad charger that is 100mah for example. nimh batteries fail because the user isn't charging it at 200mah, which is 10% of capacity to properly charge a 2000mah battery. We get more returns discovering this is the problem. Improper charging is NOT covered under the SIX month warranty." They only test the assembled pack with a voltmeter. How does that justify $38.95 for a battery if you can buy one for 1/2 the price and it can perform better? Everyone knows to test their battery themselves on the bench, cycle it a few times, even nimh, that's what the instructions tell you to do. How many fail? Well, that's been tested below.
Inexpensive batteries that are manufactured in China are cheaper compared to similar products in the US because the cost of production is cheaper in China. Most everyone buys the lower priced items in everything, including batteries. I've personally never found a defect yet and only buy cheap batteries.
The so called FL battery manufacturer is a bogus website. Local battery suppliers in that area, never heard of them. A google voice phone # 352-340-3999. Other links online leads to no address at all. A 12 year old could make a better website. Sounds like NOBS is all BS?
Chinese products, of course. They make batteries the meet or exceed expectations. No bias. No prejudice. Where is the post on any forum that was titled "My Chinese transmitter battery crashed my airplane?" There are lots of threads about brown outs and crashes that result from using Spektrum radios though. Why do hobbyists continue to trust that? I sure don't.
A "voltmeter test" isn't sufficient testing that merits a $38.95 price tag. Cycling with a 10% charge of the rated capacity (200mah for a 2000mah rated pack) and you can trust yourself. The nimh battery charge rate is the key from what I was told and what I already understood. If spending $40 gives you peace of mind, it's your money, but the notion Chinese products are unreliable today would be speculation and prejudice thinking at best. Batteries America said "We don't test Chinese batteries, we don't document how they perform." Click here to see how the New York Times shared an independent batteries test of the top tested batteries ranked from several manufacturers, domestic and from China. No prejudice statements in that article to be found. Five out of seven are made in China.
Batteries America only has a six month warranty? Why not a year? Seems odd they'd break traditional warranty periods from a year to a fraction of it like a refurbished item might receive? Not enough faith in their product to go the distance of 365 days? They know what defect return rate they experience and had to cut it short, that is my guess. If it's so great, I'd expect to see a better warranty when in practice most keep batteries in use for many years, depending on personal preference, and how much abuse/neglect they put the battery pack through. That is the weak link, the practices of the user.
The real benefit on your personal $40 choice? I can call a USA phone number and talk to a rep in english. I'm sure I don't need to learn Mandarin to buy from China, just toss it, and I can afford to buy another one and still save money. Chinese product distribution is what made the RC hobby easily affordable and killed off our local hobby shops who couldn't compete, seems LHS advice is overrated and replaced by forums? If it was all bad coming from China, this trend would have never happened. Most modelers are buying Chinese radios, batteries, motors, servos, receivers, etc. and no one is complaining about those choices anymore. It's late to "save your LHS by supporting them" now. The biggest fear we face is losing the supply of things that we depend on that is made in China. Everyone knows this, you got to spend twice as much for a US made battery pack just like everything else. That's what destroyed most domestic manufacturers, unable to compete with the Chinese price. The fairytale to say it's better, is a statement made out of desperation without facts available to back it up.
No production environment other than military grade gets individually tested. The term "Mil Spec" comes from = military specifications, ANSI standard. The price tag for that kind of US labor is only affordable by a government that taxes everything we do. The military doesn't call an AA battery an AA, but it's called a HR6 or R6. ANSI calls it 15.
For the hobby, some Chinese batteries have higher rated capacities, for less money. Deleepow is one to avoid though, as I said, actual real life capacities are not what they stick on the label. The best tested was the HiQuick. I can order 16 AA batteries and make two packs for roughly $30 shipped through Ebay or
Inexpensive batteries that are manufactured in China are cheaper compared to similar products in the US because the cost of production is cheaper in China. Most everyone buys the lower priced items in everything, including batteries. I've personally never found a defect yet and only buy cheap batteries.
The so called FL battery manufacturer is a bogus website. Local battery suppliers in that area, never heard of them. A google voice phone # 352-340-3999. Other links online leads to no address at all. A 12 year old could make a better website. Sounds like NOBS is all BS?
A "voltmeter test" isn't sufficient testing that merits a $38.95 price tag. Cycling with a 10% charge of the rated capacity (200mah for a 2000mah rated pack) and you can trust yourself. The nimh battery charge rate is the key from what I was told and what I already understood. If spending $40 gives you peace of mind, it's your money, but the notion Chinese products are unreliable today would be speculation and prejudice thinking at best. Batteries America said "We don't test Chinese batteries, we don't document how they perform." Click here to see how the New York Times shared an independent batteries test of the top tested batteries ranked from several manufacturers, domestic and from China. No prejudice statements in that article to be found. Five out of seven are made in China.
Batteries America only has a six month warranty? Why not a year? Seems odd they'd break traditional warranty periods from a year to a fraction of it like a refurbished item might receive? Not enough faith in their product to go the distance of 365 days? They know what defect return rate they experience and had to cut it short, that is my guess. If it's so great, I'd expect to see a better warranty when in practice most keep batteries in use for many years, depending on personal preference, and how much abuse/neglect they put the battery pack through. That is the weak link, the practices of the user.
The real benefit on your personal $40 choice? I can call a USA phone number and talk to a rep in english. I'm sure I don't need to learn Mandarin to buy from China, just toss it, and I can afford to buy another one and still save money. Chinese product distribution is what made the RC hobby easily affordable and killed off our local hobby shops who couldn't compete, seems LHS advice is overrated and replaced by forums? If it was all bad coming from China, this trend would have never happened. Most modelers are buying Chinese radios, batteries, motors, servos, receivers, etc. and no one is complaining about those choices anymore. It's late to "save your LHS by supporting them" now. The biggest fear we face is losing the supply of things that we depend on that is made in China. Everyone knows this, you got to spend twice as much for a US made battery pack just like everything else. That's what destroyed most domestic manufacturers, unable to compete with the Chinese price. The fairytale to say it's better, is a statement made out of desperation without facts available to back it up.
No production environment other than military grade gets individually tested. The term "Mil Spec" comes from = military specifications, ANSI standard. The price tag for that kind of US labor is only affordable by a government that taxes everything we do. The military doesn't call an AA battery an AA, but it's called a HR6 or R6. ANSI calls it 15.
For the hobby, some Chinese batteries have higher rated capacities, for less money. Deleepow is one to avoid though, as I said, actual real life capacities are not what they stick on the label. The best tested was the HiQuick. I can order 16 AA batteries and make two packs for roughly $30 shipped through Ebay or
Last edited by J330; 11-08-2022 at 02:00 AM. Reason: edited attachment with text to show country of origin
11-08-2022, 03:37 PM
#13
My Feedback: (3)
If you charge a lipo, or LiFe battery, you can charge over 1 amp and that would require removing the battery from the radio.
Avoid answers from non-technical individuals, it can mislead you. You can confirm a valid statement through google, any battery manufacturer, and that includes Eneloop distributors.
Last edited by J330; 11-08-2022 at 03:41 PM.
11-09-2022, 11:55 AM
#14
Charging inside the battery with nimh isn't a problem when using a nimh charge program on your charger at 10% of the packs rated mah (say 3000mah) you can drive 300 milliamps through the charge jack. It has no issues doing that with any brand nimh battery. The nonsense that one brand being special is completely nonsense. Nothing supports such wives tales anywhere on the internet. Eneloop charges exactly the same as any other nimh brand, it's all about capacity and charging at 10%. Yes you can charge at that 10% rate, as long as you never exceed 900 milliamps while charging, exceeding the capacity of the wiring inside your radio.
If you charge a lipo, or LiFe battery, you can charge over 1 amp and that would require removing the battery from the radio.
Avoid answers from non-technical individuals, it can mislead you. You can confirm a valid statement through google, any battery manufacturer, and that includes Eneloop distributors.
If you charge a lipo, or LiFe battery, you can charge over 1 amp and that would require removing the battery from the radio.
Avoid answers from non-technical individuals, it can mislead you. You can confirm a valid statement through google, any battery manufacturer, and that includes Eneloop distributors.
11-10-2022, 03:35 PM
#15
My Feedback: (3)
No.
Why don't you take advice from one forum admin about your inability to express yourself better, and start using some restraint?
https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show...moderator-post
Clearly the fact no one can quote you on RCGroups reflects your high warning level and not heeding correction repeatedly. You are a problem. You're so close to a suspension there, why push your luck on this site that doesn't dance around 10 times with a problem member? You clearly are aging out your high number of warnings on the RCGroups forum. Is it everyone else being the troll in your mind? Let's review;
You dish it out, and can't take it.
Why did you label him a Newbie? Same insight I name non-technical people.
You entered my username here, and you chose to own what was nothing more than ambiguity, all by yourself. That's not my problem.
But it certainly is a double standard how you complain about my posts and overlook yours.
Try to have fun, and not wear thin skin on a forum of all places.
Aren't you in this hobby forum sharing your interests with others? I'm merely providing facts, research, contributing with references and even phone calls I made in his behalf to dispel the myths you've created, namely unfounded remarks about Chinese batteries that are only derived from bigoted marketing tactics used by failing US companies, and not actual test data. I provided that test data, and you didn't counter it with anything else. You can't do that with a yes or no.
My preference in how I chose to explain things satisfies readers looking for associative meaning. My choice of how I post a comment or opinion, is my business, and engaging in a forum discussion is not regulated by your preferences. You can stick to yes/no answers. I won't get in your way.
Finally, my last point to make is what he's interested in, you have no way of knowing, but I bet he's not interested in this detour from this thread topic.
To get back on track;
Charging batteries is in fact, technically important.
This fact was stated by the battery distributor linked above, by Zeeb. There are some batteries that tolerate charging above 10%. But that's distinctively different from one battery structure to another. If that becomes too complicated for anyone to understand, or can't follow what 10% of a battery rating is, they shouldn't go further until they fully understand. Charging batteries incorrectly can have serious consequences, even with nimh batteries. Charge current is important. Nicad chargers do not mix with Nimh batteries. Each battery technology must be charged by the corresponding charger or programming in a better multi-charger. That's why many modelers choose a multi-charger since they use many different types of batteries related to their hobby. Reading your battery charging manual is a great place to start.
This is a very common charger that's been around for over 15 years. It charges NiCd/NiMH batteries, Li-ion batteries, LiPo batteries, LiFe batteries, LiHV batteries and 12v Pb batteries. It's affordable. It comes with leads for connecting to your battery directly and through your radio. Check polarity since older Airtronics radios for example do not match Futaba/Hitec polarity. Reversing polarity can stop your radio from turning on and would require servicing. Charging batteries increases its temperature, so it's best to charge any battery outside the radio. Safety always comes before convenience. Excessive heat during charging will ruin the batteries lifespan. See how much information should be covered on this topic yet?
Why don't you take advice from one forum admin about your inability to express yourself better, and start using some restraint?
https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show...moderator-post
Clearly the fact no one can quote you on RCGroups reflects your high warning level and not heeding correction repeatedly. You are a problem. You're so close to a suspension there, why push your luck on this site that doesn't dance around 10 times with a problem member? You clearly are aging out your high number of warnings on the RCGroups forum. Is it everyone else being the troll in your mind? Let's review;
Why did you label him a Newbie? Same insight I name non-technical people.
You entered my username here, and you chose to own what was nothing more than ambiguity, all by yourself. That's not my problem.
But it certainly is a double standard how you complain about my posts and overlook yours.
Try to have fun, and not wear thin skin on a forum of all places.
Aren't you in this hobby forum sharing your interests with others? I'm merely providing facts, research, contributing with references and even phone calls I made in his behalf to dispel the myths you've created, namely unfounded remarks about Chinese batteries that are only derived from bigoted marketing tactics used by failing US companies, and not actual test data. I provided that test data, and you didn't counter it with anything else. You can't do that with a yes or no.
My preference in how I chose to explain things satisfies readers looking for associative meaning. My choice of how I post a comment or opinion, is my business, and engaging in a forum discussion is not regulated by your preferences. You can stick to yes/no answers. I won't get in your way.
Finally, my last point to make is what he's interested in, you have no way of knowing, but I bet he's not interested in this detour from this thread topic.
To get back on track;
Charging batteries is in fact, technically important.
This fact was stated by the battery distributor linked above, by Zeeb. There are some batteries that tolerate charging above 10%. But that's distinctively different from one battery structure to another. If that becomes too complicated for anyone to understand, or can't follow what 10% of a battery rating is, they shouldn't go further until they fully understand. Charging batteries incorrectly can have serious consequences, even with nimh batteries. Charge current is important. Nicad chargers do not mix with Nimh batteries. Each battery technology must be charged by the corresponding charger or programming in a better multi-charger. That's why many modelers choose a multi-charger since they use many different types of batteries related to their hobby. Reading your battery charging manual is a great place to start.
This is a very common charger that's been around for over 15 years. It charges NiCd/NiMH batteries, Li-ion batteries, LiPo batteries, LiFe batteries, LiHV batteries and 12v Pb batteries. It's affordable. It comes with leads for connecting to your battery directly and through your radio. Check polarity since older Airtronics radios for example do not match Futaba/Hitec polarity. Reversing polarity can stop your radio from turning on and would require servicing. Charging batteries increases its temperature, so it's best to charge any battery outside the radio. Safety always comes before convenience. Excessive heat during charging will ruin the batteries lifespan. See how much information should be covered on this topic yet?
Last edited by J330; 11-10-2022 at 05:44 PM. Reason: I added a quote to help him see himself in a mirror.
12-23-2022, 12:18 PM
#17
I think you'll like them as for ten years; when Eneloops showed up first, they were in DeWalt cordless power tool battery packs. We started buying those packs off eBay way back when, longer than ten years and harvested the cells, I still have some of those packs which work just fine.
12-30-2022, 04:35 PM
#18
In my discontinued but trusty Futaba 8UAF I switched to using a Life battery and was extremely happy with how it performed. Unfortunately, Life batteries do not toterate being left turned on and fully discharged which I was in the habit of doing. So after losing two battery packs in that manner I opted for a NIMH 2000 mA replacement and so far so good, but I really do miss the overall convenience the Life battery afforded. Maybe one day I'll give them another try.
01-26-2023, 09:18 PM
#19
I picked up my iPhone (made in China) and attempted to contact both "suppliers/assembling plants" and only Batteries America answered their phone and seems to be the only one of the two links that is legit. Batteries America said your statement is not found anywhere on the website and not their practice. 800-308-4805. "We only use a voltmeter to confirm the cells are connected when making battery packs, no cycling test is performed. More returns are the result of customers treating a nimh 2000mah battery as a nicad, using a nicad charger that is 100mah for example. nimh batteries fail because the user isn't charging it at 200mah, which is 10% of capacity to properly charge a 2000mah battery. We get more returns discovering this is the problem. Improper charging is NOT covered under the SIX month warranty." They only test the assembled pack with a voltmeter. How does that justify $38.95 for a battery if you can buy one for 1/2 the price and it can perform better? Everyone knows to test their battery themselves on the bench, cycle it a few times, even nimh, that's what the instructions tell you to do. How many fail? Well, that's been tested below.
Inexpensive batteries that are manufactured in China are cheaper compared to similar products in the US because the cost of production is cheaper in China. Most everyone buys the lower priced items in everything, including batteries. I've personally never found a defect yet and only buy cheap batteries.
The so called FL battery manufacturer is a bogus website. Local battery suppliers in that area, never heard of them. A google voice phone # 352-340-3999. Other links online leads to no address at all. A 12 year old could make a better website. Sounds like NOBS is all BS?
Chinese products, of course. They make batteries the meet or exceed expectations. No bias. No prejudice. Where is the post on any forum that was titled "My Chinese transmitter battery crashed my airplane?" There are lots of threads about brown outs and crashes that result from using Spektrum radios though. Why do hobbyists continue to trust that? I sure don't.
A "voltmeter test" isn't sufficient testing that merits a $38.95 price tag. Cycling with a 10% charge of the rated capacity (200mah for a 2000mah rated pack) and you can trust yourself. The nimh battery charge rate is the key from what I was told and what I already understood. If spending $40 gives you peace of mind, it's your money, but the notion Chinese products are unreliable today would be speculation and prejudice thinking at best. Batteries America said "We don't test Chinese batteries, we don't document how they perform." Click here to see how the New York Times shared an independent batteries test of the top tested batteries ranked from several manufacturers, domestic and from China. No prejudice statements in that article to be found. Five out of seven are made in China.
Batteries America only has a six month warranty? Why not a year? Seems odd they'd break traditional warranty periods from a year to a fraction of it like a refurbished item might receive? Not enough faith in their product to go the distance of 365 days? They know what defect return rate they experience and had to cut it short, that is my guess. If it's so great, I'd expect to see a better warranty when in practice most keep batteries in use for many years, depending on personal preference, and how much abuse/neglect they put the battery pack through. That is the weak link, the practices of the user.
The real benefit on your personal $40 choice? I can call a USA phone number and talk to a rep in english. I'm sure I don't need to learn Mandarin to buy from China, just toss it, and I can afford to buy another one and still save money. Chinese product distribution is what made the RC hobby easily affordable and killed off our local hobby shops who couldn't compete, seems LHS advice is overrated and replaced by forums? If it was all bad coming from China, this trend would have never happened. Most modelers are buying Chinese radios, batteries, motors, servos, receivers, etc. and no one is complaining about those choices anymore. It's late to "save your LHS by supporting them" now. The biggest fear we face is losing the supply of things that we depend on that is made in China. Everyone knows this, you got to spend twice as much for a US made battery pack just like everything else. That's what destroyed most domestic manufacturers, unable to compete with the Chinese price. The fairytale to say it's better, is a statement made out of desperation without facts available to back it up.
No production environment other than military grade gets individually tested. The term "Mil Spec" comes from = military specifications, ANSI standard. The price tag for that kind of US labor is only affordable by a government that taxes everything we do. The military doesn't call an AA battery an AA, but it's called a HR6 or R6. ANSI calls it 15.
For the hobby, some Chinese batteries have higher rated capacities, for less money. Deleepow is one to avoid though, as I said, actual real life capacities are not what they stick on the label. The best tested was the HiQuick. I can order 16 AA batteries and make two packs for roughly $30 shipped through Ebay or Amazon Prime
Inexpensive batteries that are manufactured in China are cheaper compared to similar products in the US because the cost of production is cheaper in China. Most everyone buys the lower priced items in everything, including batteries. I've personally never found a defect yet and only buy cheap batteries.
The so called FL battery manufacturer is a bogus website. Local battery suppliers in that area, never heard of them. A google voice phone # 352-340-3999. Other links online leads to no address at all. A 12 year old could make a better website. Sounds like NOBS is all BS?
Chinese products, of course. They make batteries the meet or exceed expectations. No bias. No prejudice. Where is the post on any forum that was titled "My Chinese transmitter battery crashed my airplane?" There are lots of threads about brown outs and crashes that result from using Spektrum radios though. Why do hobbyists continue to trust that? I sure don't.
A "voltmeter test" isn't sufficient testing that merits a $38.95 price tag. Cycling with a 10% charge of the rated capacity (200mah for a 2000mah rated pack) and you can trust yourself. The nimh battery charge rate is the key from what I was told and what I already understood. If spending $40 gives you peace of mind, it's your money, but the notion Chinese products are unreliable today would be speculation and prejudice thinking at best. Batteries America said "We don't test Chinese batteries, we don't document how they perform." Click here to see how the New York Times shared an independent batteries test of the top tested batteries ranked from several manufacturers, domestic and from China. No prejudice statements in that article to be found. Five out of seven are made in China.
Batteries America only has a six month warranty? Why not a year? Seems odd they'd break traditional warranty periods from a year to a fraction of it like a refurbished item might receive? Not enough faith in their product to go the distance of 365 days? They know what defect return rate they experience and had to cut it short, that is my guess. If it's so great, I'd expect to see a better warranty when in practice most keep batteries in use for many years, depending on personal preference, and how much abuse/neglect they put the battery pack through. That is the weak link, the practices of the user.
The real benefit on your personal $40 choice? I can call a USA phone number and talk to a rep in english. I'm sure I don't need to learn Mandarin to buy from China, just toss it, and I can afford to buy another one and still save money. Chinese product distribution is what made the RC hobby easily affordable and killed off our local hobby shops who couldn't compete, seems LHS advice is overrated and replaced by forums? If it was all bad coming from China, this trend would have never happened. Most modelers are buying Chinese radios, batteries, motors, servos, receivers, etc. and no one is complaining about those choices anymore. It's late to "save your LHS by supporting them" now. The biggest fear we face is losing the supply of things that we depend on that is made in China. Everyone knows this, you got to spend twice as much for a US made battery pack just like everything else. That's what destroyed most domestic manufacturers, unable to compete with the Chinese price. The fairytale to say it's better, is a statement made out of desperation without facts available to back it up.
No production environment other than military grade gets individually tested. The term "Mil Spec" comes from = military specifications, ANSI standard. The price tag for that kind of US labor is only affordable by a government that taxes everything we do. The military doesn't call an AA battery an AA, but it's called a HR6 or R6. ANSI calls it 15.
For the hobby, some Chinese batteries have higher rated capacities, for less money. Deleepow is one to avoid though, as I said, actual real life capacities are not what they stick on the label. The best tested was the HiQuick. I can order 16 AA batteries and make two packs for roughly $30 shipped through Ebay or Amazon Prime
