AA batteries

[Buckwheat]

Self-Discharge.  Normal NiMH's have the highest self-discharge rate of any kind of battery (meaning they lose charge just by sitting around, unused), but there are Low Self-Discharge (LSD) versions available (like Sanyo eneloop).  The tradeoff is that the LSD versions have a little lower capacity.  So when buying NiMH's, you have to choose between longer shelf life or higher capacity.  If you burn through batteries quickly, get the regular NiMH's so you can enjoy the larger capacity.  But if you go months before using up the battery's capacity, go for LSD instead.  The table at right shows the relationship between self-discharge and capacity.
    One nice thing about the LSD versions is that they come pre-charged.  Regular NiMH's must be charged before use.
Voltage.  NiMH's are rated at 1.2V initial voltage, which is lower than the 1.5V that alkalines put out at first.  This is generally not a problem, but it does mean that flashlights will be dimmer at first, and devices that need 4 or more batteries might burn through the batteries very quickly or not work at all.  On the other hand, some devices (like many digital cameras) are designed to work with the lower 1.2V, so the reduced voltage is definitely not a problem there.  If NiMH's don't supply enough voltage for your device, consider NiZn's, or mixing NiMH and NiZn together, after seeing the caution about mixing NiMH and NiZn in the same device.

[Buckwheat]

The higher the capacity, the worse the shelf life
Type of NiMH
Largest capacity
Capacity after
1 year idle
Number of
charge cycles   Price for
4 AA
Normal NiMH
2700 mAh
0%
300-800
$12.87
eneloop XX (LSD)
2500 mAh
75%
500
$17.17
eneloop (LSD)
2000 mAh
85%
1500
$8.15
Self-Discharge.  Normal NiMH's have the highest self-discharge rate of any kind of battery (meaning they lose charge just by sitting around,

[Buckwheat]

This is some information about rechargeable batteries.
Now that I use a foxpro more I am trying  to understand the battery types better.

[Bowman66]

Thank you Ernie!  I go to dollar general and buy a 20 pack of there yellow labeled batteries and i can almost make those batteries last all season long. My Hellfire uses 10 at a time, so my cost in that area is pretty low for the season.

[Buckwheat]

Bowman66
Your call has one speaker. I am not sure those batteries would have enough current to run a two speaker call.
That is were the NiMH reachable come in. Once charged they have a lot more current and will run longer under high volume. You can also recharge them around 500 times.

[Bowman66]

One big spaeker but i understand what your saying.   

[Buckwheat]

Foxpro recommends rechargeable batteries. For the current amount needed at high volume. Some of the non rechargeable batteries when used cause my fusion speakers to break up at high volume when they are not rechargeable batteries.There just is not enough current in non rechargeable batteries.

[Buckwheat]

Right now the Sanyo 2700 nickel metal hydride seam to give me the best run for the money. The eneloop batteries do not lose much charge just setting around like other recharge batteries. But the eneloop batteries you can only get in 2500 mah and not as many charges. Sanyo batteries you can get in 2700mah and charge more times. The small power loss from setting around.  is not a problem for me with Sanyo since I try and keep my batteries charged.

[HDRoadking3058]

My fury 2 takes 8 in the call and 3 in the remote. I bought the energizer 2600 rechargables. They seem to last a long time even in colder weather with no distortion at higher volumes.

[Pa Goosehntr]

  Thanx Ernie...good info 

[Buckwheat]

HDRoadking3058
The 2600 mah batteries should be a pretty good battery. I have not done any research on them but like I said they should be pretty good. I researched these other batteries because they are always rated pretty high.

[Buckwheat]

Pa Goosehntr
Just trying  to keep our guys on top with information, It may not always help but may help on some desisions.

[uncle buck]

so the mAh in the lower number is the LSD type? I charge my batteries right before the season and some sit for the entire season since I don't use them. I charge the ones I use right when I get home... I do have the FoxPro batteries I do have some that are 2700 too..Most of my batteries run from  2400 to  2700. I do go to the  2700 and the FoxPro AA most times.. However I have so many rechargeable that I pick up at Ross Department store cheap... I must have about 7 sets that I can use in my FoxPro...I do have some 2000 too but hardly even mess with them...Thank you for sharing this...