The crossover point where a typical LSD (low self-discharge) is longer-lasting than a typical traditional NiMH (with its higher capacity), is given by this
heuristic on Wikipedia:
Quote:
|
However, after only a few weeks of storage, the retained capacity of low-self-discharge batteries often exceeds that of traditional NiMH batteries of higher capacity.
|
which references
this website that tested 4 AA Eneloops vs. 4AA "well respected brand" traditional NiMHs.
I over-analyzed from this tiny sample by doing the following crossover point calculations using the charts in that reference (white charts for Eneloops, scroll down for pink charts for traditionals):
- Nominal capacity (Eneloops | Traditional): 2000 mAh | 2500 mAh.
- Measured capacity after 5 and 4 charge/discharge cycles at 1.2A (Eneloops | Traditional)): 1848 mAh | 2172 mAh
- Charge retention (Eneloops (mAh) | Traditional (mAh)):
- Day: 99.8% (1844 mAh ) | 99% (2150 mAh)
- Week: 98.7% (1824 mAh) | 93.3% (2026 mAh)
- Month: 94.3% (1743 mAh) | 73.8% (1602 mAh)
Assuming approximately a straight line storage discharge curve (taking some liberty when looking at this site's non-linear
NiMH Battery Retention Curve), we come out to approximately
three weeks of storage, whereupon a 2000 mAH LSD NiMH retains more capacity than a 2500 mAh Traditional NiMH.