I did decide to write down few tips about correct handling of NiMH batteries made by recycled materials.This is a survival guide, when you are buying NiMH batteries within the European Union, since 2025 and in the future.
A significant amount of Europeans, we have now adopt the concept of battery recycling, and we deliver free of charge our empty alkaline batteries, at several local companies, so these cells to be recycled.
We act the same and for rechargeable Lithium and NiMH batteries, when these are unable to serve us anymore.
From the other hand, us European consumers we know nothing, regarding the manufacturing process of battery cells these now made by a portion of recycled materials.
Know brands at manufacturing and distribution of all type of batteries, they did start to misbehave by not delivering detailed technical data (datasheet) for their products.
A new trick this spotted in Europe, this is the creation of product flyers alone, with an amount of generic advice's.
While Panasonic, the Japanese Everest Mountain at battery R&D, since August 2025, this added a note at their datasheet, the consumers cannot use this information for warranty claims.
Translation please … if the product differentiates from the specification’s written at the datasheet, Panasonic this will not replace it.
THE REAL Problem:Fresh manufactured NiMH batteries they come with poorly made documentation regarding electrical parameters, and product life cycle this is just an estimate, a promise.
I Kiriakos Triantafillou from Greece, and certified electrician with significant know how at electronics, in the age of 56 years, I did accept the challenge to read entire pile of available datasheet and flyers.
Due my own method, of filtering the information, I did succeed to understand of what is going on.
The offered number of recharging cycles, per product, this now translates to an exact percentage of added recycled material.
For example Panasonic Eneloop with 2100 of recharging cycles, this translates to no use of recycled materials, this translate to a higher production cost due the price of RAW materials which they are imported from China.
While China due government policy this selling to Japan, RAW materials at 400% inflated pricing, and by this dirty game they are trying to control and or minimize the competition.
Best NiMH with a small percentage of recycled materials this is marketed as a product capable for 1500 of recharging cycles.
While NiMH with a higher percentage of recycled materials this is marketed as a product capable for 1000 of recharging cycles.
The cheapest NiMH with a highest percentage of recycled materials this is marketed as a product capable for 500 of recharging cycles.
Gentlemen ladies and kids, this is the entire range of NiMH GREEN currently available.NiMH GREEN Class 1, this will offer seven years of service (Japanese production).
NiMH GREEN Class 2, this will offer five or lesser than five years of service (Chinese production).
NiMH GREEN Class 3, this will offer lesser than three years of service (Chinese production).
Something in common at all NiMH GREEN range, they do not like fast charging.
The ones supporting fast charge they will do the job at the cost of a lesser life cycle.
NiMH GREEN this degrades at constant high temperature when charging.
This explains the new fact, NiMH GREEN they are sold today by the suggestion of you to buy and a charger from the same brand.
The 95% of them, they are extremely slow and unusable, for productive work.
Regarding proper charger selection for NiMH GREEN, we need to use human logic as decision making tool.
We need to avoid pocket size chargers, these with a tight or small spacing from cell to cell.
NiMH GREEN will live longer in a charger this able to offer moderate charging current along of the leverage of passive cooling (unrestricted air circulation around its battery).
Most sensitive NiMH GREEN this is no other than 9V (8.4V) PP3, we have here seven separate cells them be enclosed for a second time in to a single box.
In the positive side of things, any charger able to deliver 70mA of charging current it belongs in the range of very safe and friendly to NiMH GREEN.
For the larger in capacity AA NiMH GREEN, they are two recommendations regarding charging current.
For example, at 2800 mAh AA the recommended current for Normal charge rate this is 600mA.
While the choice of 400mA, this will increase service life by a few months, and entire service life will be extended at maximum of NiMH GREEN product design.
High quality NiMH GREEN, they do not have issues with discharge rates, it is highly unusual some to use entire battery capacity within a few hours.
Even at digital photography, the use of flash light this is not constant.
Within semi pro digital camera, NiMH GREEN and even Eneloop, they will both do the job as this is not a stressful application.
Remote controlled toys this is a stressful application, the toy uses lots of energy, and the batteries they get warm due the environmental temperature, or due direct sunlight.
Along with NiMH GREEN chemistry, we have and a fresh incoming development. 
There is a new technology which this improves battery electrodes performance, the new benefit this is a wider range of temperatures for outdoor use.
NiMH GREEN marketing hypes, they do mention a range from minus 20C up to 60C, and brand B this mention minus 10C up to 60C.
NiMH GREEN chemistry this comes with a bit of worst self-discharge rate, any charger with trickle charge support, this will disappear this problem.
Today the saying ALWAYS READY for NiMH GREEN, this translates to our obligation of recharging the batteries every four months.
In summary, NiMH GREEN chemistry this came so to stay, this new and better technology of electrodes, this increases product usability by allot.
This is good news for outdoor digital photography, and even for the sector of digital multimeter and testers, that electrician’s use outdoor.For a happy life with NiMH GREEN, we should accept a few obligations.
Careful selection of charger, very few models they do combine fast charge and good passive ventilation.
READY to USE = recharge every four months.
Remove from your thoughts the habit of rapid charging.
You can buy instead a higher count of batteries, and even a second good quality of a charger.
By these simple advice's you can replace older dysfunctional NiMH,
with fresh NiMH GREEN. Be extremely careful from which brand you will buy batteries and chargers. Today the market this is different than before,
brand A this might have a successful model of a charger,
brand B this might have best AA and or AAA.
Brand C this might have best 9V PP3.
Never be trapped at buying anything and everything from a single source. Us Europeans we should transform at become highly selective, and not be an easy victim when we give our extremely valuable Euros to Asia.
Several years back, I had a good dog fight with Eneloop Europe.
I did protest against SANYO marketing policy and printed hypes over product packaging.
The Japanese they shown as true gentlemen, they did recognize their mistake, and since then I start respecting them even more.
I do attach proof of this communication, this be another major proof that I was not born yesterday.
Topic: Year 2025~2030 correct handling of NiMH batteries made by recycled materials (Read 120 times)
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