Charging eneloop batteries

[peety3]

Depending on how well you keep the Sanyos charged, you could be using the batteries backwards: the non-Eneloops might be rated at 2700mAh, but if they haven't been charged in a week or more, they might provide less results to your flashes than the Eneloops would.


Regarding your question about the Canon power pack, CP-E4, you might not realize that it holds 8 AA batteries that you load into it. Your flash won't be any stronger (i.e. it'll still have a guide number of 58m), but it'll recycle faster, about double if CFn12=1, about triple if CFn12=0. I use the CP-E4s whenever I can, for one of two reasons: to visit the flash less often to change batteries, and/or to get faster recharge times.

[waving_odd]

Thanks peety3.

Depending on how well you keep the Sanyos charged

Every time before use, I fully re-charge all non-Eneloop Sanyo 2700 mAh. I am using the come-with Sanyo's charger so it's very slow. Any good suggestion on charger? Safety (don't wanna cause fire!) and performance are my concern.

Regarding your question about the Canon power pack, CP-E4, you might not realize that it holds 8 AA batteries that you load into it.

Wow, I really didn't know. Good that I ask. So do you still load 8 NiMH batteries?


How about other power packs that are not using AA batteries? Are they good (in terms of power and recycling time)? I know a photog who rented one for a wedding event. His 580 EX II got damaged after 30 minute use of the power pack. He said it might be electric shocked by the pack. Sounds very unsafe.

[Feanor]

I've not read this thread in detail but I never, ever charge my Eneloops without flattening them first. To do this I use the excellent Lacrosse battery charger. I can't recommend it more - I won't repeat what I and another guy wrote on the Amazon review though, so take a look .

[peety3]

Regarding your question about the Canon power pack, CP-E4, you might not realize that it holds 8 AA batteries that you load into it.

Wow, I really didn't know. Good that I ask. So do you still load 8 NiMH batteries?


How about other power packs that are not using AA batteries? Are they good (in terms of power and recycling time)? I know a photog who rented one for a wedding event. His 580 EX II got damaged after 30 minute use of the power pack. He said it might be electric shocked by the pack. Sounds very unsafe.
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Yep, 8 Eneloops into the CP-E4, 4 Eneloops into the flash. I've now set that CFn to drive the light from the external batteries only. I feel like the slower recharge keeps me from burning up the flashes too much.


AA-powered flashes are built with an expectation of duty cycle, allowing cooling in between shots. Using a big power pack makes it too easy to exceed the duty cycle. I shot a bicycling event, and the paid event dude was downhill from me a bit. He had the 600/4 on a low tripod, and 70-200/2.8 handheld with flash on a battery pack. He rotates amongst 3-4 flashes all morning to keep from burning them up, and told me that many of his flashes have been Canon-refurbished (repaired?) 3-4 times because he's burned them up. That's more than a clear sign to me that it's time for a battery-powered studio strobe (as Strobist has recently covered).