The batteries called "Eneloop" are a real technical innovation of the company Sanyo, which has also not been licensed to other companies. A newly developed super-lattice alloy of the cathode and the anode by a new material, according to Sanyo the chemical decomposition is reduced. This leads inter alia to the following improved features:
a) The self-discharge of Eneloop batteries is dramatically lower than that of alternative products. While commercially available NiMH batteries in the first 24 hours (!) To their charge already losing more than 10% of its usable capacity, and then about 1% per day, recorded Sanyo Eneloop batteries only a loss of 15% of their capacity per year. That is, they can load the cells, place one year in the closet and then use without further summons immediately. Most of the other batteries are or even been destroyed either empty after such a long period of time by deep discharge.
b) Sanyo Eneloop batteries deliver over the entire discharge a very stable power supply for their devices. This is important because most digital cameras and other energy-hungry systems measure in the existing operating voltage of the battery - not the remaining charge! If the voltage drops below the required minimum value by the device, the device is the famous "empty battery" warning and then shuts off. Many batteries with their stunning super capacity of 2500 mAh or more are of course far from empty. The uses them but nothing, because a battery is identified by the device as "empty" when its voltage is no longer sufficient. Other aspects include not. Therefore, Sanyo has omitted here deliberately lurid mAh information and the capacity of the Eneloop cells instead on a technically superior value for the usability limited (2000 mAh in AA, and 800 mAh in AAA).
Despite the new, internal technology, Sanyo Eneloop batteries can be loaded and used just like any other NiMH batteries. However, I generally recommend chargers with microprocessor that monitor the charging process "intelligent" and off controlled by the charging is complete, for example, units of IVT (IVT Battery trainer AT-1) or Ansmann (Ansmann Powerline 4).
My opinion: To test the Sanyo Eneloops! You will be surprised to find that they achieve with these cells much better results than with their other batteries and "supercapacitors" of 2,500 mAh and more. I forgive 5 stars for this groundbreaking, new battery technology of Sanyo, which gives better results in practice.