Bill Harris Loc: Fairmont, WV

Over the past few years I have bought a few chargers and none seem to last long and the charged battery don't last a long. How long can the battery be recharged? (months/years) What do some of you have? I have bought them at Radio Shack, Best Buy and Walmart. Wish I could find one that works like the ones come with the cameras for that battery. Can different brand of batteries be charged in any charger. I have asked the clerks at both R.S and B. B. asking at Walmart is like asking a 2 year old kid. It seams like clerks no longer have to know any thing about hat they sell. I use AA & AAA. Thanks

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Since I switched from Ni-Cads to lithium, I haven't had a battery fail, and I use them in everything. I have an Everready charger and also their batteries. I have some Duracells, and a few other brands.

You will see people recommend Eneloop batteries. They're fairly new, and they hold their charge between uses, which is a good thing. You can get a set with their own charger. I have a Lacrosse charger that can charge 1, 2, 3, or 4 batteries. They don't have to be in pairs. It has a gauge to show the progress or each battery, and it can give you info about the battery.

Wall-E Loc: Phoenix, AZ

Batteries are rated in the number of charge/discharge cycles.

NiCads [lowest capacity] are over 1000
NiMH [next in capacity] 200-500 cycles
LiOn [highest capacity] 100-150 cycles

A photographer/blogger I trust just did a post on this.
<http://www.phototips.biz/2013/04/my-choice-in-aa-batteries.html>

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

Sanyo Eneloop is what I use at work & home.
I manage a stable of 10 (or 12?) Canon Rebel XS kits for students check out at the university where I work.
The I don't have to worry about the flash batteries losing a charge just sitting there on the shelf.

The standard Sanyo charger works fine.
The LaCrosse 700 BC-700 charger works great for 4 at a time.
http://www.amazon.com/La-Crosse-Technology-Battery-Charger/dp/B000RSOV50
I've even used it to revive a few mis-behaving Eneloops.


For work, I have this one which will do 12 AA's at a time:
http://www.thomasdistributing.com/ANSMANN-ENERGY-16-BATTERY-CHARGER-Hi-Tech-Deluxe_p_278.html

dirtpusher Loc: tulsa oklahoma

everything you ever wanted to know about batteries

http://batteryuniversity.com/

n3eg Loc: West coast USA

:thumbup:

RicknJude Loc: Quebec, Canada

Use Eneloop. I have for a couple of years and nothing I found compares. Go to the DELL site. You can buy 8 AA and 4 AAA and a 4 bat charger for about $40.00. Sometimes they have it on sale. Free shipping. You won't be disappointed.

sab2101 Loc: Henderson Nv.

Eneloops are an excellent battery they will hold their charge the longest. I have found the Powerx batteries to give you the best overall performance when charged up properly. Always try to use a "Smart Charger" I use a Powerx MH-C9000 Wizard One Charger/Analyzer never had any problems with this unit. Has a little bit of a learning curve but not very difficult to master, and if you have any questions they have a great tech. support. Good luck and if I can help you just e-mail me....................Mike

nviaches Loc: Brighton, MI

Hi Bill - Earlier this year I purchased a LaCrosse BC-1000 smart charger and several sets of AA and AAA Sanyo Eneloop XX batteries from amazon. I must say thus far, I am impressed with both battery sizes and especially the charger. I have several older AAA and AA batteries (Energizer and Duracell NiMh) and used this new charger to "refresh" them. In the 4 years of using those old batteries, I have never seen the fully charged state indicate 1.5V and rated full capacity; these and most other older NiMh I believe are all rated at only 1.2V. If the initial few months of use is any indication of charger performance, this will be one of my best investments! I read several positive reviews on Sanyo XX Eneloops, and that is what finally drove my decision to purchase. They are not the cheapest out there, however with a rating of 2500mA and getting the voltage to 1.5V, I think these will perform better than your average rechargeable. They even feel much heavier than the other brands I have, which may be an indication of better quality build, not sure. They apparently hold a charge longer than most others as well, so leaving them in your camera bag until you may need them is not an issue. I use the AA's in Speedlight flash and also as backup for my grip. Unbelievable how many shots can be had before recharging is necessary!

Just my thoughts. Good luck.

EstherP

About ten years ago, I bought an Optex charger with 4 AA batteries. It is still going strong.
Two or three years ago I bought another one, now called Campower but made by the same people, and it too, gives me excellent service. Oh, I bought it not to replace the older one, but for the convenience of having one charger at home and one with our camping gear at all times.
EstherP

jimmya Loc: Phoenix

I have been advised by an electronics engineer friend that chargers and batteries are specific to each other. Which means, he says, mixing them is never a good idea. It can cause over heating and in worst case fire or explosion.

Re-charge batteries and their chargers, he says, are nothing to fool with.
He advises to always buy the specific charger intended for a specific battery. They're probably more expensive but they virtually always work as intended.

Jblanke Loc: Metairie, LA

Go to Thomas Distributors web site and check on Eneloop Rechargables.....the
Look for the heavy duty black ones and look into a Maha charger with a slow charge capability. Not cheap, but the best I have found.

Dun1 Loc: Atlanta, GA

I just took out some Eneloop batteries I had not used in weeks, they still had a good charge. I have several sets, and the charger that was furnished from Eneloop slow enough I could harvest a crop before the charge was completed.
I use the Maha Charger, it charges 8 AA's or AAA's at a time has LCS screen so you can see the charging level of each battery
Thomas Distributors had a great selection of chargers
I have also found the Thomas sells PowerX batteries are a level or two up from Eneloop.
Goofy has given you a link to Thomas in an earlier reply.

Bill Harris Loc: Fairmont, WV

Thank's I will check them out. Got to do something soon.

Bill

Jblanke Loc: Metairie, LA

Dun.....have you looked at the Eneloop "blacks?" I think those are superior to the PowerX.