Energizer Rechargable NiMHs-Opinions?

I'm wondering if anyone has any experience using Energizer's Rechargable NiMH batteries with a Dimage 5 or 7. I can get a charger that comes with 4 1700 batteries for $29 and 4-packs of the 1700's are only $12.
Thanks.

Courtenay Gregory said:

I'm wondering if anyone has any experience using Energizer's
Rechargable NiMH batteries with a Dimage 5 or 7. I can get a
charger that comes with 4 1700 batteries for $29 and 4-packs of the
1700's are only $12.
Thanks.

Click to expand...

I have the Energizer 1700's. Paid about $16 for (4) four. I am thinking about getting a set of PowerEX 1800's for about $14 (excluding shipping). You may want to consider getting the Rayovac 1 hour charger for$29. It comes with 2 1600 Rayovac nimh.--Dr. John

Courtenay,

When I bought my D7 last October, in the UK, it came with 4 Energiser 1600mAh and an Energiser "slow" charger.

The batteries are fine, nothing to get excited about, and nothing to complain about.

The charger was of the "overnight" timed variety, and charges batteries for approx 15 hours at 150mA regardless of their capacity or their state of discharge. This is not ideal, and I would certainly not buy this type of charger by choice.

I have subsequently bought an Ansmann Powerline 4 "Fast", "International" charger that came with 4 1800mAh batteries. The Ansmann charger will charge empty cells in about 2.5-3.0 hours, and out of the camera cells in less than 2 hours. Charging is not timed but terminated by monitoring the rate of change of the batteries' voltages individually whilst charging.

I don't waste time measuring these things, but I do feel that my Ansmann 1800mAh cells last somewhat longer than both my Energiser 1600s and my GP 1700s. Of coarse that is an obvious expectation, just going by the mAh numbers, you might expect the 1800s to last say 18 minutes per 16 minutes of the 1600s. That would pan out to 1 hour 48 minutes for the 1800s per 1 hour 36 minutes of the 1600s - in the region of 12 minutes longer typicaly.

Mark H.

Mark

Where id you get you fast charger from in the UK? and have you tried the energizer cells in it?

--Pete Vickers http://www.pbase.com/petevickers

Hi Pete,

I got my Ansmann fast charger from http://www.fotosense.co.uk .

Look under Accessories:Other Accessoriesower. The Ansmann "Digi-Cam Power Set" (charger + 4x1800 cells) is the item at the top of the list, with the "Use Anywhere in the World" note.

Total cost is about £38.76 including delivery and VAT; you can order by phone or over the net.

Yes, I charge all my batteries, Energisers, GP and of course the Ansmanns with this charger. There is no reason why there should be any problem charging any make of batteries in this charger (so long as they are NiMH or NiCd).

Consider getting extra sets of batteries now if you need them, and you'll save the future delivery charge. I wish I had bought a set of AAAs to try out in my TV remote controls, they could save you a small fortune in the long run.

Just in case you don't allready know; the great feature of this Ansmann charger is that it will run off virtually any AC mains supply voltage without any adjustment, and is suplied with a set of four interchangable outlet socket pins, so you can use it in almost any country worldwide.

Other features: You can predischarge if you feel the urge (NiCds benefit, NiMHs apparently don't), and does AA and AAA sizes NiCd or NiMH in any combination 1,2,3 or 4 at a time. All four charging cicuits are totaly independant and can be started and stop at different times. Flashing LEDs let you know what is going on.

Its worth noting that the Rayovac 1 hour charger can be bought from Rayovac UK directly now for £29.99. It's faster but does not charge off any AC voltage or socket outlet, as the Ansmann does, and it only does AA NiMH not AAAs or NiCds. Also I'm not sure that it isn't designed particularly to suit the Rayovac batteries, of which the only include 2x1600s.

Hope this helps. Any other questions, don't hesitate.

Mark H.

Mark H said:

Its worth noting that the Rayovac 1 hour charger can be bought from
Rayovac UK directly now for £29.99. It's faster but does not charge
off any AC voltage or socket outlet, as the Ansmann does, and it
only does AA NiMH not AAAs or NiCds. Also I'm not sure that it
isn't designed particularly to suit the Rayovac batteries, of which
the only include 2x1600s.

Hope this helps. Any other questions, don't hesitate.

Mark H.

Click to expand...

My Raoyovac 1 hour charger does charge 4 AA or 4 AAA or 1 9volt NiCad or NiMH ?--Jeff Moore

JMoore said:

My Raoyovac 1 hour charger does charge 4 AA or 4 AAA or 1 9volt
NiCad or NiMH ?
--
Jeff Moore

Click to expand...

Jeff, you're absolutely right.

I'll go back and add a correction/apology to my previous messsage.

Cheers.

Mark H.

Hi Pete (& Co.),

SORRY; I've given you some incorrect information about the Rayovac 1 hour charger...

Mark H said:

Its worth noting that the Rayovac 1 hour charger can be bought from
Rayovac UK directly now for £29.99. It's faster but does not charge
off any AC voltage or socket outlet, as the Ansmann does, and it
only does AA NiMH not AAAs or NiCds. Also I'm not sure that it
isn't designed particularly to suit the Rayovac batteries, of which
the only include 2x1600s.

Click to expand...

As Jeff has just pointed out, the Rayovac 1 hour charger can charge both AA size, AAA size and also 9v PP3 size batteries in various combinations. It can also charge both NiMH and NiCd types although you have to switch select the type and therefore can't do both at the same time (not that you would ever really want to).

So the Rayovac is a seriously usefull charger, particularly due to it's speed. You can also buy a "car lighter socket" adapter if you need; usefull if you're out of reach of a AC mains supply for some time (driving/camping maybe?), the Ansmann doesn't cover this option.

It's worth pointing out the disadvantage of the Rayovac could be it's size, and the fact that the power supply unit is a separate transformer/adapter (they usually don't show this in the sales photos). I presume that if you were travelling abroad, you might be able to buy additional transformer/adapters for your destination country, perhaps not the ideal travel solution.

So I think Ansmann v Rayovac, comes down to "Best International Solution" v "Best Speed Solution", (not that the Ansmann is slow mind you).

Mark H.

Thanks Mark

I really wanted an international fast charger( UK & USA ) but your oprion of additional transformers is worth looking in to.

I will look in the UK and on my forthcoming trip to Boston/Niagara.
the US is normally a little cheaper.

--Pete Vickers http://www.pbase.com/petevickers

Pete Vickers said:

Thanks Mark

I really wanted an international fast charger( UK & USA ) but your
oprion of additional transformers is worth looking in to.

I will look in the UK and on my forthcoming trip to Boston/Niagara.
the US is normally a little cheaper.

Click to expand...

Pete

Please keep us informed re price in States. I am in the same boat and am going Stateside in May.

Many thanks

Stroller--stroller

Perhaps one of our American cousins can advise us on prices

and possibly any good stores ito visit in and around Boston/ New England
--Pete Vickers http://www.pbase.com/petevickers

Pete Vickers said:

Perhaps one of our American cousins can advise us on prices

and possibly any good stores ito visit in and around Boston/ New
England

Click to expand...

I know this has been posted before, but it applies again:

http://www.rayovac.com/products/recharge/chargers.shtml

These sell at Wal-Mart stores, but I don't know the price.

--Russ Meyer http://www.photo.net/photodb/user?user_id=450591

Pete Vickers said:

Thanks Mark

I really wanted an international fast charger( UK & USA ) but your
oprion of additional transformers is worth looking in to.

Click to expand...

I'm not sure I got my recommendation accross clearly.

I would chose the Ansmann Powerline 4 for travel, because it is light, compact, self contained, fast, and will work just about anywhere in the world (except your car) WITHOUT the need for any additional transformers/adapters.

For the Rayovac to cover the U.K., the U.S. and Europe you would have to buy and carry the charger, it's original transformer and one or more additional transformer/adapters (two, three or maybe four parts!).

Pete Vickers said:

I will look in the UK and on my forthcoming trip to Boston/Niagara.
the US is normally a little cheaper.

Click to expand...

I think you'll find the U.K. prices, for both of these chargers, are actually pretty good.

Mark H.

Pete Vickers said:

Perhaps one of our American cousins can advise us on prices

and possibly any good stores ito visit in and around Boston/ New
England

--
Pete Vickers

http://www.pbase.com/petevickers

Click to expand...

Hi Pete I know of a good store in Boston / England.

Harry

Thanks Harry Next time I drive up through Lincs I'll drop in
--Pete Vickers http://www.pbase.com/petevickers

I do not have a Minolta D7 yet, but for comparison, I have 3 sets of NiMH rechargeables that I use in my "extremely hungry" Marantz RC2000 Universal remote control.

1) Energizer 1200mah's (yellow-green color)- about 2 weeks of use
2) Rayovac 1600mah's (silver-yellow color)- about 3 weeks of use
3) Energizer 1700mah's (silver-black color)- about 4 weeks of use!

I bought my 1700's at a local Sam's Club (8 batteries + 13hr recharger for $19.99, wish I'd bought 2 or 3 sets now!). That was less than $10/4pack not including the charger.

I hope this info helps!

-Dereck

Courtenay Gregory said:

I'm wondering if anyone has any experience using Energizer's
Rechargable NiMH batteries with a Dimage 5 or 7. I can get a
charger that comes with 4 1700 batteries for $29 and 4-packs of the
1700's are only $12.
Thanks.

Click to expand...

--Visit My Website! http://www.dereckwillis.com