Energizer 30.Min charger? (& 2300.mah batteries)

Eric Carlson · Mar 1, 2004

Heidi needed some more batteries for her UZI, so I bought a pack of 8 - 2300.mah Energizers ($18 @ Walmart), and the Energizer 30 minute charger which comes with 4 - 1850's ($28).

I was considering the Duracell 1 hour charger, which comes with 2050's, but it said "Only use with Duracell batteries", which is most likely bogus, but the Energizer said "charges any AA/AAA NiMh batteries", so I got it instead.

What are people's experiences with the Energizer 30 minute charger? We also plan to charger our older sets of NiMh with this new charger, and they range from 1600-1800.mah (and one set of 1200). Have people successfully charged 1600's and 2300's in this new charger? Anybody's house burn down in the process?

PS: I noticed that Best Buy has the same exact charger for almost $50, so they aren't living up to their name.

PPS: We still have our good-old Maha C204F and Olympus BU-100 and BU-200 chargers, but they all take 3-4 hours.

--

Eric, http://www.InvisibleRobot.com/

M.A. Caro · Mar 1, 2004

all the way!, ( Energizer w/1800's + 2300's ), Maha 204 + powerex's, and Olympus charger. Have used the Energizer with both the 1800's and 2300's, and although fast, the batteries get HOT as H*!!. Havent put the powerex's or Olympus NiMH's in the energizer.

Regards,
Mickey
-- A PICTURE IS WORTH A 1000 WORDS,
but it uses up 1000 times the memory.--
--And it's harder to spellcheck!--

Debbie L · Mar 1, 2004

I wanted some spare rechargeable AAA batteries for 2 VTECH cordless phones I just bought at Staples for $29 for BOTH after rebate...(yes the phones use 3 AAA batteries - I think it's a great idea). BTW, they're really nice phones and you can't beat the price! Here's the link if anyone is interested http://www.staples.com/Catalog/Browse/Sku.asp?PageType=1&Sku=519498

Anyway, I went to Target and got the 30 minute Energizer charger ($28) to charge the batteries.

Just got done charging 4 AAA batteries -- 2 batteries were really HOT and 2 batteries were COLD, which was weird, but I checked all 4 batteries with my battery tester and they all had a full charge.

I'm now charging the 4 AA batteries that came with the charger. I'll let you know if these batteries get hot or if they stay cool.

I think I'll pick up a pack of those 2300mah Energizers at walmart. Thanks for posting that.

Eric Carlson said:
Heidi needed some more batteries for her UZI, so I bought a pack of
8 - 2300.mah Energizers ($18 @ Walmart), and the Energizer 30
minute charger which comes with 4 - 1850's ($28).

I was considering the Duracell 1 hour charger, which comes with
2050's, but it said "Only use with Duracell batteries", which is
most likely bogus, but the Energizer said "charges any AA/AAA NiMh
batteries", so I got it instead.

--

Debbie
2 UZI's/EZI/2020/C-700

HarryNguyen · Mar 1, 2004

Hi Eric,

NO: I still use C204F ( through your comments way back ! ) and happy with it ! ;o))

YES: I also charged my 2300mh with about the same (3) hours required from the charger above.

Oly's charger is somewhere in the storage area ...

Regards,
Harry

Marvin Thomas · Mar 1, 2004

I don't know if you saw my earlier post, but I bought the 2300's over two weeks ago. I charged them and put the first four in my C5050. I've been using the camera a little over two weeks [!] and still no Low Battery signal. I bought another set of 8 for my wife's camera. She's going to NY City with her girlfriends in a few weeks. With that much staying power, she won't need to drag along a charger.

Eric Carlson · Mar 1, 2004

M.A. Caro said:
all the way!, ( Energizer w/1800's + 2300's ), Maha 204 +
powerex's, and Olympus charger. Have used the Energizer with both
the 1800's and 2300's, and although fast, the batteries get HOT as
H*!!. Havent put the powerex's or Olympus NiMH's in the energizer.

Regards,
Mickey
-- A PICTURE IS WORTH A 1000 WORDS,
but it uses up 1000 times the memory.--
--And it's harder to spellcheck!--

--

Eric, http://www.InvisibleRobot.com/

Debbie L · Mar 1, 2004

Marvin, it's great to know how long the batteries are lasting for you. I wonder if the 30 minute Energizer charger will charge these batteries in 30 minutes?

How about it Eric...did they charge in 30 minutes? Where they HOT? My 4 1800 AA batteries got HOT! But getting them charged in 30 minutes was SWEET!

Marvin Thomas said:
I don't know if you saw my earlier post, but I bought the 2300's
over two weeks ago. I charged them and put the first four in my
C5050. I've been using the camera a little over two weeks [!] and
still no Low Battery signal. I bought another set of 8 for my
wife's camera. She's going to NY City with her girlfriends in a
few weeks. With that much staying power, she won't need to drag
along a charger.

--

Debbie
2 UZI's/EZI/2020/C-700

Eric Carlson · Mar 1, 2004

Debbie:

I'm about to open the package for the charger and the batteries now. First I'm going to charge one of our old sets, then I'll start charging the new sets.

I was lucky to find the one 8-pack of 2300's. I looked all over the battery section at WalMart, and eventually found a pack sitting on the shelf behind some other batteries. They had lots of 2050.mah 4-packs, but only the one pack of 2300's.

We recently bought 2 seperate cordles phones, so we have 3 cordless and 2 corded phones in our 2-bedroom appartment (plus a few more old phones that aren't connected).

PS: how fast did the AAA's charge?

--

Eric, http://www.InvisibleRobot.com/

Eric Carlson · Mar 1, 2004

Marvin Thomas said:
I don't know if you saw my earlier post, but I bought the 2300's
over two weeks ago. I charged them and put the first four in my
C5050. I've been using the camera a little over two weeks [!] and
still no Low Battery signal. I bought another set of 8 for my
wife's camera. She's going to NY City with her girlfriends in a
few weeks. With that much staying power, she won't need to drag
along a charger.

--

Eric, http://www.InvisibleRobot.com/

Eric Carlson · Mar 1, 2004

Heidi's going to this weekend's robotics competition early, so I'll make sure she takes one of the OLY chargers for a backup in case the 30 minute charger has problems. We've mostly been using the C204F charger for our AA's.

I primarily use my three DPS-9000 battery packs, and they have their own chargers, but I keep charged AA's in the camera too.

--

Eric, http://www.InvisibleRobot.com/

Debbie L · Mar 1, 2004

...not sure actually how long. I wasn't in the same room as the charger but when I went in that room, which was before 30 mins was up, the charge lights were already out.

I've seen 2050mah batteries at Walmart but was never interested in them. Didn't know they sold the 2300's. I hope I get as lucky as you and find a pack of 2300's, too.

Eric Carlson said:
Debbie:

I'm about to open the package for the charger and the batteries
now. First I'm going to charge one of our old sets, then I'll start
charging the new sets.

I was lucky to find the one 8-pack of 2300's. I looked all over the
battery section at WalMart, and eventually found a pack sitting on
the shelf behind some other batteries. They had lots of 2050.mah
4-packs, but only the one pack of 2300's.

We recently bought 2 seperate cordles phones, so we have 3 cordless
and 2 corded phones in our 2-bedroom appartment (plus a few more
old phones that aren't connected).

PS: how fast did the AAA's charge?

--

Debbie
2 UZI's/EZI/2020/C-700

Inigo Montoya · Mar 1, 2004

I'd be concerned about cooking any batteries in a "normal" 30-minute charger. It may seem to work fine, but I'd be worried about seriously shortening the batteries' overall lifespan.

If I were looking to go the "quick charge" route, I think I might lean towards the "chipped" batteries that can regulate the process and keep themselves from getting cooked (too much).

How goes the robotics season? Are you guys aware of the dcphotogs group on Yahoo? One of your events might make an interesting outing for the group if there's room for it.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dcphotogs/

Mainly Canon DSLR types, but at least one Nikon, one film holdout, and of course me with my Uzi/Ezi/E10 combo.

Eric Carlson · Mar 1, 2004

Thanks. My Powerex 1700's are done charging. I saw the red lights go off one at a time. They made some noises near the end of the charge cycle, like gas bubbles being released, and they are a bit toasty.

The batteries get clamped in pretty tight. I guess that's so they make good contact.

I posted recently about one set of 1600's I have making noises near the end of the cycle in my C204F.
--

Eric, http://www.InvisibleRobot.com/

Leo G · Mar 1, 2004

M.A. Caro said:
the batteries get HOT as H*!!.

How hot do they get? Too hot to handle or hot but you can still hold them. I use a Sanyo 1 hr charger and the batteries get warm to very warm but I don't consider them HOT. I think the one hour is fast enough for me. 30 minutes would be nice in a jam though.

M.A. Caro said:
all the way!, ( Energizer w/1800's + 2300's ), Maha 204 +
powerex's, and Olympus charger. Have used the Energizer with both
the 1800's and 2300's, and although fast, the batteries get HOT as
H*!!. Havent put the powerex's or Olympus NiMH's in the energizer.

Regards,
Mickey
-- A PICTURE IS WORTH A 1000 WORDS,
but it uses up 1000 times the memory.--
--And it's harder to spellcheck!--

--
Leo G
C-750 -- Vivitar 550FD -- Vision Optics 0.48x Wide/Macro
Minolta X-700 film -- Tokina 28-70mm -- Gemini 80-205mm

~~I came, I saw(ed), I left everything beautiful !!~~

http://www.fototime.com/ftweb/bin/ft.dll/pictures?userid= {C22B84EE-59F9-40C8-B940-0FD2E03568D3}&tio=0

Eric Carlson · Mar 1, 2004

We'll be at the robotics competitions in Richmond, VA this Friday and Saturday, and in Annapolis, MD on March 19-20. Stop by if you get the opportunity. They run from about 10am to late afternoon.

I've checked out the dcphotogs group on occasion, but not often enough to know what's going on.

--

Eric, http://www.InvisibleRobot.com/

Eric Carlson · Mar 1, 2004

The instructions for the 30 minute charger say "For best results, charge batteries for 24 hours before first use."

--

Eric, http://www.InvisibleRobot.com/

M.A. Caro · Mar 1, 2004

Leo G said:
Leo G said:

the batteries get HOT as H*!!.

Click to expand...

How hot do they get? Too hot to handle or hot but you can still
hold them. I use a Sanyo 1 hr charger and the batteries get warm
to very warm but I don't consider them HOT. I think the one hour
is fast enough for me. 30 minutes would be nice in a jam though.

Hi Leo,

My experience was that they were too hot to hold and hot enough that I would not put them into the powerex plastic holders I have until they cooled down for about 5 minutes and they were still pretty warm.

Fast is sometimes necessary, but as stated by some, I have doubts that getting the batteries that hot is a good thing.

Regards,
Mickey
-- A PICTURE IS WORTH A 1000 WORDS,
but it uses up 1000 times the memory.--
--And it's harder to spellcheck!--

Eric Carlson · Mar 1, 2004

I'd say my Powerex 1700's were too hot to hold, for more than a second or two, immediately after charging.

After I charged them, I charged the batteries that came with the charger. They're only warm now, but I think they've been done for a while. The 2300's will get charged next, but probably not until tomorrow.

--

Eric, http://www.InvisibleRobot.com/

Leo G · Mar 1, 2004

It is a lways a good idea to give your batteries their first charge with a slow charger. As a matter of fact it is probably a good idea to charge them a few times on the slow charger to condition them first before you start them upon a life of hard fast charges. The slow charge will keep them coolest so they will be able to recieve a full complete charge exposing all the electrolites to a full saturation charge with little or no heat. this "should" help them live their longest life.

Eric Carlson said:
The instructions for the 30 minute charger say "For best results,
charge batteries for 24 hours before first use."

--

Eric, http://www.InvisibleRobot.com/

--
Leo G
C-750 -- Vivitar 550FD -- Vision Optics 0.48x Wide/Macro
Minolta X-700 film -- Tokina 28-70mm -- Gemini 80-205mm

~~I came, I saw(ed), I left everything beautiful !!~~

http://www.fototime.com/ftweb/bin/ft.dll/pictures?userid= {C22B84EE-59F9-40C8-B940-0FD2E03568D3}&tio=0

loose nut · Mar 1, 2004

DON'T get cheap on the battery chargers folks. You spend big bucks on your camera...get a good charger!!!!

Get one that has seperate circuits for charging each cell individually. The cheapo quick chargers charge all of the batteries only until the fullest cell is charged, leaving the rest of the cells under-charged. A good charger will allow you to charge a single cell...two cells...three...or four independent of each other. They also will have an LED indicator for each individual cell.
Don't cut corners please.

Energizer 30.Min charger? (& 2300.mah batteries)

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Debbie L

Guest

Leading Member

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Debbie L

Guest

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Debbie L

Guest

Forum Pro

Veteran Member

Senior Member

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Senior Member

Member

Similar threads

Keyboard shortcuts