rechargable batteries

[MikeyMike]

Im off to buy some rechargable batteries and a recharger for my camera tomorrow
Is there anything I need to be aware of, or will the cheapest one do
Thx :)

[admirable]

try Lidl

[PsiFox]

Just bought several 4 pack AA 2500Mah at 1.99 per set from there.

[daftbugga]

will the cheapest one do
Thx :)
NO no NO :rules:i wouldnt buy any old cheap rechargables myself but as always the choice is yours.

personally i use energizers and find them very good but the quick chargers dont half heat up the batteries & i cant help but wonder what damage i'ts doing .

i did a quick search and came up with
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/search.php?searchid=847258

i meant to say that most rechargables given time go flat without even being used .

sanyo eneloop batteries dont.

[Byker28i]

I've just bought a bunch of the Annsman MaxE batteries for my flash gun, xbox controllers etc.

Not chep but they keep their charge.
http://www.tantronics.co.uk/acatalog/Tantronics_UK_Rechargeable_NiMH_Batteries_28.html? referrer=adwords_ansmann&gclid=CIOo1uroipQCFROA1Qod6nkGWQ

[SuperCNJ]

I'm using a number of different brands, but the best ones I have are the Sanyo ones and the GP ones. I also have some Jessops own brand ones which aren't too bad but generally speaking, get ones that are from a well known brand and above 2000mAh and you should be ok.

I use a solar charger to charge all my batteries now. I haven't paid a penny for charging any of my batteries for almost a year now!

[daftbugga]

I use a solar charger to charge all my batteries now. I haven't paid a penny for charging any of my batteries for almost a year now!

now that is a very good idea :clap: i cant help but wonder where did you get that from ?

[PsiFox]

I've tried the lidl ones and othermore expensive ones in discharge tests on battery powered equipment and found very little difference in run times.

[bod]

now that is a very good idea :clap: i cant help but wonder where did you get that from ?

Me too, so I googled ...
http://www.cpssolar.co.uk/epages/cpssolar_co_uk.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/cpssolar.co.uk/Products/solaraabatterycharger

or build your own!
http://www.reuk.co.uk/Solar-Battery-Charging.htm

[DigitalRelish]

I recently bought a UNiROSS 1-hour fast charger which comes with four 2700mAH NiMH AA batteries (http://www.digitalrelish.net/47/review-uniross-1-hour-charger-2700mah-performance-batteries/).

They've served me very well so far as they kept my 430EX flashing for well over 50% of the 600+ shots I took at a recent wedding I attended. Mostly, the 430EX provided fill-in light with a Sto-Fen Omni-Bounce attached to the angled head, but the batteries were still going strong by the end of a 12-hour day.

Being able to charge in-car is a nice added benefit of this particular charger.

[gribbsy]

I've got quite a large selection of rechargable AAs and AAAs. Had a few die on me over the years, and typically that's the cheaper brands. I've now invested in some Sanyo Eneloops, which look very promising so far. They hold their charge very well, so you can charge them and leave them in the kitbag for a while before using them. Judgement reserved on their longevity, but so far so good.

[SuperCNJ]

now that is a very good idea :clap: i cant help but wonder where did you get that from ?

Thanks. I'm using the one in the link below but it only charges 2 batteries at a time. There are better ones but this one is fine for me. I just leave it on my window ledge for 1 day if its very sunny or 2 days if its not and they'd be fully charged. I run everything off it from our electric toothbrush to torches.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=10438&criteria=solar&doy=24m6

I have much larger solar panels which I am currently working on to power the lights in our flat. Thats another project though ;)

[SuperCNJ]

Me too, so I googled ...
http://www.cpssolar.co.uk/epages/cpssolar_co_uk.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/cpssolar.co.uk/Products/solaraabatterycharger

or build your own!
http://www.reuk.co.uk/Solar-Battery-Charging.htm

Be careful about building your own, you need to put in a uni-directional diode or something to prevent reverse charge which can damage your solar panel. You may also need something to regulate the charge to prevent damaging the batteries.

[tarmac_chaser]

I got batteries from Vapextech, great service arrived next day

http://www.vapextech.co.uk/acatalog/High_Power_Consumer_Batteries.html

Then got myself a Technoline intelligent charger from Battery Logic. Again, great service, was with me the next day

http://www.batterylogic.co.uk/technoline/technoline-bl700.asp

[Flashman]

I've got quite a large selection of rechargable AAs and AAAs. Had a few die on me over the years, and typically that's the cheaper brands. I've now invested in some Sanyo Eneloops, which look very promising so far. They hold their charge very well, so you can charge them and leave them in the kitbag for a while before using them. Judgement reserved on their longevity, but so far so good.

I agree with gribbsy. Same technology as Uniross Hybrio's (http://www.batterylogic.co.uk/hybrio.htm) by the looks of it. I bought a few of these as I only use them occasionally and they don't lose their charge nearly as quickly as regular NI-MH's once charged and stored. Like garlic bread... it's the future!

Flashy

[photon]

I agree with gribbsy. Same technology as Uniross Hybrio's (http://www.batterylogic.co.uk/hybrio.htm) by the looks of it. I bought a few of these as I only use them occasionally and they don't lose their charge nearly as quickly as regular NI-MH's once charged and stored. Like garlic bread... it's the future!

Flashy

Another plug for Vapextech who flog their own (cheaper!) equivalent. They caution that the capacity isn't as great as the best conventional NiMH currently available, but I'm happy with them.

[chrissy]

Sanyo Eneloops for me i find that they hold the charge well, and always there, so the night before a shoot not panicking to charge them up !

[tango]

Sorry to hijack the thread, but.....i've recently got some rechargables & a basic jessops charger- batteries are jessops, some Annsman.
Does it damage them if you recharge the batteries after each use or should you let them run out of charge?
Is there a charger which tells you how much is left? I use them for my studio flash transmitter & my SB600. Sometimes its 50 shots, sometimes 500.

thanks

[Mike D]

Depends on the battries and charger. Ni-ma batteries are not supposed to have a memory effect so charging after each use should not be all that detrimental. Some of the newer rechargables even hold there charge for months when not in use. I have used the Lidl batteries for some years now and found them ok. If your quick you mighy even pick up a charger of the same make as the batteries "tronic" which not only can charge 6 at a time + 2 x 9v it discharges the batteries if required before recharging and 1.5 v batteries only take about 1 hr to charge.:gag:

Hope this is useful to the original poster and hyjacker.

[Steep]

I use this charger as well as a mains one and have loads of different types of battery, buy the lidl ones, at 1.99 you can't go wrong.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/images/300/rr53.jpg

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=31712&&source=14&doy=26m6

[P20]

I got batteries from Vapextech, great service arrived next day

http://www.vapextech.co.uk/acatalog/High_Power_Consumer_Batteries.html



I got my Vapextech from their ebay site. Excellent batteries:thumbs: