Rechargeable batteries and charger

[badboy1984]

I was wondering what everybody uses for their device?

I'm experiencing some problem with my Energizer rechargeable batteries and charger.

I usually just stick the batteries to charge and when it turn green i just use it or set another set on charge and it been working fine for a good while.

Today I charge the batteries, wait for it to turn green then for some reason I decided to use my dad's batteries checker device to check the battery level but it only show around 30-40% battery.

Not too sure is the battery faulty, faulty charger or the battery checker is faulty. When i check other batteries like 9v or new AA non rechargeable batteries it show the correct reading so it think it could be the batteries and the charger.

I may have to invest to buy new battery and charger becasue i got a wedding to do coming soon and i can't leave the door with half charge batteries for my flash .....

Any recommendation on charger and batteries?

 

[NikkiA]

Recommendation: Technoline BL-700 or any of the rebadged versions of it.

Buy a (intelligent) charger such as this first, because you might find that a refresh cycle ('full' discharge then charge) or two might bring those batteries back to life.

The reality is that NiMH batteries do have a limited lifespan, and they DO have something akin to a memory effect too, whereby they slowly lose the ability to take a full charge if you're not discharging them 'fully' (not actually full discharge...). Some brands are better than others on this...

Of course, everyone recommends eneloops if you DO need to buy new batteries, and they are honestly very nice batteries, although without buying the new XX eneloops, at a lower capacity than many other brands.

It's also possible that the checker isn't really detecting the charge properly - it's a little bit of guesswork, since the only way to detect charge level is to measure voltage change while discharging or charging, and different brands vary. An intelligent charger like the BL-700 will give you info on voltage and charge mAh for a regular charge, and if you do a refresh charge, it will tell you the actual measured capacity of the battery.

Edit to add:

BTW, I have a handful of energizers too, and they have been slowly reducing in number as individual cells start to die, I'd probably say after 150 or so charges, so they're not 'long lifespan' batteries, and it may very well be that yours are dying. That said, when I bought my BL-700, I ressurected 2 or 3 of my energizer cache with a refresh cycle.

 

[Dave Pickett]

There is probably nothing wrong with your batteries!!!!

The checker is designed for non rechargeable cells which have a nominal voltage of 1.5 volts nominal voltage whereas NIMH cells have a nominal voltage of 1.2 volts - hence it will report only 30-40% charge, on a properly charged NIMH Cell!!!!

Just go by your charger and if the cells last a decent time in your camera there is nothing wrong with them!

 

[badboy1984]

There is probably nothing wrong with your batteries!!!!

The checker is designed for non rechargeable cells which have a nominal voltage of 1.5 volts nominal voltage whereas NIMH cells have a nominal voltage of 1.2 volts - hence it will report only 30-40% charge, on a properly charged NIMH Cell!!!!

Just go by your charger and if the cells last a decent time in your camera there is nothing wrong with them!

You have a point actually. The checker do only take 1.5V on standard AA batteries where as my rechargeable says 1.2V.

You right about only read 30-40% charge when the charger said the batteries is fully charge. I did use the batteries on my flash and fire 100+ shots and it still works without a problem.

 

[shaylou]

I was wondering what everybody uses for their device?

I'm experiencing some problem with my Energizer rechargeable batteries and charger.

I usually just stick the batteries to charge and when it turn green i just use it or set another set on charge and it been working fine for a good while.

Today I charge the batteries, wait for it to turn green then for some reason I decided to use my dad's batteries checker device to check the battery level but it only show around 30-40% battery.

Not too sure is the battery faulty, faulty charger or the battery checker is faulty. When i check other batteries like 9v or new AA non rechargeable batteries it show the correct reading so it think it could be the batteries and the charger.

I may have to invest to buy new battery and charger becasue i got a wedding to do coming soon and i can't leave the door with half charge batteries for my flash .....

Any recommendation on charger and batteries?

For what it's worth, I did a lot of reading on aftermarket batteries and the draw back was reliability. The other problem (might not apply) is that if the aftermarket battery shorts out and damages you camera it won't be covered under warranty. Mine is still under warranty so that's a big deal to me.

 

[badboy1984]

i using it on the flash gun, their is no after market batteries for that .....

I'm talking about AA rechargeable not 3 third party battery/charger for my DSLR.

 

[Trig's]

for the Technoline BL-700 got mine from batterylogic.co.uk along with a pack of Sanyo XX eneloops AA's - good service from them & they arrived the next day as well...