All NiMH battery brands alike?

[Genxsis]

This question is referring to quality, as in NOT leaking or whatever else could go wrong. I've noticed different prices in stores for batteries, so I have to wonder. I don't currently have any rechargeables since I have a stockpile of alkalines I'm working through. But soon, I want to get some. Here is one I noticed at Target that I liked. It's an overnight charger (which is just fine for me) and includes 2 AA and 2 AAA batteries. http://www.target.com/Rayovac-AA-AA...UTF8&index=target&rh=k:battery charger&page=1

Is anyone familiar with this one. What do you think of it? The price almost seems too good to be true. I used to buy Nicads in the past for the same amount of money just for the 4 batteries!

 

[Marduke]

No, not all NiMH are created equal, and neither are their chargers.

I suggest you invest in a "smart charger" which charges the cells on independent channels, and LSD (low self discharge) NiMH cells such as Rayovac Hybrids or Sanyo Eneloops.

I hope this gets you started on the right track, the search function can take you from here.

 

[Genxsis]

Thanks man! Chargers seem to have come a long way since the last time I bought one.

 

[mdocod]

yea, over at wall-mart you can get a 4 pack of rayovac hybrid low self discharge cells for like $6 last I checked. It's a great deal for a pretty decent cell. If you have a circuit city in your area look for 8 packs of Sanyo Eneloops being cleared out for ~$15. (also really good cells)...

If you are going to "take the plunge" I suggest "doing it right" the first time, rather than having to re-buy everything later.

Marduke is spot on correct with the suggestion to get a smart independent channel charger. A good entry level smart charger that is also very practical is the Vanson Speedy Box, also sold as the BC1HU under different brands names, usually around $25 online. I have been using one exclusively for about 2 years and really can't complain about the service is has delivered for the price. It is best suited for AA and AAA cells as the charging rate is rather slow (~750mA) but it will do C and D size cells also with occasional missed terminations.

 

[SafetyBob]

Genxsis, if you are serious or think you are going to get serious about this hobby (let's just call it a hobby for now), then look through this section or do a search for smart charger.

Now, there are a bunch of really good chargers and I just can't put names to the other really good ones (others will step in with them), but take a look at what I have for starters....Triton2. With it (and many of the other good hobby (think RC) chargers) you can use your own adapters and charge your batteries in the flashlight (look at some of Fivemega's examples on the B/S/T forum) and a couple of months ago some people were modifying some 4 battery chargers that would take AA through D sized batteries and making them so they would easiely hook up to their nice hobby chargers. Striping an existing charger is the poor man's version of this that I got from a CPF member.

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd94/reverding58/Voltcraftpicture.jpg

If you have anyone overseas, have them look at their local hobby/craft store and send you a couple of these. I am trying this right now with a brother-in-law.

By now I think you will be lucky to find Eneloops at Circuit City, try Thomas Distributing. They were having a very good special on them not to long ago. I use them in everything from flashlights to my digital cameras and have found them to be very nice, quality rechargeable batteries....unlike most rechargeables I had in the past.

Take Mdocod words for the absolute truth. Purchasing the good, quality stuff from the start will end up saving you alot of money in the end. A good number of guys on this forum have made the mistakes for us so we don't have to. I spent a lot of money so far (particularly in the charger setup), the results have only given me a bigger grin everytime I use one of my lights. And, finally, the wife has started to appreciate some of the smaller C sized M@gs (she has actually stolen one to use) I have built over the past couple of months.

That, my friend, is when you know you have succeeded and can scam more parts out of the budget!!

Bob E.

 

[chewy78]

Just get a Powerex MH-C808M . It will charge nimh and nicad aaa,aa,c,d cells with absolute precision. I have one and use for my aa charging for an rc car transmitter, camera and mini mag led. high capacity d cells for my flashlights,and boombox. aaa's for my firedept issued pager and digital voice recorder. It is a little spendy but it will be the last one you will ever need for aaa,aa, c,d,cells.