Battery charger questions - newbie post

[Murphy Slaw]

Okay, I will first preface this by saying that I know most of what I'm asking about is in the archives somewhere. I could access the info I need that way, but please understand that I'm limited to using either my Blackberry and it's sad little 1/5" screen and 1G service, or what amounts to essentially dial-up on my computer at home. I know I'm relying our your generous natures, so 'Thank You' in advance.

Now to the info before the questions: I have several different lights I use regularly that I'd like some battery help with. I have the following: Surefire E2E with the KL1 LED lamp, a Fenix LD20 (If I can find where I dropped it), a Brunton RL6 LED headlamp, a Princeton Tec LED headlamp (unknown model) and a Streamlight TLR3 weapon mounted light. These use either CR123's, CR2's, or AA's.

I have about 20 or so Energizer 2500ma AA's from Sam's Club, with 2 of their CHDC chargers. I have a Nuon Nurech-8 charger as well.

*What I would like is a charger that would handle the AA/AAA's I have, as well as rechargeable 123's and possibly rechargeable CR2's (if they make those). I am a complete noob to all the technical/electronic terms, despite my father being an electrical engineer :ohgeez:, so please keep it as simpleish as you can for me. If it would do C's,D's and 9v's, all the better for the random stuff that takes them...

I would also like to get rechargeable 123's and CR2's if at all possible, and would appreciate links to such.

Can you help point me in the right direction? I'd sure appreciate it. Thanx!

 

[Mr Happy]

Well, hi! :welcome:

Shall we get the bad news out of the way first?

The Energizer 2500 mAh batteries have unfortunately been found by most people to be, sorry about this, crap. The Energizer CHDC charger is also crap. As is the Nuon charger you mentioned. (This is not just a joke, they really do not perform well.)

For more bad news, straight equivalent rechargeable replacements for the CR123A or CR2 do not exist. There are options, but they either have the wrong voltage, or lower capacity, or both. Buying rechargeable in these sizes requires a bit of research.

Your existing adventures in rechargeable batteries seem to be based on buying the cheapest possible. Unfortunately this will not give you good service on the whole.

Before you go any further you need to decide on your budget. Are you willing to pay a little more for quality and good results, or is cost a major constraint?

 

[Murphy Slaw]

Thanks for the quick reply. Don't worry about the bad news, I kinda figured that out just perusing this site a bit.

The Energizers were just a spur of the moment/didn't know any better kinda thing. I've had some okay results with some of them, but most of them have really short run times...

The Nuon much of the same... not sure I actually paid anything for it at the time. Just never got around to using it.

You'll be Happy to hear I am not opposed to paying out good money for good gear. I dont know if I want to spend $300 for a charger, but $100 or so wouldn't put me out. Same for batteries.

I tend to burn through batteries fairly quickly as I use them a lot. The headlamps and Fenix see use several times daily. The surefire and streamlight, not as much, but when I need them, I do need them.

 

[LuxLuthor]

Looks like Mr. Happy is making you Mr. Sad today, but he is right on all counts. There's not an easy answer with what you have posted so far.