Energizer DUO USB charger, at a real store?

[Weylan]

I am looking for I am in CA, USA.

I am looking for a brick and mortar store that takes coupons becauase I would like to try the Energizer Duo that can read and monitor charge via the USB port. i can't seem to find it being sold in the USA in regular stores.

I returned some bad nmih 2500 and got $30 in credit! Whooo. But I want to get the charger and can't seem to find any place that has them.

i tried Circut city.
I tried wallmart.

Any one seen the Energizer Duo charger? It has been out for liek 3-4 months.

 

[johnny13oi]

I am looking for I am in CA, USA.

I am looking for a brick and mortar store that takes coupons becauase I would like to try the Energizer Duo that can read and monitor charge via the USB port. i can't seem to find it being sold in the USA in regular stores.

I returned some bad nmih 2500 and got $30 in credit! Whooo. But I want to get the charger and can't seem to find any place that has them.

i tried Circut city.
I tried wallmart.

Any one seen the Energizer Duo charger? It has been out for liek 3-4 months.

I think I saw quite a few of them at my local Walgreens store.

 

[Lightingguy321]

I have seen them in my local target, and Wal-Mart. USB charger eh, I would be curious to see how this can preform off a computer USB port. Please post pics if you get a hold of the charger.

 

[MrAl]

Hi there,

It looks cute, but too bad it only gives a time readout, not current or voltage.
This means you can watch the time count down on the computer
but not see the current or voltage. I think i rather use a stand alone charger
so i dont have to have the computer on either.

 

[Turak]

I have been playing with one of these for a couple days now.

I actually have to say that they are not too bad.

Comes with the charger (built in USB cable that stores nicely), AC Wall adapter with USB port, and two 900mA AAA Energizers.

Here is the link to the technical specs for it..on the right side. I got a blue one.

http://data.energizer.com/PDFs/CHUSB.pdf

Reasonably gentle on the batteries. Leave the cover open....

Note - Just finshed charging the 900mA AAA's that came with it. Charged at the 500mA fast charge. Batteries finished in about an hour and fifty minutes and were 110'F (according to infra red temperature tester).

Can do a single battery or 2 at a time. AA and AAA.

Charges at 550mA (fast) 125mA (slow). Trickle charges at 20-60mA.

Uses Delta V, max voltage, and timer methods for charge termination.

Has reverse polarity protection and primary battery detection built in.

Software for your PC, although it only tells you approximate time remaining.

In my opinion, they don't promote (LOUD enough) that it also comes with a very small 110 plug with a USB port on the shell to supply 5V @ 500mA just in case a computer isnt handy. Yeah it shows it in the pics but it can be easily overlooked. Only one I've seen that comes with the little 110 plug.

Definitely not the fastest...but kind of nifty.

They are like $15 at Meijers.

 

[Lightingguy321]

Sounds like a good charger to get and use for really quick charges while you are in front of a computer, the only thing that worries me is the high temperature of the batteries at the end of the charge. I am however surprised that energizer finally makes a charger where you can charge individual cells instead of always having to charge in pairs. I wonder how the Duracell power gauge charger compares to this thing.

 

[TPA]

I also have been playing with one of these for about the past 2-3 weeks. Similar observations on it. The difference between fast & slow charging will be based on whether it's connected to a USB 2.0 port (500mA) or 1.x port (125mA). It appears to have 2 independent charging channels, BUT, due to its design, you can only charge 2 AA or 2 AAA batteries simultaneously due to its flip-down size adapter. It's actually a decent charger, rather gentle, especially compared to some of Energizer's other chargers.

The on-screen display is moderately useful. When you first throw batteries in there, it'll give some pretty wildly varying times, but after the first few minutes it stabilizes. As mentioned above, it only shows time remaining and also shows the "hey idiot, remove this alkaline!" messages. Also shows which battery slots are populated. No SDK out and it doesn't sound like they have any plans to release one. Might be possible to hack the existing program to give you more info, but I've not had free time lately to pick it apart. Given how the charger works fine on its included 110v USB wall wart and on a computer without its drivers installed, I don't think any PC-based control of the charging would be possible.

No matter whether it's "quick" charging or "slow" charging, this is a slow charger. You've only got .5A @ 5V going into it (2.5watt). Insert 2x2500mAh AA batteries (6 watts) and you're talking awhile. Seems to take ~4.5 hrs or so to fully charge them.

Overall, a very useful device, especially for us road warriors. Now virtually everything I travel with can be charged off my laptop or USB hub. Phone, Blackberry, AA/AAA batteries.

Sanyo also has a USB charger for their eneloop batteries which I'm trying to track down. Looks slick. I don't think it's available in the USA yet.