Is this Rayovac Charger any good?

[joepa150]

I just purchased my first flashlight (D10 Tribute). I also just purchased a pack of Duraloops/Duracells. I just need to buy a charger. I may buy the Lacrosse 700. I just remembered that about 6 yrs ago I bought some Rayovac rechargables. It came with the charger below.

Would this charger be adequate or should I just buy throw it away and buy a new one?

Does it charge each batter independently?

Here is the manual

http://web.archive.org/web/20030520042408/www.rayovac.com/busoem/oem/specs/PS1_spec.pdf

 

[Mr Happy]

The Rayovac PS1 is one of the old style slow chargers with a timer. Don't throw it away since those chargers do have their uses, but it does not really meet modern charging requirements. For instance if you try to charge four 2000 mAh cells they will not be fully charged when the 12 hour timer finishes. You will have to put them on a second charge and manually stop it after another 4 hours or so. This charger also has an endless top off charge so you should never leave cells in the charger after the light comes on. If you do they will eventually be damaged.

There are chargers today that will get much better performance out of batteries, and the BC-700 would certainly fit in that category.

 

[Ragiska]

The Rayovac PS1 is one of the old style slow chargers with a timer. Don't throw it away since those chargers do have their uses, but it does not really meet modern charging requirements. For instance if you try to charge four 2000 mAh cells they will not be fully charged when the 12 hour timer finishes. You will have to put them on a second charge and manually stop it after another 4 hours or so. This charger also has an endless top off charge so you should never leave cells in the charger after the light comes on. If you do they will eventually be damaged.

There are chargers today that will get much better performance out of batteries, and the BC-700 would certainly fit in that category.

it's -dV with a backup timer, not timer only.

 

[Mr Happy]

it's -dV with a backup timer, not timer only.

Ah, I see some people have mentioned that it has smart charging features, but it doesn't say so in the specifications. I would be worried that with the low charging current of 170 mA the charger might have trouble detecting the full charge point, however it would also not cause too much harm if it did miss a termination.

 

[Light Sabre]

I had one of those. Good charger, but very slow. Used it for years. You can see from across a room whether the cycle was complete or not. One channel quit working so that made recharging a set of 4 a pain. I gave it to a coworker to give to his son for recharging his 2 AA flashlight batteries.

 

[MidnightDistortions]

I started using mine and it's really great for charging older cells that don't really fully charge in my LaCrosse or Opus chargers.

I wanted more of the PS1 chargers (or similar to them) but never found any at least until today, 2 of them on Ebay from 2 separate sellers so hopefully they both work.

 

[Galane]

One to look for is the 2nd gen gray and white Rayovac Renewal PS1 charger. It has a tiny OT2 stamp on the back. Unlike the first gen PS1 Renewal charger the revised one also charges NiCd and NiMH.

The charge contacts on the Renewal only version are also visibly different at the positive end. Since all the Renewal AAs have long ago gone kaput the chargers that only work with them are junk. I bought one set of 4 Renewals and charger years ago, lucked out it was the revised charger, which I still use long after the Renewal AAs went to the trash.

2 volts @ 200ma x4 output.

 

[IMA SOL MAN]

One to look for is the 2nd gen gray and white Rayovac Renewal PS1 charger. It has a tiny OT2 stamp on the back. Unlike the first gen PS1 Renewal charger the revised one also charges NiCd and NiMH.

The charge contacts on the Renewal only version are also visibly different at the positive end. Since all the Renewal AAs have long ago gone kaput the chargers that only work with them are junk. I bought one set of 4 Renewals and charger years ago, lucked out it was the revised charger, which I still use long after the Renewal AAs went to the trash.

2 volts @ 200ma x4 output.

I have an old Renewal charger, that takes D cells, some of which I still have and are still usable. What batteries do you charge with your Renewal charger? I'd love to be able to use mine with other cells.

 

[Galane]

I have an old Renewal charger, that takes D cells, some of which I still have and are still usable. What batteries do you charge with your Renewal charger? I'd love to be able to use mine with other cells.

Any AA NiMH, including Eneloop. But it has to be a 2nd revision charger instead of the early Renewal only style.

 

[MidnightDistortions]

One to look for is the 2nd gen gray and white Rayovac Renewal PS1 charger. It has a tiny OT2 stamp on the back. Unlike the first gen PS1 Renewal charger the revised one also charges NiCd and NiMH.

The charge contacts on the Renewal only version are also visibly different at the positive end. Since all the Renewal AAs have long ago gone kaput the chargers that only work with them are junk. I bought one set of 4 Renewals and charger years ago, lucked out it was the revised charger, which I still use long after the Renewal AAs went to the trash.

2 volts @ 200ma x4 output.

Nice, I found 2 of the older black one on ebay I already have the one of. I also have that white one you're referring to which is basically an alkaline recharger. I don't remember how I got it but it does take those special alkaline rechargeables. I wasn't sure if those revised NiCd and NiMH chargers work like the older black PS1.

I have 2 AA NiCd batteries that doesn't hold a charge long so I might end up trying one of those 2nd gen ones.

I have an old Renewal charger, that takes D cells, some of which I still have and are still usable. What batteries do you charge with your Renewal charger? I'd love to be able to use mine with other cells.

I have the older black PS1 charger that takes AA and AAA batteries. Never knew they had a D cell charger out there. It seemed uncommon outside of AA or AAA NiCd and NiMH in the early days to have other rechargeable battery sizes.

 

[Galane]

Here's an Instructable on modding an old AA Rayovac Renewal Power Station to charge normal alkalines. Has a good picture of the different + contact.

Renew and Reuse Your Renewal Brand Charger!

Renew and Reuse Your Renewal Brand Charger!: Introduction and Backstory**: Introduced in 1993, the Rayovac corporation marketed and sold a rechargeable battery system dubbed "Renewal". It was unique because it used a rechargeable alkaline battery which is very similar to a regular "disposable…

www.instructables.com

I got out mine that came with a set of Renewal AAs and it just says Rayovac Battery Charger angled on the lid at the hinged end. The 4 slots are double stepped for AA and AAA. Looks like if it's branded Rayovac Renewal Power Station it's likely *only* for the Renewals, or for the brave, modding the contacts or a bunch of alkaline cells to recharge.

 

[IMA SOL MAN]

This is the one that I have.

 

[Galane]

This is what I have https://www.belielektronik.rs/images/products/big/23619.jpg

The Renewal only model https://content.instructables.com/FCR/S0D4/G783BY7M/FCRS0D4G783BY7M.jpg