anybody own those 15-minute battery charger?

[Kelly Grannell]

1. Do they actually charge 4 batteries in 15 minutes? or do they calculate the way Sony calculate their charger (1-hour quick charger* then the asterisk leads to *charging time to 80% capacity, based on one battery charged)?

2. Can I use ANY NiMh battery on that charger or I should only use their battery? (they are quite expensive in Canada, $24 for 4 whereas regular NiMH battery with the same capacity is only $10 for 4)

TIA

 

[makinorlando]

Deleted.. I was confused as usual! Mine was not THAT rapid of a charger when I went and researched! I was thinking they told me it was when I ordered it!

Hi Kelly!


I think mine take about 1 hour for four - but it is not an expensive charger, and although I have had no issues with it, it did not get great reviews on one site I checked. I also like it that it has a car charger if by chance I do forget to charge my batteries. It's pretty routine now that I stick them in the charger as soon as I come home!

 

[Kelly Grannell]

Thanks Mak. I want to buy another charger but don't know whether it's really a 15 minute charger for 4 batteries

My current charger (Power2000) is supposed to be a 60-minute charger, but they rate it at charging 1 battery, so for 4 batteries, it still takes 4 hours

 

[subhuman31]

I do have the 15 minute Energizer charger and it does charge all 4 batteries in 15 minutes for a full charge. Hope that helps.

Jeff

 

[Kelly Grannell]

thank you. How does it charge regulra rechargeable (non-specially badged 15-minute) batteries?

 

[subhuman31]

I've only charged Energizer batteries so I can't say how other brands will charge in it.

Jeff

 

[Kelly Grannell]

Thanks for the info.

Cheers,
Kelly

 

[Dan Murphy]

As I have mentioned a few times here, I use the LaCrosse...http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00077AA5Q/002-1218707-6208069?v=glance&n=286168 and I know you can set it to do a quick charge (I never do), not sure just how quick though. It is a great unit though. If you have a defective or worn out battery, it will find it. I have found two so far.

 

[Kelly Grannell]

Dan, would you kindly check the input power of the unit? I have a charger which input power is 1A, another charger with 2A. Those 15-minute chargers are 7.25A. I can't find the input power spec on the website. That thing looks magnificent, though.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Not sure if this answers your question, Kelly, this is the bottom of the charger and the plug adapter.

 

[Kelly Grannell]

Yup! thanks very much. It means that it charges up to 3 A per hour. Meaning 4 2500mAh batteries will take about 3.5 hours to charge, or if you put 1 battery, it will take about 45 minutes to charge.

I'll go to the Amazon site and buy it then. Thanks again, Dan the Man!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Check the user guide pdf on Amazon, on page 2 of the pdf, it lists the times at the various charging currents selected, slow/trickle on up to a quick one.

 

[Kelly Grannell]

Just got back from the site, they don't ship to Canada

 

[Dan Murphy]

Really? You guys are okay.


Check here......

http://thomas-distributing.com/la_crosse_bc-900_battery_charger.php

 

[Kelly Grannell]

LOL! Thanks, I'll check it out!

 

[Alexsma]

I have the Rayo Vac 15 minute kind, it will charge 2 AA in 15 minutes. You do need to use their I-C3 ones, they are 2200 mah. Or at least thats what it says. I really like it because I was always forgetting to charge the batteries the night before anything that I needed them for. This way I can charge them while we are getting ready.

 

[ukcatfan]

From what I have read, the Energizer will work with other batteries, but the Rayovac will just act like a normal 8hr. charger with other batteries. They actually place some kind of circuit on the battery itself instead of in the charger. They say that their method is better, but I doubt that anyone could notice a real difference.

The 15 min chargers will not completely charge the battery. It is about 80% where an 8hr. charger usually give you about a 95% charge. The heat generated is the downfall, so the charger with the most cooling features is probably the best.

I personally keep enough extras to never find myself in a tight spot, so I would rather have the more complete charge. Another thing to note is that they get really hot in a 15 min charger. A friend of mine calls it a 30 min charger (15 to charge and 15 more to cool enough to touch )

I believe that http://www.imaging-resource.com/ has some pretty extensive battery testing.

 

[jfulcer]

Just got back from the site, they don't ship to Canada

You can get them off ebay too.