With a wireless mouse, wireless keyboard, CD player, and MP3 player, I finally realized that, holy geezo, I am spending a lot more on batteries than I want to.
And with modern technology, I'm spending a lot more on batteries than I
need to.
So, with the help of a
MyPoints gift card to CVS and Wal-Mart, some reviews by
popsrocks, and a little bargain hunting, I made my choice. Energizer battery charger - here I come!
This particular charger is a nice, smooth silver color and small enough to fit in your hand like a TV remote control (and I have small hands). There is room enough in the charging bays for 4 batteries. The bays are able to hold either AA or
AAA batteries, and you don't have to charge the same kind all at once. I often charge 2 AA and 2 AAA batteries at the same time. Once it's plugged in and charging, a little green LED light shows you it is doing its job. I think the downside is that there is no red LED light or something to indicate that, "Hey, your batteries are done charging!"
The charger actually comes with two AA batteries to start you off. This worked out great for me since I bought a pack of
4 AA NiHM batteries. That means I can have some in my wireless keyboard and mouse and still have a pair waiting on deck should one of the wireless items lose power (except my little sister keeps borrowing them for her CD player...).
The difference between this particular charger and other chargers is that this one was cheaper, but also it takes much longer to charge your batteries. I'm stingy with my money, and have the time to wait for my batteries to charge. If you don't purchase enough batteries to swap them out, then yes, you'll probably want a faster charger. But my MP3 player takes a single AAA so I always have plenty on hand to change out.
While a more expensive charger will boast fast times, with this one, the time needed to charge the batteries will depend upon the batteries you buy.
**On that note, please pay attention to the following**You CANNOT use regular batteries in this charger (and most chargers, in fact). You must use NiMH batteries (this stands for Nickel-Metal Hydride). Using batteries that are not the correct type can be dangerous, causing them to leak or even explode. No one wants corrosive battery acid on them, so please read packages carefully before making any purchases.
According to the charger's manual, the charge time depends upon the rated capacity (mAh) of the battery.
AAs that are 1300-2000 will take 8-12.5 hours.
AAs that are 2100-2500 will take 13-16 hours.
AAAs that are 850-900 will take 11-12 hours.
I admit that I probably don't always leave my batteries in for the full charge time. I have 2000 mAh batteries and my AAAs are 900mAh and I feel pretty certain I don't leave them in for 12 hours.
But that's my own fault. Follow instructions kids. It doesn't matter much anyway because rechargeable batteries tend to lose their power naturally over time, so it's best to use them when they're fresh out of the charger. Once you are done, you can remove the charger from the outlet and flip down the prongs. That's right - you can hide the electrical prongs on the charger. It keeps them from getting damaged and makes it less worrisome to store.
It's a good little charger. I've been using it for almost a year now. I think everyone should invest in rechargeable batteries - it'll help reduce overall battery usage and ickiness in landfills and such. The only real downside to rechargeable batteries is realizing you need a new battery, but you forgot to charge the others. Doh!
NT
By the way, how much did this cost, you ask? $11.99. Yup. In fact, I was so jazzed about the idea of using the same batteries over and over instead of buying new ones, I bought the same charger for my mom and dad in order to save them some money.
