Friday, February 18, 2011

Purchase Energizer Basic Rechargeable Charger for AA / AAA Batteries, 2 AA Batteries Included


I don't have this specific model of charger (I have CHVCM with the same green lights), but I want to give some input on overcharging. It is only safe to leave NiMH batteries charging indefinitely if the charging current is less than 10% of the cell's current rating (The mAh rating.) If the charging current is higher, then you definitely do not want to leave the batteries charging past full charge.

To calculate the charging time, just divide the battery's mAh rating by the charging current output by the charger (measured in mA.) I couldn't find a spec sheet on this charger, so you'll have to flip it over and look at the writing on the back or sides. It will be around the other electrical specifications (AC input voltage and DC output voltage ratings.)

My charger lists the charging current as: 260 to 300mA (~15% of cell's rating). So with 2000mAh batteries, that's an average charging time of about 7 hours. Of course, chargers and batteries vary, so I would let it run a little longer. (My spec sheet reads 8.5hrs for 2000mAh and 10.5hrs for 2450mAh. It also says that there is an 11 hour shutoff timer. Nice!)

You don't need to be totally paranoid about how long you let the charge go, but it does need your attention. Going by the math above, I don't think you'd run into any trouble if you let the charge run for 10 hours, but I would be nervous to let it run for 15 hours. If you want to let it run overnight, but are worried of charging too long, just use a simple AC lamp timer to decide how long to run the charge while you're sleeping. You can pick one up for $10 or less.

That being said, you may be able to charge the suckers for 24 hours without starting a fire or causing the batteries to explode (but maybe not), but it would definitely hurt the battery's ability to hold a charge.Get more detail about Energizer Basic Rechargeable Charger for AA / AAA Batteries, 2 AA Batteries Included.

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