[Greenbuilding] your favorite battery charger (AA, AAA, etc.)?

[Reuben Deumling]

Thanks Frank, and Bob, for your insights.
I should clarify a few more things.
(1) Although my present charger can handle batteries other than AA and AAA,
I don't have nor plan to use any other battery sizes.
(2) I've come to understand perhaps this is mostly hype?) that smart
chargers, those that have some sort of micro processor inside, are able to
coax much more into batteries and extend battery life than what we used to
use.
(3) The LCD screen *is* nice as far as understanding what is going on. I
also learned along the way that it is inadvisable to charge batteries
together that have discharged to different levels. When I pull a set of AAs
out of my flashlight, bikelight, camera, etc. they are *always* discharged
to different levels. But without the little screen, the testing function,
and the ability to charge 1, 2, or 3, at a time I feel like I would be
subjecting the batteries to stress/not getting the most out of them.
(4) Finally, I've therefore assumed that a solar charger, which on some
level is dependent on the vagaries of insolation, will be less precise, less
smart as it were. I'm not sure that is true either, but it has tempered my
enthusiasm for those kinds of chargers.

Thanks all.

Reuben Deumling

On Sat, Oct 8, 2011 at 5:49 AM, Frank Tettemer <frank at livingsol.com> wrote:

> Reuben,
>
> I've been using an UltraLast charger, model number ULCC4H.
> It has settings for NI-CD and NI-MH, and will charge AA, AAA, C, D, and 9V
> batteries.
>
> I can't compare it in quickness to other chargers, though four AAA can take
> between six and ten hours, while two 9V batteries seem to take 12 to 24
> hours.
>
> I've had it about five years, and it replaced a ten year old Radio Shack
> charger at that time, when I switched to NI-MH batteries.
> The charger doesn't feel like it gives off any heat while charging. This,
> to me, indicates a level of efficiency better than the old Radio Shack
> charger, which was noticeably warm while in use.  And efficiency is an issue
> for us, as we live off-grid.
>
> I've "experimented" with a charger/solar PV combo.  Fine if you have
> duplicate sets of all batteries, so as to always have a set fully charged
> and waiting. I admit that I'm not that well organized. So it'sawkward, when
> your flashlight goes dead, just at dusk.
>
> Here's a link. However, I don't see our model on that page.  What are
> listed on that page are chargers for AA and AAA.
>
> http://www.ultralastgreen.com/**products/chargers<http://www.ultralastgreen.com/products/chargers>
>
> Frank
>
> --
> Frank Tettemer
> Living Sol ~ Building and Design
> www.livingsol.com
> 613 756 3884
>
>
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