Sony Quick Battery Charger with 4 AA Ni-MH Rechargeable Batteries
by Sony Batteries
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Customers in the UK,
buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Photo Product Details
Manufacturer: Sony BatteriesModel: BCG-34HE4
Product features:
- Charges four AA and AAA batteries at a time SIX
- Unviersal voltage from 100-240V
- Alkaline battery detection, temperature and voltage safety controls
- Includes four 2500mAh NiMH batteries
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Sony Quick Battery Charger with 4 AA Ni-MH Rechargeable Batteries
Customer Review: An important (un-advertised) feature you must know
Summary: 5 Stars
There is an important feature for this charger (Sony BCG-34HE) that makes it an excellent buy: it charges each cell individualy.
Most low-cost slow chargers force you to charge cells in pairs. That is, either 2 or 4 cells. This smart charger allows you to put in 1, 2, 3 or 4 cells at any time. Each cell is charged individually and stopped whenever it gets full. The only problem is that the indicator lamp only changes color when ALL cells are fully charged. So even if three out of four cells are ready, you cannot start using any of them until the last one is done.
Why is charging NiMH cells in pairs a very bad idea? Beacuse no two cells have identical capacities. Even if you start with two new cells of the same brand, their capacities will drift apart after several cycles. When you charge two cells in series, the one with lower capacity will be over-charged, and this will only accelerate the disparity in capacity next time. Eventually you'll end up with cells that can only deliver a fraction of their rated capacities.
Then there's always the problem when your application requires either one or three cells. Now you are left with one drained cell that you cannot charge. If you try to charge a drained cell in series with a full one, the latter will be badly over-charged and may even be damaged from over-heating.
While I'm at it: here are the charging currents for this charger:
- One to two AA cells: 1050mA each
- Four AA cells: 525mA each
- One to two AAA cells: 640mA each
[Update on Nov 22, 2008]
I need to clear up a possible source of confusion here. SONY makes several AA/AAA battery chargers, and their names all start with "BCG-34H". My review above refers to the "BCG-34HE". If you are looking for a compact charger for both home and travel, this one is your best choice. Be careful when ordering because SONY also makes a "BCG-34HVE" which looks almost identical, but it is not suitable as a travel charger since it only accepts 110V AC input. Then there is the "BCG-34HRMF" which is larger and more expensive, but added four LCD battery status indicators. Finally, there is the "BCG-34HUE" 15-minute charger which you should avoid, because it is very bad for battery lifespan.
In case you like to consider chargers from other makers, I highly recommend the Kodak '1-hour' charger K6200 and the Duracell Mobile Charger CEF23DX4N.
[Update on Dec 9, 2010]
SONY has released a new BCG-34HRE charger. It is similar (in terms of size and speed) to the old BCG-34HE reviewed above, but added several important features. Check my review on the new charger for details.
Description of Sony Quick Battery Charger with 4 AA Ni-MH Rechargeable Batteries
MODEL- BCG34HD4 VENDOR- SONY BATTERIES FEATURES- Super Quick Charger with Batteries 1-Hour quick charge of either "AA" or "AAA" Ni-MH Batteries. With a sleek and high-tech design the Sony Super Quick charger will charge up to 4 AA Ni-MH batteries. Sonys Ni-MH batteries last up to 4 times only per charge than alkaline batteries which means more savings for you. The charger comes equipped with advanced functions such as automatic charge cut-off and built-in temperature controls to provide optimum safety and performance. Its compact size and worldwide voltage capacity allows for charging anytime anywhere. Includes 4 high capacity AA 2300mAh Ni-MH batteries.Battery Chargers
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