Rechargeable battery question?

[shais_mom]

I have 2 battery chargers One is Energizer that I keep Energizer batteries in. The other is One Hour Digital Concepts mostly for digital cameras. I got it at Walmart.
My question is - could I charge a different brand of rechargeable batteries in one of them? Is a rechargeable battery a rechargeable battery and can be used in any charger? I don't want to take 2 chargers when I go to California But I would like to take enough batteries that I won't have to wait to charge them.
Thanks!

[Uabassoon]

I don't see why not. I have one charger that I got a long time ago at Radio Shack. The Radio Shack batteries were lost a long time ago, but I still use the charger for my energizer batteries.

[moosmom]

As long as the charger and the batteries are the same size and wattage, it doesn't matter. My batteries stopped fully charging, which is a sign that it's time they be replaced. I replaced them with another brand and it works fine. Rechargeable batteries are the best for a digital camera, as they suck up so much energy that it costs alot of money with regular disposable batteries.

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

Yes, you can use other brand batteries. As long as they are compatible batteries - if the charger is for NiMh batteries, you must charge NiMh batteries in it. Otherwise no problem. I've got a Kodak battery charger and I've charged Kodak, Energizer and even Ray-o-vac batteries in it, and possibly other brands I can't think of right now.

No problem as long as the batteries are the same type. Of course the charger manufacturer wants you to think you can only charge their batteries in it, but that's not the case. However, you might want to do a test charge before you go because we'd hate to have you with dead batteries in California!!! (need all the pics we can get since we can't go ourselves)

[Randi]

Yes, take a good look at the specifications - like Debbie said, charge NiMh batteries in the appropiate one. Also, let your batteries go flat before you charge them!

[lv4dogs]

Yes, take a good look at the specifications - like Debbie said, charge NiMh batteries in the appropiate one. Also, let your batteries go flat before you charge them!

Really, you should let your batteries die completely? I'm so bad at that, I always charge them before they die.

[Maya & Inka's mommy]

Yes, you can use other brand batteries. As long as they are compatible batteries - if the charger is for NiMh batteries, you must charge NiMh batteries in it. Otherwise no problem. I've got a Kodak battery charger and I've charged Kodak, Energizer and even Ray-o-vac batteries in it, and possibly other brands I can't think of right now.

No problem as long as the batteries are the same type. Of course the charger manufacturer wants you to think you can only charge their batteries in it, but that's not the case. However, you might want to do a test charge before you go because we'd hate to have you with dead batteries in California!!! (need all the pics we can get since we can't go ourselves)

The best advize!!
One question though, sorry if it sounds a bit silly . How do you get your batteries totally dead? And how do you know they are??

[shais_mom]

The best advize!!
One question though, sorry if it sounds a bit silly . How do you get your batteries totally dead? And how do you know they are??

I suppose the simplest answer for me would be simply use them until they don't work any longer??? In my Fuji that was rather easy to do - it didn't take long since it drained batteries like no other - so I went to rechargeables and problem was solved. With my new Fuji that was one of the issues that sent it back to the Manufacturer. I could put freshly charged batteries in it and it wouldn't even turn on. Both sets of rechargeable batteries and chargers are less then a year old so I know that they are ok. I guess its just not charging them until your ready. I also was really bad about keeping them in the charger - charging all the time - I have thought about chucking the one set of batteries not the charger tho - but then what if its the charger and not the batteries?
Anna reccommended the 15 minute charger it was definately worth the extra money. The one I have now that I mentioned before is a one hour charger.
With my Fuji camera - I would have to replace batteries several times during the day - at the Memorial day meeting I even kept them plugged in at the shelter house to no avail - the camera still didn't do very well. The Canon S2IS now I am still using the batteries that came in the camera and have taken probably 300 pics and a few movies and u/l the pics with the same batteries. I did buy a set of 4 Lithium batteries to take to Cali just in case the rechargeable ones putz out.