Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Atlantic Rim
Posts: 570

The Secret of NiMh

I just got a new Kodak digital camera (DX3900) and it specifies using Kodak brand AA NiMh batteries. Any reason I can't use Radio Shack cells?

Similarly, can I recharge Rayovac NiMh rechargables in my Radio Shack recharger?

My assumption is that all NiMh batteries (and chargers) are the same (with some variation in ampheres), but I don't want to pop any of the above in a charger or device and get a battery compartment filled with acid due to some kind of proprietary "charge limiter" or something I never considered.

Thanks.

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Connecticut USA
Posts: 2682

Re: The Secret of NiMh

quote:

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Originally posted by Keefer Lucas
Any reason I can't use Radio Shack cells?

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Then Kodak won't reap any profits from their overpriced batteries!

In my DC240, I use (or have used) a variety of NiMH's... Kodak, Radio Shack, Maha, and Eveready Accu-Charge.

Any good name-brand NiMH battery should be fine, as should any decent NiMH charger.

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Registered: Nov 2000
Location: ???, Asia
Posts: 69

well, first of all I have to say that I love the topic name ;-)

The main thing in NiMH batteries is Milliamp-hours (mAh). Most of them out there are 1400 or 1600, but I also have some GP (I've found to be the best brand) 1800's. As for chargers, it IS possible to overcharge them I think (check out http://www.greenbatteries.com/ ). I've been told to always use a charger that shuts off automatically and not a 'trickle' charger.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Sydney Australia
Posts: 1883

quote:

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Originally posted by heed
well, first of all I have to say that I love the topic name ;-)

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Me too at first I thought it would be the title of Star Wars 3

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Registered: Oct 2000
Location:
Posts: 34

I have been charinging the radioshack NiMhbatteries (for a DC 280 camer) on the Kodak charger with no trouble at all for a year and a half. Furthermore I have charged the Radioshack brand with the Kodak brand at the same time over this period.

Don't sweat it.

Registered: Apr 2001
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 708

I have the RadioShack NiMH batteries and also the Energizer ACCURechargeables.

For a charger, I use the RadioShack Fast Charger for NiMH batteries and it seems to charge all the batteries fine.

For the record, the Energizer Batteries are cheaper than the RadioShack batteries. You can pick them up at BestBuy or WalMart for a few dollars less than RadioShack.

All of mine are 1600MAH and they charge between 01 and 02 hours. The RadioShack Charger is great.

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Registered: Feb 2001
Location:
Posts: 268

Re: Re: The Secret of NiMh

quote:

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Originally posted by MarkEagle
Then Kodak won't reap any profits from their overpriced batteries!

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great reply.

same reason why you should ONLY go to your dealer to get your car serviced, including paying $30 to change your oil.

Registered: Dec 2000
Location: Elkins Park, Pa
Posts: 577

Re: Re: Re: The Secret of NiMh

quote:

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Originally posted by namja
same reason why you should ONLY go to your dealer to get your car serviced, including paying $30 to change your oil.

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Registered: Mar 2001
Location: Nebraska- the Good life
Posts: 695

One thing to remember is that alkaline batteries are only made by three or so companies that then re-market them under other brand names. Consumer Reports once reported that many store brands, including Radio Shack and Kodak, were made by either Energizer or Duracell- and performed on the same level under controlled testing.

I would be willing to bet that a similar situation exists with NiMH- in fact, I wonder if there are not possibly even fewer manufacturers for this technology?

Otherwise, this is just the same sort of thing you see with recipes on packages all the time- where the recipe specifies a brand name for things like flour or sugar that 'just happens' to be the same brand as the company that made the original package- but, equally curiously, did not specify brand names for products they did not make.

Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 68

Anyone using NiMH who doesn't have a fast charger ought to ask for a Rayovac fast charger (it only does NiMH) for Christmas. It'll recharge AA or AAA NiMH's in an hour.

I had been using Rayovac rechargeable alkalines in my Visor. After several months, the batteries began to not hold their charges for that long.

I switched to NiMH's, and have been happy. Although they take forever to charge in my Rayovac 3-in-1 charger. But not so long in my new fast charger. Whopee!

Consult Rayovac's rechargeable battery faqs on their web site. May be unique to their brand, but they are fairly reasonable in price, and readily available at places like Walgreens and Home Depot.

Registered: Dec 2000
Location: Elkins Park, Pa
Posts: 577

I don't think it's that important that they do it in an hour. I have two pairs of batteries, and I charge one while I'm using the other. It would make absolutely no difference to me if it charged in only an hour. Of course that's only with my visor. My digital camera's a different story. . .

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"One word sums up probably the responsibility of any vice president, and that one word is 'to be prepared'.
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