Sony Power Battery Charger with 4 AA Ni-MH Rechargeable Batteries

This package includes four Sony Ni-MH AA batteries. These Sony batteries were designed with digital products in mind. While many Ni-MH batteries can't stand up to the long-life characteristics of alkaline batteries, these Sony batteries will last up to four times as long as normal alkaline batteries. With these included batteries, the Power Charger is the perfect accessory for your digital camera or MP3 player.

What's in the Box
Sony Power Charger and four Ni-MH AA batteries.

The Sony Power Charger can recharge 4 AAA or AA cells at a time. Unlike the Panasonic BQ-390 which I also used and reviewed, this Sony uses a timer to stop charging. The Panasonic BQ-390 has advanced circuitry inside to monitor charging through temperature, voltage drop, and the cell's internal resistance, so that you'll get more precise charging and less damage from overcharging of simpler chargers. Sony also offers a similarly advanced product, but this model is a cheaper timed model. It charges the 2100mAH cells for 8 hours straight, or 800 mAh AAA cells for 7 hours straight. If you charge a partially used cell, it will not detect when the cell reaches full charge, and might overcharge. It's best to charge a fully depleted cell with timed chargers.


Timer Charger   July 19, 2004
Jack
104 out of 110 found this review helpful

This is a timed charger, but well matched to the supplied 2100mAh NiMH batteries. The manual recommends charging after a full discharge, so it may overcharge your partially depleted cell or an older cell with lower capacity. As long as you recharge a fully empty, ~2100mAh cell, it shall be fine.

The included cells, actually made by Sanyo-GE, are premium cells, and only surpassed by Sanyo's latest 2300mAh cells.


Great batteries   January 22, 2005
jimj
43 out of 43 found this review helpful

This was the best deal I found on rechargable NiHM batteries and that too these are made in Japan by Sony. It has a capacity of 2300mAh.

There is one problem with this. This charger does not automatically shut off when the batteries finish charging. So the first time I charged them, I kept waiting for the indicator to go off and I realized after 18 hrs that they are not going to go off.

So, though the batteries are good the charger is not. I would suggest people to go with another sony rechargable model that sells here for just a few dollars more.


Charging time   May 27, 2004
R. Pham (westminster, ca United States)
28 out of 33 found this review helpful

I bought this without knowing what the charging time was. I took a risk since it was at an affordable price and found out to my dismay that the charging time is as follows:

1-4 batteries:

2100mAh Approx 7 hours
1700mAh Approx 6 hours
800mAh Approx 7 hours
700mAh Approx 6 hours

I haven't used the product yet...I just got it today. I don't know. I might return it for the Kodak 1 hour charger one for the same price (18.99) but the deal is gone for this product, it's back to 19.99. Anyways...pretty fast shipping though =)


World Class Feature   September 20, 2004
Robert Salita (CHI PAR PHX SYD PDX CLD NKC)
21 out of 27 found this review helpful

Anything that eliminates an AC-DC adapter from my luggage gets my attention. This is a small unit that has 110-220 volts US plug built in. No wall wart to schlep. Hooray!

Update: 15-March-2005 Plastic lid broke off. Not a biggy but should have been sturdier. Still pleased with it's usefulness and travelability.