Ok to charge different brand battery with different brand charger?

[defn]

Hey I've got 4 Sony rechargeables which are currently collecting dust cos my sony charger spoil. I recently acquired a Sanyo CHarger. Just wondering if it would be safe to charge my Sony batteries with the Sanyo charger? read somewhere in image-resource that it's actually ok. Can anyone confirm?

[AReality]

NiMh or NiCd?

It's OK.
Approx time taken to charge == Capacity of battery / Output current of charger.

eg:
battery capacity is 1800mAh
Charger supplies 200mAh
Battery will take 1800/200 == 9 hrs to charge.


Li-ion or Li-Po cannot...

[defn]

NiMH. I've done the math for the voltage and all... should be no problem. But just wondering if the charger will self-destruct if i use it to charge Sony batteries...

[wacko]

it is safe only if the charger is an intelligent charger, and not a timer-based charger.

[mpenza]

if you use a timer-based charger, it is not ok to even charge the same brand of batteries if the capacity is different from its intended purpose.

[amateur_photographer]

How about mixing different brand and different MAH batteries in one gadget? is it safe?

[wacko]

Originally Posted by amateur_photographer How about mixing different brand and different MAH batteries in one gadget? is it safe?

only if your charger is an intelligent charger with independent charging channels, and there are not many of these kind of chargers around. even charging different batteries with similar mAh ratings together is not advisable, as the number printed does not truly reflect actual capacity. thus to be real anal, even charging same batteries (brand and model) of different ages is not optimal, as capacity will invariably degrade over time.

[amateur_photographer]

errrr wacko, i think you don't read carefully,
I asked, what if I mix different batteries to use on a same gadget (camera, MP3 players, discman, etc) . NOT CHARGING IT.

[wacko]

Originally Posted by amateur_photographer errrr wacko, i think you don't read carefully, I asked, what if I mix different batteries to use on a same gadget (camera, MP3 players, discman, etc) . NOT CHARGING IT.

a charger is also a gadget, and since i thought we are on the topic of chargers...

oh well, this one i'm not too sure. for normal batteries (alkalines and the likes) it is highly NOT recommended to do so, as once the lower capacity batts run out, they will start to be "recharged" by the batts which still have juice left. since normal batts are in danger of exploding/leaking/yada yada when recharged, this is a big no no. but since we are talking about rechargeables here, and rechargeables can be recharged, so i doubt if the same concern applies. as to other implications, can't really think of any apart from the charging issue i've mentioned earlier, after all having different batts means you may have to charge them in the same charger...

[AReality]

Originally Posted by amateur_photographer errrr wacko, i think you don't read carefully, I asked, what if I mix different batteries to use on a same gadget (camera, MP3 players, discman, etc) . NOT CHARGING IT.

Add on to wacko's comments...

you should NEVER mix rechargable batteries together... Not even batteries of the same brand/type/capacity, but bought on different dates(different dates means significant amount of time in between.)

Coz the capacity of rechargeable batteries degrade as time passes, so an old batch will store less charge than a new batch. & if U use them together, the old ones will be fully discharged 1st, while the new ones will still be discharging. This will cause the new ones to recharge the old one!(Happening in your electronic device, not in your desktop charger.). Dun want that to happen.... do you?

[wacko]

Originally Posted by AReality Add on to wacko's comments... you should NEVER mix rechargable batteries together... Not even batteries of the same brand/type/capacity, but bought on different dates(different dates means significant amount of time in between.) Coz the capacity of rechargeable batteries degrade as time passes, so an old batch will store less charge than a new batch. & if U use them together, the old ones will be fully discharged 1st, while the new ones will still be discharging. This will cause the new ones to recharge the old one!(Happening in your electronic device, not in your desktop charger.). Dun want that to happen.... do you?

haha, i've already mentioned this, but something in my mind tells me that this may not really be an issue, after all rechargeables batteries ARE rechargeable, as their name implies...

anyhow, prudence first, batteries don't cost much, $3 a pop for Sanyo 2100mAh, just buy a complete set for whatever gadgets you have and have peace of mind.

[defn]

I'm charging my Sony on my Sanyo Charger now... The Charging rate is 1250mA... hope nothing blows

[defn]

Originally Posted by wacko haha, i've already mentioned this, but something in my mind tells me that this may not really be an issue, after all rechargeables batteries ARE rechargeable, as their name implies... anyhow, prudence first, batteries don't cost much, $3 a pop for Sanyo 2100mAh, just buy a complete set for whatever gadgets you have and have peace of mind.

where u get $3 per piece Sanyo 2100mAh?

[wacko]

Originally Posted by defn where u get $3 per piece Sanyo 2100mAh?

east gear, or AP.

[defn]

Originally Posted by wacko east gear, or AP.

where is alan photo? sure not so cheap? maybe refurbished one?

[Helbreath]

look in www.eastgear.com

$3 per battery

[wacko]

Originally Posted by defn where is alan photo? sure not so cheap? maybe refurbished one?

refurbished batteries? wow, even if such things existed i don't think it's worth the money and effort for any manufacturer to refurbish batteries and sell them at refurbished prices.

[KamWeng]

If you buy in bundles (with camera etc.) in AP, or if you're a recognized regular customer, they'll sell you the Sanyo 2100mAH at $10 per 4pcs.

[germ_boi]

den is it possible for you to buy for us at $10? pretty please? haha... can notx? or rather... hep me buy? cuz i in dire need of money... not my choice anywae... haha...

[KamWeng]

Huh? Just $2 difference nia for 4 batteries. You're not so desperate are you?! Sigh, I want to buy a lens cover also no time ah...