Battery chargers buying guide

What Batteries Are Best?
Read the discussion at the bottom of this page. (click here)

Power Department

Buying Guide:
Battery Chargers

What makes the battery chargers we carry special is their ability to integrate with a variety of power sources. Some are able to connect to AC, DC (ie car cigarette sockets) or solar sources, while others come with built-in solar panels. Most of our chargers are able to properly charge NiMh batteries in addition to NiCd. The iSun BattPak and Wagan e-Power chargers are also unique in their ability to act as power sources, drawing from their battery stores.
For Camera & Camcorder battery chargers, click here.

	PowerEx C9000 Maha	BC-9009 Alpha Charger LaCrosse	Delta-V Powerfilm	PowerEx C401fs Maha	DigiCharger Vario Ansmann	12V Charger Wagan	USB AA/AAA Charger Targus	TekCharge 1550 Tekkeon	Solar Battery Chargers ...
				Top Pick	Top Pick				AA Solar Charger Charges AA NiMh batteries USB+AA Solar Charger Top Pick AA battery charging plus USB port output Solar ePower Compact battery charger & back-up
What's the attraction?	The top charger for taking care of your rechargeables. Charges, conditions, analyzes, & more	Charges, conditions, & analyzes. Includes a fantastic set of accessories	Handles almost every size of rechargeable battery Great with solar	Not much larger than a deck of cards, handles 1-4 batteries, with two charging speeds	Can charge 2 cells, can charge almost any camera / camcorder battery	Compact & very easy to use with standard solar panels & 12V vehicle sockets	The smallest AA/AAA charger	Charges 4 batteries, and can use the stored power for your 5V USB devices
Features...
Battery Capacity	4	4	4	4	2	2	2	4
Battery Charging Channels (ie how many batteries can it charge at one time)	1,2,3,4	1,2,3,4	2,4	1,2,3,4	2	2	2	4
Battery Sizes	AA AAA	AA AAA	AA AAA C D 9v	AA AAA	AA AAA	AA AAA	AA AAA	AA
Battery Chemistries	NiMh NiCd	NiMh NiCd	NiMh NiCd	NiMh NiCd	NiMh NiCd	NiMh NiCd	NiMh NiCd	NiMh NiCd

Charging Rate (anything over 750mA could be considered 'Rapid'. 1000mA will charge a typical AA in about 2 hours. 200-400mA is best for battery life)	200mA to 2000mA (selectable)	200mA to 1000mA (selectable)	800mA (max)	Rapid: 1000mA (AA) 500mA (AAA) Gentle: 300mA (AA) 200mA (AAA)	1000mA (max)	AA: 900mA AAA: 400mA	200mA	1000mA (max)

AC (Home use)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
DC 12V (Car / Solar)	Yes		Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
USB (Computer / Small Solar)							Yes	Yes
Connects direct to solar?	Yes (via 12V)	No (requires voltage converter)	Yes (via 12V)	Yes (via 12V)	Yes (via 12V)	Yes (via 12V)	Yes (via USB)	Yes (via USB)
Recommended Solar	Best if used with solar power systems that include solar power storage battery so that the charger can execute functions without being at the mercy of solar variation	Would require an AC inverter, or a DC converter operating from a solar storage battery OP-12	PowerFilm10 Rollable 14 Solaris 26 A complete portable power system is recommended why?	PowerFilm5 Rollable 7 SunLINQ 6.5 A complete portable power system is recommended why?	PowerFilm10 Rollable 14 Solaris 26 A complete portable power system is recommended why?	PowerFilm5 Rollable 7 SunLINQ 6.5 A complete portable power system is recommended why?	Amp Fuse USBMini Explorer	Amp Fuse USBPlus Explorer

DC Output? (to provide power from the batteries it charges)	No	No	No	No	Yes (USB)	No	No	Yes (USB)

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*A Note on Rechargeable Batteries

Most NiCd battery chargers will charge both NiMh and NiCd rechargeable batteries. Modern Outpost recommends the use of NiMh batteries with solar products whenever possible due to the cyclical nature of solar charging, and the lack of a "memory effect" with this type of battery which is often the reason for the early failure of NiCd batteries to hold a charge. There is also the ecological problem associated with NiCd battery disposal... they contain toxic Cadmium, and so should not be simply disposed of in a landfill. NiMh cells do not have this problem.

When shopping for NiMh batteries, look for the models that use the latest cell technology that enables the NiMh rechargeables to retain their charge much like a lithium does. 85% charge retention after a year of storage is usually quoted. Standard NiMh batteries like Duracell & Energizer rechargeables will self-discharge at approx 30% per month. This means that you need to put them in a charger every month in order to get decent performance. Since this is essentially wasting power, look for brands like the PowerEx Imedion. These are made by the same company that makes most of our best battery chargers. Sanyo Eneloop is another common brand.

Want more information about the most common battery technologies for portable devices & power systems? Click here

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Power Department

Buying Guide: Battery Chargers

*A Note on Rechargeable Batteries

Buying Guide:
Battery Chargers