NiMH Rechargable battery question...

[BCYL]

I have a set of 'AA' NiMH Panasonic 1600mAh rechargable batteries and charger... My question is, can I use that same charger to charge other sets of NiMH batteries? I was thinking about purchasing some GP 1800mAh NiMH batteries, and wondering if I need a new charger for those...

Thanks!

 

[FrustratedUser]

It will work fine.

 

[Ryan]

yep ;P

 

[Thegonagle]

Yep, no problem.

 

[BCYL]

Did some searching on google, and found out my charger is not a 'smart' charger, only a timer-charger that charges for 5 hrs everytime...

is it still going to work fine on other batteries?

 

[FrustratedUser]

Originally posted by: BCYL
Did some searching on google, and found out my charger is not a 'smart' charger, only a timer-charger that charges for 5 hrs everytime...

is it still going to work fine on other batteries?

Should work but if the charger was designed for 1600mAh batteries the 1800mAh ones could end up being slightly undercharged.

 

[Eli]

Invest in a smart charger if you want your rechargable batteries to last.

 

[BCYL]

One more question, are all NiMH rechargables memory free? so I can stick them into the charger whenever I want?

 

[FrustratedUser]

yes almost.
no need to worry about it.

 

[arcas]

The worry I'd have about that has more to do with your charger than the batteries' memory effect (which is almost nonexistant). Since your charger is timer-based, if you drop in a nearly-charged battery, it'll overcharge. A smart charger will monitor battery temperature or battery voltage for a slight voltage drop that NiMH exhibit when fully-charged.

 

[Scarpozzi]

Most chargers work on voltage these days.....it's only the OLD ones that don't. You can usually tell cause when you buy them, they'll say, "4 hour charger" or something like that. Now they just say, "Quick Charge".