I've got a GPS gadget that uses AAA batteries in threes. I'd like to use
rechargeables but my existing charger (one of those Uniross plug thingies)
will only charge 2 or 4 batteries at a time.

Now I do have four batteries but I've had problems with using my gadget on
rechargeables (the batteries seem to expire long before they ought to) which
I suspect is due to having to pair a discharged battery with a partially
charged one for charging (NmH btw).

Are there any AAA battery chargers that charge each battery individually?
Would it be worth investing in a discharger/charger or are these only really
useful for Nicads?

TIA

Tim

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Remove the *obvious* to reply by mail

On Fri, 28 Nov 2003 15:03:31 -0000, Tim Downie
wrote:

I've got a GPS gadget that uses AAA batteries in threes. I'd like to use
rechargeables but my existing charger (one of those Uniross plug
thingies)
will only charge 2 or 4 batteries at a time.

Now I do have four batteries but I've had problems with using my gadget
on
rechargeables (the batteries seem to expire long before they ought to)
which
I suspect is due to having to pair a discharged battery with a partially
charged one for charging (NmH btw).

Are there any AAA battery chargers that charge each battery individually?

Yes. Mine does. It charges between 1 and 4 AA or AAA batteries (Nimh or
Nicad) It's called the GP Powerbank Smart. GP do a variety of chargers and
batteries. I think I got it from budgetbatteries.co.uk

Colin
--

"Colin Blackburn" wrote in message
news
On Fri, 28 Nov 2003 15:03:31 -0000, Tim Downie
wrote:

Are there any AAA battery chargers that charge each battery
individually?

Yes. Mine does. It charges between 1 and 4 AA or AAA batteries (Nimh or
Nicad) It's called the GP Powerbank Smart. GP do a variety of chargers and
batteries. I think I got it from budgetbatteries.co.uk

Thanks Colin. It would certainly seem to fill the bill (at a price). Seems
disproportionately expensive compared to the chargers that work in pairs but
I suppose that's just market forces.

Cheers.

Tim

"Tim Downie" wrote in message
...
I've got a GPS gadget that uses AAA batteries in threes. I'd like to use
rechargeables but my existing charger (one of those Uniross plug thingies)
will only charge 2 or 4 batteries at a time.

Now I do have four batteries but I've had problems with using my gadget on
rechargeables (the batteries seem to expire long before they ought to)
which
I suspect is due to having to pair a discharged battery with a partially
charged one for charging (NmH btw).

Are there any AAA battery chargers that charge each battery individually?
Would it be worth investing in a discharger/charger or are these only
really
useful for Nicads?
Use two sets - six batteries. Charge them as a 4 and a 2 so that you have a
charged set and a charged spare set.

In article ,
Tim Downie wrote:
I've got a GPS gadget that uses AAA batteries in threes. I'd like to
use rechargeables but my existing charger (one of those Uniross plug
thingies) will only charge 2 or 4 batteries at a time.

Now I do have four batteries but I've had problems with using my gadget
on rechargeables (the batteries seem to expire long before they ought
to) which I suspect is due to having to pair a discharged battery with a
partially charged one for charging (NmH btw).

It could be it's designed for alkalines and the lower voltage of
rechargeables is causing an early warning - alkalines are nominally 4.5v
for three, rechargeables 3.6. And at 3.6v alkalines would be nearly flat.

Are there any AAA battery chargers that charge each battery
individually? Would it be worth investing in a discharger/charger or are
these only really useful for Nicads?

If it were an external battery pack, using all four would give nearer the
correct voltage.

--
*Snowmen fall from Heaven unassembled*

Dave Plowman London SW 12
RIP Acorn

In article , Tim Downie wrote:
I've got a GPS gadget that uses AAA batteries in threes.

Same here....

[snip]

Are there any AAA battery chargers that charge each battery individually?

Yes - I have a Uniross RC101159 which charges 1-4 AA/AAA batteries
at once. Mine came from Argos (980/3277 appears to be it)

Would it be worth investing in a discharger/charger or are these only really
useful for Nicads?


I'd have thought only really useful for Nicads.....

Dave

"Tim Downie" wrote in message
...
I've got a GPS gadget that uses AAA batteries in threes. I'd like to use
rechargeables but my existing charger (one of those Uniross plug thingies)
will only charge 2 or 4 batteries at a time.

Now I do have four batteries but I've had problems with using my gadget on
rechargeables (the batteries seem to expire long before they ought to)
which
I suspect is due to having to pair a discharged battery with a partially
charged one for charging (NmH btw).

Are there any AAA battery chargers that charge each battery individually?
Would it be worth investing in a discharger/charger or are these only
really
useful for Nicads?

TIA

Tim

--
Remove the *obvious* to reply by mail



I have a UNIROSS 3-5 H* CHARGER. The instruction leaflet says that it will
charge three AAA/batteries. As you can see in the following extract from
the instructions it says this twice ('l to 4 batteries size AA' and 'It is
possible to charge 1, 2, 3 or 4 R6 size batteries'). My batteries are
labelled AA / R6 / Mignon (a rose by any other name...)

When I had a battery problem, I phoned Uniross and found them very friendly
and helpful.

Uniross Batteries Ltd

Tel: (01275) 858101 Fax: (01275) 810078

Address: Uniross Ho, Blackfriars Rd, Nailsea, Bristol, BS48 4DJ

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

UNIROSS 3-5 H* CHARGER
• Use the charger only for Nickel-Cadmium (Ni-Cd) or Nickel-Metal Hydride
(Ni-MH) batteries. Do not attempt to charge any other battery types.
• Do not charge Nickel-Cadmium (Ni-Cd) batteries at the same time as
Nickel-Metal Hydride (NI-MH) batteries. Do not mix the two technologies.

CHARACTERISTICS
1. Compact charger
The UNIROSS compact charger (RC101159, RC101160, RC101161 - British plug –
or RC101156, RC101157, RC101158- European plug) is designed to charge NI-Cd
or Ni-MH batteries in the following sizes / quantities:
• l to 4 batteries size AAA / R03 / Micro
• l to 4 batteries size AA / R6 / Micro
• 1 to 2 batteries size 9V Block / R22 / PP3.
It is possible to charge 1, 2, 3 or 4 R09 or R6 size batteries. R22
batteries can be recharged individually or in pairs. It is possible to
charge 1 and/or 2 R03 and/or R6 batteries and one R22 battery at the same
time.

In message , Tim Downie
writes

"Colin Blackburn" wrote in message
news
On Fri, 28 Nov 2003 15:03:31 -0000, Tim Downie
wrote:

Are there any AAA battery chargers that charge each battery
individually?

Yes. Mine does. It charges between 1 and 4 AA or AAA batteries (Nimh or
Nicad) It's called the GP Powerbank Smart. GP do a variety of chargers and
batteries. I think I got it from budgetbatteries.co.uk

Thanks Colin. It would certainly seem to fill the bill (at a price). Seems
disproportionately expensive compared to the chargers that work in pairs but
I suppose that's just market forces.

Why not buy 12 batteries (with a decent capacity) then you can charge
them 4 at a time and use them 3 at a time
--
geoff

"Tim Downie" wrote in message ...

Are there any AAA battery chargers that charge each battery individually?
Would it be worth investing in a discharger/charger or are these only really
useful for Nicads?

I've got an "Intelligent Battery Charger" from Goodmans, model
GBC1100; came from Argos about a year ago for GBP20-25 IIRC. Has 4
parallel charging spaces which take AAs or AAAs, individually; works
on NiMH, NiCd and (allegedly) ordinary alkalines.

AFAIK discharging is only relevant to NiCds because of their 'memory'
effect, which you don't get with NiMH. But there's oodles of info
available via Google on that.

David