RAYOVAC Battery Charger ALKLN4POS PS1 - Relialbe, But Not For Everyone
Written: Sep 22 '04 (Updated Sep 22 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Low price, reliable, easy to use, does not over-charge, durable
Cons: Not the fastest, difficult to insert batteries
The Bottom Line: This charger is an excellent product for the price. But if you need a faster charging time and ease of battery insertion, look elsewhere.
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| dkozin's Full Review: RAYOVAC CORPORATION CHARGER BATTRY ALKLN4POS PS1 |
I have had the Rayovac PS1 charger for more than three years. Having purchased it from Target based on low price (I believe less than $15), 4-battery capacity and versatility (it charges AA and AAA batteries including Alkaline, NiCd and NiMH), I have to report that the charger is still working well and still charges my Alkaline and NiMH batteries, albeit not without some inconveniences.
Ease of Use
The charger looks line a box with a lid that can be flipped open. They are available in several colors with mine being black with dark gray semi-translucent lid. The lid covers four slots for batteries (AA or AAA size) and four red lights, which chine through the lid as the corresponding batteries charge.
The opposite side has a DC power plug, which can be flipped open when in use and flipped back to be completely concealed in the body of the charger. Neat.
The usage is simple. You insert the batteries (making sure the polarity is correct) and plug the charger in the outlet. The charger determines the battery type (alkaline, NiCd, NiMH) and charges it appropriately. If the light by the inserted battery illuminates, the battery is being charged. If not – it is either fully charged or not inserted well.
The charger does not over-charge the batteries (it stops when needed and the light is turned off). You can use any number of slots (1-4) at the same time and they will operate completely individually.
Frustrations
First of all, the batteries are not easy to insert in the slots. Excessive amounts of force are required sometimes, which I don’t mind per se, but it can damage the batteries’ insulators (plastic film) and drag it under the contact of the charger, preventing the battery from charging. Then you will have to remove and re-insert the battery.
The charging times are also quite long, especially with NiMH batteries.
Overall Performance
Although the charging times are quite long (about 8 hours for full charge), each battery seem to be charged at its own optimum rate and the charger determines the battery type automatically.
If the battery is not completely discharged, the charger takes much less time to charge it to full capacity (especially true with alkalines). If the battery is almost charged, the return to full charge may take minutes.
I usually charge my batteries overnight (be it NiMH or alkaline), so the speed of charging is not a problem. I am still using the Rayovac AA and AAA alkaline batteries I got when I got the charger, so they held up well, which is a testament to the charger’s ability to keep them alive.
The NiMH batteries take longer to recharge, but they last much longer in a digital camera. I use Panasonic AA 1600 mAh NiMH batteries and they are still going strong after more than a year of use.
Bottom Line
This charger is an excellent product for the price. But if you need a faster charging time and ease of battery insertion, look elsewhere.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
dkozin
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 in Electronics |
 - Top 10 |
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Location: California
Reviews written: 838
Trusted by: 517 members
About Me:
I love to push buttons on electronic (audio and video) equipment. It makes me happy.
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