Bryan_Carey's Full Review: POLAROID PDC-2300Z Battery Charger (Equivalent)
Batteries can get expensive. They also contribute to pollution since they contain materials that are harmful to the environment and most of them end up in landfills where they remain indefinitely. However, there is one easy way to cut down on battery expense and waste: Purchasing a battery charger. One company that makes plenty of battery chargers is Polaroid and its Polaroid PDC- 2300Z Battery Charger is just right for those who use a large number of AA or AAA batteries and want to eliminate this expense. Basic Facts About This Electronics Device: Polaroid PDC- 2300Z Battery Charger is a rectangular- shaped battery charger with a capacity for up to four AA or four AAA batteries. This battery charger is dual- powered with a regular household cord and a car cord, making it more convenient to charge batteries whenever the need arises.
This Polaroid battery charger does not have a cover. The batteries simply snap into place and the device is then plugged in to start the charging process. A red "charging" light on the front of the Polaroid PDC- 2300Z Battery Charger indicates that charging is taking place. When the charging is completed, a small green "ready" light will begin to glow. The green light will remain glowing until the unit is unplugged. Final Thoughts: We use a large number of batteries in my household, due to the large number of remote controls, children's toys, and electronic devices scattered around our home. As much as we might profess our loathing of batteries and try to avoid them, there is no way to eliminate them completely without giving up certain conveniences. This is why we decided we needed a battery charger and for our needs, the Polaroid PDC- 2300Z Battery Charger fulfilled our desires.
I found the Polaroid PDC- 2300Z Battery Charger in the digital camera section of a large department store, along with many other battery chargers. Many who purchase this and other battery chargers designed for AA and AAA batteries do so because of their digital cameras. Frequent photographers blaze through batteries rapidly so a battery charger makes sense. We own two digital cameras in my household and they both use these size batteries, so this product has been useful in keeping these batteries charged and keeping our battery expense at a minimum.
However, digital cameras were not the main reason I wanted a battery charger. My main motivation was the many toys and gadgets my kids use/play with that require AA or AAA batteries. Some of these devices can drain a pair of alkaline batteries in a matter of a couple of weeks, so a battery charger seemed like a sensible purchase. Most everything my kids use takes these smaller batteries, so I went to the store in search of a battery charger exclusively for AA and AAA batteries. The Polaroid PDC- 2300Z Battery Charger seemed like a good charger for the twenty dollar cost so I made the purchase and went on my way.
This battery charger includes four rechargeable AA batteries, so it is already complete and ready to go. It is a good idea to charge the batteries fully at first, because they could be partially drained once they make their way into your household. It takes about 60 minutes to charge two Ni-Cd, AA batteries or about 90 minutes to charge four batteries (for AAA Ni- Cd batteries, the charging times are reduced to about 35 minutes for two, 60 minutes for four). Ni- MH batteries take about twice as long and should be avoided, if possible. The batteries are simply snapped into place, the unit is plugged in, and the waiting begins. Don't worry about inserting the batteries incorectly- you will know if you do because the charging red light will not come on unless the batteries are inserted the right way.
Once batteries are charged, they can be used like ordinary batteries. They are good for a decent amount of time, but I have noticed that they do not last as long as a fresh set of new, alkaline batteries. If I had to estimate the trade- off, it would be about seventy percent; that is, a newly charged set of these rechargeable batteries will last for about 70 percent as long as a fresh set of new, alkaline batteries. So, they do not have as much life, but they are, of course, rechargeable so this is a minor inconvenience when you consider that you won't need to buy any new batteries for a long time. Polaroid claims that its Polaroid PDC- 2300Z Battery Charger and the four included batteries are good for about 1,000 charges. I can't confirm that number, but I am confident that these batteries can be recharged and reused hundreds of times at least.
Are there any flaws with the Polaroid PDC- 2300Z Battery Charger? I can think of a few. First, there is no cover on the battery section, which means the batteries may fall out when the unit is in use. Little kids can also remove the batteries while charging because it takes little effort to pop them out. Another possible problem is that the Polaroid PDC- 2300Z Battery Charger can handle only AA and AAA batteries and only four at a time. Those who use multiple sizes of batteries will need another charger.
The Polaroid PDC- 2300Z Battery Charger should be used only with Ni- MH or Ni-Cd rechargeable batteries. Attempting to charge other batteries in this charger could result in injury and/or damage to the unit. This should be obvious, but many people will be tempted to grab other batteries and attempt to charge them as well. If you do, there is a chance the unit will be damaged, the batteries may leak acid, or worse. It is best to resist the temptation and stick with the rechargeable variety, like the manufacturer recommends. If you need more batteries, go and purchase another container of rechargeable AA or AAA.
Overall, the Polaroid PDC- 2300Z Battery Charger is a very good battery charger and it helps to keep battery expenses under control. I have a total of eight Polaroid rechargeable AA batteries for use in my one charger and this seems to be enough to keep the batteries charged as I rotate them from one toy or remote control to the next. This charger has some limitations, but it suits my needs just fine, helping to reduce battery waste and eliminate inconvenient trips to the store when batteries need to be replaced.
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