SANYO SEC-N-TG12SET-GEN 4 POSITION CHARGER & TRAVEL CASE by SANYO
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Digital camera reviews of SANYO SEC-N-TG12SET-GEN 4 POSITION CHARGER & TRAVEL CASE
Digital camera Review: Finally, Nimh That Has Shelf Life That Rivals Alkalines
Summary: 5 Stars
This used to be a great purchase deal at Costco. Now they cycles into different Eneloop packages. The size "C" and "D" spacers are very useful. If you get the charger with a single LED then you are lucky. That means you are getting the smart charger that has 4 individual charging positions instead of 2 pairs.
The biggest drawback for Nickel Metal Hydride batteries is the shelf life. I got gadgets and toys all around the house, so I constantly charging batteries to have them ready when I need them. There will be very little juice left if you put them in the shelf unused for a couple of months. A waste of time and energy. Hence, one of the biggest advancement in battery technology is the arrival of the new low discharge Nickel Metal Hydride batteries. This is another great step in helping the environment. I have very few left of the old batteries since I started to replace all of them with low discharge batteries. Eneloops and Duracell are 2 of the best of its kind.
Pros:
-Low discharge.
-Well constructed
-Conventional size and dimension. I had other batteries that I have to use a screwdriver to remove from my camera because it is fatter than other "AA's".
-Looks so sleek and sexy designwise
Cons:
-More expensive than ordinary NiMh
-Not available at many stores
-Maxes at around 2000-2100 mAh
Digital camera Review: Eneloop is great, the charger isn't
Summary: 3 Stars
This packege is worthwhile only if you can use all of the parts. While the C & D adapters should be useful someday for me, they can now be purchased in the quantity needed and Eneloop batteries are readily available separately. I was looking forward to the compact lightweight charger for travel, but it is only rated for 110-120V systems. Much of the world uses 220-240V, so I still need another one.Digital camera Review: Finally, rechargeable batteries for your remote.
Summary: 5 Stars
Nickel metal hydride batteries have been notorious for not holding their charge for more than a month or two. These new batteries hold their charge. Independent testing has shown to have a retention rate of about 70% for up to a year (search on google for a review by "Stefan"). These batteries will now be utilized in items that previously only had alkalines in them: clocks, remote controls, and thermostats. Basically, all electronics with low power demands.
One caveat: Although I didn't purchase this item from Amazon, I did notice that a retailer where I purchased from (famous warehouse "C"lub) had two different versions of this Charging Kit. One with a charger as depicted here, MQN05 (has a cover over the charger), and another kit with MQN06 (without a charger cover). MQN05 charges each cell independently (you can charge just one battery, if you want) while the MQN06 charges them in pairs (must charge either two or four; can't charge just one). This may be important if you need to charge single batteries.
Also comes with adaptors so that you can use your AA battery for C and D sizes.
Digital camera Review: Every family should receive one for Christmas
Summary: 5 Stars
If I were Santa Claus, I would give one Sanyo Eneloop Battery Charging Kit to every family in America!
We all know that using rechargeable NiMH batteries (instead of alkaline cells) is good for the environment and the pocket book. But why do most family still buy (and throw away) dozens of alkaline cells every year? The main reason is that most traditional NiMH cells are undependable and inconvenient to use. They may completely self-discharge within a few weeks or even a few days, so you always have to recharge them just before use. The other problem is with battery chargers. Most low-cost slow charger are 'dumb' and can over-charge your cells. Rapid ("15-minute") chargers are particularly bad for battery cycle life, so your cells may go dead after just 50 cycles, instead of 500 cycles as advertised.
With this Eneloop Battery Charging Pack, there is no more excuse! You can now use those rechargeable cells just the way you use alkaline cells (except you don't throw them away, of course). This is because:
1. Those cells come pre-charged and are ready to use - right out of the package.
2. You can choose to top-off those cells anytime with the included MQN05 smart charger - there is no risk of over-charging.
3. Once charged, those cells can retain 80% of their charge even after 6-12 months in storage. That means you can keep a set as backup in your drawer, ready for use anytime.
The only minor complaint I have is with the charger. It only works with 110V AC, so it should not be used as a travel charger. It is also relatively slow because, at 300mA charging current, it takes 7 hours to fully recharge four 2000mAh AA cells. But since you can charge up those cells well in advance (instead of just before use), speed is not a serious limitation.
As you discover more applications for rechargeable batteries, you may want to pick up additional low-self-discharge cells, such as the Sanyo eneloop 4 Pack AA or Rayovac Hybrid 4 pack AA. I have tested both brands and found them to be equally good. If you need a faster and more advanced charger, then the La Crosse Technology BC-900 AlphaPower Battery Charger is probably your best choice. Make sure Santa knows what you want for Christmas!
[Update on Dec 2, 2007]
Those eneloop cells in the package I bought have date code of '0609', which I interpret as '2006 Sept'. I tested four AA cells using my BC-900 and MH-C9000. Their remaining capacities were around 70-73% of full capacity after 14 months of storage!
(In comparison, most Energizer 2500mAh cells I tested lost 30% of their charge within one week)
Possible reasons why those cells are not at 85% as Sanyo has claimed:
1. They were not fully charged when they leave the factory (which presumably uses fast-charging method and hence cannot achieve 100% capacity)
2. They may have been stored at temperature higher than 20 degree C (which is the storage temperature assumed in Sanyo's simulation).
[Update on Nov 18, 2008]
I still recommend the Sanyo eneloop, but the present price of this package is completely out of line. So it is better to check out the Sanyo Eneloop Power Pack, which is available at a fraction of the cost. If you don't need the C- and D-cell adapters, consider buying the AA/AAA batteries separately, then add a better charger (such as the Duracell Mobile Charger).
Digital camera Review: great pack
Summary: 5 Stars
This pack comes with 4-aaa and 8-aa batteries. Also included is a 4 battery charger. What I like the most is that the pack includes sleeves that holds a aa battery and converts it to a C or D size battery. There are 2 sleeves for the C and 2 for the D. You can read other reviews about how great these batteries are. They hold a charge longer than my other Ni-MH batteries. Now I can let my digital camera set on a shelf for a few weeks and have confidence that it will work when I need to use it. Too often my other rechargeable batteries failed the time test.