> -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Willem-Jan > Markerink > Sent: Wednesday, August 04, 2004 5:38 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: EOS Generic Batteries Okay - but chargers? > > > On 4 Aug 2004 at 16:47, Ken Durling wrote: > > > Following this thread with some interest, but I might have > missed something > > - generic chargers are NOT necessarily ok, right? Especially so-called > > high-speed chargers? My understanding is that they can damage > a battery, > > and that the Canon-brand chargers (whoever makes them) are > really the only > > ones that one should use. Anyone want to debunk this one > > convincingly? Big price difference here. I want to get the > charger that > > will charge two BP-511s from the car, (CR-560) but it lists for > over $150, > > often on eBay for $120 or so, still steep for my budget. There aree > > generic ones that sell for $25, but I feel really hesitant to > get one of > > those. > > If you look hard enough in RC-model shops, you will find dedicated > chargers which can not only charge NiCd & NiMH, but also Li-Ion and > even Li-Polymer. > Cell-chargers like NiCd & NiMH are unlikely, since both Lithium > rechargeables have 3.6/3.7v pro cell. > Downside of most RC-model chargers is that they need 12v input; > typical for race-car/outdoor/on-the-track/out-of-the-car-boot > chargers. > None of these are cheap either btw, count on US$100 minimum, to over > US$300 for mult-channel chargers (the high-end ones might also do > Lithium, and at least these exist as 230v too). > > -- > Bye, > > Willem-Jan Markerink > >
Hi WJM, I've been suggesting that people use R/C chargers for several years. As an electric R/C car racer off and on for 20+ years now I have always used high-end R/C battery chargers to quick charge my camera batteries and battery packs! The best are computer controlled and look for the characteristic impedance, voltage and charge current curves of each type of battery they "know" how to charge to control the charge cycle. R/C cars are using primarily NiCad, NiMH packs for racing (depending on class), and it's no coincidence that these are the most common battery chemistries used in upper-end DSLRs too. I have several R/C car chargers, two that sell for about $300 each for the AC version and four that go for about $200 for the 14V versions (the 10AMP high current capability needed for R/C race car use costs money). This may sound like a lot of money but they charge most any type of battery (NiCad, NiMH, Li etc.), and work very well for the packs used in my EOS 1D, 1Ds, S230 and even the hi-cap. NiMH AA's and AAA's I use in my flash units and other personal electronics. So between the time savings in charging and never having to toss out a battery pack that no longer has full capacity due to poor charging habits they're cheap. They can also be set to automatically discharge and recharge batteries to condition battery packs. Fully discharging and recharging twice as a conditioning cycle once a month keeps my 1D/1Ds battery packs at peak output voltage and capacity. Cheers/Chip * **** ******* *********************************************************** * For list instructions, including unsubscribe, see: * http://www.a1.nl/phomepag/markerink/eos_list.htm ***********************************************************
