A couple of months ago, I told you about my experience with the Energizer Rechargeable 15-Minute Charger. I shared with you how it fits our lifestyle, saves money because we don’t have to buy new batteries all the time, and it helps the environment because over time you are disposing of fewer batteries.
Energizer has sent me another one of their chargers to test, this time it is their Energizer Family Charger. This charger is designed to acommodate any size rechargeable battery and charges as many as 8 batteries at a time.
This charger does not come with any batteries, but in order for me to test it, Energizer sent along a package of each size; AA, AAA, D, C and 9V. Did you know they make rechareable 9 volt batteries? I didn’t. It will hold up to 8 AA, 8 AAA, 4C, 4D or 2 9V NiMH rechargeable batteries or a combination of any of those. You place the batteries in the charger and then when you close the lid, the tabs with the contacts on them on the inside of the charger tighten themselves depending upon what size battery you put in there. The lid latches closed and the display lights up telling you the status on how far along your charging is.
Depending upon which size batteries you put in it, the charging time will vary. It is affected by the number of batteries in the charger and the size and can take anywhere from 3 to 7 hours. The charger comes with a standard AC adapter.
As I mentioned in my review of the 15-Minute Charger, The Energizer Rechargeables NiMH batteries that come with the charger last up to 4x longer in digital cameras, can be charged 100’s of times and can hold their charge up to 6 months.
Some additional features:
- The ultimate family battery power station
- Super safe – will only begin charging when the lid is closed
- Easy-to-read LCD screen shows the charging status of the batteries inside
- ENERGY STAR® certified
- MSRP $29.99
So far, I really love having this charger. While we mostly use AA batteries, we do use the other sizes occasionally as well. It is convenient and economical, when I pull some dead batteries out of something, to not have to add them to my grocery list, but simply either charge them, or pull a set of previously charged ones out of the drawer.
I do have a suggestion for Energizer now that I have a nice collection of rechargeable batteries for our household, and that is to design a caddy of some sort that not only allows me to organize my batteries by size, but also according to whether or not they have been charged yet. We tend to have a little pile of them rolling around on the counter and never know if the person who put them there just took them out of something and they need to be charged or if someone took them out of the charger to charge something else. I keep the charger on my counter/island in my kitchen because it is central to everything, and a decorative caddy or one that would sit in a kitchen drawer would work well for our lifestyle.
Check it out on Amazon: Energizer Family Battery Charger
What about you? Have you made the switch to using rechargeable batteries? Do you have a suggestion for how I can better organize mine?
About Kim
I have been looking at battery chargers and this looks like a great one! Between kids toys, cameras, and all that stuff the amount of batteries we end up going through gets ridiculous!
Really guys, we can save money and environment by using rechargeable staffs.
i love the idea of one charger for all sizes of batteries! the idea for an organizer is a great one…all mine are floating around in the junk drawer. right now i have a charger for AA’s and so far, it’s working well.
It is such a great investment and think of all of the money you are going to save.
My parents used rechargables years ago, before green was in. They’re terrific.
We have one set for the digital camera but will get more in the future.
Hi, As soon as you experiment with rechargeables it is unlikely you would revert back to the disposable cells. The charge may not be as powerful as the one you get from the alkaline alternatives but over time you would hardly notice. As for the organization of your cells, seeing as you charge them in the kitchen, a neat in-and-out “tray” should resolve that issue.
We could definitely use rechargeable batteries in our household. Or maybe some stock in Energizer! :)
My mother in law found an organizer in a catalog that she hangs on the wall (the organizer, not the catalog). It has a FIFO system and holds a ton of each size, even 9v.
I’ll have to look at a couple of my favorite catalog stores for one, thanks Lori. BTW…”the organizer, not the catalog” – HYSTERICAL…or I’m easily amusing.
and I haven’t had my coffee so amusing should have been amused. I’ll shut up now.
Cool. I want one.
You know, with how many batteries my husband goes through with his wireless mouse, a charger and rechargeable batteries are in order. Great review!