# Is there some kind of universal thingey I can charge my camera with? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 25, 2008, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-some-kind-of-universal-thingey-i-can-charge-my-camera-with/457765 "2008-07-25T18:52:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2008, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-some-kind-of-universal-thingey-i-can-charge-my-camera-with/457765/1 "2008-07-25T18:52:40Z")
I know, it’s one of those dumb specific questions. And I need answer fast, 'cause I’m going out of town tomorrow. I have a Canon PowerShot Elph SD1000, which has a rechargeable battery. It keeps a charge so long that I lost the charger. I can’t source one locally (and if I could it would be really expensive.) Is there a universal charger I could find widely available that would work? Are those things safe? ---
**Author:** ![postcards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e8cbc/32.png) [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2008, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-some-kind-of-universal-thingey-i-can-charge-my-camera-with/457765/2 "2008-07-25T19:47:43Z")
You need a CB2-LV charger, which you can buy at [B&H Photo](http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?ci=0&sb=ps&pn=1&sq=desc&InitialSearch=yes&O=jsp%2Fproduct.jsp&A=search&Q=*&bhs=t&shs=%23CACB2LV&sb=ps&pn=1&sq=desc&InitialSearch=yes&O=jsp%2Fproduct.jsp&A=search&Q=*&bhs=t&Go.x=15&Go.y=12&Go=submit) for 39.95 or from [Sterling Tek](http://sterlingtek.com/cacbnbcoactr.html) for 17.99. Sterling Tek is a good company, I use their replacement batteries for my Canon DSLRs. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2008, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-some-kind-of-universal-thingey-i-can-charge-my-camera-with/457765/3 "2008-07-25T20:15:54Z")
Yeah, but I’m leaving tomorrow. 🙂 I need something I can get at Best Buy or Radio Shack or some place that’s going to be open after 6 on a Friday. ---
**Author:** ![postcards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e8cbc/32.png) [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2008, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-some-kind-of-universal-thingey-i-can-charge-my-camera-with/457765/4 "2008-07-25T20:28:26Z")
Sorry, I missed the part about NEED ANSWER FAST. 😉 I seriously doubt you’d be able to find something compatible. Pocket camera batteries come in too many shapes and types. But if there’s a Radio Shack near you it might be worth a shot. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2008, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-some-kind-of-universal-thingey-i-can-charge-my-camera-with/457765/5 "2008-07-25T21:04:19Z")
I’ll try - Radio Shack used to have that kind of stuff, along with friendly knowledgeable people. Now it seems they just sell cell phones. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2008, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-some-kind-of-universal-thingey-i-can-charge-my-camera-with/457765/6 "2008-07-25T23:04:29Z")
I have a Canon SD 800-is that uses the same batteries. I’ve used my [MAHA universal charger](http://www.thomas-distributing.com/mh-c777plus.htm) for my Canon batts and about 50 other batteries around the house. It’s a great investment that I use all the time and the OP might be able to find one locally in time. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2008, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-some-kind-of-universal-thingey-i-can-charge-my-camera-with/457765/7 "2008-07-25T23:24:58Z")
The guys at Radio Shack were, shockingly, super-helpful. They showed me a universal charger and figured out exactly where the thing had to go (which was really complicated) in the store and sent it home with me with the battery in place.