# Your preferred NiMH batteries **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 28, 2004, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-nimh-batteries/266541 "2004-09-28T19:12:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2004, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-nimh-batteries/266541/1 "2004-09-28T19:12:13Z")
I just bought the missus a digital camera, but have yet to get around to buying some nice rechargeable AA batteries for it. I’ve checked through several stores, and I find it’s tough to compare the various chargers because they deliberately lack information that would make it easy to rate them. I understand that the higher the mAh, the longer the battery will last, but: a) Is it better to get a quick charger or a slow charger? (14 hours to charge v. 3 hours v. 30 minutes? What’s the difference-- and why?) b) Do NiMH batteries have ‘memory’ that needs to be refreshed (or is this only NiCd)? c) What’s your preferred charger? ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2004, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-nimh-batteries/266541/2 "2004-09-28T19:18:22Z")
I have a sony charger which takes 2 hours. Quicker is better. And batteries should be around 2000 Mha. They _say_ ‘no memory effect’ but I haven’t quite brought myself to trust that. I let mine drain fully before recharging them. They last a surprisingly long time on one charge, and are supposed to last for 1000 charges. Pretty darn good value. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2004, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-nimh-batteries/266541/3 "2004-09-28T20:27:17Z")
I prefer the type made from the intelligent rats. I don’t want those damn mice touching my batteries. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2004, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-nimh-batteries/266541/4 "2004-09-29T00:41:30Z")
I’ve had very good luck with the MAHA charger and batteries found [here](http://www.nimhbattery.com/), they are highly recommended by the folks on several of the Digital Camera message boards. I’ve never noticed a problem with several years worth of use without draining the batteries completely. While you may not trust that there’s no “memory effect” with NiMH, there is no evidence to support that it exists and lots to show that it doesn’t. Just top 'em up and go. Some of the very fast chargers can shorten the life of batteries by overheating them. Mine takes a few hours, but I always have a backup set ready anyways. I’ve used 1800mAH to the current set of 2300mAH. Anything above 2000 should be fine. ---
**Author:** ![Dragwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dragwyr/32/2855_2.png) [@Dragwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragwyr)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2004, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-nimh-batteries/266541/5 "2004-09-29T02:14:16Z")
I had to get new NiMH batteries for an Archos Jukebox 6000 MP3 Player that I got from a friend. I ended up getting a Rayovac 15 minute Charger and 4 of the AA Rayovac 2000 mAh C-3 batteries. They work great! 15 minutes to charge, and I get about 6 hours of play time on my player. ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2004, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-nimh-batteries/266541/6 "2004-09-30T15:47:44Z")
What do people think of the mainstream chargers? Duracell? Monster? Energizer? Sony? ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2004, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-nimh-batteries/266541/7 "2004-09-30T18:35:19Z")
Here’s a link to the Rayovac 15-minute-charge cells **Dragwyr** beat me to: [Rayovac I-C3](http://www.rayovac.com/products/recharge/15minutes/info.shtml) I couldn’t find specs on the capacity of the I-C3’s though. Perhaps its not as high as Rayovac had hoped? Also, I use Energizer 2300mAh NiMH’s for my devices. One of them uses battery packs. It originally came with an 800mAh Ni-Cad pack. After I rebuilt the factory pack with the high capacity cells, it occurred to me that the charging circuit in the device was only designed for the smaller battery. Now, instead of taking 12 hours to charge, I give it two full days. Lasts a long time, though. ---
**Author:** ![CheapBastid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8baadc/32.png) [@CheapBastid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CheapBastid)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2004, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-nimh-batteries/266541/8 "2004-09-30T23:04:07Z")
[The Great Battery Shootout](http://www.imaging-resource.com/ACCS/BATTS/BATTS.HTM) ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-nimh-batteries/266541/9 "2004-10-01T15:45:20Z")
Mrs. Frisby makes batteries? ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Natural](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7993a0/32.png) [@Mr\_Natural](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Natural)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-nimh-batteries/266541/10 "2004-10-04T22:10:43Z")
I like the MAHA powerex. 2200maH. My camera loves them too.