Customer Reviews

Kodak Value Charger with 4 Pre-Charged NiMH AA Batteries

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The batteries in this package (Kodak Value Charger with 4 Pre-Charged NiMH AA Batteries) belong to the latest generation of low-self-discharge NiMH cells. It may not be as well-known as other brands (SANYO eneloop, Rayovac Hybrid, Duracell Pre Charged) but it is just as good according to my own testing:

1. The battery capacity is specified as 2100mAh. But the average capacity I have measured (using my La Crosse BC-900) is actually closer to 2200mAh!

2. After three months in storage, the capacity lost is only around 10%. This is even better than the results I got from eneloop and Hybrid (both close to 15%).

I have used more than a dozen of those Kodak Pre-Charged AA cells in digital camera (Canon S5), external flash (Canon 420EX), plus various toys and gadgets with great satisfaction. However, I feel that the 'value charger' (K620) included here is a horrible product because:

1. It is a really dumb charger that simply charges at 180mA FOREVER! You are supposed to manually remove the batteries after 12-16 hours (depending on the capacity). If you forget and leave them in there for too long, they will be over-charged and may eventually be damaged.

2. It can only charge either 2 or 4 AA cells in pairs. This is very inconvenient if you have appliances that require odd number of cells.

It is simply inexcusable for Kodak to lump its best rechargable AA batteries together with such a poor charger. My advice is to get the KODAK 1-Hour Battery Charger K6200 package for just a few dollars more. The K6200 is a smart charger that charges each cell independently, and stops charging when each cell is full. It also charges a lot faster: about two hours for 4 AA cells.

I got this charger from a Walmart because the other brand I used that had a one hour charger would stop charging after 15 minutes and leave the batteries unfilled. This charger and battery set are actually pretty decent and I use them in my Nikon flashes...sure it's not as good as a 2700 mAH battery set but it's fine for most things.

My biggest complaint is with the charger. It doesn't appear to know when the batteries are charged so I always feel like I'm risking over charging my batteries and ruining them or not charging them enough.

The included batteries are excellent - hold their charge well both over time and in use. Charger seems to work quickly, though can't tell exactly because it doesn't let you know when it is finished. More than paid for itself in battery savings; carrying a second set of charged batteries ensures not running out of power for my Canon camera.

Charged the batteries for 14 hours as recommended...put them in my Kodak C875...turned it on...Low battery signal...30 seconds later, camera died...took out the batteries and put in the other two (it came with 4)...camera wouldn't turn on...took them out and put in my old Lithium batteries and it worked just fine.

What a P.O.S.

PROS -

For 12 bucks, you can't beat the quality of these batteries. The whole "pre-charged" thing is not true. The batteries lasted about 2 minutes right out of the box, and I had to charge them fully before use. BUT I've had them in my digital camera for weeks and they still haven't needed a single charge.

I guess the other person who reviewed this product received a defective one, because mine works great. I used to use duracell for all my digital cameras, and to be honest the Kodak batteries are working much better. The charger as well is quite compact compared to other chargers i've used.

Overall these batteries are great for use in digital cameras. T

CONS -

When you first open the package you literally get smacked with the strong odor of burning plastic. Not sure what that's about :P

Put two of the batteries in the charger and they leaked all over the charger. Had to toss the charger and those two batteries out