Home > Consumer Reviews > Sony Power Battery Charger with 4 AA Ni-MH Rechargeable Batteries

This set includes 4 AA cells Made in Japan for Sony by Sanyo, as well as a timed charger, NOT a smart charger as its similar looking Sony variants.

The Sony Power Charger can recharge 4 AAA or AA cells at a time. Unlike the Panasonic BQ-390 which I also used and reviewed, this Sony uses a timer to stop charging. The Panasonic BQ-390 has advanced circuitry inside to monitor charging through temperature, voltage drop, and the cell's internal resistance, so that you'll get more precise charging and less damage from overcharging of simpler chargers. Sony also offers a similarly advanced product, but this model is a cheaper timed model. It charges the 2100mAH cells for 8 hours straight, or 800 mAh AAA cells for 7 hours straight. If you charge a partially used cell, it will not detect when the cell reaches full charge, and might overcharge. It's best to charge a fully depleted cell with timed chargers.

This is a timed charger, but well matched to the supplied 2100mAh NiMH batteries. The manual recommends charging after a full discharge, so it may overcharge your partially depleted cell or an older cell with lower capacity. As long as you recharge a fully empty, ~2100mAh cell, it shall be fine.

The included cells, actually made by Sanyo-GE, are premium cells, and only surpassed by Sanyo's latest 2300mAh cells.

This was the best deal I found on rechargable NiHM batteries and that too these are made in Japan by Sony. It has a capacity of 2300mAh.

There is one problem with this. This charger does not automatically shut off when the batteries finish charging. So the first time I charged them, I kept waiting for the indicator to go off and I realized after 18 hrs that they are not going to go off.

So, though the batteries are good the charger is not. I would suggest people to go with another sony rechargable model that sells here for just a few dollars more.

These 2100mah Sony AA batteries and charger are the best I own. I have many different brands, Energizer, Kodak, Panasonic etc. and probably a 1/2 dozen chargers.

As some may or may not know batteries that are "trickle or slow" charged will last a good bit longer. This charger takes about 6-7 hours before the full indicator light goes off. On quick charger 15-60 min ones they still fair well but of course not as nearly as long as slow charges.

If you have a digital camera and are using disposable batteries this is a necessary cost saving purchase. So often in Camera reviews people complain "It eats batteries" It is best to have 2 to 3 extra sets and a set runs down - who cares! Throw them in the charger and switch sets.

This kit is exactly what I needed to keep my wife from throwing her camera in the junk drawer for good. The camera's flash would burn through the alkalines at a rediculous rate, and these Ni-MH power through hundreds of shots with ease. I'm really impressed - especially at the price.