A Charger for All
by the Gadget Gals
One of the problems of the electronic age is that battery charges don't last forever. If you are like this Gadget Gal and have trouble deciding which charger goes with which battery or finding the right charger among the tangles wires beneath your desk, it's time to buy a charger that will work with different types of batteries.
These chargers work by providing a base unit that plugs into your power source and a set of different types of adapter plates that slide into the base. Even though the package you purchase will come with adapter plates that fit a variety of different products, you'll only have one wire to deal with.
The power charger that I purchased is a Mach1 Speed Charger from Lenmar Battery Solutions. It works with a lengthy list of Canon, Hitachi, JVC, Panasonic, RCA, and Sony products. I've used it with batteries that go with a Sony digital camera that I bought years ago and also with the battery to my new Canon digital video camera.
The literature that came with the Lenmar package claims that it works three times faster than other chargers for 7.2 lithium-ion camcorder and digital camera batteries. I can't verify that fact because I never keep track of how long it takes batteries to charge. It does seem to work quickly, however. The information also says that the charger will work by putting the DC power adapter into a cigarette lighter in a car. I haven't tried that either. What I can tell you is that the Mach1 Speed Charger is a handy gadget for those who have multiple types of digital cameras at home, school, or office. It's easy to switch adapter plates, and small lights on the base unit inform you when the battery is charged or if there is a problem with the battery, I would suggest that you keep all the adapter plates in the Mach1's original box so that you can find them when a new battery comes into your life.
Lenmar also offers several newer products with multiple adapter plates that work with 3.5 V to 7.4V Lithium-Ion batteries and 3.6 & 6 Volt NiCd and NiMH batteries. Each of these products is priced at $99. See the Lenmar site for details.
Note: Additional adapter plates can be purchased separately.
Helpful Information
Lenmar Battery Solutions
http://www.lenmar.com
Most of the battery adapter plate products - $99
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