Rayovac PS3D Universal Battery Charger for AA, AAA, 9V, C and D Rechargeable Batteries
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Customer Reviews of Rayovac PS3D Universal Battery Charger for AA, AAA, 9V, C and D Rechargeable Batteries
Customer Review: Warning! Most of the reviews here apply to a different - better - charger
Summary: 1 Stars
Most of the positive reviews here apply to the PS3 charger, not to the PS20/PS3D. I bought the latter, which is being sold here, thinking I was getting the former. I accept that I am responsible for not being more careful. This charger differs from the Rayovac PS3 in almost every significant way:
1. It has two independent channels, not 4.
2. It will not charge one battery in one channel, only 2 batteries in each channel. Need to recharge one battery or three? Tough luck. Your choices are zero, two or four (except for 9V batteries). The two battery slots in each channel are apparently linked in series, not in parallel, so each battery in a given channel gets the same current at all times.
3. It is only intended for use with NiMH batteries, not NiCd or rechargeable alkaline batteries.
4. It is not remotely smart. It makes no effort to determine battery type or if batteries are fully charged. It puts out a constant current at 2.8V and never stops. (This voltage is specified on the back of the charged and is what makes me thing that the two batteries in each cell are linked in series.) It is up to you to guess when the pair of batteries is fully charged and pull them out then. Also, if you're putting a charged battery in with a discharged one in order to charge an odd number of discharged batteries, they both get the same treatment. The only thing that varies is that larger batteries get higher currents (D=560mA, C=440mA, AA=260mA, AAA=120mA, 9V=14mA).
5. It charges four AA or AAA batteries at a time, not eight.
6. The status indicator tells you nothing very helpful. It turns on when you have two batteries in a cell and never turns off.
Avoid this charger. The only advantage I can think of for it is that, like other completely dumb chargers, it will charge batteries that other chargers reject as dead. Sometimes such batteries are just completely discharged and work well after being charged by a dumb charger like this one.
Customer Review: Swiss-Army Knife Charger
Summary: 5 Stars
I got an Olympus 700-series camera 3 years ago and this camera uses AA cells instead of a battery pack. It also drinks batteries like water if you use the flash. It also needs 1.5v batteries - Nimh or NiCd's just don't work.
So when Ray-o-vac released the "Renewal" rechargeable alkaline battery, i was ecstatic. I got the batteries and got the charger. The ability to recharge these special batteries is what make it a 3-in-1 charger.
The charger is very smart; when a battery is charged it shuts off. I have read that this extends the life of most types of cells. I can also tell if a cell needs to be "topped off" by placing it in the charger - it will shut off right away if the cell is o.k.
The capacity is 1-4xD, or 1-4xC, or 1-8xAA, or 1-8xAAA cells. The ability to charge just one cell is an improvement over my GE stereo charger. I wish that Ray-o-vac made a charger that was 2x as large. When I get in the mood to charge I want parallelism, baby.
The contacts are good and the unit is reliable; it does what the marketing says it does, so I'm a happy customer. The main downside is that there is no port for 9v batteries. However, most 9v rechargeable batteries only put out 7.2v, and often do not work in smoke detectors, etc., so it's not a big loss.
NOTE: renewal rehargeable alkaline batteries are getting hard to find, but I believe there are now other makers of rechargeable alkaline batteries. Also, the renewal batteries only last about 20 charges, i've taken to writing the date on the batteries when i use them for the first time, and I try to keep them together in sets. Tonight I am looking to buy some generic batteries of this type, and I believe they will charge properly in my charger.
If you never intend to run rechargeable batteries, then GE makes a fine charger that holds 8xD cells, or 16xAA cells, for under $20, in fact, I have one of those too.
Customer Review: Solid, multiple form, multiple cell charger
Summary: 5 Stars
After experiencing some disappointing charging results for AA batteries that I use in digital cameras, I tried to figure out why I was getting such uneven results. I learned that charging "re-chargeable" batteries is not a fool-proof process. In fact, overcharging certain batteries can shorten the life of batteries or even ruin them.
In order to protect your batteries from damage, it is wise to use a "smart" charger to figure out the type of battery it is charging and then "do the right thing".
After doing a considerable amount of research, I concluded that the Rayovac PS 3 is such a "smart charger", and will take steps to achieve optimal results.
It has four independent charger bays, each holding two battery cells, and each bay can charge a different size battery (or pair of batteries).
The Rayovac PS 3 is also generally well made and modestly priced, making it a good value.
After using it for about a month and carefully measuring "before" and "after" voltages on several sets of batteries, including AA, C, and D cells, and both NiCAD and NiMH batteries, I am satisfied that the Rayovac PS 3 is doing a good job, and quietly working as it is supposed to work.
Customer Review: The Right Time
Summary: 5 Stars
I have always felt that there should be a deposit on batteries. I live within 15 miles of an incinerator/power plant and their studies found that mercury was getting into the environment which in turn causes birth defects. They said it was mostly coming from used household batteries that were not being recycled. It was then that I looked into rechargeable batteries. It is expensive to purchase the rechargeable type but the cost savings should give you incentive to do the same. I shop at Amazon a lot and read their reviews, which always makes the sale. This Ray-o-vac charger works great with the common types of batteries (A-AA-AAA-C-D-9V)and even though it is an all night charger,I have purchased surplus batteries so that I always have fresh ones waiting in the closet. The batteries are expensive at first, but the savings are incredible when you consider that they can be recharged over a hundred times. We all can do a little to save the environment with just a little help from using rechargeable batteries.Customer Review: Rayovac PS3 is not the PS3D
Summary: 1 Stars
Beware the PS3 has been discontinued and replaced with the New Rayovac PS3D.
It is not a smart charger.
It only charges 4 cells at a time in Pairs !. It will not charge just one cell.
And according to the instructions is only for NiMH batteries..
Beware if you are trying to buy the Older and much better PS3.. The newer unit (PS3D) with the Yellow/ Gold color packaging is just a cheep replacement by Rayovac. Unfortunately the unit has the same UPC code so Amazon's system cannot tell the difference. Also Contact the merchant and ask them before you buy. The older and much better PS3 is no longer offered by Rayovac. One last thing.. Contact Amazon.com and tell them to update these pages.. The listings are controlled by Amazon and not the merchants so only Amazon can correct this issue..
Rayovac has told me that they intend to release a new Smart charger so perhaps that may be renamed the PS3..
Lets hope so..