How many devices, toys and gadgets do you own that use AA or AAA batteries? Do you feed these devices standard alkaline batteries, or do you use rechargeables? I personally prefer to go the rechargeable route mainly because it’s easier and less expensive for me to pop a set of drained batteries into a charger and wait for them to rejuice, then it is for me to drive to the store and buy a brand new set. I’ve been using an ancient Realistic (Radio Shack) branded charger for years and although it charges batteries just fine, it’s bulky and not efficient because it continues to charge the batteries even after they are fully charged. When the folks at Energizer asked if I would like to review one of their chargers, I gladly accepted and they sent me a sample of their new Recharge Value AA/AAA NiMH Battery Charger. Let’s take a look.
Note: Images can be clicked to view a larger size.
Hardware Specs
Model: CHVCM4
Charges: AA NiMH batteries up to 2650mAh, AAA NiMH batteries up to 1000mAh
Input Voltage: AC 110-127V 50/60 Hz
Charging Current: 260-300 mA for 2AA and 120-140mA for 2AAA
What’s in the package?
Energizer charger
4 AA NiMH 1300 mAh batteries
Instruction sheet
This charger is designed to accommodate 4 AA or 4 AAA Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) batteries. You can not use this charger to charge other types of batteries such as Lithium Ion and standard alkaline cells. It will allow you to mix sizes, so you can charge 2 AA’s and 2 AAA’s at one time as long as you make sure that each battery type is of the same mAh rating. However, you can’t charge an odd number of batteries such as 1 or 3 cells.
The Value charger comes with 4 AA 1300 mAh pre-charged batteries. I was surprised to see the low 1300 mAh rating on the included batteries considering that Energizer also offers 2300 mAh batteries.
The charger itself is compact and attractive.
It has fold down prongs, which allow it to easily store in a drawer or gear bag.
One feature I really love is the hole that goes straight through the charger. How many times have you used a screwdriver or another pointy object to help you remove batteries from a charger? Removing batteries from the Recharge Value charger is much easier because you can just push them out with your fingers.
The other feature that I like is the large status indicator, which glows red while charging, green when finished and flashes red when a bad battery has been detected.
During the time that I’ve been testing this charger, I’ve used it to charge the included batteries as well as another set of Energizer AA’s that I already had on hand. As luck would have it, I didn’t have any other brands of batteries to test.But the charger should work just fine as long as the batteries do not exceed 2650mAh for AA’s and 1000mAh for AAA’s.
It’s important to note that this is not a smart charger. It’s actually a timer-based dumb charger. What’s the difference and why should you care? A Smart charger monitors the voltage of each cell individually during charging and stops when a charge-termination signal (negative delta-Voltage) is detected. This avoids over-charging. A Dumb charger relies on a timer to stop charging or has no termination mechanism at all. This usually results in over-charging which is bad for battery lifespan.
The Energizer Recharge Value Charger charges at a fixed current (300mA for AA, 150mA for AAA) for a fixed time of 11 hours. No matter what the actual capacity and status of your batteries, it will charge for that length of time and will then turn off. When you use it to recharge the included 1300mAh batteries, you have to remember to remove them after 5-6 hours (because 1300mAh/300mA = ~5.5 hours). If you forget and leave them in the charger until the auto timer turns off after 11hrs, those batteries will be over-charged by over 50%. That doesn’t mean the batteries will explode or catch fire, but it can negatively impact the overall life of the batteries.
Should you buy the Energizer Recharge Value AA/AAA NiMH Battery Charger? I wish that it was a smart charger with the capability of not over charging each individual battery because I really like this charger for the main two reasons I mentioned above: easy battery removal and large status LED. As is, you’re probably better off spending a few extra dollars on a smart charger so that you’ll get more rechargers per battery, which will save you more money and energy in the long run. I’m going to continue to use this one because it’s less bulky than my old one and it’s easier to remove the batteries. However, I’m going to search around for a similarly sized smart charger.
03/05/13: Update from Energizer
The Value Charger does include delta voltage detection to avoid over charging. It monitors the voltage to determine when the batteries are full and will then automatically shut off. The green light will remain on to serve as an indicator that the batteries are full.
The charge time for the included 1300 mAh AA batteries is about five hours.
The 11-hour timer is strictly a back-up safety feature in the event the charger doesn’t turn off once the batteries are fully charged.
The Value Charger will recharge any NiMH AA and AAA batteries. We recommend using Energizer rechargeable batteries with Energizer chargers.
Updates 10/12/2015
I still like using this charger for one main reason, the large status light. I don’t pay attention to how long it takes to charge the batteries, I just like that light. It’s easy to just look in my office and see if the batteries are done charging without walking in for a closer look. I also like that it takes no effort to insert or remove the batteries from the charger.
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I have one of these smart chargers:
http://www.amazon.com/La-Crosse-Technology-Battery-Charger/dp/B000RSOV50/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1361400299&sr=8-1&keywords=nimh+battery+charger
and it works great! I can charge 1 batt at a time, if need be.
@John That looks like a very nice charger! Lots of positive reviews too. Thanks for the link.
It’s funny that when I’m start looking for something I find it in a new post here 🙂
You guys reading my mind or is there an APP for that?
I forgot to mention that I got one of those “ancient Realistic (Radio Shack) branded charger”, too!
Mine runs off of 12volts and I’ve had it since the late 70s. It still works but I thought it time I look for something newer.
@Bob We’ve been experimenting with neural review suggestion technology. I guess it’s working 😉
@Julie,
WOW!
The Energizer CHVCM4 charger with 4 1300mah batteries is A PIECE OF GARBAGE!!!! I bought the package from Home Depot, and will return the package of junk to Home Depot FIRST THING TOMORROW. I CAN’T BELIEVE ENERGIZER IS SELLING A TOTALLY USELESS PRODUCT.
HOW USELESS?
1. The 1300mah AA batteries ARE A JOKE!!
NO RESPECTABLE BATTERY MAKER MAKES
1300mah ANYMORE!
2. I HAVE A SET OF 5+YEAR OLD RADIO SHACK AA NiMH
BATTERIES THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING RELIABLY.
THESE ARE 1500mah!!! THESE OLD RADIO SHACK
MODELS MAKE THE BRAND-NEW ENERGYPPER LOOK
LIKE A PAIR OF OLD CARBON/ZINC TRASH!
3. I HAVE YET ANOTHER SET OF CVS NiMH, AND HESE ARE
2450mah!!!! ALMOST 2x THE CAPACITY OF ENERGYPPER
JUNK!!!
ENERGIZER: YOU’RE SELLING CRAP!!!!
I AM SO ANGRY TO HAVE BEEN SOLD TRASH!!!
DO NOT BUY ENERGIZER JUNK!!!
THEY LABEL THESE 1300mah TRASH AS IF THEY’RE
PREMIUM BATTERIES, AND SELL THEM WITH THE
ENERGYPPER LABEL.
SO, ENERGIZER (… er.. ENERGYPPER) — ARE YOUR
PRODUCTS SO CRAPPY, THAT YOU RESORT TO SELLING
JUNK AND PACKAGING THEM TO LOOK LIKE PREMIUM
QUALITY???
SHAME ON YOU!!!!
It sounds like you’re upset that you didn’t read the package. It is not Energizer’s fault that you bought their low-capacity batteries.
It is also not Energizer’s responsibility to make sure you know what you’re buying; that is the consumer’s responsibility.
Are you so influenced by “premium,” packaging that you can’t resist good marketing?
Don’t be mad at Energizer for selling a low-tier product for a lower price; variety’s purpose is to give options to not only you but others who want cheaper products.
I don’t have a problem with mine but how do I know when the they are fully charged, do the green lights go out or do I have to guess
I have this same charger, and I can’t tell when batteries are fully charged. Red light works when chrgng, but green light has never lit up! A ND that’s after 6- 61/2 hours. But it does charge, as long as the Batts. don’t explode! HA!
Alex G I totally agree. ENERGISER battery charger is useless hopeless waste of money. Energex 1300 rechargeable batteries the light is permanently green the batteries are flat. Yes the open window from back to remove batteries is a Design winner. Shame the design is perfect. Performance is poor. Duracell charger works perfect. Will be writing a Letter of Complaint to Energiser. This battery charger has not been used how can I use a battery charger that does not charge. Not happy. Hope my comment is printed at this late date just found this page 8 Dec 2019
Why does my charger only blink red ??? I left it on for 2-3 hours and it still blinks red and will not got
to green
@Roger it’s blinking? I think that means an error either with the charger or the batteries. It should just be a steady red when it’s charging. Do you have the batteries seated properly? Maybe try another set of batteries. Are you plugging the charger into a power strip? Try plugging it directly into a wall outlet.
Hi,
I have problem with my Energizer Mini Charger, pls see below website for the charger type :
http://www.energizer.eu/ua/ua/products/batteries/mini
When I charge it, light will turn green. Then I waited more than 10-11Hrs. but the light is still on green (not blinking), it doesnt even turned off.
How can I know that the battery is already fully charged?
Does the green light need to be turned off so that I will know that it is fullycharged?
Indicated there that this is auto shut off. But how will I know?
Thank you, pls need help.
Regards.
@blessy this isn’t a review of the mini charger, but it looks like it’s just a smaller version of the product we did review. If that’s the case, the green like does NOT turn off when charging is complete. It still glows. Green means it’s finished charging and red means it’s still charging.
The charger is a pile of junk. It turns green after 20 minutes and the batteries are still completely unusable
Junk! Period!
hi. as for me I hv th one that accommodates 2 batteries and ever since I bought the charger, whenever am charging it has always been green, the instructions reads green indicates charging but how do I know they are fully charged, I just read somwere on the instructions that I need to charge for 8hrs.
This charger is listed at 110-127V input, however I see an apparently identical model on the web with 110-240V input. I suspect they are identical and the limitation is purely regulatory. Would you have any idea about this? A 110V-only charger makes no sense when you are traveling.
I wonder the same, so I opened my US charger marked 110-127 V. There is LNK603 switching regulator in nearly reference design and 400 V condensers, co I think it could do cca. 85 V – 280 V, but big unknown is the used transformer. Such transformers are custom wound with specific input voltages in mind (there is calculator for it provided by the LNK603 manufacturer). Unfortunately, there is no marking on the transformer. I doubt they used two different transformers for US / non US versions and that the transformer cannot do cca. 230 V. Probably it only passed regulations for 110 V in US (e.g. EMC) and that’s why they label it this way. But of course you shouldn’t connect the charger to voltages out of the spec on the label. If you do so you could be in real trouble if some accident happen (even if not caused by this charger). So it’s another con for this charger and shame for Energizer.
I plugged this charger in as soon as I got it home, complete with the 4-AA NiMH batteries. Within 5 hours, the red light turned green, and I thought, OK! But two of the batteries were hot, and the other two on the other side were cold. Obviously, the hot batteries charged successfully, and the cold ones did not. I put the cold ones in place of the hot ones (left side) the light turned red,and within 5 hours they were charged (green light). I thought this unit charged all four at once! Junk?
You must have a bad charger or bad batteries. I’m still using this charger and charge 4 batteries at once all the time. They don’t get hot for me.
Doesn’t seem to work for me. I bought the charger and 4 additional batteries. I left the first set plugged in over night and while I did have the red light for charging the light never goes off. I replaced those ‘non-charged’ batteries with the second set and left it on for well over the 5-6 hours the manual told me it should take to charge them and the red light has not gone out. When I tried to actually use the batteries in a device, thinking perhaps the charge indicator was bad, the device didn’t work. Clearly this charger is not going to work for some reason.
What type of batteries have you been using? Are they Energizer NiMH? I’m still using this charger and the original batteries that were included with it and haven’t experienced this issue.
I’m using the four that came with the unit. Theya are 1300 mAh and did get warm when the charger was on but don’t seem to have charged. The others (in a four pack are 2300 mAh and also get warm but both sets when left in the charger over night will not charge and while they do get warm, the red light never turns to green. And I do have all four slots full when attempting to charge. Ideas?
Mine are 1300 mAh. I think there is something wrong with your charger. You should see if you can get it replaced.
Yes, I was afraid of that. I think the packaging already got thrown away. Of course you don’t suspect something like this will not work right out of the box. I wonder if I bought another brand if I could charge these same batteries?
Any NiMH charger will charge those batteries.
I have the same problem as Tom. I bought this charger a couple of years ago at Target. I took it home and the light stayed red forever. Even over-night. The next day I went to the store to change it for another of the same one, thinking I just had bad luck with the first one, and the same thing happened. The red light never goes off and never changes to green. I stopped using it for a long time and never tried it again, very frustrated. I just started trying it again because I am using a new device that needs constant batteries, so I figured I’d come online and try to find answers once and for all. Right now I am using two of it’s original batteries and two Duracell 2000 mAh, so that might be it, but I have also tried it with it’s 4 original Energizer 1300 mAh and it’s the same thing.
Julie,
Wow, talking about things coming back to haunt you, Feb 18, 2013…
Up until March 2015 I was still getting comments about the article you wrote about PDAs:
“Is there still a market for PDAs?”
by JULIE STRIETELMEIER on DECEMBER 21, 2011
http://the-gadgeteer.com/2011/12/21/is-there-still-a-market-for-pdas/#comments
I ended up (on a trip to Target) buying a Duracell charger that came with two each AAA and AA bateries and it works fine. It charged all the batteries and eight more that I bought in less than three hours. I loaded the eight I needed in my telescope and they hold the charge great, more than eight hours of use. I’ll never get back to the place where I bought the Energizer one so I trashed it. My final advice is pay the extra four bucks and get a Duracell brand.
this charger is excellent. i traded the 1300s for 4 2300s
I am having the same problem as Michelle. The light stays red and the batteries never charge. The one time it did turn green, the batteries ran out of juice very shortly after trying to use them in a camera. I will for sure invest in a smart charger next time.
My question is, how do you know when the batterys are fully charged? Does the red light go out?
The LED will turn from Red to Green when the batteries are fully charged.
I don’t have the type shown. Mine is the small white 2 AA/2 AAA kind. It does have the red light meaning the batteries need charging but does it change to green/go out when done?
I’m sorry, I’m not familiar with that one so I can’t help you.
I didn’t have good experience rechargeable batteries a few years ago but thought I’d try again due to going through a lot with headlight use for work. I searched for solution on my red light never going off either on my new Ray o Vac recharge value charger, which happens to be similar to same problem we ran into last time, except then it inconsistently charged. This light does nothing but stay red with rayovac batteries, the low output that came with unit, the higher output ones I fear in hindsight were ill advisably bought at same time, both AA and AAA.
I’ve been charging batteries for more than 24 hours now and all I have is a red light and hot batteries– both the 1300mAh ones that came with this charger and the bigger Energizer 2300mAh, all brand new out of the packages! I see I’m not the only one, but this is not good.
Its this one ….. http://www.eveready.com/SiteCollectionImages/Batteries/Rechargeable/EV2PCWB2_large.jpg
I’ve never used that version. Sorry.
No worries
I just bought the CHVCM4 chargers today. I had it plugged in for about 6 or 7 hrs, and the RED indicator was still on. I was getting ready for bed and thought I should check the charger, and I found that the batteries were pretty warm to the touch, as was the charger. I’m not too comfortable with batteries getting this warm….or the charger either. I’m not too sure if this is NORMAL for this charger or not.
I bought Energizer Recharge MINI Model CH2PC3 charger few weeks ago. It comes with two AA 1300 mAh Energizer Rechargeable batteries. I let this charger ON for more than 14 hours to charge my two AA 1300 mAh Energizer Rechargeable batteries but it never charged them and I guess it won’t. Green Light Never Goes off, not at least before then 14 hours although its written in its specifications that it is automatic Switch-Off charger. You will never know when your batteries are fully charged. I have a bad experience with energizer so I won’t make a mistake to buy it or to recommend it to anyone. ENERGIZER SUCKS !!!!!!!
I bought this and not impressed. I put these batteries into xbox ? controller and didn’t work, yet the duracells did???
Well thats weird because I used this battery charger with energizer batteries and it works perfectly well for my xbox controller and lasted more than 8 hours.
I have been charging 4 AA batteriies for 7 hours and the batteries are HOT, the light is still red. Should I unplug and try to use the batteries?
If the batteries are actually HOT instead of warm, then there may be something wrong with the charger.
I put the batteries in my fan and they work great, I guess the indicator light does not change to green. I will give it one more chance tonight, this will be the second one going back in a week, if I have to take it back.
The first one had a blinking red light, so I knew that one was a no go. The store already said if this one does not work I can bring it back and they are calling the manufacturer and not carrying it anymore. A LOT of people returned.
Same as a lot of you. Bought the charger with 4 batteries, plugged in at 11 am, and red light still on at 9:00 pm. Batteries are hot. Needed this for new inspection job tomorrow. Thanks a lot Energizer – you really suck! Back to Wal-mart tomorrow for you and NEVER again, as I tried your crap 5 yrs ago and it sucked then too.
A MAJOR negative for me is, as pointed out, the charger is not designed to accommodate an odd number of batteries. I have a few battery-powered devices that use three batteries, so it’s always a challenge to find a way to charge that odd battery. I wish I had known this before I purchased it.
Well What Can I Say……Mmmmmm, The Charger is VERY fussy, i have Lots of Brands in both AA, And AAA sizes, had bought the Charger Model CHPRO-UK so the
Camera would have a Set in use plus a set ready to replace, That seems to work as long as you stick to ENERGIZER MiMH Rechargables.
Even in the old days of of this concept, recharge could only be done safely in Pairs of the Same brand and type ie 550mAh, 800mAh, 1000mAh etc:
BUT today just 2 of the 2000 mAh, ACCU Power Plus (That’s a Laugh!) fully Charged FAILED to power up a 2 Cell portable cd player!, lets see Oh look…..
Battery speed is only 1.2V not 1.5 as standard Batteries are I dont have many of this type spare, but thinking the player itself was wonky, i put in 2 x odd alks of different brands, did it work, of course it did, so why dont these do the same job?
is there a full 1.5Volt AA/AAA recharge out there, if not i need to buy more replaceable batteries or buy a power plug model cd player, (how long is the lead? 3 Miles? i will get one NOT!
What is the true color that will indicate when you charge the battery is it Green or red? Im so confuse about reading the comments above because the green light is there light when i recharge it my energizer NiMP. Iexperience to see red indicators
It is supposed to turn green when charging is complete.
I didnt experience to see redlight indicator in my NiMP when it reached 6hours charging is it green indicates that charging is properly working i mean the NiMP charger?
I bought the charger with its 4 batteries, I charged them overnight until the light turned green. I removed the batteries from charger and placed them in a drawer and left the batteries for like 5 days without attempting to use them, when I tried to use them and they were totally helpless. I am very disappointed with the product because I didn’t expect such a poor performance.
my energizer battery charger was working. I unplugged it and now I have no light at all on my charger what is going on. Up to this point it was green. May have been dropped would this affect it. Thanks Kim
srry I meat to say after plugging the enerizer battery charger in again there was no ight at all.
further to my previous comment there is no light when I charge the battery charger in any outlit . It does have the charged batteries n it. Thankyou,Kim
It sounds like the charger is defective. Does it work if you put batteries that need to be charged in it?
Having similar issue…red light has been on for more the 15 hrs, and used batteries that came in package….my thing is, if they are pre charged, shouldn’t the charger show a green light when you plug them in? It was red, so we assumed they needed charging, and its just been red the whole time…..I am taking it from the comments the charger is defective?
hi all, i have a std type back up older charger for aa/aaa batteries.
When my NEW ENERGIZER (model CHPRO) failed to recharge 2 AA batteries of the same Brand as this Charger RED Light Plus Bleeper, i removed both the batteries and place them in the std backup charger, so far so good, after 3 hours on charge i removed them, and placed them correctly back into the NEW ENERGIZER charger, went on the happily charge them up with the correct level without problem.
Only glows red and never shuts off. Tried several different batteries with no change. Will return and look for another brand.
My charger turned green after first use- now it stays red?? I purchased new batteries thinking maybe I’d gotten bad ones with purchase, but still stays red??
If its red, it means it needs charging and it is charging. The machine flashes red indicating that there is bad batteries. If its just red, its charging.
Same problem!
I have two “Energizer recharge value”. One has the large screen and instructions say:
Solid red = charging
Solid green = charging complete
Pulsing red = bad battery
Guess you would need to only charge one pair to know which pair are good or bad.
The other unit has led an strip above each pair with same instruction for solid colors. This unit flashes green, I assume this means charging as I have never seen solid red on this unit.
Think I have just answered my own question.
Another piece of garbage produced by Energizer. Charger light remains red after 16+ hours of supposedly ‘charging’ 4 energizer batteries. 20 mile round trip drive to &%#$ Home Depot to return this defective merchandise. Cost $19.95 + tax + 2 gallons of gas @ $4.00 per gallon.