In order to take advantage of some of the current deals on battery chargers, I need some advice:

1) Are rechargeable batteries like AC transformers, where you can use a higher value MA input or output (sorry, I never remember which until I go to Radio Shack for replacement) safely than your product specs require, but not a lesser value? Meaning, if my camera calls for 2000mah NIMH batteries, can I use 2500mah w/o damaging?

2) If so, will a higher mah last longer?

3) If you are going to use batteries for other devices, how do you know if you can use a certain value mah safely as a substitute since I don't know the value for a standard alkaline battery. I see from looking at Duracell alkaline batteries, all have an MN, LR & volt rating on them. It's possible that the MN or LR rating could be Duracell's part #. Is there a calculation formula for mah vs. MN/LR/Voltage?

4) What has been your experience with charging 9-volts?

5) What battery chargers are you all using that you highly recommend?

If the answer to my 1st question is yes, I was considering the following highly rated charger:

Ultra Quick AA/AAA Battery Charger w/4 2500mAh AAs $24.95 shipped free, Feb 8

Thank you!

Ok, I'll try to help.

Firstly mAh does not equal mA. mA is a measure of current, while mAh is a measure of amount of stored current (how many milliamps can be discharged in an hour before the battery is drained).

So yes, your camera can take any type of mAh, the higher the longer it'll last.

The factors you have to make sure match up for compatability are volts and amps, once those match up, any number of amphours is cool.

Currently, my camera is using (2) 1.2volt batteries or 1 3V lithium (these were supplied by mfr.) 1.2 volts don't have any other # listed on them but 3 (could this be amps?) and the lithium doesn't have any other #s on it. Problem is, almost everything written on batteries is in Chinese!!!

Why is the 3-volt lithium more than the 1.2 volt rechargeable? I'm so confused.

Will try to find my camera booklet for specs, and I guess contact Ultra support for compatability. Biggest fear is blowing my camera!

I am ashamed that I can not give you precise answer. However, the power is determined by the multiple of voltage and current. Obviously the higher the voltage the more power you have. I was told recently by a friend of mine that unfortunately the limitation of the rechargable batteries is that their voltage (1.2 or 1.3, I believe). Otherwise, interesting to know, most rechargable batteries loose charge 10-30% per month depending on the storage temperature.

1st of all, no need to be ashamed!!!

Heck, my Nikon batteries last 1 hour in use & need to be charged "at least" every week! And it takes 2-4 hours in Nikon's charger! So have to find a quick charger alternative.

Your camera will be fine. The reason why the two 1.2V rechargeables add up to 2.4V versus the 3V of the lithium is a long story, but basically AA rechargeables were made to start at 1.2V instead of the 1.5V that their disposable cousins produced.

So...basically 2x1.2V is the rechargeable equivalent of 2x1.5V disposable or 3V.

I probably just confused you worse, but don't worry you won't blow up your camera.

Oh and higher mah batteries will just last longer-BUT a lot of batteries have ratings that are much higher than their actual mah is. Especially cheap ones lol.

For example, the 2000mah Rayovac IC-3 cells actually contain more power capacity than a lot of 2200mah rated batteries.

That said, most 2500mah batteries will last longer than most 2000mah ones obviously.

Thank you for your responses.

The most comforting response from Cirrus was, "... don't worry you won't blow up your camera."

The following links will give me the info. I need to make a "somewhat" knowledgeable buying decision:

http://www.steves-digicams.com/nimh_batteries.html#chargers
http://www.imaging-resource.com/ACCS/BATTS/BATTS.HTM
http://www.imaging-resource.com/ACC1.HTM
http://www.imaging-resource.com/ACCS/C801D/C801DA.HTM

And I probably will buy from:
http://www.thomas-distributing.com
since they appear to have the high-end chargers at the best price.

Here's a decent inexpensive charger: 10 Cell AA/AAA Smart Charger Vanson V6988. It charges any combination of single cells 1-10 at a time plus (2) 9V rechargables. I would stay away from Lenmar batteries: I had (2) dead cells in a 10-pack.

I thought I read somewhere that the fast chargers shorten the life of rechargeable batteries.

me too. oh well. life is short. live hard.