BIG EDIT to my above post.

For Good results scrap my comment about rechargeables. Putting out 1.2 volts (not 1.5) they will work, but WILL NOT bring your phone back 'from the dead' like disposables alkalines will.

RECHARGEABLES ARE NOT SUITABLE for emergency use. Buy long shell life disposables to be better Equipped to Survive.

.

I use the energizer charger with rechargeable batteries and it works just fine...they just don't last as long as Alkaline or Lithium batteries do (one charge...maybe one plus a bit of a charge).

That being said, in regards to emergency use, don't store batteries in the charger (this is what Energizer recommends). I'm convinced that the circuitry leaks current out of the batteries while it's not charging. Also, if you do use rechargeables, buy low self-discharge batteries like Enveloop or Rayovac Hybrids. I carry Hybrids in my charger and cap the ends of the batteries with a little bit of electrical tape. I also top up the batteries every once in a while...low self discharge isn't NO self discharge.

These chargers work on the principle of a 'charge pump' or DC to DC converter. They take a small voltage and turn it into a large voltage all within a tiny IC. This is how 2 1.5V batteries can output 5V DC. Using 2 1.2V batteries will still produce 5V, but the strain on the batteries is higher due to the increased difference in voltage. A weak rechargeable battery won't last very long.

I've tried them with all sorts of batteries and the Lithum AAs by far last longer than anything. I still use the Rayovac Rechargeable batteries pretty much exclusively with the charger however.

Yea, i picked up a "no-name" brand cel charger WITH a few adapters, including USB for about $9 on the weekend.
I really like it, cause the main body of the unit is made out of aluminum, and it has a red LED when its' charging.

The down side, is it doesn't have an on/off switch. To use it; insert battery, select adapter, and screw the battery cover on.
Pretty simple.

cheers,

al

Unfortunately, apparently none of those gizmos fit our current phone, a Samsung thru Verizon...

None of the chargers works with my phone, or the wifes for that matter.....we have sidekicks from T-mobile. I'm thinking of picking one up and splicing the male end of an old charger to the new unit. I'll see how that works when I have a spare 20 bucks.......

-Bill Liptak

Yea, tell me about proprietary plug issues.
My last phone was a piece of s^&T!
As it got older, the charger died for it. Because it had a special connector, i eventually couldn't charge it properly, so i had to get rid of it.

My new phone, HTC Touch, has a mini USB connector!
Now i look at the charge plug on anything electronic i buy. If it has some weird connection i don't even think twice about it and move on to something with a more common plug.

cheers
al

I very rarely buy an electronic gizmo these days unless it has a hand crank or a mini usb port for charging...or runs on AAs.

I have a Treo (company paid for it - I wouldn't have!) I don't need one of these chargers since the phone works about the same irregardless if the battery is fully charged or dead. :-(

"...CellPhoneShop.net..."

Thanks, I'll check, but not hold my breath. I already own a couple of battery powered cell gizmos that were advertised has having attachments for "most" cells, and not of them will fit mine. One comes close, but no cigar...