How long does it take to recharge batteries?
A. The charging time of a battery is related to the capacity rating of the battery, the amount of battery discharge and the charge rate of the battery charger. Higher capacity batteries that have been discharged completely will take longer to recharge than lower capacity batteries that are not fully discharged. A higher charge rate of the battery charger will also speed up the recharge time. There is no industry standard for the term “Rapid” or “Quick” with battery chargers and they may or may not recharge faster than battery chargers without this designation. An approximation to determine recharge time is to take the capacity of the battery and divide by the charge rate and multiply by an additional 20% to allow for inefficiency. For example, take a 1800mAh battery and a charger that outputs 600mA: 1800mAh/600mA x 120% = 3.6 hrs.
There are a variety of chargers that allow you to recharge at different rates: from value priced overnight chargers to high-speed chargers that charge batteries in half the time. The fastest time available is just under 60 minutes, while the average charger takes seven to 10 hours to fully charge a NiMH battery. The best way to manage your power needs is to have at least two sets of rechargeable batteries so you can have a spare set ready to use anytime. That way, you will never run out. Some manufacturers also offer in-car chargers so that you can recharge at home or on the road.
