Review on Powerful Battery Recharger: Dispose & Recharge Alkaline & NiMH Batteries - For AAA, AA, C, D, N, 6V or 9V - Includes Built-in Battery Tester - Popular Mechanics by Alicia Lopez

I figured if Pop Mechanics put their name on something I could count on it. Was I ever wrong It works out? Yes and no. In the best case; worst case scenario, not in your lifetime. I have thoroughly tested this charger with all types and brands of acceptable batteries except those already rechargeable, from AAA to D and 9 volts. In fact, for some reason the 9 volt battery performed exceptionally well, most of the time charging to a voltage well above the new battery's 10+ volt voltage. However, only a very small handful, maybe 3 or 4 of the dozen others I tried to load, ever reached the "new" voltage. (The voltage of new alkaline batteries is always between 1.60 and 1.63 volts or even higher. About half of them have never been charged beyond what I consider the backup voltage, 1.25 to 1.35, which is what each case would be considered "overload"). I always checked the voltage before the batteries were used for charging. Anything below 1 volt wouldn't charge at all. Some of them that were around 1.4 volts were still usable, never got charged much if at all. Those that were fully or partially charged were used uncharged to see if their now "charged" lifespan mattered at all. Just because they're "charged" doesn't mean the job is done if they don't then work within a reasonable runtime. can take up to 5 minutes I know. Overall I would say it was a total failure. Half or fewer have been reloaded at all, and of those who have reloaded, only a small percentage will be reloaded to 'new' levels. Thing was worth it, it's not worth it The rumors you've heard that non-rechargeable batteries really are non-rechargeable are true. For the most part, and who knows exactly why few work, non-rechargeable batteries stay that way; WITHOUT CHARGING. And to top it all off, one of the battery compartments housed a very sticky, spring-loaded pusher that made it almost impossible to pull the battery back out, although inserting the battery was easy enough. Even if the charger worked, this little mess would make the charger a very dodgy deal. This is Chinese craftsmanship for you. I'm very disappointed that Popular Mechanics didn't thoroughly test this charger before bearing its name. Shame on you Popular Mechanics for falling victim to the rechargeable primary battery bullshit.