Gear Update: Delkin Power – Dual Battery Charger +

If you take a lot of photographs and don’t like to be caught with a dead battery then you probably have at least one spare battery for your main camera. That works well except when it comes time to recharge both batteries.

Consider, after a long days remote shooting you return to your home or hotel to settle in for some needed rest. You due-fully remember to place a camera battery in your single charger knowing that in a few hours you’ll need to swap in your second battery so it too can recharge. However sleep or forgetfulness overtakes you and when morning comes you find yourself with one fully charged battery and one that only has a partial charge or perhaps no charge. Sure hope you didn’t need that second battery today?

Or perhaps you’ve several cameras that each have different rechargeable batteries and so you must carry a charger for each device. Traveling light are we?

Delkin Devices has tried to address these issues with their own unique solution represented in the Delkin Power, dual universal battery charger. Delkin claims about this charger include:

• Charges two batteries at the same time on the same charger without increasing the charge time for either battery. Each battery is monitored and controlled individually on a separate circuit, so it operates like two high-end battery chargers plugged in side by side.
• Unique Battery charging plates designed specifically for each digital camera battery model. Because of this, our charger has the ability to expand along with your individual charging needs. Purchase only the charging plates that you need, and add on additional model capabilities at any time.
  
• The Delkin Power Dual Universal Battery charger uses similar charging methodology as your original equipment manufacturer, ensuring a quick and efficient charge every time.
  
• LED gauges on each side of the charger accurately report individual battery charge status in real time as charging is underway. Know when your battery is 25%, 50%, 75% or 100% charged with just a glance.
  
• Automatic 110/220V switching allows you to take your charger with you on all of your adventures.
  

I’ve spent some time using this charger I’d have to say that the above claims seem to be true. Changing the charging plates for different types of batteries is quick and easy, they slide and snap into place, eliminating the confusion that many universal chargers present. The batteries slide onto the charger plates much the same as they would their native chargers.

The charging unit can be purchased (MSRP $59.99) with two charging plates of your choice. Additional charging plates can be bought separately and are fairly inexpensive (MSRP $4.99 for two).

Delkin Devices has a long list of batteries they offer compatible charging plates for. I don’t have a clue what devices or cameras many of these batteries fit, but here’s the list:

• AA/AAA
• Canon BP511
• Canon NB2LH
• Nikon ENEL3E
• BP-511
• ENEL3e
• NB2LH
• BLM-1
• CGA-S005
• CGA-S006
• CGA-S007
• ENEL1
• ENEL5
• ENEL8
• ENEL9
• LI-10B/LI-12B
• LI-42B
• NB1LH
• NB3L
• NB4L
• NB5L
• NP-20
• NP-40 (Casio)
• NP-40 (Fuji)
• NP-400
• NP-FE1
• NP-FR1
• NP-FT1
• NPF550
• NPFM55H

The Delkin charger is not much larger then my single Nikon charger and there’s the travel advantage of having only one unit to deal with while having the ability to charge two batteries simultaneously.

I’ve had no problems with this charger and would recommend it to a friend.