Zeikos ZE-CHFH70 Battery Charger for Sony FH70

One Response to “ Zeikos ZE-CHFH70 Battery Charger for Sony FH70 ”

1. C. Totton
   July 9, 2010 at 14:16

   For my Sony HDR SR-11 videocam, I had purchased a Zeikos FH100 size battery that also has a cord/plug to fit into the camera dc port. This Zeikos battery would not charge via the cam either on the SR-11 dock or with the Sony ac adapter directly plugged into the cam. The Zeikos battery would not work with the camera either, as the SR11 would not recognize the battery, alone or with the FH100 equivalent battery cord/plug plugged into to camera.

   So, I purchased this stand alone battery charger, charged the Zeikos back up from <50% to 100% charge. (The description above does say "fast charge", so it charged in less than 2 hours (from red charge light to orange to green finished light). Warning: unit became warm, so do not delay unplugging).

   Then took out the Sony battery and I put the Zeikos battery into the Sony SR11 along with its cord/plug for the ac adapter socket, and the camera came on with no complaints about the ZE-FH100 battery. However, unplugging the cord/plug of the Z battery, the camera will immediately stop which is probably not good for the hard drive. When turning the camera back on with the battery cord/plug engaged, there was no power, until I pressed the “push to check battery charge” button on the battery (not the batt info on the camera).

   There is a continuing situation where the camera will not accept the ZE-FH100 until I put a Sony Info-Lithium battery back in and turn off the camera, then reinstall the ZE-FH100 battery, and press the battery indicator button again.

   The charger does not say Zeikos…instead the package from the supplier “Super Deal” says: CTA MR-FP50 (premium series digital accessories) Digital Camcorder Mini Battery Charger, for use with the following batteries: Sony NP-FP50 to 90, -small rapid light weight and stylish desinged charger, -foldable flat pin for easy storage, -Universal AC power sorce 110-240V and European adaptor incl, -Fully charges 1 rechargeable battery in approximately 60-90 minutes, -1 yr limited warranty. The 12V car cigar lighter adapter is included as well.

   So, this charger does not even say that it is good for the Sony FH batteries! and does not say Zeikos! The battery charger has two pins that works with the FH battery, but must be set vertically to keep the battery in place, as its grip is not that good. The charger says on it: Input 100-240V, 50/60Hz, 0.1A; Output 4.2-8.4V 700mA; instructions; Caution: indoor dry location use only.

   But it seems to work for the otherwise unchargeable Zeikos ZE-FH100 that I had sitting around for many months, unwilling to do the return hassle to the third party vendor. [Amazon (and Buy.com) is strange with all these third party vendors actually handling the process. Beware the actual shipping charges (USPS shipping was $6.60,...more than the charger! Super Deal is in Brooklyn,NY) and taxes (none to CA) do not show up until after the purchase is made, which makes it hard to use a vitual credit card $ limit setting.] I guess I will keep it and the battery and live with the inconveniences of the Sony intermittent rejection, compared to paying the pretty outrageous prices of the Sony batteries.
   Rating: 3 / 5