Does the Zoom H4n recharge ni-mh batteries with the power adapter? at DVinfo.net

Sam Young · November 30th, 2009, 04:09 PM

Hello folks,

I just received my h4n in the mail, I put some energizer 2500mah batteries in there and plugged in the power adapter, but after a while the battery bar hasn't moved a pinch. I know the instructions says it will not charge the batteries, however I have read else where on the internet by users that it will.

Does it work for you?

Thanks!

Eric Darling · November 30th, 2009, 07:25 PM

No, it doesn't have this function.

Nate Morse · November 30th, 2009, 07:33 PM

Actually, it has been my experience that the H4n does recharge the batteries. Be sure to change the battery type from alkaline to ni-mh in the settings menu for it to work.

Peter Damo · November 30th, 2009, 07:53 PM

Who would have thought? Handy tip if it works.

Sam Young · November 30th, 2009, 08:00 PM

I have switched it to the Nimh on the menu when I first tried to charge it, however it is still at one bar after two hours. Will charge it overnight to see what happens, maybe it is super duper super slow.

So charging does work for you Nate?

Thank you guys for the input.

Sam

Nate Morse · November 30th, 2009, 10:33 PM

I'll test it out again tonight, but I thought it did charge. Not sure how long it takes, though.

Nate Morse · December 1st, 2009, 10:15 AM

I left the unit plugged in overnight and my batteries went from zero bars to two. So, I think it does charge them. It just doesn't do a very good job. Fresh batteries from my charger showed three bars in the H4n.

Sam Young · December 1st, 2009, 09:41 PM

Thanks Nate for the update, I appreciate it. I left mine overnight plus half a day and it is still at 1 bar. I guess it won't work for me! So your nimh isn't registered as full on the H4n even though it is supposed to be full from the charger?

Nate Morse · December 2nd, 2009, 12:06 AM

Fresh from the charger the batteries registered as full (three bars). But after turning it off for twenty minutes and then back on, I only saw two bars. I think the battery indicator might be a little off for nimh batteries because I rarely see them as full unless they came straight from the charger. Alkalines seem to register fine.

As for recharging using the H4n, did you have the unit turned on? I had it plugged in and turned on all night. I think the batteries came close to full charge but don't have any equipment to verify that for sure.

Sam Young · December 2nd, 2009, 07:32 AM

Ahh, I left the unit off. I will turn the unit on and leave it charging. Thank you again Nate for the help, I greatly appreciate it!

Sam Young · December 2nd, 2009, 08:18 AM

It is charging with the unit turned on! At two bars now, thank you Nate! Have a good one.

November 30th, 2009, 04:09 PM	#1
Sam Young Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Dallas, Texas/Hong Kong Posts: 154	Does the Zoom H4n recharge ni-mh batteries with the power adapter? Hello folks, I just received my h4n in the mail, I put some energizer 2500mah batteries in there and plugged in the power adapter, but after a while the battery bar hasn't moved a pinch. I know the instructions says it will not charge the batteries, however I have read else where on the internet by users that it will. Does it work for you? Thanks!

November 30th, 2009, 07:25 PM	#2
Eric Darling Major Player Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Savannah, GA Posts: 463	No, it doesn't have this function.

November 30th, 2009, 07:33 PM	#3
Nate Morse Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 46	Actually, it has been my experience that the H4n does recharge the batteries. Be sure to change the battery type from alkaline to ni-mh in the settings menu for it to work.

November 30th, 2009, 07:53 PM	#4
Peter Damo Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Sydney, NSW Posts: 90	Who would have thought? Handy tip if it works.

November 30th, 2009, 08:00 PM	#5
Sam Young Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Dallas, Texas/Hong Kong Posts: 154	I have switched it to the Nimh on the menu when I first tried to charge it, however it is still at one bar after two hours. Will charge it overnight to see what happens, maybe it is super duper super slow. So charging does work for you Nate? Thank you guys for the input. Sam

November 30th, 2009, 10:33 PM	#6
Nate Morse Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 46	I'll test it out again tonight, but I thought it did charge. Not sure how long it takes, though.

December 1st, 2009, 10:15 AM	#7
Nate Morse Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 46	I left the unit plugged in overnight and my batteries went from zero bars to two. So, I think it does charge them. It just doesn't do a very good job. Fresh batteries from my charger showed three bars in the H4n.

December 1st, 2009, 09:41 PM	#8
Sam Young Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Dallas, Texas/Hong Kong Posts: 154	Thanks Nate for the update, I appreciate it. I left mine overnight plus half a day and it is still at 1 bar. I guess it won't work for me! So your nimh isn't registered as full on the H4n even though it is supposed to be full from the charger?

December 2nd, 2009, 12:06 AM	#9
Nate Morse Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 46	Fresh from the charger the batteries registered as full (three bars). But after turning it off for twenty minutes and then back on, I only saw two bars. I think the battery indicator might be a little off for nimh batteries because I rarely see them as full unless they came straight from the charger. Alkalines seem to register fine. As for recharging using the H4n, did you have the unit turned on? I had it plugged in and turned on all night. I think the batteries came close to full charge but don't have any equipment to verify that for sure.

December 2nd, 2009, 07:32 AM	#10
Sam Young Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Dallas, Texas/Hong Kong Posts: 154	Ahh, I left the unit off. I will turn the unit on and leave it charging. Thank you again Nate for the help, I greatly appreciate it!

December 2nd, 2009, 08:18 AM	#11
Sam Young Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Dallas, Texas/Hong Kong Posts: 154	It is charging with the unit turned on! At two bars now, thank you Nate! Have a good one.